Aug 16, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, UNITED STATES; Dricus Du Plessis Murphy (red gloves) fights Khamzat Chimaev (blue gloves) during UFC 319 at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

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Grapplers Back In Fashion? Former UFC Champion Gives His Insight After UFC 319

MMA has always moved in cycles, like fashion trends that come and go. The early UFC days belonged to grapplers like Royce Gracie, who shocked the world by choking out bigger, stronger opponents with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Then came the era of well rounded fighters who could do everything decently but nothing exceptionally. Later, fans saw the rise of knockout artists and flashy strikers who could keep fights standing and create highlight-reel moments that filled arenas and pay-per-view buys.

The striking era reached its peak with fighters like Israel Adesanya, who used elite takedown defense and creative footwork to keep dangerous grapplers at bay while picking them apart on the feet. For years, it seemed like the formula was simple: learn enough wrestling to stay upright, then use superior striking to win fights. But UFC 319 and the events before it might have marked the beginning of a new chapter in this ongoing evolution. Dominick Cruz, the former bantamweight champion known for his analytical mind and unparalleled footwork, believes we are witnessing the return of the grappler’s era. The evidence from Saturday night’s fights supports his theory in dramatic fashion.

Dominick Cruz Reveals The Comeback Of Wrestling

Khamzat Chimaev’s title winning performance against Dricus Du Plessis served as the perfect example of Cruz’s point. The Chechen fighter didn’t just win the middleweight belt. He completely dominated a skilled striker by turning the fight into a wrestling clinic. Chimaev controlled Du Plessis on the ground for most of the fight (21:40 min), landing an incredible 529 strikes compared to his opponent’s measly 45. This wasn’t just a wrestling victory; it was a statement that elite grapplers are finding ways to neutralize even the best strikers in the sport.

Khamzat Chimaev had 21:40 of control time in the 25-minute fight with Dricus Du Plessis at #UFC319 🤯

The most ever in UFC title fight history pic.twitter.com/YHmQwQoTtZ
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) August 17, 2025

Cruz pointed to other examples from UFC 319 that supported his theory about the shifting landscape. Kamaru Usman showed his wrestling dominance by pinning Joaquin Buckley against the cage, using his superior grappling to control a dangerous striker. Anthony Hernandez demonstrated high level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in his victory over Roman Dolidze, showing that skills are still incredibly valuable in modern MMA. These weren’t isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern that suggests the sport is moving back toward its grappling roots.

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Cruz believes that modern fighters have become too comfortable relying on their ability to stuff takedowns without developing proper ground skills. This creates a dangerous gap in their game that elite grapplers are now exploiting. When a striker faces a wrestler of Chimaev’s caliber, simply preventing the takedown isn’t enough anymore. The wrestler will eventually get the fight to the ground through sheer persistence and superior technique.

The Fix Is Simple: Adapt Or Get Left Behind

Cruz’s most important observation focuses on what fighters need to do to survive in this new era. He stressed that if a fighter can’t stuff takedowns consistently, they absolutely must learn how to get back to their feet quickly. The days of being content with basic takedown defense are over. Fighters who get taken down and can’t escape will find themselves controlled and dominated for entire rounds, just like Du Plessis experienced against Chimaev.

This shift creates interesting challenges for both fighters and coaches. Strikers can no longer focus solely on improving their stand up game while treating wrestling as an afterthought. They need to develop legitimate ground skills and escape techniques. The investment in time and energy required to become proficient on the ground is significant. But it has become absolutely necessary for championship level success.

The cyclical nature of MMA means that eventually, the pendulum will swing back again. Someone will develop new strategies to neutralize wrestlers, just like strikers found ways to deal with early grapplers. But for now, Cruz’s assessment seems spot-on!

(Image Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski – Imagn Images)

Anthony Hernandez

Dominick Cruz

Kamaru Usman

Khamzat Chimaev

UFC 319

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!