I still am, thats why I'm trying to figure ways of him beating Diaz. MMA, has evolved, BJ got left behind. Just like Hughes, Vitor, Shogun etc etc.
I don't know about Vitor and Shogun because they still posess deadly standup and compliment it by a verygood ground game. But Hughes,Tito and even Fedor havn't changed a single thing and expect to compete like it was 5 years ago.
I don't know about Tito, but I have to disagree with the rest. It may me too little too late, but I think Hughes and Fedor tried to evolve. Hughes' striking was atrocious several years ago. In fact, I remember thinking that this is the fighter Royce may even have a chance against standing. Everyone was talking about how dangerous Royce was on the ground. Royce wasn't going to be too dangerous for Hughes on the ground. It's not like Royce is a world class bjj artist. Royce was very good, but it's not like he was ever going to win an international bjj title. Royce had a chance standing because Hughes may have actually bought into the whole idea that Royce was too dangerous on the ground. All Royce would had to have done to be successful standing against Hughes was develop a jab. Not a world class boxer's jab. Just a jab to put in Hughes' face to continually disrupt him. Since that time, Hughes has developed better stand-up. Hughes may not be close to being the fighter he was several years ago, but the 2010 version would beat the **** out of the 2006 version in a thai boxing bout. I've always thought Fedor didn't develop because he kept winning doing what he was doing. A lot of that doing was based on his athleticism. I don't think he even bothered changing much after the Werdum fight. It was after the Silva fight that he began trying to change. Silva didn't just catch Fedor in a quick submission. Silva battered Fedor standing, and dominated him on the ground. I think Fedor got the message. The next training footage I saw out of Fedor included nothing but improving his striking, and ways to get off his back grappling. Fedor and Hughes may not be able to Couture themselves late into their careers, but I don't think it will be simply because they are trying to fight like they did 5 years ago. Wow that was too much typing on such an unimportant post.
Hughes and tito did improve their striking but there was no where for it to go but up. Fedor was so used to fighting sub par fighters when he fought Bigfoot he prob didn't know what he was in for. This was no HMC or Matt lindlund.
That may very well be the case. The point that I'm trying to make is that his style never really cost him until the Werdum and Silva fights. Fedor may have even overlooked the Werdum fight because of how quick it happened. I'll give an example from boxing. Evander Holyfield used to fight as though he could duke it out with anyone. Evander had all the boxing ability in the world, but it was time to trade if he was tagged. This mentality worked for him until he faced Riddick Bowe. The first Bowe fight is the first time he failed to win by gutting it out. This gave him a new appreciation for strategy. I think Fedor has a new appreciation for strategy and technique. I just don't know if he found it quick enough.
In Titos case, he wasnt that good to begin with coz his wrestling (which used to dominate) is actually B level compared to guys like Rashad, Bader, Koscheck etc. Titos one of my faves though and he did try to improve his stand up. Fedor, Shogun and Wlad. Sloppy striking aint going to cut it anymore. When an ex pro boxers (although B level) Noons and Davis are getting punked striking, what more so if you're throwing looping, telegraphed punches. Hendo has become the GOAt because he always possessed one of the greatest Greco in the sports history and has the best right hand ever. BJs BJJ now is no better than Nate Diaz when back then he was considered elite level.