UFC Fighting Styles

November 15, 2023
1 year

Mixed martial arts was started with the idea of trying to determine which combat style would work best in a fight. While the definition has certainly changed since it hit the mainstream in the early 1990s, the original idea of the sport has still shone through. There is no one way to win an MMA fight.

In fact, the best fighters are able to blend a number of different styles. Much like other sports, things evolve. In the early days, the best fighters could get away with being dominant in one area. However, the best fighters these days are usually strong in several areas. Here’s a look at fight styles that seem to be most prevalent in the UFC.

Protect Your Legs at All Costs

Wrestling has always been a lifeblood of mixed martial arts. What makes wrestlers so tough is their ability to keep the fight on the ground. Training in wrestling usually requires athletes to develop a strong cardio base that can be utilized against fighters who are less accomplished on the ground.

What also makes things effective for wrestlers is the different disciplines they can train in. Greco-Roman is focused more on throws and upper-body strength, while freestyle and folkstyle focus more on facing the action. 

Notable UFC champions who were accomplished wrestlers include Brock Lesnar, who was a national champion at Minnesota; Daniel Cormier, an Olympic qualifier; and Henry Cejudo, an Olympic champion. The disadvantage for wrestlers can be that they can carry their hands low at times and can be susceptible to strong strikers.

Don’t Discount Karate

There have been more than a handful of fighters who are most comfortable fighting at a karate stance. What is different about fighters who train primarily in karate is that their stance in the standup typically involves them standing at an angle and carrying their hands lower than a traditional boxer

There have been many successful fighters in the UFC that came from a karate background. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson fought twice for the UFC Welterweight title but wasn’t able to come away with a victory. Georges St. Pierre, who certainly had other skills as well, is the most successful karate fighter. St. Pierre has defended UFC titles 13 times.

Kickboxing Has Made a Big Impact

One of the great kickboxing rivalries ever spilled into the UFC. Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya had two kickboxing matchups against each other, both resulting in Pereira victories and the pair’s ability to produce memorable moments during their two bouts for the UFC Middleweight championship.

Pereira knocked out Adesanya in the fifth round of their UFC title bout at UFC 281 in November 2022. During the rematch in April 2023, Adesanya was able to figure out Pereira’s puzzle. Adesanya found himself trapped between Pereira and the cage when Adesanya hit Pereira with a counter punch that knocked out Pereira.

Kicks have become more and more dangerous weapons as the years go on. Calf kicks have become a weapon for fighters to slow down their opponents. Knowing how to kickbox can help out both offensively and defensively for fighters.

Jiu-Jitsu Is a Dangerous Game

Royce Gracie was one of MMA’s early luminaries. What made the Brazilian star so dangerous was what he did to his opponents when they were on the ground. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a type of self-defense that focuses on grappling on the ground and heavily utilizes holds and submissions to subdue opponents. 

Gracie was one of the early UFC champions able to successfully lure opponents to the ground. This type of fighting style can be good for people utilizing it because of the number of different ways to use it. When someone gets knocked to the ground, there are several submissions in jiu-jitsu that can be pulled off from the bottom position. While it’s not easy by any means, many fighters have found themselves in a triangle or armbar that has brought an end to fights.

Judo Can Be Great When Paired with Something Else

Ronda Rousey was a sensation in the UFC thanks to her phenomenal grappling and ability to finish her opponents. While Rousey’s star faded thanks to two tough losses at the end of her tenure in the UFC, her ability to utilize her judo helped make her a star. Rousey, who was the first-ever American woman to medal in judo at the Olympics, defended her UFC title six times.

What made Rousey’s judo throws so special was how she was able to set up submissions from them. She would often catch opponents moving the wrong way before using their momentum against them to sling them on the ground. How Rousey utilized the armbar off those throws made her more special.

Muay Thai Provides Versatility

Muay Thai, which can be known as Thai Boxing, has a creative nickname due to how many ways you can attack your opponents with it. The discipline is known as the art of eight limbs because people who utilize it use their elbows, knees, shins, and fists to take down opponents.

Many different UFC fighters have utilized the discipline over the years. Valentina Schevchenko, Cyril Gane, Paul Felder, and Johnny Walker are all different UFC fighters who have utilized the attack during their fights. There hasn’t been a UFC champion that primarily used the style as their first brand of attack, but it is a useful weapon.

Boxers Always Down For a Fight

Utilizing boxing in MMA is a valuable skill to have, but the difference in the weight of the gloves changes things somewhat. MMA gloves are only 4 ounces and represent a significant drop in weight from using boxing gloves. However, many UFC fighters have been able to use boxing to great effect.

In a sport that features a lot of striking, knowing how to parry punches and slip punches is important to any fighter’s resume. Conor McGregor, Max Holloway, and Calvin Kattar have all found a lot of success in the UFC.

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