What MMA Fighters Should Know

When MMA first hit the world back in the 1990’s not many people knew what to expect. Was there going to be boxers dominating this free style fighting sport, maybe wrestlers were going to be slamming there opponents around or was the movie style spinning kickers going to prove that they where number one. Certainly not many would have thought that slim, not so powerful submission grapplers would beat all comers, whatever shape or size.

The martial arts world was shocked after the first few UFC’s and everybody rushed to learn grappling, and lucky they did. Grappling is one of the overall pieces in ones fighting arsenal, but it is not the only piece. There are still lots who seem to think that free style fights can be won by knowing either just striking or grappling to an expert level.

During a fight, no one knows what is going to happen. One good strike could be all that is needed to end a fight without having to rely on grappling or maybe an expert grappler will be able to quickly bring another fighter down and in an instant apply an arm bar to finish the fight.

If the above examples happen, then one may think that as long they are an expert in the fighting style they shall always be able to dominate. THIS IS WRONG!

To be a good MMA fighter and to carry a successful record with as many wins possible, you need to know striking and grappling. You may be able to rely on your better skills once or twice, but the time will come when you will have to fight in unfamiliar territory. For a grappler this means, a good striker will eventually learn to keep you away and shall force a striking fight, and for a striker, you will at one time have to grapple on the ground.

You don’t have to be an expert at everything, but you do need to become efficient in all fighting areas including, punches, kicks, elbows, knees, clinch work, throws, takedowns, and ground fighting including wrestling and submissions.

The reason I state this is because after visiting many martial arts forums, lots of people still say that "BJJ is all you need" or "Muay Thai is all you need". These statements have been proven over the last decade and a half to be wrong and if you would like to become a good MMA fighter you must realise it.

Marks

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