We have all heard the phrase “Bigger, faster, stronger.” While these aspects hold a sizable amount of significance in the athletic world, they do not, however, tell the entire story. The inclusion of weight classes in fighting minimizes the “bigger” effect. While being the faster, stronger fighter will get you the W more times than not, there are some lesser-known factors to consider.
Now, let’s grab a microscope from the back table in your old undergrad bio lab. We can briefly examine several traits of athleticism that make a difference for the casual gambler betting on MMA.
Most athletes are either built strong or flexible. Training mixed martial arts can help both types of athletes even out their game. Flexibility is a component of power. Shoulder flexibility is paramount when developing punching power.
In grappling, flexibility is imperative. The first situation that probably comes to mind is defending a submission like a shoulder or an arm lock. While this is important, muscles will extend all the way eventually, and joints are inherently weaker.
Positionally on the canvas, flexibility can be the difference between maintaining your guard or having it passed.
Research your fighters’ flexibility before betting. How many head kicks do they throw, and do they get their guard passed on the ground? These are both good parameters to measure.
“You win battles by knowing the enemy’s timing and using a timing which the enemy does not expect.” This particular quote is brought to you by Miyamoto Musashi, one of the greatest fighting minds the world has ever known.
Three fighters with maybe the best timing we have seen in MMA are all former or current world champions.
Conor McGregor, Lyoto Machida, and Anderson Silva have produced some of the best highlight reel knockouts we have been so blessed to witness. They are all counter fighters, and believe me, it’s very difficult to counter effectively without first picking up an opponent’s timing.
Now we know that good timing comes from picking up an opponent’s rhythm. What about your rhythm can help you win a fight?
The most advantageous thing a fighter can do is establish their rhythm. This not only makes it highly difficult for your opponent to counter you, but it also gives you an opportunity to lead with a strike or takedown by breaking your own rhythm. As a martial artist, I shadowbox or hit the heavy bag to all types of music. This gives my rhythm some variance, and as you may imagine, variability is a key to better defense and offense as well.
In martial arts as well as in life, you always hear that “balance” is key. What does that even mean? Is it more important than agility or even technique? It’s really not that black and white.
In wrestling, balance is referred to as having a strong base or just being able to stay on your feet. Bad balance, not unlike bad flexibility, can lead to developing poor technique. Poor technique can quickly lead to a fighter getting themselves knocked the heck out.
Balance comes into play in an MMA fight more so in the clinch than at distance striking, and definitely more than when both combatants are grounded. Any fighter with a Judo background is going to have incredible balance. This is true of wrestlers as well, but most MMA guys have wrestling as a base already.
Agility is utilized when striking on the feet as well as in a grappling situation on the ground and holds significance in any fighter’s trusty bag of attributes. While it never hurts a fighter to become agiler, they have to remember that agility isn’t a force field.
These fighters are locked in a cage. So if your best quality is not being touched, what are you going to do when the stronger man’s Vulcan death squeezes the life out of you? At this point, agility is nearly 100% nullified.
This tells us bettors that it isn’t always wise to place our hard-earned money on the quick and flashy fighter. I encourage you to recognize this type of fighter. You could bet against them especially if they are standing across the cage from an elite wrestler who likely will impose their will of grinding pressure and dominance. For a recent example of this, see Miocic vs. Ngannou at UFC.com.
Endurance may be the most important attribute a fighter can take with them into the cage. When you break out the PS4 UFC game in career mode, invest in that endurance training. Your explosiveness may suffer as all of our bodies adjust to the stress we play upon it.
Slow twitch muscles are used to squeeze, hold, pressure, and control. Fast twitch muscles are used to strike and evade. Think about Nick and Nate Diaz. I don’t believe either have dropped anyone in the first round. They are slow twitch endurance fighters, and they usually will prevail when matched with a fast twitch guy.
The first round can be a bit scary when the opponent is at full speed, but after that, the explosive guy will fade 9 times out of 10. It’s the classic story of the tortoise and the hare. Look at Conor McGregor against Nate Diaz 1, and of course, the Floyd Mayweather fight too. Keep this in mind when it’s betting time.
MMA is complicated, and we are only beginning to pull back the layers of the fighting attribute onion. While mixed martial arts is still in its infancy, this will continue to be the case.
A flexible fighter will be able to throw more head kicks, likely preventing them from getting their leg grabbed when they kick. Flexibility can also help fighters maintain or recover position on the ground. While it may not be as important as endurance, don’t overlook a fighter’s ability to stretch their limbs.
Don’t bet on the guys who love to surf to get taken down very often. Their balance is unseen in MMA.
Agile fighters are overrated. They get spots on the main card and even get good odds from bookmakers because they know people will bet on them. This is primarily because people love beauty and flash. As a bettor, use this to your advantage.
Timing and endurance are both very important when examining a fighter’s odds to win inside the cage.
** Speed kills, and timing beats speed. **
That fast movement we are talking about will tire a fighter at a higher rate than a slow movement. If the fight is short, the faster guy has the advantage. The longer the scrap goes, however, the more the advantage shifts to the slower and more methodical guy.
So study up, and let’s continue to find value in the MMA betting game.
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