Just another UFC wanna be, what to do

[tempest2003]

hey all, i just turned 22, im 6' 192ish lbs, extremley self motivated, Ive always wished id dedicated myself to a sport but i never did growing up. Ive always had a BAD temper that can snap with the wrong word which i think is to my advantage if i really want to start fighting UFC. I'm a sprinter type, quick, lean and very dedicated once i put my mind to somthing. Ive been training on a heavy bag and learning basic kick boxing for the last 6 months, ive been lifting for the last 3-4 years, and am very dedicated to my diet. I think I have what it takes to try ufc fighting. there is a casino not far form here that will pay $50 for any bum off the streets to fight. Its not the money im interested in yet, i just want to challenge myself. Im training all year probably until this itme next year, need to get a little more toned and get my endurance up which i think i can do over the course of the summer and till winter of next year. I have no wrestling experience which is probably a major weakness, but what would you all suggest be some of my first steps if i am considering this? like i said i would give myself at least a year from now to deciate myself to get to a point at which i think i could acheive my new goals, mianly need cardio work and more striking training. I know there are ufc guys on here, maybe i can get some pointers.

 

[alphaIII]

I see no sane reason to fight some random guy off the street for $50 - you don't know what you might be getting yourself into, and to be honest, 6 months of heavy bag work and self training in kick boxing in no way qualifies you to be a fighter. I know you say you want the challenge, but come on - you hit a bag that doesn't defend or strike back, and you're not being hit...what makes you think you can handle being punched, kicked, slammed, ect.?

I don't know your background - maybe you've been a street brawler all your life. But from reading your post, and I'm not trying to be a dick here, you sound like a punk with a bad temper who has no clue what it would take to be a real MMA fighter.

If you think it's something you want to do you need to start training for real under qualified instructors - I say instructors because I think you need multiple trainers to get all of the skills needed (in most cases, I think it's hard to find one instructor to teach everything). You need to train in thai boxing, boxing, bjj, and takedowns/takedown defense (ie. wresting) to get well rounded skills.

Second, learn to control your temper. People aren't going to want to teach you or train with you if you get pissed all the time. Plus, losing your temper is just gonna open you up for even more of an ass kicking in most cases.

 

[newfoundpower]

I think you are being a little naive in your consideration of mma fighting. First and foremost, heavybag training is nothing but cardio work-only sparring will properly prepare you. It may sound corny, but bags dont hit back. Fighting really is a science that takes time to develop-if not master. A temper wont help you at all, in fact, it very often works to your disadvantage. I believe you should look into at least a year of formal instruction in both striking (boxing, muy thai, tkd, kickboxing, etc) and groundwork (bjj, wrestling, etc) before you consider fighting. It will be well worth the time you invest.

 

[tempest2003]

lol, okay first, im not a punk, im an educated student going to college, i have a very cool temper unless someone is blaintently disrespecting me. also i said i have 6 months training and as i said, would not consider fighting untill i have at least another year from today. im just learning striking technique right now, proper form and teaching myself to keep hand up and be prepared for counter punches asap while stringing. also working on droping back from side to side, stepping in correctly, foot position, knowing my body as far as distance needed to strike, combo punches etc. Say i were to spend a year working on just one form of MMA, would you suggest kick boxing, groundwork or what would be my most valueable skill to work on for knowing basicly nothing except striking technique

 

[alphaIII]

lol, okay first, im not a punk, im an educated student going to college, i have a very cool temper unless someone is blaintently disrespecting me. also i said i have 6 months training and as i said, would not consider fighting untill i have at least another year from today. im just learning striking technique right now, proper form and teaching myself to keep hand up and be prepared for counter punches asap while stringing. also working on droping back from side to side, stepping in correctly, foot position, knowing my body as far as distance needed to strike, combo punches etc. Say i were to spend a year working on just one form of MMA, would you suggest kick boxing, groundwork or what would be my most valueable skill to work on for knowing basicly nothing except striking technique

In re-reading my post it does sound like I'm cutting on you. That's not what I meant. To start out saying how you have such a bad temper and you want to use it to fight, it made you sound like a punk...

Anyway, it's good you're a dedicated individual, because you'd need to be very dedicated if you want to fight MMA professionally.

I think a year of solid training under good instructors could prepare you to start competing. If and when you could compete at a professional level depends on alot of factors - how much you train, how well you learn, natural abilities, ect. But mixed martial arts is just that - MIXED. You won't find MMA fighters who only train one art anymore, and if you do, they often aren't very successful. You need to train for all aspects of MMA fighting - standup (boxing/muay thai) and ground (submissions, takedowns/takedown, posistion control, escapes, ect.). As far as what styles to train on the ground, bjj and freestyle wrestling are the typical groundfighting foundation in MMA...BUT, very skilled fighters utilize other styles of ground fighting such as russian sambo, catch wrestling, and much less frequently, judo.

In the end, focusing on one particular style with the intent of fighting MMA is not a good idea, as it leaves you one dimensional and leaves alot of weaknesses. Again, I think you just need to make sure that whatever you train in, you are getting exposure to all aspects of MMA - stand-up, takedown, ground.

 

[alphaIII]

lol, okay first, im not a punk, im an educated student going to college, i have a very cool temper unless someone is blaintently disrespecting me. also i said i have 6 months training and as i said, would not consider fighting untill i have at least another year from today. im just learning striking technique right now, proper form and teaching myself to keep hand up and be prepared for counter punches asap while stringing. also working on droping back from side to side, stepping in correctly, foot position, knowing my body as far as distance needed to strike, combo punches etc. Say i were to spend a year working on just one form of MMA, would you suggest kick boxing, groundwork or what would be my most valueable skill to work on for knowing basicly nothing except striking technique

On a side note, it's good you've spent some time learning proper striking technique and footwork, although I still think you could benefit much more from training with a qualified instructor. One thing I notice in watching MMA is that many of the fighters are not technical at all in their striking, and though some are still very effective, it makes me wonder if they just jump into fighting so soon that they never really become good at any of the techniques they're taught. As I said, some fighters are still effective even though they're not technical fighters, but I still think proper technique should come first - but then again I'm not a pro fighter, so take what I say for what it's worth.

 

[tempest2003]

thanks much alphaIII for the good info, i am very dedicated, right now i lift 4x a week and do cardio on the bag 4x a week as well, my diet is in check and in the end i may not be built for MMA, but i know i have the mental ability, i know i am strong enough and i know i am a quick learner as well as intelegent, even if i cant spell it correctly =) i just today started looking into so BJJ classes, calling tomorrow for pricing. thanks again

 

[booby]

the smartest thing to do would be to find a reputable mma school with good instructers and coaches...they can properly train you and evaluate your skills and let you know when you are ready to enter a cage and fight....some guys can train 6 months and be ready depending on there backround and athletisism...some guys need 2 years of training...some guys can train there whole life and never be ready.


i also recomend fighting in some amateur mma events before turning pro.

 

[alphaIII]

thanks much alphaIII for the good info, i am very dedicated, right now i lift 4x a week and do cardio on the bag 4x a week as well, my diet is in check and in the end i may not be built for MMA, but i know i have the mental ability, i know i am strong enough and i know i am a quick learner as well as intelegent, even if i cant spell it correctly =) i just today started looking into so BJJ classes, calling tomorrow for pricing. thanks again

Good luck with your training.

 

[karachi183]

Join a BJJ class and start getting belts.. Once you've worked ur way up the latter the rest will come. Good Luck