The Turning Point of MMA?!?!

[Mako]

I know this might be a bit controversial, but I re-watched UFC17 last night, and I feel like a true turning point in MMA might be the Joe Pardo vs. Mike Van Arsdale fight. (Stick with me here!)

You have Joe Pardo, an experienced BJJ guy (although NOT an expert, like the UFC stated). He had previously beaten people in challenge matches, representing at GJJ Academy. His pure GJJ was classic; hand up to "measure", front hop kick to enter, waist grab for takedown, closed guard, etc. This strategy had never failed him!

Now, he faces Van Arsdale, an olympic calibre wrestler who had physical tools Pardo had probably never encountered. I think this might have been the point where a regular guy (like you or I) who had mastered the basics of JJ ran headlong into a world class athlete. This was, in microcosm, the past and future meeting head-on. This was also "us" against our worst nightmare.

Just a thought... feedback? LET'S GET IT ON! LOL!

[Qkfx]

Mako-
I don't know if it was "the" turning point but it was at least an indicator of how things would develop. I don't see it as us against our worst nightmare. The early UFC's were all about which style is best where, for the most part, all the athletes were B-level at best. The inclusion of world class athletes changed the face of things, it became less about the style and more about the individual athlete. The disciplines were put into proper perspective as simple tools to be customized for an athletes best attributes. I also think this is why bjj became so well received. I mean what other style could allow a skinny non-athletic guy like Royce to hang with an Athlete at Shamrock and Severn's level, much less win?

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

Another turning point was when Maurice Smith became the Heavyweight Champion. A full circle.

[Zhoozhitsu]

Nah! If you consider that the turning point in MMA, then a better example would be Mark Kerr x Fabio Gurgel. Pardo was a purple belt at that time. Gurgel was a world class black belt who had his a$$ handed to him by Kerr.

I think Shammy x Royce II was the turning point. From then on, MMA turned off a lot of fans, including Judo Guy, 'cause everyone was training for the ground.

[bobby_steeles]

i don't necessarily disagree with you, but i think that fight was more of a mismatch than anything else. joe pardo was a purple belt, wasn't he?

[Rob B]

- Bitteti the absolute division champion being beaten to a pulp by Wrestler/Boxer Don Frye

- Coleman being humiliated by Mo

[Lacrymosa]

I think if there was any turning point it was in UFC I. Royce's performance basically changed the way people approach the sport from that point on.......