Become Fighter
Game plans by opponent type: MMA guide
Decide where the fight will be fought, based on who is across from you.
A game plan is a short list of things you will do and things you will not. It starts with three questions: where do I want the fight to be, where is my opponent strongest, and what do I do when the plan breaks?
Most opponents lean toward one area: striker, wrestler or grappler. Your plan changes with the type, but your own strengths always come first.
Key points
- Against a striker: keep distance honest with kicks, use level changes, close to the clinch.
- Against a wrestler: avoid long clinches, stuff the shot, win the exchange on the feet.
- Against a grappler: stay upright, sprawl early, make them strike and keep the fight standing.
- Plan A is your strength. Plan B is for when A fails. Plan C is to survive and reset.
- Review recent footage. Look for habits: stance, what they do when hurt, what they do when they miss.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Building a plan around the opponent's weakness only. Start from your strengths and add the opponent's gaps.
- A plan with no Plan B. Know what you do when the first idea fails.
- Ignoring your own condition. Be honest about your weight, injuries and fitness when planning.
The rest is in the app
The step-by-step breakdown, the timed drill with the coach calling the shots and the quiz are part of Become Fighter Pro, where this lesson sits in the Fight IQ module of MMA foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Fight IQ
Combat sports training is hard on the body. Warm up, stay within your limits and check with a doctor first if you have a health condition. Practise in a clear space and stop if you feel pain or dizziness. Learn partner work only under a qualified coach.