Lots of new fans fail to see MMA for what it is: fighting. They view the sport as an athletic contest and favor the guy with the best attributes.
Lots of Old School fans have the old martial arts mindset where technique trumps all. Technique is the most important thing when the other guy has zero technique, but when the other guy has a clue, you better be strong, fast and have good cardio.
There is a middle ground. MMA has evolved to the point that to be successful a fighter needs an athlete's physicality and a fighter's mind.
Thank you for your interpretations.
ABE FROMAN - Thank you for your interpretations.<div> </div>
I'm also available for Sakara interview interpretation
I hate to rain on your parade but that doesn't make any sense. 
GingerWhinger - Lots of new fans fail to see MMA for what it is: fighting. They view the sport as an athletic contest and favor the guy with the best attributes.
Um no.
Many old school fans who remember the early NHB days still think the sport is all about fighting.
Its not. Its an athletic contest utilizing specific techniques and strategies relevant to the rules and judges.
You can say, 'well it should be about fighting!' and thats fair enough. It doesn't change the facts though.
FingerorMoon -GingerWhinger - Lots of new fans fail to see MMA for what it is: fighting. They view the sport as an athletic contest and favor the guy with the best attributes.
Um no.
Many old school fans who remember the early NHB days still think the sport is all about fighting.
Its not. Its an athletic contest utilizing specific techniques and strategies relevant to the rules and judges.
You can say, 'well it should be about fighting!' and thats fair enough. It doesn't change the facts though.
reading comprehension may not be your strong suit.
"MMA has evolved to the point that to be successful a fighter needs an athlete's physicality and a fighter's mind. "
Ryan Warren - I hate to rain on your parade but that doesn't make any sense. <img src="/images/phone/post_tag.png" alt="Phone Post" border="0" style="vertical-align:middle;"/>
I suggest remedial reading comprehension for you
Anomonis -GingerWhinger -FingerorMoon -GingerWhinger - Lots of new fans fail to see MMA for what it is: fighting. They view the sport as an athletic contest and favor the guy with the best attributes.
Um no.
Many old school fans who remember the early NHB days still think the sport is all about fighting.
Its not. Its an athletic contest utilizing specific techniques and strategies relevant to the rules and judges.
You can say, 'well it should be about fighting!' and thats fair enough. It doesn't change the facts though.
reading comprehension may not be your strong suit.
"MMA has evolved to the point that to be successful a fighter needs an athlete's physicality and a fighter's mind. "
That doesn't really address his point. Yes MMA fighters need an athelete's physicality and a fighter's mind, to succeed in a highly structured athletic competition, not a fight, as it were.
My point is: Raw athleticism is a great thing to have, so is massive power, but they are not effective in the context of an MMA competition unless the athlete has a fighter's mindset and is willing to deal with what comes his way. A punch to the face, a submission that can break a limb, a choke that could put someone to sleep are elements of a fight under the banner of athletic competition.
A fight without rules wouldn't be that much different. The guy who succeeds in mma as a fighter/athlete would be a nightmare for anyone in a street fight without his training, physicality and mindset.
I hope you're not talking street vs. ring or maybe I hope you are.
Anomonis - Good point. Those attributes are handy in both venues, though I think the point FingerorMoon was making was that differentiation between old and new school fight fans is more about the nature of the competition rather than how they view fighters and their abilities. They few the old fights as more like fighting. And no I wasn't talking about street fights just different rule sets that promoted a different style of fighting.
edit not old/new school fighters, fight fans
Got'cha. I still think each group of fans have a peculiar bias. Lots of hearts were broken when strong, athletic guys started taking up BJJ and it wasn't a secret club anymore. The nerd blue belt who held the college athlete in guard until he gassed and threw up was getting smashed by the same guy 6 months later. And plenty of NFL washouts or never was types got laid out cold. They don't test chin and ability to roll with punches at the NFL combine
I wouldn't mind it getting so big if it didn't mean more watered down rules, BORING BORING BORING fights where guys play is "safe for points" so they don't get cut, an army of low pay, pho-hawked, douchey, fabricated TUF "stars", and having the price increase to $50 for an inferior product.