Although Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Kyokushin Karate, and other high-level forms of martial arts have found their way into the UFC (and into the repertoire of numerous title holders), there are two basic skills that are represented in every champion: boxing and wrestling. Not all champions possess both, but any fighter worth his weight knows the ins and outs of at least one. So, which one is better?
Arguably, the UFC started out as a “wrestling” organization. With Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, and Dan Severn winning most of their battles on the ground, brawlers and boxers found little success in the early stages of the fight game. Take Art Jimmerson, for example, who was so confident in his boxing ability that he calmly strode to the ring in UFC 1 wearing just a single boxing glove. Royce Gracie, who took the boxer down in a matter of seconds, quickly submitted him in the first round. Matt Hughes, Tito Ortiz, and their ilk continued the tradition, using their strength and wrestling ability to execute a variety of submissions from all possible angles, including the Rear Naked Choke and the Guillotine.
A noticeable shift in prevailing styles occurred with the advent of fighters such as Chuck Liddell and Tim Sylvia, known for their punching power rather than their prowess on the ground. Adept at staying on the feet and avoiding half the fight game (grappling), these fighters who debuted during the time when MMA was just picking up steam, only helped the momentum with their trademark knockouts.
However, current MMA trends represent a mixture of both styles that gained use and popularity over the course of the last few years. Georges St. Pierre is extremely dangerous on his feet, employing a variety of punches, back fists, and kicks. Meanwhile, he is just as tricky on the ground, having recently submitted Matt Hughes. Other champions, such as Anderson Silva, follow a similar pattern of being talented anywhere the fight takes them.
While we aren’t in a period of strict grappling or striking dominance, there is a certain pattern among fighters. The smaller fighters and lower weight classes seem to rely more heavily on grappling. BJ Penn and Sean Sherk, for instance, would much rather take a fight down than keep it standing. Meanwhile, the bigger guys in the larger weight classes, such as Tim Sylvia and Quinton Jackson, would prefer to keep it standing.
Of course, there are anomalies to this example. Marcus Davis, a welterweight, is known for his knockout power whereas Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, both heavyweights, have many wins via submission. Although there are precedents as to whether fighters use a boxing or wrestling base in their fights, the old adage of mixed martial arts rings true in this discussion -- the sport is unpredictable.
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