Why isn't body punching emphasized in MMA?

[Chicago Nights]

I'm very much a noob to the sport.

But the only time I see guys throwing torso shotd sre those weak, almost token arm punches on the ground. With thin oves and exposed ribcages, livers, etc, why don't we see more guys commit in the stand up game to body punching? Seems like you see just head hunting or leg kicks.

[ufoalf]

Range difference. In boxing boxers stand much closer to each other and body work is more available. However many apply body kicks as a part of their strategy and it does work very well when applied. That said, sometimes such kicks will leave the kicker open to takedowns and in certain match-ups it is best avoided.

I do think that when liver shots are available they should be taken because, like you said, with those little gloves it will be easy to do a piercing punch to the liver that will leave your opponent hurt.

[Beebs]

Range difference. In boxing boxers stand much closer to each other and body work is more available. However many apply body kicks as a part of their strategy and it does work very well when applied. That said, sometimes such kicks will leave the kicker open to takedowns and in certain match-ups it is best avoided.

I do think that when liver shots are available they should be taken because, like you said, with those little gloves it will be easy to do a piercing punch to the liver that will leave your opponent hurt.

All good points; they are further apart most of the time so body punching would be harder or leave you more open to counter (Chuck vs Rampage 2). Kicks also tend to be more of the body work than punches.

Also when punching to the body you lose a bit of ability to defend upper body grappling; you can't pummel for grips; be they thai clinches or wrestling/judo bodylocks or other set ups. It seems that a lot of the time body punching takes place against the cage because of the close distance and lesser threat of kicks, but what you see happen is the body puncher stands a large risk of getting put in either a thai clinch setting up for knees or a body lock being set up for a throw

Although when guys do punch to the body, they tend to have success. I think this is a combination of style differences, and just a lower standard of striking in MMA. There are only so many hours in a day and you can only train so much, so the level of striking in MMA isn't the same as striking only sports.

[James23]

Actually, it is. Depends on your instructor (boxing, Muay Thai), but most do put a relative emphasis on body shots, and body shots on the ground (you see those alot, actually).

Try watching it and keep in mind you're not watching a boxing match.

[achillesthegreat]

In time you will see they are just not as commonly as in boxing. It depends on the fighter. They are thrown less due to certain risks associated with them.

[Chicago Nights]

In time you will see they are just not as commonly as in boxing. It depends on the fighter. They are thrown less due to certain risks associated with them.

How is throwing a jab or feint to the head followed up by a straight right to an unguarded body any more risker? I can't tell you how many times I've yelled at the tv for this punch because it's as plain as day the opportunity.

I think it comes down to more of an inexperience with boxing than anything. Guys throw punches only looking for ko's, they dont understand, because they havent been taught, how much stamina solid shots to the torsa can zap from an opponent.

[Aussie_Al]

they dont understand, because they havent been taught, how much stamina solid shots to the torsa can zap from an opponent.
You make a good point there :good

[codeman99998]

How is throwing a jab or feint to the head followed up by a straight right to an unguarded body any more risker? I can't tell you how many times I've yelled at the tv for this punch because it's as plain as day the opportunity.

I think it comes down to more of an inexperience with boxing than anything. Guys throw punches only looking for ko's, they dont understand, because they havent been taught, how much stamina solid shots to the torsa can zap from an opponent.

When you throw a jab or straight right to the body correctly you lower your whole body level to throw the punch leaving you more susceptible to head kicks/knees.

Body punches in boxing tend to show results later in fights. The fact that most MMA bouts are 15 minutes and most boxing bouts 30 or 36 minutes probably has something to do with it.

Also, you have to take into account that many many less punches are going to be landed in an MMA fight than in a boxing match. If you know you are only going to land, say, 50 punches in the whole fight (which is quite a bit, really) then you would want them to be head punches (much higher chance of getting a KO). If there's going to be hundreds of landed punches between the fighters, diversifying your attack makes more sense.

I don't mean to say body punching in MMA has no place, just less of a place than in boxing.

[codeman99998]

How is throwing a jab or feint to the head followed up by a straight right to an unguarded body any more risker? I can't tell you how many times I've yelled at the tv for this punch because it's as plain as day the opportunity.

I think it comes down to more of an inexperience with boxing than anything. Guys throw punches only looking for ko's, they dont understand, because they havent been taught, how much stamina solid shots to the torsa can zap from an opponent.

I don't know about them "not having been taught". That's just supposition. Also, I don't think a body punch would drain more stamina from an opponent than a knee or kick to the body.

[jimmie]

I wouldnt advise it because to throw a proper body punch you need to be in close and in MMA doing that can expose you to a good Thai Plum which if used by the right kind of fighter will cause alot more damage then one single body punch. There is some parts of boxing that just arent all that effective in MMA now we have seen guys like Kharitnov do well with body punching or Jens Pulver to but its rare for a reason. Its not someone you wanna try vs a good Thai fighter or wrestlers specifically a good Greco Roman guy who specializes in upperbody takedowns. Its more effective to throw body kicks look at Rich Franklin for example hes wore down plenty of fighters with kicks to the body thats just one of a million in MMA.

[paloalto00]

I saw some guy throwing alot of body punches, turned out to be a real factor in the fight

[Chicago Nights]

I don't know about them "not having been taught". That's just supposition. Also, I don't think a body punch would drain more stamina from an opponent than a knee or kick to the body.

A kick is much more telegraphed than a punch. So yeah, a major donkey kick to the stomach would probably do more damage than a straight right, but chances are it would be deflected or easier as well.

[Chicago Nights]

I wouldnt advise it because to throw a proper body punch you need to be in .

Who says?

Check Duran's footage, how he lived off straight rights to the body.

[196osh]

Rights to the body leave the side of your head exposed to a left high kick. You wouldn't be so exposed with a punch but if a guy can take a step back out of the range of the punch, but then still be in kicking range he is likley to be KTFO.

[jimmie]

Who says?

Check Duran's footage, how he lived off straight rights to the body.

Well you still have to change your level and doing that and exposing a whole side of your body will leave you open for a head kick and you will be at a perfect kicking distance. RJJ has also been a killer with straights to the body but this is MMA not boxing.

[ufoalf]

A kick is much more telegraphed than a punch. So yeah, a major donkey kick to the stomach would probably do more damage than a straight right, but chances are it would be deflected or easier as well.

You have to understand you can't work the body. You might mix it up and throw now and then but eventually you'll get caught if the opponent is competent. Not a lot of boxers go for straight right to the stomach for a reason. It's not a finishing punch and leaves you open to counters, more so in MMA. One punch like that is good now and then but again in a bigger picture it's not major difference.

In boxing you can work the body to tire your opponent, it's a very rare knock out. In MMA you just can't have major body work because of a much greater distance between opponents. You leave your self open to kicks, mui thai clinch and other VERY damaging and quite possibly finishing counters just to get in a body punch that will knock a bit of wind out of your opponent. Means don't justify the ends.

If you watch the fights with lot's dirty boxing you will see much more body shots because it's much less risk. Same thing goes on the ground.

You have to understand that MMA is a whole different ball game and boxing theory largely goes out the window with so many new factors in play.

This is how body shots utilized in MMA. Note it's usually kicks. The straight right to the body that you're talking about worked well in one of these clips. But that kind of shot has to land right on the spot and on a relaxed solar plexus. Very low precentage shot, even the fighter himself sad afterwards that he didn't punch him that hard and the other guy must be a pussy :lol:
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[achillesthegreat]

How is throwing a jab or feint to the head followed up by a straight right to an unguarded body any more risker? I can't tell you how many times I've yelled at the tv for this punch because it's as plain as day the opportunity.

I think it comes down to more of an inexperience with boxing than anything. Guys throw punches only looking for ko's, they dont understand, because they havent been taught, how much stamina solid shots to the torsa can zap from an opponent.

Going low to the body can change your balance making your suspect to the take down. It could open you up more thus making you suspect to a kick.

Body shots are effective but it isn't possible to always go in there and tear the body up.

In MMA, the kick to the leg causes similar effects to what body punching does in boxing.

I think different punches are more effective in MMA i.e. I think BJ likes to throw the right uppercut to the body. Having to dip for hooks isn't very practical. If a straight right is simply throw down it can lack power. If it is thrown long it can put you off balance and leave you open.