Kickboxers Dominating UFC?

Kickboxers vs. Wrestlers – Who Did Better?

For years, wrestling has been the most dominant base in mixed martial arts. Time and time again, elite wrestlers have taken over the UFC, controlling their opponents with relentless pressure, suffocating top control, and takedown-heavy game plans. But in the midst of wrestling dominance, two pure kickboxers—Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira—have defied the trend, proving that elite striking with solid takedown defense can be just as unstoppable.

Numbers Don’t Lie

Adesanya and Pereira, two of the best kickboxers to ever compete in MMA, have amassed 13 UFC title wins combined. Meanwhile, when looking at some of the greatest Olympic-level wrestlers in UFC history—fighters like Henry Cejudo (4 title wins), Daniel Cormier (6), Dan Henderson, Ben Askren, Mark O. Madsen, and Yoel Romero—they collectively have 10 UFC title wins combined.

For two men from a sport that was once seen as an MMA weakness to surpass the most accomplished wrestlers in UFC history is nothing short of remarkable.

Evolution of MMA: BJJ, Wrestling, Kickboxing

In the early days of the UFC, Brazilian jiu-jitsu reigned supreme. Royce Gracie ran through larger, stronger opponents because they had no idea how to defend against submissions. Wrestlers soon adapted, learning submission defense while using their superior control and takedown ability to neutralize strikers. For years, elite wrestlers like Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kamaru Usman, set the gold standard for MMA success.

But now, striking is making a major comeback. Even Islam Makhachev, the pound-for-pound king, has had to rely on his striking more than ever before—knocking out Alexander Volkanovski with a head kick and dropping Charles Oliveira and outstriking Dustin Poirier (of course because of takedown threat).

The Blueprint: Elite Striking + Takedown Defense = Success

What makes Adesanya and Pereira’s success even crazier is that neither of them came from a grappling background. They didn’t grow up wrestling or doing jiu-jitsu. They were pure kickboxers—the kind of fighters who, in the past, would have been easy prey for wrestlers.

Yet, with elite takedown defense, solid fight IQ, and their world-class striking, they dominated the middleweight division. Adesanya picked apart elite wrestler like Derek Brunson, stopper Yoel Romero’s takedown attempts, while Pereira beat Jan Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka, fighters who were actually able to take him down.

The only question left is Alex Pereira’s wrestling test. Unlike Adesanya, Pereira hasn’t faced a top-tier grappler in the UFC yet. Fighters like Magomed Ankalaev, a sambo-based striker with dangerous power, would be an interesting challenge. But if Pereira continues to improve his takedown defense, history has already shown us what happens when an elite kickboxer can keep the fight standing—they take over.

The Striking Era is Now

The game has changed. We are no longer in the era where wrestlers can take down every striker at will. Fighters are too well-rounded now. The days of specialists ruling MMA are over—now it’s about how well you can mix all aspects of the game together.

And the fact that two elite kickboxers like Adesanya and Pereira have surpassed some of the best wrestlers in history in terms of UFC title wins proves that striking is once again at the top of MMA.

Elite wrestling will always be an essential tool in MMA. But elite striking with takedown defense? That might just be the most dangerous style in the game today.

Want to know more about each event? Visit homeoffight.com or any of our social media accounts for more articles, fighter interviews, and plenty of more coverage. Enjoy the fights, let us know how you’ll be watching!