WHAT IS MIXED MARTIAL ARTS?
Unlike boxing, where combatants are limited to using only their hands, mixed martial arts allows for a combination of disciplines, such as judo, wrestling, Muay Thai kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu in an effort to win by a judges’ decision, a stoppage, or a submission. Some former boxers have had success after moving to MMA, such as Holly Holm, but the sport’s diversity requires that competitors be proficient in a number of areas:
Boxing: In the ring, boxers typically fight at close distances with one foot placed in front of the other. However, in MMA, fighters stand back and square their shoulders up to their opponent to prevent the other fighter from diving at their legs and tackling them to the mat – a move known as ‘shooting.’
And because fighters typically stand further apart, complicated punching combinations are rare, as are many power punches like hooks and uppercuts.
‘It's more long punches at a distance,' explained Jordan Maldonado, who trains his boxer wife Cindy Serrano and her boxer-MMA fighter sister Amanda.
New York-based Jordan Maldonado (left) trains boxer-mma fighter Amanda Serrano (right) and his wife, Amanda's sister, Cindy
Muah Thai kickboxing: MMA fighters typically aim to kick below the knees in an effort to destabilize their opponent. But unlike karate, which features high leg kicks, cage fighters can’t raise their feet too far off the mat for fear of being taken down themselves.
‘You start to kick somebody in the waste or stomach or things like that, those kicks are easier to grab,’ said Maldonado.
Judo: Unlike Olympic judo, where competitors earn points for throwing the opposition, MMA fighters use the Japanese martial art to get their opponents on the mat, where they can pummel them into submission.
Wrestling: Whereas Olympic wrestlers need to pin their opponent to earn points, MMA fighters need grappling to control the ground, which is where many cage fights are won and lost.
Floor striking: Boxers punch with their knuckles facing forward. MMA fighters do the same when they’re standing, but on the mat, it’s difficult to find the room for a proper punch.
‘Floor striking, you have to use overhand punching, like hammer firsts, which is with the side of your hands because you don't have the leverage to throw knuckle punches,’ Maldonado said.
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