Who has the best double-leg takedown in MMA historical past? UFC veteran Chael Sonnen by no means etched phrases, however his newest rankings could shock anybody accustomed to wrestling pedigree. The previous All-American wrestler and Greco-Roman silver medalist not too long ago declared that Georges Saint-Pierre has the most important double-leg takedown in MMA historical past.
The most important double-leg takedown in MMA historical past
“The most important double leg within the historical past of MMA’s sport was finished by George St. Pierre, who didn’t personal a singlet and had by no means performed a wrestling match,” defined Sonnen. “However he was capable of establish all of the years and sacrifices you had in wrestling. As quickly as I put you in a rewarding place, most of them disappeared. And the right definition of wrestling is grabbing somebody.”
Georges St-Pierre
The assertion reveals the center of Sonnen’s debate about what makes MMA wrestling completely different from conventional wrestling. UFC double champion Saint Pierre does not qualify for conventional wrestling, however his method to takedowns was excellent.
The background of St-Pierre tells a unique story from most MMA wrestlers. He started with Kyoto Karate as a younger man underneath teacher Jean Couture, and later added Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, finally wrestling when he started coaching for MMA. His Karate Basis grew to become a secret weapon that made his wrestling extraordinarily efficient.
That is what I take advantage of for my takedown, filming, individuals see it, it is zero wrestling,” St. Pierre instructed Joe Rogan about his UFC profession. “That has nothing to do with my wrestling. My wrestling ends the takedown as soon as I get that leg. However how I come out and in is for karate.”
The Canadian methodology was completely different from conventional wrestling approaches. As an alternative of counting on underhooks and partnerships, he used karate-based distant administration and timing to permeate his opponent’s defenses. His jabs and doubles and leg mixtures have turn out to be legendary.
UFC veteran Sonnen faces legends similar to Anderson Silva, John Jones, and Fedor Emelia Nenko, and has St. Pierre all on high primarily based on his first-hand expertise. In 2014, the 2 engaged in a personal coaching session that Sonnen was impressed with. “It was one of the best fighter I’ve ever adopted,” he recalled. “He had that energy, like that unimaginable energy.”
St. Pierre started wrestling coaching on the Montreal Wrestling Membership underneath Victor Gilberman and Guivi Sissori on the age of 19. However regardless of this late begin, he persistently restrained fighters with wonderful wrestling backgrounds, together with the NCAA nationwide Josh Koscheck, whom he dominated twice. Plus, notable wrestlers similar to Matt Hughes, Frank Trigg, Jon Fitch and Sean Sherk.
Saint-Pierre’s double-legged success got here from the refinement of method, not the wrestling pedigree. In keeping with Sonnen’s evaluation, the Canadian mastered “three completely different set-ups” and “six completely different finishes” for his signature takedown. This centered method, though contradicted conventional wrestling philosophy, has confirmed to be devastatingly efficient in MMA.
The effectiveness of the method was proven by St. Pierre statistics. He compiled 84 Takedowns with a hit fee of 75% all through his UFC profession, in comparison with Sonnen’s 44 Takedowns with 59% accuracy. Extra importantly, Saint-Pierre used his double legs to manage his battle in opposition to elite competitors in a number of weight lessons.
What makes Sonnen’s assist notably spectacular is the achievements of his personal wrestling. Along with the nationwide and two-time college nationwide champions of Greco-Roman Wrestling, instead division of the US Olympic workforce, Sonnen understands wrestling on the highest degree. His notion of Saint Pierre’s superiority brings exact weight to those {qualifications}.
This evaluation additionally highlights the evolution of MMA. Conventional wrestling methods typically require adaptation to cage fights. Saint-Pierre’s karate-based method eradicated this translation drawback by designing takedowns particularly for blended martial arts contexts.
Even throughout his retirement, St. Pierre continues his research. Not too long ago, he sought Sonnen for assist in defending Par Terre Wrestling on Instagram, exhibiting his humility that Joe Logan recognized him as a “actual martial artist.” At the same time as a talented champion, this evolving will reinforce the rationale why Sonnen considers him distinctive.
St-Pierre’s double legacy legacy goes past private success. His jab and takedown mixture influenced all generations of fighter jets, altering the way in which MMA athletes approached the transition from spectacular implants to crowding. This method proved that efficient MMA wrestling might emerge from an unconventional background. In the present day, the Georges St-Pierre is extensively thought of to be the most important MMA fighter in historical past.
Data held by UFC Nice Georges St-Pierre
In his profession, he landed 90 takedowns (second in UFC historical past) and maintained a exceptional accuracy of 73.7% to 75.0%. This degree of accuracy and quantity was transformed to a mean of 4.16 takedowns per quarter-hour.
Past pure takedowns, St. Pierre was wonderful at controlling enemies on the mat. He held the document for essentially the most whole time of management in UFC historical past, dictating his tempo and place in 2 hours and 42 minutes and 4 seconds. Of that point, 2 hours, 22 minutes and 5 seconds had been spent within the dominant high place. It was additionally the very best mark recorded, highlighting his skills to not solely carry enemies to the canvas, however to maintain them there.
