Strategy has no place in MMA?

[Article125]

So many rant threads today! I thought it was a good fight. Not sure how anyone could say Florian was just running, though. He was popping Huerta's head back with that jab at will

[Mochan]

Originally Posted by PoundUmOut

i 100% agree that its all about strategy and i love to watch technical bouts. but there is a huge difference in being technical and just avoiding the fight all together such as in starnes vs quary or machida vs tito. gsp is all about strategy.... but he doesnt run away from the fight.

How exactly did Machida avoid the fight entirely with Tito? I mean, if he did that, how did Tito end up getting gutted to the floor, how did Machida end up in a triangle, etc.

[Authority 51]

I am stating that fighters the simply try to win by points aren't cool, but fighters that choose to not stand and trade punches like a fool are getting bashed. I'm sure when Kenny was trying to chock out Huerta he was doing it just for the points.

[onelow69c102]

Originally Posted by Authority 51

"Kenflo ran." "Machida is a coward." etc

You true MMA fans. You real MMA fans. You guys are idiots. You make me sick. Reading some of your posts is like talking to a drunken idiot at a bar telling me how fighters should go toe to toe and be a man. "Don't run...ya know...get in there and throw dogs...ya know?"

What happened to a fighter using a strategy? Should a fencing champion that is fighting a samurai go "toe to toe" and abandon the style he is winning with? Should he stick with only power moves and fight just like his opponent because that would please the "real fans?"

A fighter that hits an opponent ONE time and then runs for every round that follows just to win a decision on points is a coward. Someone that sticks and moves and employs a solid game plan against a strong brawler is a SMART FIGHTER!

Have any of you MMA EXPERTS ever heard of boxing? Have you ever heard of classic bouts like Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman?! If you people were asked on the street what you thought about Ali's famous "rope-a-dope" strategy you would say how great it was. How smart it was to allow a big brawler (with a 40-0 win record, 37 by KO) to tire himself out and stick and move. But when KenFlo avoids Huerta's big punches and using smart striking combined, smart take downs combined with an evasive style...you say that he is running. Yes, Ali KO'd Foreman in the 8th round, but even if the fight went to a decision it was all Ali.

Now that we have the evolution of MMA and multiple disciplines fighting one another, you dismiss any fighter that isn't a KO specialist and call fighters that employ a strategy based on their physical strengths/weaknesses and their opponents strengths/weaknesses a "runner" or a "pussy?"

If you want to see two dudes throwing bombs at one another till someone gets KO'd, you should stop watching MMA, and certainly stop considering yourself a "true fan."

/rant

I agree 100% you have to have a gameplan if you want to be successful.

[ZaydenNTX**]

Well said. Not everyone is gonna win by trying to be entertaining. And what's the point of watchin a million fights where the combatants throw skill out the window and just BRAWL!. There is a place for strategy in MMA and more people should learn to appreciate it

[AZCombatBJJ]

I was disappointed in this fight. Both fighters gave each other way too much respect. Roger didn't look the same, not nearly as intense. I get your point, but Mr. "I finish fights" looked more than content to just throw that jab and move a lot towards the end of the fight. Don't call yourself the guy who finishes fights and then turn into a Machida like fighter.

[marcus_kane]

Originally Posted by Authority 51

"Kenflo ran." "Machida is a coward." etc

You true MMA fans. You real MMA fans. You guys are idiots. You make me sick. Reading some of your posts is like talking to a drunken idiot at a bar telling me how fighters should go toe to toe and be a man. "Don't run...ya know...get in there and throw dogs...ya know?"

What happened to a fighter using a strategy? Should a fencing champion that is fighting a samurai go "toe to toe" and abandon the style he is winning with? Should he stick with only power moves and fight just like his opponent because that would please the "real fans?"

A fighter that hits an opponent ONE time and then runs for every round that follows just to win a decision on points is a coward. Someone that sticks and moves and employs a solid game plan against a strong brawler is a SMART FIGHTER!

Have any of you MMA EXPERTS ever heard of boxing? Have you ever heard of classic bouts like Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman?! If you people were asked on the street what you thought about Ali's famous "rope-a-dope" strategy you would say how great it was. How smart it was to allow a big brawler (with a 40-0 win record, 37 by KO) to tire himself out and stick and move. But when KenFlo avoids Huerta's big punches and using smart striking combined, smart take downs combined with an evasive style...you say that he is running. Yes, Ali KO'd Foreman in the 8th round, but even if the fight went to a decision it was all Ali.

Now that we have the evolution of MMA and multiple disciplines fighting one another, you dismiss any fighter that isn't a KO specialist and call fighters that employ a strategy based on their physical strengths/weaknesses and their opponents strengths/weaknesses a "runner" or a "pussy?"

If you want to see two dudes throwing bombs at one another till someone gets KO'd, you should stop watching MMA, and certainly stop considering yourself a "true fan."

/rant

I very much agree with you. Kalib Starnes ran; Kenny and Machida picked their shots. There is a huge difference.

A lot of people have not been in fights or simply do not understand the idea of employing a strategy, and waiting for opportunities when you have the best chance of landing something.

[sclasclemski]

I agree with the TS for the most part...different skills and gameplans are what makes mma so interesting...and yes even boring sometimes...I don't think point scoring will become an overwhelming trend simply because there are plenty of fighters out there...and more to come...that are aggressive and force you to the ground or make you throw to keep from getting knocked out...I can't wait to see Wanderlai vs Machida...I'm a fan of both and think it would be a great fight...maybe that will finally shut people up...doubtful

[riccosuaavve]

Biggidy bump.

[FTorresFan]

everyone's got different things they like about a fighter. Some people like technique some like heart. Even in boxing people like Gatti and Corrales became fan favorites because they weren't real technical and just brawled. Everyone likes something different.