Fighters keeping their hands down lately

[Kertol]

There seems to have been a growing trend lately of fighters keeping their hands down. Uncle Chael used to talk about this all the time and how it is poor showcase of fundamentals. Now it is even more widespread and has contributed to a lot of losses.

1. Conor’s only loss in the UFC was because he let his guard down and Nate clipped him.
2.Gunnar Nelson has been dropped because he drops his guard constantly.
3. Till and Wonderboy both got dropped from Woodley because they don’t keep their hands up.

In no martial art is it taught to keep hands down. First lesson at any gym/dojo is hands up.

 

[AimedWithV]

There seems to have been a growing trend lately of fighters keeping their hands down. Uncle Chael used to talk about this all the time and how it is poor showcase of fundamentals. Now it is even more widespread and has contributed to a lot of losses.

1. Conor’s only loss in the UFC was because he let his guard down and Nate clipped him.
2.Gunnar Nelson has been dropped because he drops his guard constantly.
3. Till and Wonderboy both got dropped from Woodley because they don’t keep their hands up.

In no martial art is it taught to keep hands down. First lesson at any gym/dojo is hands up.

Lately? It's ALWAYS been like that in MMA.
Plus, don't underestimate that sometimes hands are lower due to takedown threats...

 

[Headkicktoleg]

Having a high guard isn't great in MMA because of takedowns so you have to have a middle ground, but that gif of Till when Tyron dropped him is hilarious both his hands were literally at his waist. So much for a Muay Thai master.

 

[andnowweknow]

There seems to have been a growing trend lately of fighters keeping their hands down. Uncle Chael used to talk about this all the time and how it is poor showcase of fundamentals. Now it is even more widespread and has contributed to a lot of losses.

1. Conor’s only loss in the UFC was because he let his guard down and Nate clipped him.
2.Gunnar Nelson has been dropped because he drops his guard constantly.
3. Till and Wonderboy both got dropped from Woodley because they don’t keep their hands up.

In no martial art is it taught to keep hands down. First lesson at any gym/dojo is hands up.

Conor lost because he was completely gassed.

 

[screaminleeman]

Oh I don't know. Floyd's hands were at his waist the whole fight against Conor. He had no problem hitting the UFC's best boxer at will, and totally avoiding any clean shots in the process.

 

[Medulla Omoplata]

Keeping hands low is fairly common in traditional martial arts.
You see it all the time, even in high-level taekwondo competitions.

 

[moreorless87]

Till was coming forward with his power hand ready to throw his own shot when he got dropped.

A big issue in MMA is that high guard is far less effective with the smaller gloves, its far easier for punchs to creep though. Just look at Reem in MMA compared to his K-1 run for evidence, he tried to cover up vs Stipe but just got the crap beaten out of him.

Fighters also spend far less time in the pocket or even mid range than they do in boxing.

 

[Azderiel]

There seems to have been a growing trend lately of fighters keeping their hands down. Uncle Chael used to talk about this all the time and how it is poor showcase of fundamentals. Now it is even more widespread and has contributed to a lot of losses.

1. Conor’s only loss in the UFC was because he let his guard down and Nate clipped him.
2.Gunnar Nelson has been dropped because he drops his guard constantly.
3. Till and Wonderboy both got dropped from Woodley because they don’t keep their hands up.

In no martial art is it taught to keep hands down. First lesson at any gym/dojo is hands up.

Those fighters got caught because they got caught. If a fighter keeps his hands down 90% of the time then of course chances are when he gets caught it will be when his hands are down, that doesn't necessarily mean they got caught because their hands are down. Not to mention that keeping their hands down allow them to create different angles of attack which benefit those particular fighters and many fighters who do take on that stance also have pretty good counter defence.

The fact you use Conor's loss as evidence to support your case when Conor keeps his hands down a lot and is successful with that stance makes that example irrelevant. Same with Till and Wonderboy. Sure, they lost some fights but so do fighters who keep their hands up 100% of the time also get caught.

Many martial arts teach you to keep your hands lower than usual. Karate, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, Capoeira, etc.

Point is, different fighters have different stances and telling them to take on another stance would probably make them a worse fighter than they are.

 

[Kinosis]

In MMA you want to keep your hands a bit lower than in boxing or kickboxing because you have to stop takedowns as well. Obviously not a concern in boxing/kickboxing.

 

[Kertol]

Keeping hands low is fairly common in traditional martial arts.
You see it all the time, even in high-level taekwondo competitions.

Seems like a bad trend overall by the fighters. Even Till who is a Muay Thai fighter has worst hand positioning than that lol

 

[Medulla Omoplata]

Seems like a bad trend overall by the fighters. Even Till who is a Muay Thai fighter has worst hand positioning than that lol

Till vs Tiny Asian Child.
#MakeItHappenDana

 

[tasticles]

In MMA you want to keep your hands a bit lower than in boxing or kickboxing because you have to stop takedowns as well. Obviously not a concern in boxing/kickboxing.

It's a pick your poision scenerio. I'd rather chance not being able to stuff a takedown than get my head bashed in but I get it

 

[Flex Plexico]

Keeping hands low is fairly common in traditional martial arts.
You see it all the time, even in high-level taekwondo competitions.

 

[BearGrounds]

It's a risk v reward tactic. You can pay for doing so, but if done right you can benefit.

Lower hands is less draining. You're expending less energy allowing them to hang and slacken a bit at times. It can also be used to create different angles from which to throw strikes, or work grappling attacks. To bait your opponent. Etc..

 

[Melas Chasma]

There seems to have been a growing trend lately of fighters keeping their hands down. Uncle Chael used to talk about this all the time and how it is poor showcase of fundamentals. Now it is even more widespread and has contributed to a lot of losses.

1. Conor’s only loss in the UFC was because he let his guard down and Nate clipped him.
2.Gunnar Nelson has been dropped because he drops his guard constantly.
3. Till and Wonderboy both got dropped from Woodley because they don’t keep their hands up.

In no martial art is it taught to keep hands down. First lesson at any gym/dojo is hands up.

Yet all the very best strikers in both MMA and in boxing have fought hands down.

 

[TheCompleteKO]

1st, Conor hands were down because he was exhausted
But yes, this is more or less a trend, but very successful fighters have been doing this for a while

fighters currently doing it:
Darren Till
Kevin Lee vs Edson Barboza
Max Halloway but he eats them
Gustaffson
Zabit

 

[That209]

There seems to have been a growing trend lately of fighters keeping their hands down. Uncle Chael used to talk about this all the time and how it is poor showcase of fundamentals. Now it is even more widespread and has contributed to a lot of losses.

1. Conor’s only loss in the UFC was because he let his guard down and Nate clipped him.
2.Gunnar Nelson has been dropped because he drops his guard constantly.
3. Till and Wonderboy both got dropped from Woodley because they don’t keep their hands up.

In no martial art is it taught to keep hands down. First lesson at any gym/dojo is hands up.

Conor got caught by the straight because he didn’t expect it. He tried to counter Nate’s jab with an uppercut but he got hit with the straight while trying to do so. He was tired and simply got caught. Lots of fighters get caught while trying to counter. It’s not exactly becsuse he let his guard down.

 

[DoopidyDawesome]

Keeping hands low is fairly common in traditional martial arts.
You see it all the time, even in high-level taekwondo competitions.

Reported for graphic violence.