MMA has progressed beyond the style vs. style phase, when “my kung fu is better than your kung fu” was the main motivation for winning, aside from personal glory.
Every MMA athlete today with average intelligence trains seriously in striking, submission grappling and wrestling. (This can’t be mere assumption, right?)
Just the same, base style still matters.
Most fighters today are still defined and excel the most on the specific skill set of the martial art-cum-sport in which they have trained the longest.
Like faithful children, they still gratefully give the most credit to their original combat sport and its community for taking them to their current—hopefully exalted—level.
In the coming Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finals, fans “may” be treated to a clash of styles which are essentially two branches of the same tree: Josh Barnett‘s catch wrestling and Daniel Cormier’s freestyle wrestling.
“May,” as this is MMA, and that championship battle could run and end solely by stand-up striking. This is considering that both finalists have proven KO power, with Cormier showing more of it.
But wouldn’t it be interesting to see if Barnett can catch Cormier with a submission hold after getting tossed around repeatedly by the Olympian? A la catch wrestler Kazushi Sakuraba finally sinking in the game-winning choke after getting battered by the power slams of former amateur wrestling standout Quinton Jackson in their memorable Pride FC match?
Conversely, we can’t discount that Cormier could be the one whose back will kiss the canvas, but end up submitting Barnett!
After all, this is MMA.
Now why does base style still matter? Without prejudice and all the while being genuinely appreciative of the other styles and skills that make one’s MMA game complete?
Simple: There’s no place like home.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com