Pure Fighters have never been a "go to" class. Too meat and potatoes, perhaps.
No shield love for 8 years.
No Heavy Armor love for 8 years.
Outshone in TWF by Rangers and Rogues.
Outshone by Bards with the new SWF.
Poor Saves.
No spells.
No evasion.
No self-healing.
No sass.
The proverbial "pure" Gladiator is second class in DPS, in AC, HPs and Saves. The best thing the Fighter class has going for it these days is its decent viability for splashing - for which there are many a good build.