Why doesn't the Thai clinch work/be used anymore

rich franklin would disagree.

 

People do use it but like everything the clinch is no longer so alien to everyone. Guys now adays know the most effective martial arts. The trick now is people trying to be EVEN MORE ADVANCED in particular sports like GSP/Le's crazy kicks or Silvas uses of head movement and Diaz/Melendez going to the body more than a boxer would. Guys do go for the clinch or the knee to the head but its hard to do what Silva/Rua can do at their best. It is much more risky now adays as it could turn into a take down. Mostly guys seem to wait for them to get against the cage before trying to put on some sort of clinch and start kneeing.

 

Well that was a while ago when Anderson first came to the UFC. Although the OP is right. You dont see this technique used much in the UFC the way it was used in PRIDE.

 

Completley agree , it is for me the number 1 most un used / effective technique in MMA , if you have a good Thai Clinch you have a massive advantage on somebody who is not schooled in the clinch , and you have an easy route to victory .

100% agree .....................

 

If you have a solid Thai Clinch , its very difficuilt for even the best of wrestlers to secure a TD from a good solid tight Thai Clinch !!!

We dont see it nearly enough in MMA ...............

 

Because it leaves you EXTREMELY vulnerable for takedowns.

 

Because you have control of the neck in a thai clinch with a few adjustments that isn't true. Everybody going for a takedown hopes they don't catch a knee on the way in and that's what they have to get through in order to secure a takedown. Overeem's clinch seems to work well still.

 

... and on the flip side... every person who throws a knee has to hope that they their opponent doesn't take them down. Either by catching the leg coming up, or going in as soon as the knee is going back.

What I said is in fact, true.

I didn't say it was totally ineffective. However, if you plan on using it... you better have a great one, and a great takedown defense to go with it. Of course, it also helps if the person that you are fighting doesn't have very good takedowns. No matter how good your MT Clinch is, it is always easy to slip it for a takedown. You don't have to drop all the way down and put your face in his knees to secure a takedown. When somebody reaches out and clamps their hands around the back of your head/neck... it opens up a lot of takedown options for you.

 

When was the last time you saw somebody counter a knee with a takedown? Not everybody can eat a knee and complete a takedown. On the other hand, we see people catch knees going for a takedown all the time. Control the head and you control the body remember that.

 

You have a lot to learn.:good

 

No sir, i think you do. Randy Couture was commenting on the first fight between Silva and Franklin and he never suggested franklin go for a takedown while he was being destroyed in the clinch. He said he should throw overhand punches and elbows. This is because in a proper clinch the holders elbows are between him and his opponent securing them in place thus making a takedown attempt a dumb move. It is almost like having underhooks dude.

 

Too many wrestlers. You need pretty good control to do anythng with it. If Anderson tried that on Chael he'd be repeatedly slammed on his head, so he didnt.

 

because you'll get punched in the face while your hands are around the other guy's neck.