Fallen into a funk need help striking (MMA)?

Question

I need tips on how to become more well rounded in my fights, I fight MMA for my gym (disclosed information) and am currently 6-0 in my "professional career" but the problem is that 4 or which where against very good strikers, and I brought it to the ground and submitted, I want to be able to take the offensive on my feet, the next 2 fights where against more "matt hughes" types, and again instead of standing them up I played the round game... I need to be able to stand up in fights, but I just feel more comfotable on the ground... any suggestions?? what can I do to help this?? I started training muay thai, and boxing.. anthing else I should try??

a little background for you guys

Michael O’Brien
6’2” 155lb
Submission artist
Gracie Jujitsu
Fighting out of Evo fight club in Vorhees NJ
Professional Record of 6-0 with 4 wins by submission


(win) Mark Hamilton 2:12 Triangle choke
(win) Jason O’Keef 3:02 Arm Bar
(win) Christopher Jacobs 15:00 Unanimous decision
(win) Joeseph Bucca 4:52 Rear naked choke
(win) Andre Martin 7:35 Kumara
(win) Michael Carver 15:00 Split decision 30-28(2) 29-28(1)

hmm... john c. thinks he is so smart.. you know not all fighters are on sherdog genius.. how about you look up al buck... former CFFC lightweight champion.. oh guess what he isn't there is he... oops theres a giant hole in your theory... and good you know Renzo in NY, I trained only twice with him.. I am not of elite status to be a regular in his ranks there guy... I am still a "toad" in my gym compared to some of the guys... I actually do train with many CFFC fighters and want to break into that soon... there is no unsactioned bulls.hit here I am not a big name, an up and comer, and have more things to do then to pursue this full time... these 6 fights have been within the past 11 months.. you can think you have all the answer but really you don't know sh.it and I'm on here because alot of the jerks I train with are very bias toward thai and boxing, I was wondering if there was something better, and why go on a forum... stay in your gym and only ask what you need to know otherwise

THANK YOU its all clear now I have to punch hard... lol, thank you for some levity to the ******** comment before you

Answer 1

Man, 6-0 seems like you are doing pretty damn good already.

Training boxing and Muay Thai should give you all you need, as long as you got a good MMA coach to help you put it together.

The thing about boxing is that for MMA you have to shorten your rotation on all the punches to avoid the take down. It's footwork is good, but again still have to have MMA in mind when practicing it.

Muay Thai will give you exactly what you need in the kicks, knees, and elbows department, as well as some options from the clinch.

Seriously though being specialized is a good thing, you need something to fall back on when you get in trouble, and something you can count on as being better than your opponent.

I mean ideally you don't want to stand up with a striker, and having superior subs over a wrestler will help you out a lot as well. But I know how it is to want to be more well rounded. I think boxing and Muay Thai should give you all you need.

Answer 2

Yeah, boxing should help a alot. A big benefit to boxing and hand strikes in general, is that when you get to the ground, and are holding someone with your legs (or your legs are tied up) you can still use those boxing skills to an extent. Also, if you can devleop a knockout-punch, that can help you a lot. Not just with the ability to end a fight (Tyson-Spinks style) quickly but in that you can put them in a dizzied state before taking them to the ground and finishing them off with your ground skills. (which from what you said, seem more than sufficient)
A book I like to understanding the knockout punch was written by Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey in the 1950s, called "Championship Fighting." It's out of print, but I've seen it on Ebay before, and I've seen PDF copies of it online. Also, since you're studying boxing, your boxing instructor (or someone at your gym) should have a copy. A power punch is not necessarily about muscles, but about physics and correct movement. A good knockout punch will really add to your arsenal.

Answer 3

Muay Thai and Boxing are your best bets...here's why.

Depending on your handedness (right or left) and your footedness (same) both will allow for a better and safer transition to your strength which is the ground game.

Both are true "combat" arts as opposed to many of the other martial arts which may have contest, but rarely are they "true" full contact (points systems and judging aka karate, judo).

Just training in a art, doesn't make you the most skilled practitioner in that art. Additionally you have to understand the strategy employed by someone fighting you. You have a record and generalisms about you are forged. You are seen as a ground specialist, so they are going to force you into a stand up game. That's fine, but you have to counter with a strategy that will combat that. Matching up (stand up to stand up) is fine if you got the skills. If you're short train up or work on your "transition" game (going from stand up to ground or vice versa).

Forcing your opponent into a transition game opens holes in their strategy. BJJ does alot of blow catching or blocks rolling into a lock or take down. Perhaps you should focus on that. By anticipating their striking attacks (because they want to fight stand up) and "attacking their attack" this will force them into a transition game, where most strikers are suspect.

Additionally, You need not be an expert at Muay Thai or boxing, training in those arts is the best way to discover how your art can counter them.

The best fighter isn't the best at all arts, he's the last man (or woman) standing and as you know alot goes into that.

Answer 4

Yes, boxing and thai will help. But it if were me I'd sit down with a good coach and watch tapes of the fight. There will be times in the fights that you could have thrown and you didn't. Also times when you're natural urge to go to ground would have been overpowering (probably because punches were coming your way and your reflexes went into panic mode - no bad thing!). Watch the tapes, spot the moments and recreate them - putting new reflexes into your game, teaching your body systematically that there are alternatives to wrestling. Doesn't have to be full on striking but perhaps watching the tapes you can learn when as well as grabbing and taking to ground a couple of upper cuts would have been good softeners (see Jardine versus Alexander on that one!) or realise when you have time to throw in a quick strike before taking it to ground. This is MMA and integration is the key.

Good luck with it all. I look forward to seeing you on the TV one day.

Answer 5

Well a lot of successful people say if it aint broke don't fix it.

But if you would like to see yourself as more of a striker you could try some actual boxing or kickboxing fights, rather than just the training.

No difference to the actual skills or training, its just basically a mind opening exercise.

Grapplers put into actual boxing or kickboxing matches with the whole weigh-in and audience thing can jump ahead light years.

Also just the fact your MMA opponent knows you have had a few straight boxing fights can change his whole stand up game toward you.

Something to consider is some of MMA's best grappler turned strikers like lidell would not get far past city/regional level in boxing.
And a very fit strong guy who devotes himself to boxing has a chance of getting that level himself.

Think about that.

Answer 6

Nah, Boxing and Muay Thai would be enough. Keep it simple, too much fancy stuff will just clutter up your game. Boxing footwork should do the job, since you're limited to punches, it allows you to learn the proper footwork that will help you stay out of reach using lateral movements. You should at least try to develop a decent jab, the addition of that one punch in your arsenal alone will do wonders for your stand up game, too many fighters rely too much on the one knockout punch and ignore the jab's effective usefulness. Muay Thai helps in the kicks and knees department and the most effective and commonly used is the kick to the opponent's leg, so if you only have to learn one kick, that is the one to master. On their own, the jab and leg kick won't knock your opponent out, but with proper effective use, they are good tools with which to set up your opponent and create opportunities for you to either knock em out or take em down to the ground, far better than any other striking techniques.

Answer 7

I'm like you, I have trained primarily in BJJ and don't really feel comfortable standing. However, It's just like anything else, you have to practice it a lot. Find a mentor in either boxing or Mua Thai, someone who is willing to spar with you a lot. You need someone who can show you drills and techniques but will also spar with you, and/or critique your sparing at ringside. If you are genuinely interested in improving you will easily be able to find someone at your gym that will train you for free because this person will appreciate a consistent and eager partner.

Also, buy BJ Penn's "Book of Knowledge." He as been able to seemlesly integrate striking with BJJ and wrestling, so I'm sure he has some great tips for a fighter with your style.

Here's a video of Chuck Liddell doing a seminar on throwing an effective over-hand right, you might find this useful in your striking arsenal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BCU64CwmYc

And....Spar, Spar, Spar!!! (as often as possible have someone critique while you do it)

Answer 8

6-0 Professionally yet Sherdog. hasnt heard of you or any one of your lost both of those fights. Now next I sure you will say they were unsanctioned or amateur or underground?

Gracie Jui Jitsu. You are in NJ . SO do you train w/ Renzo? Ricardo Almeida? All of those places have amazing striking,BJJ and wrestling coaches.


Last if you are a fighter you would being discussing this on MMA.TV with real fighters not in this forum , unless you didnt think anybody here would catch you.

Al Buck appears on Sherdog and FullContactFighter. I saw him get beat by Jim Miller at Ring of Combat. Where did your fights take place? What events? Sherdog and FCF are pretty up to date including events held last week. You are Gracie Ji Jitsu trained but only went 2x? Toad at the gym but your 6-0 ? w/ out standup and 2 days of jui jitsu training. You are a complete fraud.

Answer 9

in case you prefer to place self assurance in outstanding on my own in MMA, you will extra suitable be sure you %. the ability of a Howitzer and the precision of an F-sixteen. in case you omit, that hollow between you and the opponent will certainly close and you will finally end up grappling and/or on your back. In Muay Thai opposition, the ref resets you to a status place, in MMA they do no longer. base line is prepare complicated in the two components, as much as you may so which you're actually not caught off look after and in no way assume your floor or get up skills on my own will carry you by way of. prevailing a combat comprises each and every thing.

Answer 10

Honestly, do what feels more natural, what you are more comfortable with. Like the old saying goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". You are 6-0, you are great on the ground, go with that. That is your game-plan and there is no reason to change it up.