Genetics and the Future of MMA
by Nathan Joel on May 04, 2012
have changed that: First, the fight community knows what works and what skill-sets you must have (which is not disproven by the rare and exceptional representative of traditional martial arts). This has essentially ended the mismatches where one of the fighters really has no clue on what to do. Secondly, the sport has gotten rich. Money ensures that every gifted guy coming up through the respective fight communities, whether Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, or collegiate wrestling, gives mixed-martial-arts a serious look (I did not mention boxing, because boxing has been rich for decades).

Genetics follows money and soon takes over. In 1900 the average professional MLB pitcher was 5'11" and 175 lbs. In 2010, the average pitcher was 6'3" and 210 lbs. Average size of NFL player in 1920's was 5'11" and 198lbs. By the 2000's the size was 6'2" and 302lbs! In the NBA of the 1930's the average NBA player was 6'3" but by 2000 the average player was 6'7". What is more, in 1940 barely more than 1% of the players in the NBA were over 7'; but by the 1960's nearly 12% of the players were over 7'. Sure, the average size of an American has risen over these same decades; but not by this much. This is not natural selection, it is artificial selection.

So that skinny kid at your BJJ academy, who wrestles in school, and boxes at the community center. That kid who is too short for basketball scouts, too skinny for football scouts, and who lives in the wrong neighborhood for baseball; that kid might be a genetic rarity. If he can keep his length without gaining too much mass (think chicken-legs); if he has quick-twitch explosive muscle in the right areas and slow-twitch endurance muscle in the right areas; if his lung metabolism is right; and if his mind and sense of self are strong. It might be that the whole mixed martial art community is looking for that kid.

That kid might one day be the champion of the world.

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 |  (11) Comments JEM: Actually, the average heights in the US have risen just about exactly the amounts you listed in your article during the past century- about 5'7" for males in 1900 and 5'10" for males in 2010. So the heights of athletes are following the average upward trend in the general population, not diverging from it. Obviously the weights of football players have increased disproportionately, but that is a predominantly a question of training and diet, not genetics. A greater societal acceptance for obesity may play a role as well. As far as genetics in the general athletic population, with the same training tools available to a given group of individuals, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that genetic differences will separate the pack. That and predispositions towards over-achieving based on the environment of the athlete's upbringing. Not everybody is born to be a Michael Jordan or a Michael Phelps, or raised with the mindset to take full advantage of their natural gifts- that's pretty obvious. It seems pretty certain, however, that even with a general recognition of the diversity of skills needed to succeed in modern MMA, those skills are going to be conveyed with greater or lesser success at different training facilities. A fighter's economic status, geographical location, and early life choices will also influence potential for success and access to training outside of simple genetic limitations. So even while you may be correct in stating that within a given set of parameters a fighter with superior genetics will naturally have an advantage, the real world remains too complicated and too many factors are involved to say with any certainty that genetics by itself will "take over" MMA. snuff: Another thing I can add here is that Stephen Struve is I believe, also genetically gifted. But not as hard working as it seems as Jon Jones. Genetics will only take you so far. It's Jon Jones' determination and effort that's what drove to success. Although a study of those who are genetically gifted people will be good. A random sample of 100 I think will be sufficient. thug4less: Also, JEM I'm under the average for a male from the last century.... way to make me feel like a loser. :( Giada Esposito: Hmm, those are some interesting points all around. I think genetics certainly plays a role, but like JEM said it's a lot more complicated than that. And I also don't think MMA has finished evolving yet. It hasn't, to borrow a phrase from Mr. Joel, finished "showing us what works." Until that happens, I'm going to bet that training and mindset are going to have a bigger influence than genetics on the sport. Brock Lesnar was a genetic freak, but his career crashed and burned when he ran into guys like Velasquez who had a superior training and I'm guessing superior psychological makeup too. Of course Jones has some genetic gifts (mainly super long arms), but isn't it his mental attributes more than anything that make him succeed? And can you really say the mind is a product of genetics, or is it more a product of environment? Also JEM, like Thug said, lack of economic means can sometimes help a fighter succeed. Look at Rousimar Palhares, fighting tonight. At one point his family was homeless in the vast, teeming, stinking slums of Brazil. It was the determination to give his family something better than that which has driven him to be such an awesome fighter. I do think it's true though that for a lot of guys, struggling to balance a full-time job with affording gym time and coaching, that money can be a factor in their ability to go from good to great. Nathan Joel: Good points all and thank you for taking time to respond. We should not assume that size is the only thing that is "genetic." Professional golf and tennis players look rather ordinary, but are amazingly gifted. Lance Armstrong looks fairly ordinary, but read the literature on his genetic gifts. It's crazy; even the relative length of his femurs is genetically rare. They tested Formula 1 drivers and discovered they have genetically freakish hand-eye responses. So... I believe that Cain V.'s cardio is more than hard work, but something of a genetic advantage. I believe that guys like Anderson Silva and Machida have hand-eye and pupil-response that are off the charts compared to average Joe. Balance, the motor-skills in the brain, even spatial reasoning or instinct. Many of these top ten guys are "gifted" on top of being skilled. My point summed up is: You can train with A. Silva's coaches, but it will not make you into A. Silva. MAStudent: I agree with the gyst of this theme. What you know was the most important thing at that time, when Gracie dominated. Royce was in fact well-known to be the little chicken in the Gracie clan. He only got the job in the first UFC because Rickson wanted 1 $Million as the prize and the backers couldn't afford it. Motivation will always be a key factor in the process of training, in finding assitance/coaching, and during the fight itself. And certainly who is more motivated is on the line in every fight. But if we can assume that the fight community is catching on to what works and how to train across the globe, then fights like Royce vs. Shamrock 1 become less likely. With one guy losing be3cause he is simply unaware of the other style. Look at Royce Shamrock 2. Though it was extremely boring, Shamrock knew better than to take the risks he had before. He in fact knocked the crap out of Royce a couple times, and their picture after the fight with an arm around each other, and the muscle clad Shamrock laughing at Royce's giantly swelling eye is timeless. Genetics caught up with Royce even just between two fights with the same fighter. Certainly the principles of leverage >strength, push/pull when your opponent is at his weakest/ worst angle, prioritizing vulnerable areas, sequencing, and diversion are assets. but if both guys know them, it is a wash. Given equal preparation and motivation, the genetically superior guy has an advantage. I thought Rashad was quicker than Jones, but couldn't past the length. In his pre-fight commentary, Rashad talked about guys not attacking Jones. He tried it, and found that because of Jones' build, there is another range between jab range and clinch/dirty boxing/trapfighting- long elbow range. After that he didn't try to get "inside" anymore. It's genetic. Also, I'm sure there are other guys that have trained kickboxing as much as A Silva. They don't consistently hit a target about as big as a dime with their whole body doing exactly the same thing and no self-restriction like he does. I'm sure there's more to that then training. I would buy an argument for body type vs. body type in the future. Can stocky guy score on a lanky guy? Can a lanky guy get off his back with a stocky guy stuck to his topside?
WHO WINS THE MAIN EVENT AT UFC 162 BETWEEN ANDERSON SILVA AND CHRIS WEIDMAN?
Silva via Decision
Silva via TKO/KO
Silva via Submission
Weidman via Decision
Weidman via TKO/KO
Weidman via Submission
TAKE ANOTHER POLL!