Wrestling in MMA. Opinion study.

  In the beginning MMA was a clash of styles, that was the main draw, the main "storyline".
Nowadays this is a sport, it´s own sport, now you can´t be a "karate guy" or a "boxing guy", you have got to be a mixed martial artist. So, logic would dictate that there are not specialists anymore, however this isn´t further from the truth, and we see specialists in the top organizations and fighting at the top level.
   The specialists with the most sucess are undoubtedly wrestlers, men like DC, Khabib, GSP or Ben Askren, this article is meant to make you think, research and weigh in on the discussion about why this phenomenon happens. 
    Let´s dive on in, my opinion is that wrestling is a control based grappling discipline, meaning, the fighter with the clear better wrestling ability can control WHERE the fight takes place, if Khabib wants you against the cage and you are not one of the worlds greatest grapplers or, like Gleison Tibau, you have a huge weight advantage due to weight cutting, you are getting taken down against the cage, if Ben Askren wants to get you in his Crucifix you´ll have a hard time keeping him from getting you there or you´ll give up your back or Mount. Therefore they have the advantage of controlling the pace of the fight and not getting damaged, plus they are on top or initiating the grappling, so they are scoring on the judges scorecards.
   Another way in which having the wrestling advantage in an MMA fight tilts the odds in your favor is the fact that it impacts the striking, your oponnent can´t open up and strike with you, you can feint with the striking or the takedown or even the clinch, as masterfully utilized by Tyron Woodley, who uses the threat of a takedown to open up his deadly right hand, or vice versa. Ben Askren also uses his grappling to impact the striking and avoids getting hit, he uses his grappling like a counter strike, he times a punch or a kick and shoots in for a double leg, enforcing his will on his opponent.
   My opinion is that to be a Mixed martial artist today you need at least a wrestling fundamental level, I believe it is the foundation of a fight.
How about you?
Comment your opinion.
Who do you got? Jacaré vs Weidman.