Throwdowns > Closed

Rawkstar said 08/02, 01:39 PM
When speaking of MMA fans who are you referring?

Fedor has defeated some big name guys. (Big Nog, Cro-Cop, Coleman, Sylvia to name a few)

Prior to the UFC exploding most of the worlds best MMA talent was fighting in PRIDE, where he clearly dominated.

I will admit that he is no longer close to the most dominate HW in Strikeforce nor would he be in the UFC.

I think it has to do with the evolution of the sport. MMA has grown vastly in popularity since his days in Pride. More athletes and simply BETTER athletes are taking to the sport these days.

You do not win in UFC with just a great ground game or just a great stand-up anymore. You need to be well versed in many martial arts.

Maybe Fedor has not evolved himself to the speed, athleticism and versatility of today's MMA.

Henderson seems to work much harder and has done a better job growing his MMA knowledge and adapted to the sport.

But to say Fedor was never a great fighter or to say he is not iconic to the sport is false. Fedor did a lot for the sport.

Rawkstar said 08/03, 07:23 AM
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying.

At one point he was the best. Hands down, no questions asked. Right now... he is not, he may not even be a top 10 HW with Strikeforce and UFC combined, however he is a legend to the sport and dominated the HW division for years. His run just ended.

The steel curtain came to an end, the Montreal Canadians dynasty came to an end, Favre came to an end(maybe), Babe Ruth curse in Boston came to an end, NASA's apollo program came to an end, Bin Laden's life came to an end, Dinosaurs came to an end and like the above so did Fedors rein as the top HW in the world.

Fact is lots of things have to end eventually, outside of the number of Peaches losses, the number of free agents the Eagles are signing this year, your ego and the number of times you keep doing this TD.

Rawkstar said 08/03, 01:21 PM
I already named fighters he had beaten. He dominated the sport for years in Pride.

Whether he fought the guys past prime or whatever means little there was really just no one who could compete. You say he fluffed his wins and his record with chumps but maybe they were just pale in comparison. He outclassed everyone in those days.

As I admit, he is no longer a dominate force, be it the new talent, his work ethic, his ability to expand his arsenal, his confidence whatever but at one point in his career he was the definition of elite, HE DOMINATED!

Who was so great that he was dodging, or turning down? Who do you think fought in Pride whom he did not fight that you think could have beaten him then?

The sad truth is we are witnessing the downfall of a great. It happens in all sports eventually, and Fedors time has likely come to an end baring some sort of super transformation of skillset and ability. Today's MMA fighters are stronger, faster and better trained in multiple faucets of martial arts. MMA has grown in popularity, not just to viewers but to those who want to compete, the more who want to compete the higher the likelihood you have better athletes fighting.