martial arts - judo vs. wrestling

[Men the Master]

An organization in Japan just organized a "no holds barred" fight between 2000 Olympic gold medalist (2004 bronze) Rulon Gardner against a Japanese judo Olympic gold medalist. Is there a way I can bet on this online? And who do you think would win this fight? I'm mainly a boxing fan and don't know how to analyze this kind of weird fight. Maybe someone here does know.

[slickpoppa]

I think you have a gambling problem.

[Boris]

I think the wrestler would have to start out as at least a 3:1 favorite. I say this because the wrestler probably has an advantage on the ground and probably has superior conditioning. In the UFC and Pride fighting it seems the wrestlers always do well. I don't recall any Judo experts.

[theBruiser500]

kung fu is best

[bdk3clash]

The organization that's putting this on is Pride Fighting Championship (http://www.prideFC.com), which is kind of the Japanese equivalent of the UFC here in the US.

The judo gold medalist is Hidehiko Yoshida, who has competed for Pride several times in the past (and won a few times). He's going to be a pretty heavy favorite because he has mixed martial arts experience, whereas this will be Gardner's first MMA fight.

Though wrestlers have fared well competing in MMA, the sport has evolved to the point where all competitors are pretty much competent in all aspects (striking, stand-up grappling, takedowns, and groundfighting.) A pure wrestler without much cross-training wouldn't stand a chance against most MMA fighters. Obviously, Gardner will be training in striking and submission grappling, but he's still going to be very inexperienced compared to Yoshida.

I'm not sure which online sportsbooks offer wagering on Pride events--maybe a post in the sports betting or Internet gambling forum would help.

I would make Yoshida a 4:1 favorite. If it's any closer than that, bet on Yoshida.

[Blarg]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the wrestler would have to start out as at least a 3:1 favorite. I say this because the wrestler probably has an advantage on the ground and probably has superior conditioning. In the UFC and Pride fighting it seems the wrestlers always do well. I don't recall any Judo experts.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's a lot of ground work in Judo, too. I wouldn't assume the wrestler has a definitive advantage there.

Judo players are also in tremendous physical shape, especially a guy of gold medal calibre. And in Japan, they often take training more seriously than they do here.

In a mixed martial arts match with two grapplers, I think a lot would depend on their experience cross-training outside of their chosen sports. Mental flexibility as well as a wide range of physical abilities. Like most fights, I bet it will depend on the man at least as much as the style.

[CCass]

Tae Kwon Do. And it isn't close.

[nicky g]

You are both wrong. Both those arts as they are taught today suck. A half decent boxer or BJJ player would kill Mr umpteenth dan in both.

[Eihli]

bjj?

[theBruiser500]

Shut up CCass, you're wrong.

[nicky g]

Brazilian Ju Jitsu

[Blarg]

Tae kwon do has some of the worst hand techniques in all martial arts. It's a classic example of a style that is very developed and super duper in one way, but if anyone gets past its main strength, flounders hopelessly.

That's one of the virtues that have come out of mixed martial arts matches. People proud of their favorite martial art style and extremely comfortable with their one way of doing things have started cross-training more, so that they can't be so easily surprised by someone who just does things a little differently.