a puncher versus a grappler...for you UFC/Pride and mma guys

[moneygqj]

Let me preface this by saying i'm just starting to get into MMA and i have 12 years experience as a wrestler.

I have read a lot of posts on what is the best MA to get into or whatever for actual street fighting.

Let me say this, I have watched all of the UFC events, and watched about 48 Pride events (out of 55). A grappler will beat a puncher 99 times out of 100. BTW-Pride has more highly skilled fighters top to bottom, although the UFC has a great talent pool in the middleweight division.

Anyone can learn some boxing skills, ie blocking punches and throwing, but almost anyone can be taken down to the ground, no matter how well trained they are.

So if you're looking how to street fight, I would say learn how to take people to the ground.

I have zero boxing experience and one class worth of karate lessons and i've been in 3 fights. I've never been punched nor kicked. In every instance I use a single or double leg take down and either put the person in a choke or mount them and punch them until they stop fighting back.

BTW i'm only 5-9 16lbs so i'm not a big guy by anymeans. I think having brute strength is also another key. I workout 5 times a week with weights and while i only bench around 275lbs I find that the most important strength comes from your innerself.

[CHOKYONIM]

AGREE ALL THE WAY! a stand up fighter vs a ground fighter it is way easier for the ground fighter to get him down than it is for the stand up fighter to keep him standing up.

IMO, groundfighting should be part of everyones arsenal, i dont care how good of a kickboxer or karateka you are, you get caught on the ground and your done for!

[y2_sub]

The grappler would win 99 out of 100 , while it takes a boxer hundreds of punches to knock down his opponent , it's enough for a grappler to lock or chock his opponent and the rest is history , beside , every boxing fight that I have seen usually ends in a clinch , obviously , a clinch is the perfect position for a grappler ,& it's usually easy for the grappler to take the fight to the ground & disarm the boxer from his weapon .

[moneygqj]

In MMA it doesn't take 100 punches to knock someone out, just one.

The reason a grappler almost always beats a puncher is that the puncher is always scared to throw the big bunch because he knows if he misses he'll be on his back and the fight will be over.

[AndrewGreen]

Liddel, Silva, Belfort, Maurice Smith...

Just to name a few off the top of my head. Lots of top guys like to win by strikes.

It's not a matter of which you do, you need to be able to control where the fight takes place, and that means knowing a good deal of both even if you specialize in one.

There are no pure grapplers or strikers fighting anymore, It started that way, but has evolved into a distinct system of fighting.

What you are talking about isn't grappler vs Striker, it is Submission vs KO. Everyone that wants any chance has to be able to move and defend effectively from any position. The better fighter is the one who can control which positions the fight takes place in, and has an advantage in the one that it does.

[mourning_]

hmm wish i knew some of that =/ but i guess on controlling your opponent works better than luck =D

[mourning_]

wish i knew more grappling that is....the place i go to the BJJ instructor is in Brazil . I'll PM someone for help maybe

[CagedWarrior]

For the most part, moneygqj is right. Exceptions are out there, and a real good striker can take you down by landing one good punch (not even good enough to knock you out, but to set up the knock out.)

However, one should also note that people like Lidell and Silva are excellent at defending the takedowns and in the clinch, and therefor could be considered great grapplers as well.

Still, if you're a striker who can't keep himself from being taken to the ground, your odds are pretty slim.

[Zaine]

Yeah your right, a grappler would beat a stand up fighter anyday, my sensei went to a school to learn some grappling and he went up against a white belt, the white belt choked him out, and my sensei was a black belt, not to mention a pretty big guy, so grapplers do have the upperhand, always, you would have to be a pretty good fighter, a really good fighter to beat a grappler

[AndrewGreen]

Still, if you're a striker who can't keep himself from being taken to the ground, your odds are pretty slim.

Same goes for a grappler that can't keep from getting hit.

The two don't seperate nicely, leaving out positional grappling is like leaving out footwork. Without it you're gonna get beat by someone that trained it.

If you want to strike you still need to train striking in the clinch and on the ground.

If you want to grapple you still need to train footwork and defending strikes.

There is no grappler vs striker seperation. You NEED to be able to move effectively anywhere you might end up in order to be able to fight.