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With the recent changing of weight classes amongst UFCs warriors, I began to grow increasingly interested in the idea of this new and seemingly popular trend that some fighters find necessary to follow. Firstly, lets look at each of the fighters that have choosen to change classes.
Number one on the list would have to be BJ Penn, a man that has simply made a career out of changing weight classes. Penn has dominated in every single weight catagory except that of Heavyweight before returning back to his rightful place as the king of the Lightweight division. Then there's Mac Danzig who chose to drop down from welterweight to Lightweight and has been successful in his first match. Mike Swick has also changed weight class by dropping down from Middelweight to find his share of success in the welterweight division.
Now time for the guys that want to travel up: Anderson Silva is going up from MW to LHW but its a one time only. Roger Huerta has also recently expressed interest in moving up to welterweight and exposed that training partner Georges St-Pierre maybe keen to move up to Middelweight.
With that being said whats to most easiest way to move. Up? Or down?
Lets look at down first. Fighters that move down a weight class have a significant advantage of their smaller counterparts because their bone structure is naturally larger, its the reason they find success in a lighter weight class. While retaining power, moving too far down may cause a challenger to lose resilience and edurance, also beare in mind the chin is not as strong as it used to be. Power coupled with skill creates a deadly fighter and all those that move down find it placed at their fingertips.
Moving up has its share of concerns too, when fighters pick up weight (roughly more than 20lbs) they lose power, its like fighting with dead meat staped to your body. Furthermore, moving up means fighting a fighter who's naturally larger than you are. Thus your chances of success are toned down.
But would changing weight classes be the same if UFC fighters battled in a ring? It is widely known that rings favour those who have an open styles (standup, submissions) relative to the average grappler. So many of the abovementioned "lighter" fighters will continue in their success but may lose their stamina when dealing with the rapid change of pace. Those who go up may struggle with the power and strength of their new challengers.
With Cages the fighter is able to stand or go to the ground whenever he wishes. The lighter fighters will be able to make the most of their larger bone structure and strength whether he is standing or grappling. The guys going heavy will find it difficult grappling as it just weighs on you having a bigger guy laying on you.
So how do fighters overcome such difficulties? They make the best of their SKILLS. Power, pace, bone structure, weight is no match for well oiled technique when fighting an intelligent, well conditioned gladiator thats looking to have his hand raised in victory.
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Posted by UFCBRAINWASHED on 2008-07-05 07:50:47 | Rating: | Views: 23
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As someone who knows little to nothing about the sport of fighting, I found your assessment interesting. I didn't realize the sport is so nuanced. I've recently been thinking with concern of what getting repeatedly banged in the head and knocked out might be doing to these otherwise often splendid athletes. I think of Ali, for example, and his ongoing "bout" with Parkinson's. Maybe you'd know: is there any talk among fighters about head injury issues? I've understood that the fighter has often come from disadvantaged circumstances. Couldn't there be another way for young would-be fighters to become something else? Could fighting regulations help, without closing down the sport? Do you hear talk of the subject from the fighting world? What is said? Just wondered. I've been impressed watching the sport, but the brutality and consequences bother me.
Despite my concerns, thanks for your inside glimpse. Good job. I look forward to more.
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Posted by nothingnews
on 2008-07-05 22:17:34
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