What if: Dan Gable would have been a fighter?
by NCSAR on Nov 24, 2009 5:24 PM EST
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PrintThis is the ultimate MMA what if question. Wrestlers have done their share of dominating the MMA world. What would have happened if the greatest wrestler of all time competed in MMA?
HERE is a link of the post written by Robert. He shares some great points! This is a very good read.
It is often said that one of the best bases to have as a mixed martial artist is wresting. Wrestling, in all of its forms, is a sport that is all about leverage and control.
Many fighters who have come from a strong wrestling background have found great success. Just look across the MMA landscape today as it is littered with champion wrestlers making the transition to the sport.
The reason wrestlers have excelled in MMA is not due solely to wrestling itself. Wrestlers are successful because of the drive, determination, and work ethic that they bring with them.
If there is one man who epitomizes wrestling, drive, determination, and work ethic it is Dan Gable.
Impressive....
While attending college and after his collegiate career Gable competed in the Olympic wrestling style of freestyle. Gable was a six-time midlands champion and a three-time USA Freestyle National Champion. In 1971 Gable become World Champion, winning the 68kg division in Sofia, Bulgaria.
In 1972, when the Olympics invaded Munich, the goal was simple; bring home the gold. During these historic Olympics Gable would not only win the gold but he did so without surrendering a single point to his opposition.
What if....
It is not difficult to imagine that had MMA been an avenue available to the Olympic champion it would have been something to consider. For many college wrestlers MMA has become the most suitable path to choose when following the dream of professional athletics.
Gable could have been a force inside the octagon, and would have likely competed at lightweight. The lightweight division has truly become a fan favorite with the incredible pace that the athletes are able to fight at. Gable would have surly been at home in that atmosphere.
With an unstoppable shot and flawless transitions Dan Gable would have ruled the lightweight land. The ability that he possessed to throw and control another human was unreal.
We will never know if Gable could learn to strike, or if he could even take a punch, but we do know that he could wrestle. With his caliber of wrestling, and his work ethic he would have become a champion.
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Sure, he was a great wrestler
But he would have been in his late 40s at UFC 1! He wouldn’t have been able to make an impact as old as he was.
I don't know
In his 50’s, he was still tossing guys around the Iowa wrestling mats!
by mictlantechutli on Nov 24, 2009 5:54 PM EST up reply actions
Without a doubt. First time he wrestled was high school and he won 4 state champs. He was a natural and would have taken to MMA like a fish.
Some people think I am a dumb, ugly human being, but really I am a beautiful ape, with exceptional verbal skills.
Fish mostly just flop around.
...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
an incomplete metaphor is better then a mixed one.
Some people think I am a dumb, ugly human being, but really I am a beautiful ape, with exceptional verbal skills.
by szucconi on Nov 24, 2009 6:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Second that.
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Nov 25, 2009 3:57 AM EST up reply actions
Another question:
What if the top MMA wrestlers had tried to be in the olympics? Oh wait. Nevermind.
The path to my fixed purpose is laid with iron rails, whereon my soul is grooved to run. Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering BROCKLESNAR; to the last I grapple with thee.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Dan Gable would have been really good at, like, takedowns and stuff, and maybe good at other stuff too but maybe not.
What about Alexander Karelin? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Karelin
The guy could won gold at the 88, 92, and 96 games, winning silver in 00. He weighed 286lb, and could fling an equally large opponent over his head.
Keep firing Assholes!
In Idaho, it's illegal to f--- a porcupine. You know why? Because someone tried it.
Imagine Brock.
Now imagine if Brock was in Greco-Roman wrestling instead of freestyle wrestling, which is much more adaptable to mma.
Now imagine if Brock , instead of going into the WWE and trying out for the Vikings, had stuck to combat sports and competed against the best in international competition.
Now imagine Brock going undefeated in 13 years of international competition and not giving up a point for 6 years, winning 3 gold medals during that time.
Karelin still would probably be better.
It’s a fun what if, but Gable’s age and his size (in an era of open weight fights) make it highly unlikely he would have had a standout career.
He probably would have been just as confused by BJJ as everyone else was at the start.
I dislike Matt Hughes. Shogun beat him like a dirty horse.
by MonkeyCHops on Nov 25, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
There’s no way to know this. Obviously, he had all the potential in the world, but some guys can’t take a punch in the face. Other guys can’t give a punch to the face.
This brings an interesting question to mind...
How many wrestlers have come into MMA and shown glass jaws? I can’t think of any off-hand, and while I’m sure there are instances, the point is probably solid.
I think it’s all the general conditioning, with specific focus on the neck (in practice, as a 150lb guy in high school, I could literally lift the 200lb guys while they sat on my head. not just hold them, but lower my chin 45 degrees and raise up almost as far.).
I’ll bet wrestling does more for the chin than boxing does.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
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