GNP - Worst thing to happen to MMA?

**bwerb** · Posted On: 12/02/2005 6:58pm

On another thread...which is 300+ posts...many of which are completely O/T, the statement was made that Ground and Pound strategy was/is the worst thing to happen to MMA. I'd like to explore this statement in some more detail.

At a BJJ seminar last weekend, the topic of MMA came-up as it related to earlier UFC performances and strategy vs. the current state of affairs. The response was that if you want to be a champion MMA fighter, get as juiced-up as possible, hit the weights, learn some slams/takedowns and go for the against the cage GNP.

The "technique" of BJJ and the methodical positioning, guard work etc. which was so prevalent in the early UFC has been more or less eliminated with the desire to make the sport palatable/exciting to an uneducated audience. This isn't news to anyone but...it certainly does move the game/sport away from domination by pure BJJ fighters.

The newer ruleset seems to be a handicap against pure grappling...even though if one of MMA's purposes was supposed to showcase the dominance or strenghths/weaknesses of one "art" or "mixed-arts" vs. one another...it seems it's current state of affairs is to more or less acknowlege that "pounding" is more fun to watch than true grappling, so it is promoted at the expense of a technique which has been shown to regularly dominate fights with fewer rules.

What do you think?

**bwerb** · Posted On: 12/02/2005 7:07pm

I guess another way of looking at it and opening up the discussion would be to ask the question, is the current state of MMA (UFC) truly the best indicator of fighting prowess with a ruleset which favors "entertainment value" over technique?

**Poop Loops** · Posted On: 12/02/2005 7:14pm

That's why I don't watch UFC.

**BSDaemon** · Posted On: 12/02/2005 7:19pm

"Pure" stylists will never again dominate MMA

**Poop Loops** · Posted On: 12/02/2005 7:22pm

What if he trains in pure Wicked Awesome?

**bwerb** · Posted On: 12/02/2005 7:30pm

But...is the new "style" which will dominate, one which is not actually based on "winning a more realistic fight", but instead one which is more entertaining to watch. Is this more or less creating a "new wrestling"? Not taking away anything from the athletes/competitors but suddenly the argument that MMA isn't a "style" seems to be fading as techniques which work are being reduced/removed in favor of what looks good.

**Tourettes** · Posted On: 12/02/2005 8:22pm

could UFC = WWE in the future? Seems like there could be a shift in that direction which is not good.

**Te No Kage!** · Posted On: 12/02/2005 9:06pm

How is standing over someone on their back while repeatedly punching them in the face not a realistic way to win a fight?

I've read this argument as it relates to Sanchez' win over Diaz on other boards, about how Diaz' jiujitsu was way better and his guardwork was really busy and blah, blah, blah. Regardless, he got punched repeatedly about the head and shoulders without any answer.

I think perhaps you should be able to sweep/sub out of a GNP position. Perhaps some fighters' jiujitsu just isn't as good as the opponent's GNP?

If this all relates to using the cage as a tool for the fight, then nevermind. But I believe the GNP is a viable and realistic MMA toolset, just as I believe that a good jiujitsu practicioner should be able to use the guard to get out of it.

**RoninPimp** · Posted On: 12/02/2005 9:10pm

It's called evolution imo. G-n-Ping a guy on the street against a fence or wall=kick ass SD skills.

**eyebeams** · Posted On: 12/02/2005 9:42pm

GnP is way more refined than it was in early UFCs, too. I dropped out of watching MMA for a few years, and when I saw striking on the ground after that, the difference was huge.