Discover the future of MMA as fighters embrace both stances and athleticism. Learn how this trend is changing the sport and what it means for the future.
The Evolution of MMA: Embracing Both Stances and the Rise of Athleticism
UFC 1 was a wild event that modern fans will scarcely believe. It was real-life Mortal Kombat; the whole premise is that practitioners of different martial arts will take on each other to see the last man standing. No weight classes, no unified rules, and not even a clear sport called MMA. Just a bunch of martial artists fighting with different disciplines.
Today, mixed martial arts is a hybrid and distinct martial art made up of striking, wrestling, and submissions. The discipline has rapidly developed over the past three decades. Skill level, techniques, training regimens, and diet has seen a sharp improvement in each generation.
And now, an important figure in the sport has revealed a trend that top fighters are following.
Embracing Both Stances
MMA coach Sayif Saud joined Brendan Fitzgerald on Youtube to discuss social media usage by UFC athletes. In the course of the interview, Saud talked about a current trend in MMA that he claimed to have predicted a few years ago coming to fruition. This trend is of fighters being able to use both stances- Orthodox as well as Southpaw – in a fight, thus giving them more positions to attack from. He listed Yair Rodriguez, Alexander Volkanovski, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje as examples of fighters who have embraced this approach.
By being proficient in both stances, these fighters have a significant advantage over their opponents. They can switch between stances seamlessly, confusing their adversaries and opening up new angles of attack. This versatility allows them to adapt to different situations and exploit their opponents’ weaknesses effectively.
The Rise of Athleticism
Saud also pointed to the influx of top-level athletes into the sport as another trend that will change MMA. He claimed to have been contacted by many D1 college football players and other athletes looking to get into MMA. He predicted that the larger athletes will push the less athletic “tough guy” out of the sport.
In the early days of MMA, brute strength and toughness were often enough to succeed. However, as the sport has evolved, athleticism has become increasingly important. Fighters with superior speed, agility, and endurance have a significant advantage inside the octagon. They can execute techniques with precision and maintain a high pace throughout the fight, wearing down their opponents.
What makes MMA an exciting and engaging sport is that fighting style is an integral factor in deciding the outcome. Elite fighters have the ability to adapt to their opponents in a short time. With so many variables at play and so little margin for error, MMA is a complex and unforgiving sport.
The Future of MMA
Saud’s predictions about the future of MMA raise intriguing possibilities. If fighters continue to embrace both stances, we can expect to see even more dynamic and unpredictable fights. The ability to seamlessly switch between Orthodox and Southpaw stances adds a new layer of complexity to the sport, challenging fighters to constantly adapt and innovate.
Moreover, the rise of athleticism in MMA will likely lead to a new breed of fighters. As more top-level athletes from other sports transition into MMA, the level of competition will reach new heights. The days of relying solely on toughness and brute strength may be numbered, as technical proficiency and athleticism become the defining factors in success.
Only time will tell if Saud’s predictions hold true. But one thing is certain: the evolution of MMA is an ongoing process, and the sport will continue to captivate fans with its combination of skill, strategy, and sheer athleticism.
