As a recent NCAA Division I Qualifier in wrestling, and currently training in MMA I can say the future of MMA making boxing future look bright meaning the two should not compete, rather help each other. Many MMA facilities hire boxing trainers because most fighters from other sports do not know how to strike. I grew up watching boxing and practicing many of skills from a young age. My most formal training in boxing has been in recent years. However I can tell you know most MMA fighters couldn't crack an egg if their life depended on it which why superior striking comes in handy. Because my wrestling is better than most and my jujitsu is about even I can say right now the main skill I've used to beat up my opponents has been my boxing. However I wouldn't have been able to do it without my wrestling background. I'll explain why: I've analyzed many boxing matches over the years and I've been a natural athlete. The best boxing skills to take into the cage are range skills. I'm rangier than most fighters in my weight class meaning I have a longer jab. Many fighters can't get past the one two and will stalk after me, yet I will use my footwork to circle around the cage. It's much easier to circle in the cage because it's more circular. Many wrestler will time a takedown, yet because of my wrestling I easily sidestep or sprawl and get around most fighters to get on top. Yet since I like punishing my opponents I let them back up. Boxing also works very well against the muay thai fighters. Kicks take more energy and are easier to spot and time. I will usually circle the ring and eventually counter. The best kicks are leg kicks, but again I keep circling on the outside. I think boxing can be just as effective as any of the other skills, but it depends on how they are employed. The future of MMA: Over recent months I've also seen a lot of stand up fighters do rather well. Jose Aldo beat Urijah Faber by keeping the fight on their feet and so has Cung Le, keeping matches on his feet avoiding take downs. I think match outcomes depend on the operator and the experience. A rangy boxer with wrestling experience will know how to avoid takedowns, where as an inexperienced ground boxer who fights on the inside will easily get taken down. My two cents.
Is your name Chuck Liddell!? I said in another thread that boxing may become a strong core style because people like yourself will use other martial arts to assist it. Rather than just being a moron like James Toney guys like Chuck, JDS, BJ show how effective it can be to pound on someone while neutralising all other facets of their game. Punches are quickest from A to B. Boxing footwork is the most advanced. Punches are harder to stop than kicks which are easier to read. There are advantages for boxers if they have similiar abilities to yourself, Chuck and JDS. No core style is effective without assistance from other martial arts that allow you to neutralise everything else an opponent can do. People are forgetting that Randy Couture set Toney up with a BOXING MOVE! Without the boxing move something else may have happened. He feinted to the head twice which ensured Toney could not change levels.
so wait ts you're talking about the "sprawl and brawl" technique? mate this has been around for years in mma
Thamks for the post. As a boxing fan its nice to know that MMA guys respect the sport, and are using it to improve their game rather than mock or trash it.. Kudos and good luck
This should be the future of MMA i.e. be more welcoming of other combat sports and not like what Zuffa wants to do UFC v Boxing (lol) Fedor / M1 and some Sambo fighters were special guests to SportAccord World Combat Games Beijing 2010, along with Jet Li and Jackie Chan [yt]tAN-LfDpFwU[/yt]
Not exactly what I'm talking about. That is one technique, of an overall theme. Most MMA fighters are not that good at striking. Most MMA fighters don't learn how to strike until they are older, most come from grappling backgrounds. Since I grew up with both I'm ahead of most of my pears and I've learned how to blend the two. Boxing techniques have a distinct advantage when you already know how to blend the two. Most MMA fighters loop their punches making them less effective in power, many foes have no head movement, they don't follow up leaving their hands low especially after throwing punches making them easy targets for counters. Many do not know how to cut you off in the octogon which makes it difficult for them to get a take down if you fight from the outside, circle, and use a lot of motion. A lot of it is not because they don't learn it, but they don't have the muscle memory for it MMA is still an infant as a sport, but it has made leaps and bounds since its inception. Most MMA fighters have trained in a specific discipline for many years then start to learn everything. In the future the children will learn everything and employ similar techniques as I've mentioned, but at a much higher level. This will be especially true because they will have the muscle memory for it. I think one of the reasons MMA doesn't resonate as well with many fans of other sports is because it doesn't take the same amount of years of discipline. To become and Olympic champion in wrestling or World Boxing champion starts from childhood. I was striving for the former. There should be no reason I should be transitioning and hanging with top MMA fighters had they been doing the same.
History of wrestlers in MMA http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/6/29/1542096/the-evolution-of-the-wrestler-from Respect from cross disciplines http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ot...s-Toney-versus-Randy-Couture-predictions.html
No, I just train and help guys learn wrestling. I decided to work and pursue my studies instead. Got a regular job with benefits.
I see you are in Sacramento. Well Alpha Male gym / Ultimate Fitness, which is Faber's team, runs a great camp with a lot of wrestlers who have unlimited gas decent striker.