Become Fighter
Underhooks, overhooks and pummeling: MMA guide
Fight for the inside arm and learn what each grip lets you do.
An underhook is your arm under the opponent's armpit. An overhook is your arm over theirs. The underhook is the stronger position: it lifts, turns and gives you access to the hips.
Pummeling is how you win the underhook. You and a partner take turns swimming one arm under, over and back out. It is the most useful clinch drill you can do.
Key points
- Win the underhook by swimming your arm under theirs and holding your elbow high.
- Head position matches the underhook side: your head goes on the same side as the hook.
- The whizzer is the answer to a lost underhook. Hook over their arm and push their elbow away.
- Pummel with both arms. One-sided pummeling makes you predictable.
- Every underhook is a gateway to a knee, a lift or a body lock.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Dropping the elbow below the hip. Keep the elbow high and tight to the ribs.
- Leaving the head out in front. Place your head beside the underhook, tight against their shoulder.
- Going through the motions. Pummel with intent. Win a position, hold it, then reset.
Combinations that use it
- mma-whizzer-sprawl: Whizzer, Sprawl
- mma-hf-pummel-uh: Hand fight, Pummel, Underhook
- mma-uh-knee: Underhook, Knee from the clinch
- mma-uh-wall-walk: Wall walk, Underhook
- wr-whizzer-sprawl: Whizzer, Sprawl
- wr-ub-bl: Underhook, Body lock
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 The clinch module of MMA foundations.
Get it on Google Play. Coming soon to the App Store.
More from The clinch
- Clinch position and posture: MMA guide
- Balance and head position: MMA guide
- Wall and cage awareness: 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.