Questions for the inclined mma person.

[Strike2Submit]

Hey everyone, I just wanted to drop a line and say hello as well as questions. I've been a previous lurker on these boards, never signed up but found all the conversations interesting! Well here goes.

I wasn't sure if this debate was posted so I used the search button but for any of the old folks here on defend.net Id like to ask some insight.

Is the world of UFC and Pride specifically designed to leverage in terms of tall people? Now it may seem as if I'm bashing on the tall as I for one am a short person but it had me thinking, what about the 5'3 5'2 fighter who has just as much potential as the tall ones. Is there a place for these people even in terms of popularity in the UFC and pride? I maybe looking at this from an unexperienced point of view but genetics play the strong role that they do as in terms of reach and endurance for the tall just as technical skill would. They say that a boxer should never loose heart and always seek the desire to win but if a person such as myself had those big dreams of being with top people like tito ortiz, Mirko crocop, sakuraba.. [etc.], one can't help but notice the disadvantages outweight the advantages while still keeping that focused mind and heart for it. Could anyone care to enlighten or probably add on to this and give more of a broader prespective on how one should feel? It got to me when I thought about it one day.

Last question, what does the MMA work out routine look like? I've read sites like ross boxing and its a must to have important cardio and great conditioning just like a mixed martial artist. Looking at the ring time with prides rounds going from 10 mins to 5 then to 5, how would it look like in balancing their schedule out from cardio to technique workshop then to conditioning? I would imagine every body needs rest to proceed further and to gain more just like a boxer would train rigiously.

Kudos, Strike.

[bodhisattva]

Shortness can actually be quite an advantage in MMA. I think, personally, I'd rather be short than tall.. both have advantages and liabilities. The secret is to learn to use what you have.

[wardancer]

Well There is weight categories in most MMA events like UFC, Pride etc..so being tall or short should not be an issue but more of how heavy are you?
Of course there is the famous big guys but there are the smaller MMA fighters.
if you are heavy and short, you are likely to have a reach advantage. But to think of it, there is not many overweight succcessfull MMA fighter.
If you are worry about giving away striking 'reach' versus taller fighter, well you better work on you clinch, takedown, groundfighting and subs etc...

MMA workout routine are pretty intense and 'explosive' due to the nature of the rules: due to the lack of stoppage from the ref due to the rules, a MMA fighter must be ready to fight non-stop in an 'explosive' manner with intensity.
One MMA exemple:
You would have to run uphill for 1 minute then strike a punching bag for 10 times then run downhill, then do 10 sprawls then start running up again etc..continue the exercise for about 10 minutes.
The idea is do not stop, you are very likey to throw up and will not be able to finish the training. But that should give the intensity of an 'explosive' MMA training. The purpose is to work your cardio and maintain it at a high and continous pace, while being to strike at the end of sprint uphill meaning you are short-breath (fighters are always running out of breath) and still striking hard,run down then do the 10 sprawls (if you are not familiar) is a technique that MMA fighters use to defend takedowns. Sprawls are good defense but it important to drill them under extreme fatigue like running uphill.
Note that such exercise is like just a warm-up to MMA training, it does not even cover some of the basics striking/grappling basics, not even sparring as yet.
One Boxing exemple:
Go jog for 30 minutes every morning a la Rocky I.

[Tom Yum]

Popularity doesn't mean squat unless you are trying to make a career out of fighting.

Even then you become popular because of your ability to deliver KOs or submissions, not because you got great biceps and are a popular in the highschool sense.

Anyhow if you're 5'2 or 5'3 are you skinny or stalky? Cause if you're 5'3" and 130 you will be in proportion to the competition in terms of build and athletic ability. If you're 5'3" and 180, you're gonna be fighting guys who are about 6' to 6'2" and a lean, powerfull 180.

Genetics is an interesting thing. I don't look very muscular at all; I've got no genetic predisposition for anything athletic; as a matter of fact I'll go as far to say that I am a wimpy, geek-like fellow who loves physics but I can bang out many explosive reps with 315 on the deadlift

Regardless, who cares about all of that. Just get into the gym, start training and enjoy yourself. Appreciate the game and work hard with your classmates.

you shouldn't get caught up in the paralysis of analysis when dealing with MAs.

[Strike2Submit]

Thanks for all the inqusitive responses everyone! Oh I was just going by assumptions of other people of others in my height range. Though as for myself I'm pretty much as Tom Yum stted with a 130 weight build, but never the less thanks again everyone. It was just something that made me think about though the answers seem closer than what they really are without an answer that didnt have to be thought so hard about

[koto_ryu]

Watch Jens Pulver fight some of the huge guys. 'Nuff said

[Tom Yum]

Agreed Koto - Pulver has busted up some of his bigger training partners.

Dekkers, Vargas, Masato...these are guys who are 150lbs or lighter and can open up a can of "kick butt" quickly. Watching Dekkers sending his heavier coach Voss into the ropes with his kicks and punches, pretty much answers that one.

I like watching the light heavyweight (to 176 lbs) & cruiserweight (to 192 lbs) fights because these guys come close to having the best of both worlds.

Some have KO power pretty close to the heavyweights but generous speed, technique and mobility attributes too.

[HtTKar]

Ramon "Diamond " Dekker; 200 Fights 175wins 90 ko's
When speaking of little guys, you cant forget or exclude this man.
He fought from 59kg to 67kg throughout his career.

http://www.fightingmaster.com/legend...ers/titles.htm

STATS
Name: Ramon Dekkers
Nickname: “The Diamond”
Date of birth: 1969
Birthplace: Breda, Holland
Fights: 200 (approx) W 175 KOs 90
8 times World Champion in Kick Boxing and Thai Boxing
Current status: Retired

Dutch born Ramon Dekkers is probably one of the best known western Thai boxers of all time. Ramon Dekkers is to kickboxing what Muhammad Ali was to boxing or Diego Maradona to soccer. He is an athlete who always pursued excellence and perfection; a fighter whose heart was greater than his bodily power. In spite of all his health problems, he showed great spirit and courage. He created kickboxing history; but in doing so he damaged his body irreversibly.

It could be said that since some fighters beat Ramon, they were better athletes. Then again, the same happened to the great Muhammad Ali. Every fighter loses eventually, but greatness in contact sports is not accomplished by any single fight but rather through a remarkable career. Most of the fights Ramon lost were lost on points or because he was not “clever” enough to avoid or cancel a fight like most professional fighters often do because of injuries.

Ramon Dekkers was born in Breda, Holland, a small rural community an hour south of Amsterdam. He was born on 4 September 1969. Ramon Dekkers is a man who enjoyed the challenge of fighting most of all. He fought for 20 years and had almost 200 fights with 175 wins, 90 by KO. He fought many fights in Thailand under Thai rules. He is 8 times World Champion in Kick Boxing and Thai Boxing.

He has fought against some of the top Thai and international fighters of his time. He has competed around the world and won several championships throughout his career. Dekkers is noted as a skilled fighter with powerful punches and kicks, and had a tendency to go head -to-head with his opponents, which made him a favorite with the Thais.

Dekkers gained financially from fighting in Thailand. They paid him very well to fight in their country. He was voted as the Fighter of the Year in Thailand in 1992 so his name will go down in history.


Here are some of the first titles he won:
• Dutch Title at 18 years of age against Ramkisoen from the Chakuriki Gym on 15-11-1987 in Breda/Holland. He won on KO in the 2nd round
• European Title (MTBN) from Richard Nam in France on 27-02-1988 in the Jaap Edenhal in Amsterdam/Holland.
• European Title (NKBB) from Morris who was from England on 14th of April 1988 in Eindhoven/ Holland.
• World Title (IMTA) from Mungkordum Sitchang, World Title in 59 kg, on 2-12-1989 in Salle Lionel Terray in France. He won by decision.
• World Title against Nangpon (IMTF) for the World Muay Thai Championship, 18-02-1990 in the Jaap Edenhal in Amsterdam/Holland 18-02-1990
Most of Ramon’s losses were on “points.” Sometimes he fought 2 fights in 1 week and that in my opinion wore him out and caused some of his losses and injuries.

http://www.hkstars.net/thaiboxmagazine/Ramon_Dekker.wmv

[HtTKar]

It was brought to my attention that the link I posted no longer works. Too bad cause that was awesome.

heres a link that still shows how good this guy was, just not as good as the other link.

http://crew.tweakers.net/lunatic/zooi/RamonDekkerHighlight-luna.wmv