Takedowns are thrilling in MMA. Getting an opponent to the ground is a surefire way to win over the audience. However, what are MMA takedowns, and how are they executed?
Let’s first discuss MMA before moving on. One of the most well-liked full-contact fighting sports in the world, mixed martial arts is now practiced in almost all nations. It has also emerged as a choice for aspiring combatants aiming to win championships.
When fighting, fighters combine their abilities. Both attackers and grapplers can learn how to strike. Consequently, MMA takedowns are required to move a battle from the standing to the ground. Another justification for why MMA battles take place inside of a cage is the takedowns. The battle can hardly be stopped by falling out of a cage.
MMA takedowns, as the name suggests, involve bringing an opponent to the ground from a standing position and putting them in a sitting or lying position. In order to unbalance them and bring them to the canvas, different maneuvers are used to achieve this. We’ll discuss various takedown techniques and how to use them in this piece.
Martial Arts Takedowns
Takedowns come in a variety of forms, with conventional martial arts serving as their origin. The majority of them demanded the wearing of Gi or Dgi uniforms, which are strong enough to endure rough handling and forceful pulling. The execution of several takedowns that needed strong handholds became dependent upon these uniforms.
Takedowns from conventional martial arts, however, lost their usefulness as combat sports developed. Men sparred bare-chested, and women battled in sports bras and rash guards, neither of which are any better at providing grips. Takedowns from sports like wrestling and No-Gi BJJ have proven to be successful in the UFC. In reality, in the early UFC tournaments, masters of wrestling takedowns dominated MMA fights.
Throws versus Takedowns
Any move that brings a battle to the ground from standing up is a takedown. Throws can be readily substituted, but there is a slight difference. Throws, a subset of takedowns where the opponent’s feet are totally severed from the ground and at some point, are what set them apart.
Various Types of Takedowns
Takedowns have sped up or slowed down many fights throughout the annals of modern MMA. They reduced the harm done to them, gave more opportunities for fighters to submit their opponents, and enabled fighters to strike their opponents while in a superior position.
When performing a tackle, you have the option of landing on top or bottom. As long as you manage to drag your opponent to the ground, it doesn’t really matter in BJJ. But in MMA, it’s critical to maintain your position because the best fighter has the advantage of striking the opponent.
You’ll have a toolbox of choices when the chance arises if you are aware of the various takedowns. Therefore, let’s discuss the various MMA takedowns and how to execute them.
#1 Double Leg Takedown
The greatest MMA takedown currently available is the double-leg takedown. There is little possibility that your opponent will remain upright once you have lifted both of their feet off the ground.
You must approach low enough to grasp both legs in order to perform the double leg takedown. Keep your distance while pressing your head and shoulder into the torso of your opponent. From here, you have two options: lift with your legs and torso, or simply move forward to knock them over.
#2 Single Leg Takedowns
The single-leg takedown is achieved by grabbing an opponent’s leg and lifting it off the ground to bring your opponent to the ground. You can quickly regain your balance if you manage to escape before falling, but it is less efficient than the double-leg takedown.
The single-leg takedown has another drawback in that the head is essentially exposed to the arm that is on the other side from the leg you are gripping. Therefore, if someone is attempting to knock you down, you can push against their head to try to get them to back off.
#3 Low single Takedowns
One of the takedowns used in MMA that has its roots in BJJ is the low single. It’s a variation on the single leg takedown where you target the heel rather than the limb. You must therefore stoop extremely low.
Stabilize yourself with your non-attacking hand on the ground as you bend one leg while keeping the other straight. In the finish, your torso will be almost parallel to the ground. Grab the heel of your opponent and place your face against the side of the knee. Your ability to collapse their situation will be facilitated by this.
#4 Body Lock Takedown
Body lock takedowns resemble extremely hostile embraces. Grapplers who are too agile for leg strikes respond well to them. To create room to secure your hands behind your opponent, use underhooks. To outbalance them, pull at their lower back while pushing your head up against their torso.
#5 Leg Trip
The leg trip is a takedown with a high success rate that is challenging to read and simple to perform. Participate in the clinch and remain near. Ideally, maintain a gable grasp while tightening your chests. You can drag one of their legs to the side or back by wrapping your leg around one of theirs. Use quick, decisive moves to catch them off guard.
#6 Outside Foot Sweep
Sweeps are high-reward, low-risk tactics. The clutch is where it works best, pushing and pulling the opponent to throw off balance. Sweep one of theirs with your foot to knock it over.
#7 Uchi mata
The uchi mata is a judo move that is also effective in mixed martial arts. The whizzer is a technique where you overhook your opponent’s shoulder and lock it by gripping their opposing arm. They should fall to the ground shortly after being pulled forward by the whizzer, if you trip the closest leg.
Conclusion
For fighters to control the match, MMA takedowns are essential tools. In addition to giving points for the takedown itself, it also gives the runner an opportunity to breach the defenses of the opposition. It provides a chance to exert control over the adversary, ideally (though not always) resulting in surrender or ground and pound.
Additionally, this is the reason why champions like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kamaru Usman, Henry Cejudo, and Daniel Cormier alternated in their claims to victory. They were well-liked by the majority of MMA judges and audience members because they favored competitors who won early.
Of course, combat sports flourished because of the hitting game. Strikers, however, might get into a true pickle when facing a takedown specialist.
