The Size of Fighters in MixedMartialArts (MMA) ?

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Fight Magnet
Date: October 04, 2011 at 12:45 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/the-size-of-fighters-in-mixedmartialarts-mma.42488/

This thread is meant to illustrate the size of some fighters in the WelterWeight division, and not necessarily meant to reflect on the talent of any "one" of the said examples. Whenever Anthony J. fights, the size of fighters is brought up. Mainly because Anthony has missed weight on 2 occasions. Missing weight is a justified critisizm, yet is it a legitimate call for a move up in divisions, when other fighters are of equal size ? Are larger fighters in each respective division the norm, or becoming the norm, or are they anomalies ? Does being the larger fighter always guarantee the W ? Why do fans take issue with the size of fighters in their respective divisions ?
This example of the Welter weight division could also be used to reflect trends in the other divisions.Feel free to raise your own questions.
Thoughts ?
Georges St. Pierre said. "And I truly believe that in our sport, skill and technique always beat strength and size, so the guy who will win the fight is the better fighter, not the bigger guy."
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Nick Diaz
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Reach 74 in (188 cm)
August 2, 1983 (age 28)
Carlos "The NaturalBornkiller" Condit
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m
Reach 76 in (193 cm)
April 26, 1984 (age 27)
John Hathaway
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Reach 75.5 in (192 cm)
July 1, 1987 (age 24)
Ben "Killa B" Saunders
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Reach 77.5 in (197 cm)
April 13, 1983 (age 28)
Anthony "Rumble" Johnson
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Reach 78.0 in (198 cm)
March 6, 1984 (age 27)
Jon Fitch
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Reach 74 in (188 cm)
February 24, 1978 (age 33)
Dong Hyun Kim "Stun Gun"
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Reach 76 in (193 cm)
November 17, 1981 (age 29)
Rory "Ares" MacDonald
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Reach 76.5 in (194 cm)
July 22, 1989 (age 22)

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: sincitydc
Date: October 04, 2011 at 01:17 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/the-size-of-fighters-in-mixedmartialarts-mma.42488/

it's crazy to think that matt hughes used to be talked about as one of the bigger welterweights out there. now he seems tiny compared to a lot of his opponents.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Spud
Date: October 04, 2011 at 01:23 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/the-size-of-fighters-in-mixedmartialarts-mma.42488/

Just because someone is tall does not mean they are big for the weight class. To have MacDonald in this poll beside Johnson is just stupid. Size means more than just height.
The way I see it, if you can make the weight, you can be in the division. If someone really struggles to make the weight, it'll negatively affect their performance anyway. Plus, technique will always beat size. Look at Frankie Edgar.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Fight Magnet
Date: October 04, 2011 at 02:06 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/the-size-of-fighters-in-mixedmartialarts-mma.42488/

Spud said:
Just because someone is tall does not mean they are big for the weight class. To have MacDonald in this poll beside Johnson is just stupid.
Size means more than just height.
The way I see it, if you can make the weight, you can be in the division.
If someone really struggles to make the weight, it'll negatively affect their performance anyway
. Plus, technique will always beat size. Look at Frankie Edgar.
Click to expand...
MacDonald is, a large welterweight, and it's simply an illustration. I could have included Thiago Alves but Rory's bigger than him imo. I could of had Brian Ebersole or Jake Ellenberger or a number of other large Wws., but there's only so many options in the poll. :roll: Which is why I included their reach. How much body fat they put on, or as some like to call it "walk around weight" does not determine size come fight night either, because the body fat is no longer there, yet people seem bent on including that body fat as an indicator of fighter size, so "walk around weight" is some what decieving.
Rumble Ko'd his opponent in 41sec, when he missed weight the 2nd time, so it didn't affect his performance. The first time he was sub'd in the 2nd, so it may well have, I can't recall the fight.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Mythrel
Date: October 04, 2011 at 02:35 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/the-size-of-fighters-in-mixedmartialarts-mma.42488/

My opinion is that if you can make weight, you belong. Anthony Johnson is a huge welterweight, but if he were to move to middleweight, he'd be at a size disadvantage. As long as he continues to make weight, more power to him.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: TheSituation
Date: October 04, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/the-size-of-fighters-in-mixedmartialarts-mma.42488/

Mythrel said:
My opinion is that if you can make weight, you belong. Anthony Johnson is a huge welterweight, but if he were to move to middleweight, he'd be at a size disadvantage. As long as he continues to make weight, more power to him.
Click to expand...
He cuts from over 200 lbs... he would NOT be at a size disadvantage at 185, hed most likely be a BETTER version of himself not having to cut so much weight. Not saying he'd be more effective at MW, just that he would more often than not NOT be at a size disadvantage.
Rules are rules and they are the same for everyone... so, whatever, it is what it is. But, for my money, I'd rather have a prefight weigh in no more than an hour before the fight, virtually eliminating massive size diffs like Charlie and AJ.
And GSP was WRONG, skill and technique do NOT always beat size... Prime example? Brock Lesnar. And since his statement was so extreme, take it a step further.... Who wins, a mid tier MW or a mid tier LW? A top 5 WW or a top 5 HW? Jose Aldo or Pat Barry? BJ Penn or Chael Sonnen? Size DOES matter or else there wouldn't be weight divisions. No, not always, but all things being equal, a good big man beats a good small man, almost every time.