I'm not a big hand to hand guy, I train because I have to, not because I enjoy it. But the movement of modern military combatives to mma style striking and BJJ based ground work is a direct result of special operations units seeking the best fighters out there to train them and help develop their programs.
When talking to anyone about styles, it's almost impossible to get an open minded answer about the subject. If a dude has been fighting a style for 30 years don't you think he probably loves his dicipline? If not, what the fuck has the guy been doing for 30 years?!
The thing that became glaring obvious to me as a 20 year old soldier when UFC first started was that multi dicipline no holds barred fighting was fucking hilarious to witness. UFC 1,2, & 3 are referred to by my co-workers as "the circus".
This was a fresh new experience and was sold as "No Rules" (except groin strikes and eye gouging).
Two dudes got in a ring and there were no rounds. Mother fuckers brought whatever they had in terms of fitness and technique, and they beat each others asses until someone got knocked out, choked out, or fucking quit.
This was ALMOST a perfect testing lab to compare apples to oranges. There are those that will argue that the 1 on 1 forum removed the "fighting multiple attackers" aspect in which certain styles like BJJ might not be suited for.
Anyway, if you have never watched "the circus", you need to watch UFC 1-4 and watch how quickly the MT and BJJ combo that we all associate with modern MMA fucking evolved and DOMINATED all other techniques.
Watching a silver medalist Olympic wrestler tap out from a armbar 26 minutes into a non-stop fight when he out weighed his opponent by 40-60lbs AND was on his feet in a dominant position over his opponent, was nothing short of amazing.
Watching drunk Russian fat guys, karate kid wanna be's, semi pro boxers, get their asses beat one after the other was a clue.
UFC today in terms of format evolved into a sport and techniques used today are designed to fight others using similar MMA techniques withing the specific format of that sport. However don't let detractors convince you that means that shit don't work in a free flow multi dicipline environment.
Keep in mind, when it was the circus, any fucking guy with a Krav Maga death head level 20 certification could have stepped in the ring and beat Royce Gracie ' s ass at any point if his shit was more legit.
So for you under 30 young Thundercats, if you have never seen the Circus, find that shit on the internet and figure out where all this shit evolved from in the modern era. Even if you don't learn anything you didn't already know..... that shit is funny.