2 weeks before fight, need opinion (MMA)

[DIB42]

Get a call from a friend who's a martial artist. He's got a kid who took an MMA fight on short notice (kid needs money for the holidays, he's fought before, etc etc whatever excuse to justify allowing his student to do this). He asks me to come take a look at the kid. 20 Yr old Light Heavy, a bit out of shape, tough as nails, no quit in him, determination and desire. Problem is, terrible ground game, terrible puncher, terrible kicker. Slow and awkward as well. He's 0-3going against an 0-0 debut bar brawler type. He's never been KO'd, but he's gassed and been TKO'd late in each of his fights.

In 2 weeks there isn't enough time to do much but give him a few different ways to win, and a few different ways not to lose.
In your opinion, what might give this kid a chance? What should he be focusing on?

[dough401]

Get a call from a friend who's a martial artist. He's got a kid who took an MMA fight on short notice (kid needs money for the holidays, he's fought before, etc etc whatever excuse to justify allowing his student to do this). He asks me to come take a look at the kid. 20 Yr old Light Heavy, a bit out of shape, tough as nails, no quit in him, determination and desire. Problem is, terrible ground game, terrible puncher, terrible kicker. Slow and awkward as well. He's 0-3going against an 0-0 debut bar brawler type. He's never been KO'd, but he's gassed and been TKO'd late in each of his fights.

In 2 weeks there isn't enough time to do much but give him a few different ways to win, and a few different ways not to lose.
In your opinion, what might give this kid a chance? What should he be focusing on?

Doesnt sound like this is the best situation for a trainer but I would try like hell to get his cardio up he is gonna need to be able breath to fight against a brawler type as they gas most of the time at this level. Also does this guy have a ground game? I mean most novice guys if you can get them to the ground they have very hard time getting back up something to think about. You say he is terrible at all aspects of fighting tho so I dont know what you have to work with kinda feel bad but cardio is the key maybe show him counter punching I would hope he would know but 0-3 maybe not good luck keep us posted hope I could help a little.

[ChampSince84]

Run run and run more, work on explosiveness hopefully that will put a lil power in his punches. Get him to kick the pads about 2-300 times a day properly to get proper technique and power. but ya if hes getting tko'd late in the rounds due to bad cardio work alot on his conditioning. That mistake shoulda been worked on after his first loss.

[DIB42]

Doesnt sound like this is the best situation for a trainer but I would try like hell to get his cardio up he is gonna need to be able breath to fight against a brawler type as they gas most of the time at this level. Also does this guy have a ground game? I mean most novice guys if you can get them to the ground they have very hard time getting back up something to think about. You say he is terrible at all aspects of fighting tho so I dont know what you have to work with kinda feel bad but cardio is the key maybe show him counter punching I would hope he would know but 0-3 maybe not good luck keep us posted hope I could help a little.

The kid is all heart and can take a beating, so I was kind of thinking along the same lines, try to have him weather the storm. Hoping the other guy gasses early and then take him down and ground and pound. Which will probably be plan A,B or C. I'd like to have a better plan "A" than "Go let him punch himself out on your face"

He's got a decent shovel, straight and uppercut. A decent Knee in the clinch, a decent clinch all together actually. Good (more ok than anything) upper thigh kicks, cant kick above the hip with power or accuracy though.

[Redd Foxx]

Losing proposition all around. I don't believe that someone can have "determination and desire" if they refuse to work on their conditioning. Quitting on your training speaks volumes about a persons "heart". So, if you're going to bother with him, get his grappling cardio and striking cardio up. You should know that there are really no tricks or special formulas to winning so as far as training goes, just drill the basics.
Best of luck, hope you can help him.

[DIB42]

Losing proposition all around. I don't believe that someone can have "determination and desire" if they refuse to work on their conditioning. Quitting on your training speaks volumes about a persons "heart". So, if you're going to bother with him, get his grappling cardio and striking cardio up. You should know that there are really no tricks or special formulas to winning so as far as training goes, just drill the basics.
Best of luck, hope you can help him.

He was self trained until about a month ago, when he met up with my friend. The original plan was to stay out of the cage for 6 months, but my friend caved. The kid's family is poor and could use the money, my friend trains him for free. So I understand the reasoning behind letting him fight.

I don't think he refused to work on his conditioning as much as he just didn't have a schedule or someone to push him.

Not really expecting a win, would like to give him the best chance though.

[dough401]

The kid is all heart and can take a beating, so I was kind of thinking along the same lines, try to have him weather the storm. Hoping the other guy gasses early and then take him down and ground and pound. Which will probably be plan A,B or C. I'd like to have a better plan "A" than "Go let him punch himself out on your face"

He's got a decent shovel, straight and uppercut. A decent Knee in the clinch, a decent clinch all together actually. Good (more ok than anything) upper thigh kicks, cant kick above the hip with power or accuracy though.

I would stick to the basic with this one we both agree get his cardio up! That will help the cause and no need really for him to be kicking above the hips at this point anyway unless you know what ur doing just an easy miss and take down for the other guy Basics Basics Basics will get him a W good cardio hard leg kicks and nothing wrong with dirty boxing if he has a good chin use it best way to beat a brawler is inside his arms cant punch with explosivness double and single legs are fairly easy to learn worst case lay and pray LOL make it work.

[Spartacus Sully]

you best option is 2-3 min intervals at 80% intenisty praticing exactly what hes going to be doing in the ring.

atleast as far as boxing goes 2-3 min rounds at 80% intensity will bring your student to near vo2 max near lactate threshold and near max heart rate each round, this will improve their vo2 max resting heart rate and lactate threshold.

puls doing 2-3 min intervals at 80% intensity of what he needs work on also trains him in what he needs work on.


so id say have him alternate with 1 3 min round of punchign on the heavy bag, then 1 3 min round of kicking on the heavy bag then 1 3 min of just foot work then back to 1 3 min round of punching 1 3 min round of kicking and 1 3 min round of foot work repeate repeate repeate all at 80% intensity.

then once hes beat have him work on actual technique at lower intensity.

then afterwards an easy 2-3 mile walk/jog to help burn off excess lactate acid and improve his breathing under stress so hes not gasping for air or holding his breath in the ring.

[*Boss*]

As my coach would say : conditioning , conditioning ,conditioning ,conditioning...... btw Is the other guy a good grappler ???

[DIB42]

As my coach would say : conditioning , conditioning ,conditioning ,conditioning...... btw Is the other guy a good grappler ???

I don't know if the other guy is good on the ground, its his debut.... I've only gotten word from people in his hometown about his rep as a bar brawler... I'm currently searching yearbooks from his highschool to see if he was a wrestler, doesn't look like it.... going to check middleschool too though.

From what i've seen of my fighter, he's ok on the ground, but no, not a great grappler by any means, i don't see him submitting anyone, i think he could defend against the basics, but I'm not entirely sure he can do anything more than get in the guard and wait for the ref to break it up.

He's not very good. I'm old, out of form, and out of shape and I worked him over... but he's fighting against someone who's making their debut. I'm hoping we can pull off a "W" here buts its not likely.

He's got a ****ing great story though, he got paid for this fight in advance, and used the money to help his mom buy christmas presents. He has to borrow my partners gloves cause he doesn't have his own. (at least he has his own cup...ewww)

He's probably going to lose, and I'm aware of that.

Yesterday was a good day though, he showed me some good head movement, some good footwork, and had a little more power in his punches and kicks, but he telegraphed like mad.

I'm down to five days, I don't want to work him too hard, I just want to work on technique and gameplan.

He does have a pretty decent takedown defense...

here is my gameplan so far, and feel free to comment on it....

Only think we know about the opponent is he is a bar brawler, we're going with that.

Opponent will probably rush/storm my guy with wide shots. and when my he gets tired he will try a takedown for a ground and pound or a rest.

My plan - a

Weather the initial storm, guard the head, alot of bobbing and weaving, don't fall back to the gate, stay in the center of the octagon and circle away from the right (we're assuming this guy is right handed) and when there is some steam off the punches, throw some One twos in between those wide shots. Remember when he gets tired he'll try for a takedown, sidestep and push the head down & throw upper cuts to the face.... if he gets turned around, takedown - ground and pound.

my plan - b

still working on that one.