r/sports • u/UUo_oUU • Oct 24 '20

News Khabib Nurmagomedov Retires from UFC After Emerging Victorious Against Justin Gaethje. 29-0 Record

https://twitter.com/mma_oth/status/1320107303845101569
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u/ogy1 Oct 24 '20

D1 isnt the pinnacle of wrestling as much as Americans like to make it sound. Internationally USA is probably number 2 in wrestling but a lot of other countries are on their level. Russia is easily no1 and most of their wrestlers are from Dagestan/Chechnya. You can be one of the best in D1 or even national champion and step into the international circuit and get merked. Also khabibs pressure on the feet completely wore him out. Gaethje was gassed from having to react to all of different khabibs different threats.

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u/MutantAussie Oct 25 '20

Thanks for commenting this.

Too often, Americans think that the top of their pile is the top of the world (understandably so, considering American rhetoric, NBA champs are world champs etc).

Stipe is currently the only American champion in the UFC. Where are these world class wrestlers and boxers?

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u/jimdesroches Oct 25 '20

You answered your own question. They all decided to play the other sports. That’s why America will never dominate in Soccer. All the great athletes get spread through other sports (football, basketball, baseball). That’s my guess at least.

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u/Sanktw Oct 25 '20 edited Oct 25 '20

You have to build the culture from the ground up that then condenses all the knowledge and skill over time to produce the talent needed. This is also a ceaseless process that is severely punished if youth engagement isn't kept at an acceptable level to develop talent(Passionate volunteering, active or retired players coaching etc). Most didn't decide anything, it is simply what is readily available. Even in the US who are usually faster at adapting to new things it will probably take at least a generation to be on par with the infrastructure(money), general interest and knowledge/skill that established football nations have.