You CAN be shredded and be an elite fighter

[Broadsword2004]

Well at least according to this one UFC Middleweight guy you can. I forget his name, I saw him in the latest issue of one of the fitness/muscle magazines; the one with Sylvester Stallone on the front cover. This guy is a former teen bodybuilder, but now he is a UFC fighter. But he likes to "look good" while fighting, and he is very cut, so I guess then one can develop a very nice, cut physique and still be an elite fighter.

I am just mentioning this because lots of people say you can't care about how you look to be an elite fighter. Granted you can't like a fitness enthusiast or bodybuilder, but you still can to a good extent.

[Ikken Hisatsu]

who said you cant? remy bonjasky, carter williams, mike mcdonald, pretty much every K-1 max fighter- they all have exceptional physiques.

[Broadsword2004]

Certain people on these threads have said you can't.

[GeorgeK]

If I was one of those people, what I meant to say was that as fighters they should be most concerned about being the best possible fighters and in the best possible condition. If good looks come as a result of that, better for them. I am sure if they train athletically and do all kinds of strength and conditioning drills and exercises, their physiques will improve. However, that shouldn't be a priority for them. Form should follow function.

[GeorgeK]

Also, some fighters naturally have good physiques. Bonjasky, Williams, etc. Mike Macdonald has an exeptional physique, almost perfect in a bodybuilding sense. I think in his training, he is inclined more towards bodybuilding and good looks. As a result he is a bit tight and stiff compared for examle to Bonjasky or Maurice Smith. He is still a good fighter but, in my opinion, a bit "overbuilt".

[Broadsword2004]

Yeah, what I meant is that one can concentrate on aesthetic training somewhat, as long as it doesn't detriment their performance.