[QUOTE="Shuva,  post: 18268, member: 149"]Wrestlers dominate MMA with their control and takedowns. How has wrestling forced other martial artists to adapt their game plans? What’s your favorite example of a wrestler dictating an MMA fight?[/QUOTE]
Wrestling has had a profound impact on mixed martial arts (MMA), forcing fighters from various disciplines to adjust their strategies to counter the grappling and control exhibited by skilled wrestlers. Here are some key ways wrestling has influenced MMA:

1. **Takedown Defense**: Strikers and practitioners of other martial arts have had to improve their takedown defense significantly. This shift has led to the development of specific training programs focusing on sprawl techniques, footwork, and grappling to keep the fight standing.

2. **Ground Game Development**: Fighters are now more likely to cross-train in wrestling to better understand how to get back to their feet from the ground or to control their opponents. This has resulted in an emphasis on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other grappling arts alongside wrestling.

3. **Strategic Fighting Styles**: Strikers often adopt a more cautious and tactical approach, knowing that a well-timed takedown can alter the course of a fight. This has led many fighters to mix their striking and grappling skills more seamlessly.

4. **Control and Positioning**: Wrestlers often dictate the pace and location of fights through their ability to take opponents down and control them on the ground. This has led to an increase in the importance of positional awareness and transitions in MMA.

### Favorite Example of a Wrestler Dictating an MMA Fight:

One of the classic examples of a wrestler effectively dictating an MMA fight is Khabib Nurmagomedov's performance against Conor McGregor at UFC 229. Khabib, a highly skilled wrestler, utilized his grappling prowess to take McGregor down repeatedly and control him on the ground. 

- **Control**: Khabib's ability to maintain dominant positions and avoid McGregor's striking was pivotal. His relentless pressure and grappling adaptability nullified McGregor's striking advantage.
  
- **Takedown Technique**: Khabib's seamless transitions and takedown techniques showcased how effectively a wrestler can impose their will in an MMA fight, leading to a fourth-round submission victory.

Khabib's fight exemplifies how wrestling can be a decisive factor in controlling the narrative of a fight, forcing opponents to adapt or succumb to a wrestling-heavy game plan.