Become Fighter
Takedown defence: MMA guide
Sprawl, whizzer, snap-down: the three answers to a shot.
Defence starts before the shot lands. Keep your stance wide, your hands ready and your hips behind your head. When the opponent levels, you answer with your hips first.
The sprawl takes the hips away. The whizzer controls an arm. The snap-down pulls the head to the floor and gives you the top position. Together they stop most shots.
Key points
- Sprawl on the first sign of a level change. Hips back and down, chest over the shoulders.
- Underhook or whizzer the near arm as you sprawl, so they cannot re-shoot.
- Snap-down: pull the head down with both hands after the sprawl, then circle behind.
- Hips low, legs wide, chest heavy. The opponent should feel your weight on their head.
- Follow with a strike or a standing circle. Do not stay on top of a stalled shot.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Sprawling after the grip is set. Start when the level drops. Late is too late.
- Hips staying close to the opponent. Kick the legs wide and back. The opponent should feel a heavy chest, not a light hip.
- Staying on top of the opponent's head. Step to the side and pivot out. Staying causes a scramble.
Combinations that use it
- mma-sprawl-snap: Sprawl, Snap-down
- wr-sprawl-sd: Sprawl, Snap-down
- wr-hf-sd-sl: Hand fight, Snap-down, Single leg
- wr-sd-sprawl-circle: Snap-down, Sprawl, Circle out
- wr-ct-snap-sl: Collar tie, Snap-down, Single leg
Related techniques
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 Takedown fundamentals module of MMA foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from Takedown fundamentals
- Takedown awareness and timing: MMA guide
- Double leg and single leg: MMA guide
- Recovering after a failed shot: MMA guide
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.