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Judo Chop: Three tactics to look for at UFC 203
- Updated: September 7, 2016
Why analyze fights? A detailed breakdown can help to predict the outcome of a contest–doubtless that is why bettors read articles like these, and just about every MMA-related media outlet publishes picks and predictions before every major event. A piece of fight analysis can also lend insight into the mindset of a particular fighter, asking why one man is aggressive where another is reactive, why one is reckless and the other cautious.
But personally, the most persistent reason for my own fight analysis is that it simply makes fights more enjoyable. I began breaking down fights because I discovered how much a detailed understanding of the techniques and strategies enhanced my experience. I could read about a fighter’s tactics, and then watch them play out live, feeling that I truly understood what was going on, if even in a small way.
So in that spirit, let’s take a look at three must-watch fighters competing this weekend at UFC 203, one of them on the prelims, one on the main card, and one in the main event. These are three tactics to look for at UFC 203.
Sean Spencer’s Blinding Jab
Sean Spencer throws about 14 strikes per minute, and easily half of those are jabs. Fighting out of a semi-crouch, Spencer’s left hand is constantly flicking up under the nose of his opponent, tickling like a gnat or biting like a fly. Spencer regularly doubles and triples his jab, landing it when he can, but determined to always keep it on his opponent’s mind, and in his face.
As any seasoned boxer will tell you, the jab is more than an offensive weapon. It can do damage, and it remains one of the most reliable counters in the fistfighter’s arsenal, but above all, the jab is a means to an end. For Sean Spencer, the right hand is that end.
GIF
1. Spencer stands in a solid position, just outside of Paulo Thiago’s range.
2. He closes that distance with a jab, stepping forward with his left foot as he throws it.
3. At full extension, the jab doesn’t quite connect, but it hangs before Thiago’s face.
4. Spencer steps his right foot forward, regaining his position at a closer distance.
5. This time when he drives forward with a right hand, he is close enough to land, hard.
6. Down goes Thiago.
The jab allows Spencer to land his power shots cleanly, and without the opponent’s knowledge. They say the punch that hurts you is the one you don’t see coming, which is why, despite a record that suggests a distinct lack of punching power (83 percent of his wins are either decisions or submissions), Spencer has knocked down or badly hurt every one of his last four opponents. The right hand is not particularly heavy, but the left hand ensures that it lands right on the button. And because Spencer takes small steps, moving his rear foot into position after sliding in with his jab, he is able to extend beautifully through his target.
When Spencer takes on Yancy Medeiros in the featured Fight Pass preliminary, keep an eye on his left hand, and watch how he forces the opponent to do the same.
Alistair Overeem’s Shift Hook
The heavyweight division is an unforgiving place. The punches are heavy, and all but the hardest chins crack eventually, usually sooner rather than later. When the man trying to hit you weighs as much as two Demetrious Johnsons, the consequences are dire.
So you have to respect the accomplishments of Alistair Overeem. At 36 years old, Overeem receives his long-awaited UFC title shot after a tempestuous career. He has seen sparks more than most of his compatriots, receiving nine knockouts over the course of his 17-year career; he has also achieved incredible success, claiming the Strikeforce, Dream, and K-1 championships. Of the current UFC roster, only Josh Barnett and Andrei Arlovski have competed longer, and The Reem is younger than both with over a dozen more fights on his record.
And for all of that time, Alistair Overeem has been more or less the same fighter–until very recently. …
