As far as I can tell, there have been three prototypes of a 'perfect fighter' in MMA's modern era. Who do you think are the best examples of these prototypes, or come the closest to them?
Prototype A: A devastating, incredible, unbeatable striker with incredible and outstanding takedown defense. You can't outstrike them and you can't take them down. Impossible to beat.
Prototype B: An incredible wrestler with unstoppable takedowns who is world class on the ground with subs, sub defense and GnP. You can't stop from being taken down, and once you are down they are impossible to get off of you or to sub. Can't beat them.
Prototype C: A world-class, devastating striker with world-class, unbeatable BJJ off his back. You don't have a chance to beat him standing, and if you take him down you will get swept or subbed 100% of the time.
Obviously in MMA noone is truly 'unbeatable' but these are the different ways fighters have seemed unbeatable. Who fits in what category and why?
U forgot the Fedor category.
Immaculata - U forgot the Fedor category.
I would think Fedor falls into category three...
Nobody has beaten him standing and everyone who has taken him down gets quickly subbed.
I just wanted to say it.
Fun game.
A. Alves. Stuffed Hughes and Koscheck completely.
B. GSP.
C. Anderson.
I think Cro Cop is another good candidate for category A. Like chuck, he was eventually beaten but for a while he looked like an unstoppable machine.
Frate Tranes are unbeatable;)
Cindy
Maynard and Edgar are growing into the 'B' category. They'll probably never have world class subs, but they're both hard to stop and hard to sub.
BJ is both 'A' and 'C'. Very hard to strike with him, very hard to take him down, and if you do you're going to wish you hadn't.
Prototype C has the best chance of not being beat, imo.
A. Chuck, Fedor
B. Hughes, GSP, Sherk, Fedor
C. ANderson, Condit, Nick/Nate DIaz, NOg, Fedor
A: CroCop in his prime.
B: Mark Kerr in his prime.
C: Anderson Silva right now.
D: Guys who seem to rise above singular disciplines... Fedor, GSP, BJ Penn.
a was chuck liddell through and through.
b is gsp imo. people always harp on his striking but he is a wrestler.
c is most definitely napao. his heart is the only thing in question.
there needs to be a category for guys who do everything well like, fedor, gsp, penn
Crocop was the only guy ever who stopped all of Coleman's takedowns, right?
And Fujita LOL.
great point
I do'nt really know if there is anybody out there that fits into B.
If all three categories of people don't have iron jaws, then they aren't going to be unbeatable.
Anyone can get caught with a good punch.
Give A or C a Mark Hunt chin and THEN you have a fighter that probably won't lose
voorhees - I do'nt really know if there is anybody out there that fits into B.
matt hughes and gsp fit this well
98lbweakling - A: CroCop in his prime.
B: Mark Kerr in his prime.
C: Anderson Silva right now.
D: Guys who seem to rise above singular disciplines... Fedor, GSP, BJ Penn.
Fedor is not a 'rise above'. Fedor is a 'prototype C'. He gets taken down a lot (Hong Man Choi, Randleman, Coleman) but always subs them. His wrestling is meh but you are screwed if you stand with him and screwed if you take him down.