I followed Billy Robinson from the time he first joined the AWA. I instantly became his biggest fan. I raised his arm (he almost knocked me on my ass) and declared him the next Champion of the World and talked to him after he turned heel for a short time (to put baby face Tony Atlas over by DQ). I always remember him training so many future greats...Flair, Backlund, Patera, Greg Gagne, Brunzell, Muraco, etc., etc
I think "common origin" is misleading. There was a branch of MMA that sprung from pro Wrestling, but the real roots of MMA are in the Brazilian Vale Tudo.
not to mention Shooto in Japan were around before the UFC as far as MMA companies over in Japan. As well as the old hookers/shooters from the Carni days of pro wrestling back in the day.
Gracies were the trained by Maeda who studied Cstch and taught Kano Jujitsu which is Japanese Jujitsu combined with concepts of Catch to turn it more scientific, Luta Livre was founded by Hatem, who was a Catch wrestler... Luta Livre had way more victories in Vale Tudo than BJJ and BJJ just decided to show off in UFC with people who could never beat them cause they didn't understand mat grappling from a guard when Luta Livre wrestlers were so well versed against BJJ while keeping their skills in Catch. Catch Wrestling has more claim to being part of MMA and Pro Wrestling than BJJ. Dean Lister was a notable MMA fighter and grappler known for his leg locks and he was dominated by Barnett, a catch wrestler, in Metamoris. Judo Gene Lebell used Judo and Catch in earlier bouts around the world beating Judoka, Catch Wrestlers, Freestyle Wrestlers, Greco-Roman Wrestlers and Jujitsukas in his prime... Hell, he fought world champion boxers and state champion boxers in mixed matches way before UFC. In the end, Catch Wrestling and CACC has more connections and claim to MMA than BJJ.
Nobody had more wrestling knowledge than Robinson but I’d have to agree. Hodge might have been the best in the world. He was so strong and he had skills too.
