CannieY
10-03-2010, 23:42
ik vond een goede post op UG:
First, a definition [of infighting, C.] from the BBC website of all places:
INFIGHTING
Infighting is the term used to describe boxing at close range.
It makes greater demands on a boxer's strength and stamina than the more skilful techniques of outfighting.
This is because it inevitably involves receiving blows as well as giving them.
If your opponent has a longer reach it is essential to move in close where a wide range of short hooks and uppercuts can be used to cancel out the reach advantage.
Obviously things are a bit different in MMA, where you need to factor in close-range techniques from other sports like muay thai, wrestling and judo, but it is still fair to say there is an infighter/outfighter dichotomy in MMA. The best fighters are good at both, but there are plenty of good examples of top-level fighters who trend strongly towards one style or the other.
In my opinion, effective infighters in MMA are a pretty rare breed. It doesn't mean it isn't a viable style as much as an indication of how far the sport has to go. There is a lot of uncharted territory, so to speak, when it comes to some advanced skills from other fight sports. It seems commonplace now for world-class wrestlers like Mo Lawal and Joe Warren to come into MMA, but there aren't a lot of champion-level boxers and muay thai fighters to demonstrate those elite skills. And infighting definitely falls into the category of fighting styles that require a ton of skill, not to mention athletic ability.
Anyway, here are my picks:
Fedor Emelianenko
Routinely makes much larger opponents look foolish with his awesome combination of speed, footwork, timing and power. His signature lunging overhand right is his greatest weapon for closing the distance, and if it misses to the outside he will instinctively try for a head and arm throw.
http://i34.tinypic.com/15gw8pd.gifhttp://i38.tinypic.com/qp2pzk.gif
Dan Henderson
Kind of like Fedor, except replace the precision nuclear strikes with a brawling style that relies on keeping the distance close to set up a monster right overhand or left hook. Amazing, he hasn't really lost a step at all in the last decade.
http://i49.tinypic.com/28wpi5j.gifhttp://i50.tinypic.com/2rdjajo.gif
Michihiro Omigawa
The closest MMA gets to having a "Tysonesque" fighter so far. After failing to out-brawl his two UFC opponents he dropped to 65kg and put all his faith into a bobbing, weaving style that has made him a star. His superior head/trunk movement and ability to roll to either side and attack quickly is awe-inspiring.
http://i46.tinypic.com/2db5ngg.gifhttp://i43.tinypic.com/or146a.gif
Nick Diaz
Ok, so this is a bit of weird one, because Nick's default mode of fighting is to use his reach to keep opponents on the end of straight punches coming from all angles, but the secret to his championship charge was his newly refined ability to switch into a close-range destroyer once he smells blood, unloading barrages of debilitating body punches.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2le4ih1.gifhttp://i48.tinypic.com/2i7pi54.gif
Alistair Overeem
The best example of a fighter from a muay thai background who often does his best work using his infighting ability, as opposed to trying to keep the fight on the outside. His short, effective punching, good defense and creativity in mixing in kicks and knees is scary for a 6'5" athlete pushing the 265lb heavyweight limit.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll306/SMOOGYpitfighting/overeemko01.gifhttp://i49.tinypic.com/2d9tgg8.gif
Thoughts? Picks?
bron (http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&thread=1607910&forum=1&page=1&pc=42)
hieraan is zeker Randy Couture toe te voegen met z'n greco-roman wrestling
http://91.121.132.199/gifs/1261.gif
First, a definition [of infighting, C.] from the BBC website of all places:
INFIGHTING
Infighting is the term used to describe boxing at close range.
It makes greater demands on a boxer's strength and stamina than the more skilful techniques of outfighting.
This is because it inevitably involves receiving blows as well as giving them.
If your opponent has a longer reach it is essential to move in close where a wide range of short hooks and uppercuts can be used to cancel out the reach advantage.
Obviously things are a bit different in MMA, where you need to factor in close-range techniques from other sports like muay thai, wrestling and judo, but it is still fair to say there is an infighter/outfighter dichotomy in MMA. The best fighters are good at both, but there are plenty of good examples of top-level fighters who trend strongly towards one style or the other.
In my opinion, effective infighters in MMA are a pretty rare breed. It doesn't mean it isn't a viable style as much as an indication of how far the sport has to go. There is a lot of uncharted territory, so to speak, when it comes to some advanced skills from other fight sports. It seems commonplace now for world-class wrestlers like Mo Lawal and Joe Warren to come into MMA, but there aren't a lot of champion-level boxers and muay thai fighters to demonstrate those elite skills. And infighting definitely falls into the category of fighting styles that require a ton of skill, not to mention athletic ability.
Anyway, here are my picks:
Fedor Emelianenko
Routinely makes much larger opponents look foolish with his awesome combination of speed, footwork, timing and power. His signature lunging overhand right is his greatest weapon for closing the distance, and if it misses to the outside he will instinctively try for a head and arm throw.
http://i34.tinypic.com/15gw8pd.gifhttp://i38.tinypic.com/qp2pzk.gif
Dan Henderson
Kind of like Fedor, except replace the precision nuclear strikes with a brawling style that relies on keeping the distance close to set up a monster right overhand or left hook. Amazing, he hasn't really lost a step at all in the last decade.
http://i49.tinypic.com/28wpi5j.gifhttp://i50.tinypic.com/2rdjajo.gif
Michihiro Omigawa
The closest MMA gets to having a "Tysonesque" fighter so far. After failing to out-brawl his two UFC opponents he dropped to 65kg and put all his faith into a bobbing, weaving style that has made him a star. His superior head/trunk movement and ability to roll to either side and attack quickly is awe-inspiring.
http://i46.tinypic.com/2db5ngg.gifhttp://i43.tinypic.com/or146a.gif
Nick Diaz
Ok, so this is a bit of weird one, because Nick's default mode of fighting is to use his reach to keep opponents on the end of straight punches coming from all angles, but the secret to his championship charge was his newly refined ability to switch into a close-range destroyer once he smells blood, unloading barrages of debilitating body punches.
http://i40.tinypic.com/2le4ih1.gifhttp://i48.tinypic.com/2i7pi54.gif
Alistair Overeem
The best example of a fighter from a muay thai background who often does his best work using his infighting ability, as opposed to trying to keep the fight on the outside. His short, effective punching, good defense and creativity in mixing in kicks and knees is scary for a 6'5" athlete pushing the 265lb heavyweight limit.
http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll306/SMOOGYpitfighting/overeemko01.gifhttp://i49.tinypic.com/2d9tgg8.gif
Thoughts? Picks?
bron (http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&thread=1607910&forum=1&page=1&pc=42)
hieraan is zeker Randy Couture toe te voegen met z'n greco-roman wrestling
http://91.121.132.199/gifs/1261.gif