Pro fighters changing their game for success

[G-Off]

Speculative question for the more informed MMA fans out there.

What fighter, in your opinion, has revolutionized or substantially changed their game the most over their career and (this is important) had success with it? This means no Royce "I have striking now!" Gracie or Tank "Look! I'm pretending to have a ground game!" Abbott.

I'm asking because it's a question that occurred to me, and simultaneously it occurred to me that I had no idea who my pick would be.

DISCUSS!

[Deadmeat]

I suppose the most obvious name that springs to mind is Jason Delucia.

It's a bit of old, I know, but it's true.

Probably the best possible example of a fighter truly evolving would be Bas Rutten in the early days. He was an awesome striker, who got submitted and then developed submissions skills to a very high standard.

I think the majority of fighters who really fit the bill you desribe are likely to be from the older generation, where they had to specifically cross train rather than train in an eclectic school (i.e. attend separate camps to work on areas of their game that were weak).

[3moose1]

thats hard for me to answer...

I just got into the whole mma thing last year, and now pretty much everyone is well-rounded. Sure, people have strengths and weaknesses, but no gaping holes in the game...

[Kentucky Fried Chokin]

I would say GSP. He was a kickboxer who not only got great at BJJ but got amazingly good at wrestling. Another example would be Anderson Silva. he kept getting submitted, so he went and got himself a black belt in BJJ. That's why those two are so good.

[G-Off]

I suppose the most obvious name that springs to mind is Jason Delucia.

Yeah, DeLucia is definitely one that springs to mind with drastically changing their game, but he's never been great in MMA. And he went from Kung Fu to Aikido =P

Probably the best possible example of a fighter truly evolving would be Bas Rutten in the early days. He was an awesome striker, who got submitted and then developed submissions skills to a very high standard.

I think the majority of fighters who really fit the bill you desribe are likely to be from the older generation, where they had to specifically cross train rather than train in an eclectic school (i.e. attend separate camps to work on areas of their game that were weak).

You're most likely right...which is why I couldn't think of anyone. Bas is a good choice though.

I would say GSP. He was a kickboxer who not only got great at BJJ but got amazingly good at wrestling. Another example would be Anderson Silva. he kept getting submitted, so he went and got himself a black belt in BJJ. That's why those two are so good.

Definitely good examples for today.

Come to think of it, Chuck Liddell has sort of changed his game drastically, although he's almost regressed. He used to throw a lot more kicks and such, but got to the point where he almost exclusively threw punches and sprawled...yet was extremely successful with it. Now that Jardine's exposed him though, against Wandy he seemed to be opening up his game again with kicks and takedowns.

[Deadmeat]

Yeah, DeLucia is definitely one that springs to mind with drastically changing their game, but he's never been great in MMA. And he went from Kung Fu to Aikido =P

That's true, but he did rack up a decent record (33-21-1 according to Sherdog), and he trained in BJJ after he got subbed by Royce Gracie during a "Gracie Challenge". By the time he fought Royce in UFC 2, he'd already attained a blue belt in BJJ.

[selfcritical]

Rampage by learning really real boxing and starting to use gameplans?

[gr81disp]

Come to think of it, Chuck Liddell has sort of changed his game drastically, although he's almost regressed. He used to throw a lot more kicks and such, but got to the point where he almost exclusively threw punches and sprawled...yet was extremely successful with it. Now that Jardine's exposed him though, against Wandy he seemed to be opening up his game again with kicks and takedowns.

My understanding is that Chuck began kicking less because he began having constant foot problems.

[Roidie McDouchebag]

Probably the best possible example of a fighter truly evolving would be Bas Rutten in the early days. He was an awesome striker, who got submitted and then developed submissions skills to a very high standard.

No, he really didn't. He learned a lot of moves. I've yet to see him use almost any of them in a fight. He's like an encyclopedic blue belt.

I would say GSP. He was a kickboxer who not only got great at BJJ but got amazingly good at wrestling.

GSP was already a good wrestler and a BJJ black belt when he started MMA. He just got better. Dumb post.

[RuledByEnmity]

GSP was already a good wrestler and a BJJ black belt when he started MMA. He just got better. Dumb post.

He actually just got his brown belt in 2006.