Fights or Fighters you remember that "evolved" the skill sets in MMA?

Definitely Frank Shamrock for showing what the future MMA fighters would be.

 

UFC 5 Ken laid the blueprint for all other wrestlers to follow by taking Royce down and never attempting to pass the guard but staying put and punching from inside the guard.

He already used a variation of GnP in his UFC 3 appearnces where he stopped Lenniger due to strikes and grounded Milton Bowen with punches until he rolled over and Ken choked him out.

 

Of course, I've heard all of this before but in my mind the inclusion of Ken Shamrock in the first UFC throws this out the window. At the time Ken was without a doubt the best shootfighter in the world which combines catch wrestling with muay thai striking. If you look at Ken's fights in Pancrase Pre-UFC 1 - he was throwing people all over the place. At the time he was either already the first King of Pancrase or was one fight away from the actual title fight having already defeated the top competition in Japan. In his fight with Matt Hume - he suplexed him on his head - ala Severn/Macias. Ken jut never had the chance to showcase his throws in the UFC and especially not in UFC 1 because Royce choked his ass out!

 

How is Bas Rutten not in the list?

 

Ken never fought Bowen. You must be talking about Felix Mitchell; otherwise known as the first guy to wear MMA gloves to the octagon, but was asked to remove them before the fight began. Bowen went on to be the first guy to actually fight with MMA gloves.

It was Steve Jennum that grounded Melton Bowen, worked some GnP from full mount, and then took the most comically gift wrapped armbar in the history of the sport. Jennum was actually a pretty complete fighter for the era.

 

Got a feeling this threads gonna run and run.....:thumbsup

Enjoying it, learning loads, keep posting fellas.op

 

You're right, Rob Floyd. I confused the two names.

 

This thread was going so so well......why did you have to mention Bruce Lee!?!?

Yes his legacy is every where around us in combat sports and the wider world in general would look and be a very different place without Bruce and for that he'll always get respect. :bowdown

But the thread title is about "fighters". :deal

Even though for many Bruce is and was a god like figure & cited by just about every martial artist alive as an influence , was he ever a fighter? The problem with bringing Bruce into a thread like this is it's nothing but hypothetical. Unlike the fighters on the above list it'll always be a what if with Bruce.........

 

deal:deal


:thumbsup

 

:think


Bruce belongs at the bottom of the list because he has no verifiable bouts. Fred Ettish has verifiable bouts.

Gene Lebell did it all before Bruce. Who do you think gave Bruce that arm bar? :deal


Steve Jennum was the first to show a stand up ground game package IMO.

 

Gene LeBell. Now we're talking :good