For me, Volkanovski is the best example. The man is brilliant.
and while they both put on a shit show of a main event, Yoel and Izzy have both genius level fight IQs.
Who are the smartest fighters in MMA?
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GSP
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Jon Jones
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After listening to him on commentary I am going with Cruz. Unless you mean active fighters only?
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BigWilliam - After listening to him on commentary I am going with Cruz. Unless you mean active fighters only?
Not talking about guys who can break fights down, but guys who can break fights down and implement it in the cage.
Cruz is a brilliant analyst, but compared to Volk in the Cage - they’re not even close.
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Prime Fedor had a very high fight IQ IMO. Perhaps the highest ever on display at HW. He was often undersized.
Look how he handled himself vs Big Nog, Schilt, Crocop, Herring, Colman, Randleman, Ogawa, Hong Man Choi, Arloski, Sylvia, Monson, etc...
Had to use so many skills in so many different ways vs very different threats and skills from opponents.
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Uhtred Ragnarson -BigWilliam - After listening to him on commentary I am going with Cruz. Unless you mean active fighters only?Not talking about guys who can break fights down, but guys who can break fights down and implement it in the cage.
Cruz is a brilliant analyst, but compared to Volk in the Cage - they’re not even close.
Yeah when I think of smart fighters Cruz is the firs tto mind but for exactly the reasons you said. Not that he isn't smart in the cage, it just isn't where I first noticed his intelligence.
I think Yoel is pretty smart, really knows how to win as an athlete.
I think we need to better define fight IQ. A lot of fighters on this thread are just good at sticking to a gameplan or following advice. This is not fight IQ. Fight IQ is the ability to adapt in the moment, and without guidance.
Based on his commentary, I think Dominick Cruz is a great answer.
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Saku,Florian, GSP, Cotoure, Miletich, ,Mighty Mouse, Nunes, A.Silva, Edgar all have some the best fight IQs I’ve ever observed
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GSP
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Jon Jones. His fight IQ is what has kept him undefeated even though you can see his athleticism declining.
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BJ Penn Forever -Prime Fedor had a very high fight IQ IMO. Perhaps the highest ever on display at HW. He was often undersized.
Look how he handled himself vs Big Nog, Schilt, Crocop, Herring, Colman, Randleman, Ogawa, Hong Man Choi, Arloski, Sylvia, Monson, etc...
Had to use so many skills in so many different ways vs very different threats and skills from opponents.
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mightymouse/dcruz
Georges St. Pierre.
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