[dav35]

I feel like some people don’t understand the genetic makeup of the new ‘breed’ of HW fighters. They just flat out don’t get it. There’s a huge difference between strength and power. I want to put my head through a wall when people reference Mir’s weight gain and try to say it will negate the power of Lesnar or, as we just saw, Carwin. Give me a break. There’s also a big difference in the elite athlete, and your more typical (still an athlete, but not elite) MMA fighter. Mir loves to sell himself as an athlete with great genes. While that is true, he’s not on the upper tier like a Lesnar. He’s a freak athlete that would have done well in any sport.

Most freak athletes follow money. For example, athletes that possess outlier strength, power, speed, and coordination opt to focus on football. Up until recently (the last 5 years or so), there was a much higher payout for succeeding in football relative to fighting. Now, that has changed. MMA now has a large fan base, and there is money flowing into the sport. Even smaller guys that were “too small” for big D1 football programs or “too small” to be effective in the NFL will see opportunity in MMA. It’s only a matter of time before MMA is infested with these guys. More money will attract more pure talent.

MMA is now attracting more natural athletes, and the new ‘breed’ of fighters will be far more dangerous and will learn quicker than their less athletic counterparts. You’re witnessing a group of fighters that are powerful and elite level athletes. Athleticism will prove to be important in the ever evolving world of MMA. If you’re frustrated watching Lesnar or GSP now, just wait another 5 years. Times are changing.

 

[No_Mercy]

Yah what Shane Carwin has is natural strength as evident in the fight. Carwin made a good point in the countdown. Frank can lift all he wants, but I've been training since I was 16 or something along those lines.

Can't believe how easily he clinched Frank and reversed positions with Frank offering no resistance whatsoever.

Brock, GSP have fast twitch muscle fibers. This gives them the explosive power.

 

[Spec0688]

Mir will never be the athlere that Lesnar is, it takes years of training your body to have that type of strength and speed, genetics also play a big factor in him having such a big body with good speed.

That is why Mir will never hold the title again in the UFC, guys like Carwin and Lesnar are just so much bigger then their compeition, and so much stronger in terms of raw power, that I cant see anybody posing a threat to either of them, especially Lesnar if he is 100% for his first fight.

There arent many fighters in MMA with crazy genetics like GSP,Lesnar and BJ Penn with his insane flexibility.

 

[imrik32]

See the problem with your theory is that you are not considering anything other than athleticism. Intelligence is also a major factor. Not to mention things that fall in line with both of those that can't just be labelled as one or the other, such as timing, and tempo, and then of course controlling and breaking both of these. Being a natural freak athlete of course helps you along but it by no means is the end all be all. Look at Machida, Shogun, Anderson Silva. If you go from a genetic view point none of them are genetic freaks, and they're pretty dominant.

 

[dav35]

See the problem with your theory is that you are not considering anything other than athleticism. Intelligence is also a major factor. Not to mention things that fall in line with both of those that can't just be labelled as one or the other, such as timing, and tempo, and then of course controlling and breaking both of these. Being a natural freak athlete of course helps you along but it by no means is the end all be all. Look at Machida, Shogun, Anderson Silva. If you go from a genetic view point none of them are genetic freaks, and they're pretty dominant.

You're right; there is more to the story than athleticism alone. However, I believe you will see more 'true athletes' that possess the traits you mention above in the coming years. Think middle linebackers and free safeties for smarts. They see the plays before they actually develop (i.e. they adapt to their opponent's offense quickly).

The fighters you mentioned are dominant today, but they may not be as dominant tomorrow. That's not a testament to their aging, but rather the evolution of the sport.

 

[mohod1982]

See the problem with your theory is that you are not considering anything other than athleticism. Intelligence is also a major factor. Not to mention things that fall in line with both of those that can't just be labelled as one or the other, such as timing, and tempo, and then of course controlling and breaking both of these. Being a natural freak athlete of course helps you along but it by no means is the end all be all. Look at Machida, Shogun, Anderson Silva. If you go from a genetic view point none of them are genetic freaks, and they're pretty dominant.

with everything else being close to equal, the more athletic fighters will thrive and dominate. Its always going to be like that.

 

[imrik32]

with everything else being close to equal, the more athletic fighters will thrive and dominate. Its always going to be like that.

Things are never equal or close to equal.

 

[VolcomX311]

I was just glad to read that someone understands the difference between strength and power. The two get used interchangeably on a regular basis, but the two are rather separate concepts.