The sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) is a rapidly growing phenomenon that has gained huge popularity in recent years. It’s no surprise, then, that people are curious about the most successful fighting styles in MMA.
The question “what is the most successful fighting style in MMA?” may be answered by looking at the records of professional fighters who use each style—but since there are so many ways to win a fight, this approach would result in an incomplete answer at best and misleading conclusions at worst. As the saying goes; “MMA math doesn’t work”.
To get a better idea of which styles have historically been most effective against one another, we’ll compare each one’s strengths and weaknesses before looking at how they might fare against one another in a hypothetical matchup between two fighters from different backgrounds.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a martial art that originated in Thailand, and it’s one of the most popular styles in MMA. Muay Thai fighters have a strong focus on kicks, knees, and elbows. These strikes are usually used when standing up close to an opponent, so fighters need to train extensively with each other to learn how to defend against them.
This style is very effective in the cage because fighters are constantly working on their cardio while they spar with each other, which allows them to be at full strength during fights without having tiring out too early. Also, since this style uses both hands when throwing punches, it’s easier for them to get off more powerful shots as well as making themselves less vulnerable if they miss their target completely.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
When you think of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, one of the first things that come to mind is its focus on submissions.
BJJ was hugely popularised during the start of the UFC. Royce Gracie, a pioneer of BJJ, was defeating much larger opponents with ease due to their lack of defence to his techniques. This resulted in BJJ being seen as the most dominant martial art for a time, which prompted fighters to learn basic defence as a bare minimum.
It’s also a great style for ground fighting, takedowns and takedown defence, and submission holds from the top position. It can be used in self-defence situations because it teaches you how to escape from an opponent’s grip or hold onto them until help arrives. BJJ also teaches you how to defend yourself when you are knocked down by a strike (ground control). Finally, another great benefit of this martial art is that it includes recovery and defence after being knocked down by a strike (defence while down).
Boxing
Boxing is one of the oldest and most well-known fighting styles in the world. It’s a sport that requires speed, agility, power, strength, and endurance. Boxers are known for their punching power as well as their accuracy and speed. Boxers are also known for their footwork, which can help transition into other disciplines.
Boxing is also one of the most important skills to have if you want to be successful in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). This sport has been around since before MMA was even invented so it’s no wonder that many boxers have made an impact on this sport when they’ve moved into it over time!
To be a good boxer you need to have good defence against takedowns which means having good wrestling defence against opponents who may try taking them down but don’t worry because there are plenty of ways fighters can improve this part too!
Wrestling
Wrestling is a sport that has been around for centuries, and it’s one of the most popular martial arts in the world. If you’re interested in MMA training, you should definitely consider learning some wrestling techniques. Wrestling teaches you valuable skills like how to control an opponent on the ground and use your weight to wear out an opponent.
Wrestling isn’t just good for grappling with someone else—it can also help teach you how to defend yourself against grapplers. Wrestlers have a lot of experience knowing when they’re being taken down by their opponents, so they can use this knowledge to avoid being taken down themselves.
Every fighting discipline has its strengths and weaknesses
Every fighting discipline has its strengths and weaknesses because they were originally created for different purposes. With that being said, even though some are better than others in certain aspects of fighting, there is no doubt that each one is a valuable addition to anyone’s arsenal.
The best fighters know how to use all styles together, which is why they are often considered well-rounded fighters. Modern MMA requires fighters to be proficient in more than one discipline if they want success in their careers.
Mixing all these styles together effectively is the aim for a successful mixed martial artist
The most successful MMA fighters are those who have a well-rounded skill set and can adapt to different situations. You’re not going to be good at everything, but you should at least be able to do the basics of each style effectively.
A good coach and sparring partner are key in developing those skills. A coach will help guide you through your training, while a sparring partner will push you further in practice than what would be possible in class alone.
This is just a brief overview of some of the most successful styles in MMA. It’s important to remember that these aren’t the only styles that can be considered effective, but they are among the most popular.
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