Here’s a stat that may not come as a surprise to long-time fans of MMA, and UFC in particular: Since 1993, the number of times a fight has been stopped due to a knock-out or tap-out has dropped by nearly 50%.
What’s the deal?!
In 1993, every fight on that first hallowed UFC event came to a finish , while in 2010 only 52% of the fights came to a decisive end. This may not be a directly fair comparison as fights in the first UFC went on until they finished, it wasn’t until UFC 21 when the five-minute round system came into effect that decisions were even a possibility. So maybe that should be our starting point.
In 1999, at UFC 21 when the round system came into effect 75% of fights came to a finish – still a far cry from the 50% we’re “enjoying” today. So, if it isn’t the format, what is it?
Some claim that the number of events has grown so much over the years, that inevitably there are going to be fewer finishes. Sorry, wrong again. For example, in 2008 there nineteen events and a finishing percentage of 68%; in 2010 there were twenty-two events, and alas, I remind you again of that “50%” number.
So, if it isn’t the fact that the fight system has changed, and it’s not the number of events, what is it?
While there are likely a number of contributing factors to the lack of finishes in the UFC, I think we’ve entered a new age of MMA. It has become the age of the smart fighter, where the victory is more often decided after the final bell. The days of fighters like Cabbage Correira and Tank Abbott, who would come into the Octagon prepared to have their face beat in so long as they could grind out a win on a looping right hook, are gone.
Today we have fighters who enter the stage with a game plan specifically tailored to the fighter they’re about to face. Georges St. Pierre, Frankie Edgar, Anderson Silva, even Chael Sonnen – when you watch these fighters step in against their respective competitor they come in with a game plan to stifle their opponent and avoid getting hit.
If you disagree, I respect your opinion, but please ask yourself one question: Why do Jackson MMA fighters have the highest winning percentage of any other camp? Anyone who knows MMA knows that Greg Jackson is the godfather of the game plan. This past weekend’s Diaz v. Condit match was a perfect example. Diaz is still under the school of thought that you should stand-and-bang with your opponent, whereas Condit came in with a plan to avoid falling into Diaz’s game. I shouldn’t need to tell you who the victor was.
So prepare yourself for more decisions, and say good-bye to the old school mentality of stand-and-bang; they will soon be relics of the past.
… and that is the last word
Follow Mark on Twitter – @LastWordMark
