to defend effectively against the ground game...

[Jacob Creutzfeldt]

Well, I know that a fighter who doesn't train the groundgame and be proficient at it wouldn't be described as a "complete" fighter. The question is, if a fighter practiced takedown defense and escapes back to the feet from the ground well enough, and be a good striker, would that type of defense work enough to compete in MMA?
The reason I'm asking is, take for instance, the finale of Ultimate Fighter 2, where Luke Cummo vs Joe Stevenson and Luke was billed as primarily a striker, but not much ground game. He was able to effectively escape Joe's groundgame and bring it back to the feet. Was Luke's limited (by MMA standards, anyway) groundgame enough to deal with Joe's groundgame? Or did he actually have enough groundgame to counter Joe's? I know that he lost to Joe, but Joe certainly didn''t have an easy time with Luke.
I know many fighters who don't have groundgame get taken out easily by groundfighters. But Chuck Liddell, who has some groundgame, never has to use it due to his ability to keep it standing.
Now, is Chuck's ability to keep it standing a result of studying aspects of the groundgame, or could he learn to keep it standing without learning as much as he has about it, and be just as effective?

Chuck used to wrestle Div I which gives him takedown defense beyond a sprawl. The other advantage Chuck has is that he can grab the cage in the octagon and help himself stand. If you are fighting in a ring and they forbid rope grabbing, that is not an option.

 

[ass_face]

Chuck used to wrestle Div I which gives him takedown defense beyond a sprawl. The other advantage Chuck has is that he can grab the cage in the octagon and help himself stand. If you are fighting in a ring and they forbid rope grabbing, that is not an option.

Actually I don't think you are allowed to grab the cage (I may be wrong), but I have seen several instances where a fighter is holding the cage to defend a takedown or hold position and they get an earful from the ref.

 

[Jacob Creutzfeldt]

usually the ref will say something like, "Watch the fence." And not penalize the grabber. In Pride when you touch the ropes a gang of refs at ringside yank your limb off immediately.

 

[Kane Fan]

well yah if your submission defence and takedownd efence are good
and your striking is good you can do well
hell that's Chuck Liddells actual recepie

 

[Yarg!]

its called mixed martial arts for a reason.

 

[ass_face]

In Pride when you touch the ropes a gang of refs at ringside yank your limb off immediately.

Yeah, I noticed that... I thought I was watching a Lumberjack match... LMAO

 

[Djimbe]

This is one of the things that REALLY Pisses m,e off about MMA comps . In real life I WOULD use the Fence , or Gate , or WHATEVER to keep myself off the ground and it woulds SO WORK , and give me an advantage against someone with Poorer standup than me .

 

[CrazyK]

This is one of the things that REALLY Pisses m,e off about MMA comps . In real life I WOULD use the Fence , or Gate , or WHATEVER to keep myself off the ground and it woulds SO WORK , and give me an advantage against someone with Poorer standup than me .

Yeah but this isn't street fighting, it's mma competition. Give it what you will, but there has to be some boundaries.

 

[Djimbe]

Sure , and Im not Advocating Weraponsplay or anything , Im just saying that in my opinion that PARTICULAR boundary is utterly rediculous .

And lets not ACT like MMA Promoters dont try to advertise their Battles as "The Closest Thing To Reality" and whatnot . ANd the fact is that This is somethignthat Skews the game twards a Grappler HEAVILY and UNFAIRLY and UNREALISTICALLY .

 

[Kane Fan]

well the biggest thing that skews it torwards grapplers in my mind is the judges
to me controlling where the fight takes place is worth points, but only if that works out well for you
say a guy lands a takendown but gets swept or rolled after
ok the guy landing the takedown got the fight where he wanted it, but the other guy made something happen with it
so who is controlling that aspect of the fight
usually they judge based on top possition and take down