Friday, November 29, 2013

Boxing & MMA Are A Natural Pair

By Nolan Barias


While ground fighting is clearly a big part of MMA, honing strong striking skills cannot be underestimated as an important part of your arsenal as a fighter. A strong, solid punch requires little movement or energy and can be a quick way to disable an opponent. Many of the world's best mixed martial artists have fought in professional boxing matches or have extensive training in boxing.

While Georges St.-Pierre never competed as a boxer, he takes his boxing skills very seriously. His trainer, Freddie Roach, is one of the best trainers in the world. St.-Pierre has won many fights using boxing techniques, including UFC 48 where he downed his opponent, Jay Hieron, at just 1:27 in the first round by knockout. Obviously, St.-Pierre did not earn his 22-2 record and welterweight title by boxing alone; he also holds an impressive array of black belts in three martial arts, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kyokushin kaikan.

While Muay Thai might be the skill for which Anderson Silva is best known, he is one of the most versatile fighters in the world. In addition to his 32-4 MMA record, he has a 1-1 record in professional boxing. He also holds an impressive array of black belts in everything from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Judo to Muay Thai, of course. In addition to his natural athleticism, his dedication to perfecting multiple fighting styles is why he is one of the world's best fighters.

Vitor Belfort is yet another amazing Brazilian MMA fighter with a strong 21-9 pro record in mixed martial arts. He also participated in one professional boxing match against Josemario Neves in 2006. Belfort knocked down Neves three times in just a minute to win the fight by TKO. While he hasn't participated in another boxing contest since, he continues to train with a boxing coach, as well as working on other skills. He holds several black belts, including Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

For K.J. Noons, limiting himself only to the MMA arena is apparently out of the question. He has an impressive 11-5 MMA record, which began with his first fight in 2002. Between then and now, he has also competed as a professional kickboxer, earning a record of 12-2. He also is a professional boxer with an 11-2 record, winning five of his bouts by knockout. As a teenager he also won the gold medal at the Long Beach International Karate Championships and holds a black belt in Kenpo.

Learning essential boxing skills will improve the overall performance of any fighter, so if you are currently working toward a career in MMA, make sure you add boxing classes along with your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and wrestling classes. Select a professional-level MMA gym that offers a variety of classes, including boxing, for one flat monthly fee.




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