10 Techniques that Changed MMA
Introduction
Mixed martial arts has undergone constant innovation throughout its history, evolving rapidly even in recent years. Techniques that changed MMA were not only effective in isolated moments but also left a lasting impact on how the sport is practised and understood. What began as a competition among specialists from different combat disciplines has evolved into a sport that demands well rounded athletes capable of mastering multiple styles.
This technical evolution has reshaped coaching methods and the overall strategy of competition. Fighters today must adapt to a layered and dynamic rule set where versatility is essential. Much like how fans analyse patterns and statistics before they bet on Premier League matches, MMA athletes and coaches now break down every technical detail to gain a competitive edge. The following ten techniques have permanently altered the landscape of mixed martial arts.
Double-Leg Takedown
This is a fundamental technique you need to learn. It allows you to control where the fight takes place and asserts a position that is controlled. Many wrestlers have utilised the double leg takedown, making it a speciality of theirs. It introduces strategy into a sport, which sometimes favours brute force. Nowadays, when participating in MMA, this should be a core foundation to your game and is a move that everyone should master the use of, along with defences you can use against it.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Guard and Submissions
Before Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had become popular, many people believed being on the ground in MMA meant losing. However, BJJ allowed people to still be a threat even when on the floor, where many people believed you were most vulnerable. Submissions (arm bars, rear-naked choke, triangle choke, etc.) have proven to the MMA world that strategy and technique outclass someone whose only feature is strength. This led to a major evolution in MMA, causing athletes all over the world to learn submissions and defences against these submissions; this has made a very long-lasting impact on MMA, as BJJ is an absolute necessity to anyone who wants to participate in MMA now.
Ground-and-Pound
Ground-and-pound, if grappling and striking had a child, this would be it. Instead of fighters restricting themselves to only striking on foot and submitting on the ground, they began taking advantage of striking when on the ground. This would increase pressure on opponents by causing discomfort and damage; it would also create openings for the fighter in the top position for striking. Many fighters, such as Khabib Nurmagomedov and Mark Coleman, have used this to overpower their opponents because it is effective at causing the damage needed to win a fight.
The Sprawl
An effective method for defending takedowns, it involves positioning your legs backwards, pushing your hips into the opponent’s back, and keeping your chest up. This was an effective way for strikers to prevent wrestlers from taking the fight to the ground, thereby maintaining an advantage against their opponents. Many fighters, such as Chuck Liddell, specialised in takedown defence throughout their careers, making them problematic for wrestlers and allowing strikers to remain in their preferred position and space on the floor.
The Calf Kick
A deviation from leg kicks, the calf kick will throw someone off balance and have a detrimental effect on their mobility and stability. Due to these calf kicks reducing the mobility of opponents, it can create openings for lethal strikes and can be the difference between a win and a loss for some fighters. This poses the calf kick as one of the most influential and impactful tactical shifts in history due to its ability to manipulate the movement of an opponent. If you plan on participating in MMA, this is a move you should learn, as it can be a deadly weapon in a fight.
The Jab’s Range Control
Many fighters don’t just use the jab to inflict damage; they use it as a measurement of their range and distance from their opponent. This can help fighters maintain a rhythm and set up combos and takedowns with more ease. Fighters who master the jab can control the tempo of the fight and choose when to engage in combat. Surprisingly, this makes the jab one of the most important moves in MMA as it not only serves as a weapon to inflict slight damage, but also acts as a measurement of how you can engage in takedowns and striking.
Cage Wrestling and Wall Control
When the cage was introduced, adaptable fighters learned how they could use it to their own advantage. Mastering wall control can allow a fighter to pin their opponent and prevent them from escaping different submissions. It’s a way of looking at something that was added as a boundary, as an opportunity. It mixes clinching and wrestling and requires a large amount of adaptability to counterattack. If a fighter can master cage wrestling, it puts them in a much better position to be able to dominate in MMA, as it provides a relatively large advantage for the fighter.
Deception and Feinting
Feints are precise movements that provoke a reaction out of the opponent. Causing fighters to be more strategic and tactical about their movements. Feints can be used for multiple reasons, creating openings, disguising takedowns, and putting the opponent on edge. It changes the playing field from being a physical fight into a psychological battle between both fighters. It highlights even further the importance of strategy in MMA and marked the start of an era where tactics became more important than ever in MMA. If you want to be a successful fighter, this is something that you should have in your arsenal.
Chain Wrestling
Chain wrestling involves linking together multiple transitions and takedown attempts. It involves a lot of strategic thinking to ensure that any attempt failed can lead to a successful transition. It promotes the use of multiple different moves instead of just depending on one move working. This forces fighters to be more adaptable when on the floor and requires a large amount of resilience to maintain constant pressure. Chain wrestling shows how, as the game has evolved,d attributes like patience and adaptability have become increasingly important. Chain wrestling changed the game by finding ways to drain energy from opponents and promote the creation of opportunities.
Conclusion
Mixed martial arts has a long history, and many eras can be recognised due to different techniques that appeared around that time. Modern MMA is a testament to how much a sport can evolve in such a short amount of time, with many techniques that are used today emerging at different time periods, creating a complex and balanced sport. What used to be considered aew and bad can now be considered as a foundation to every fighter’s game.
All ten techniques we’ve discussed here are absolute must-haves if you plan on going into MMA, and they all serve as a story of how MMA has changed over time.
