You mean you palm/catch the fist? You're a better man than I am, then - that happens to me sometimes, but normally it is just a reflex and I have already moved out of range (back, side, or just a trunk twist). I have seen a handful of guys get good at a catching/hand-parrying defense, but normally it just results in them getting KTFU.
Instead, here are some other alternatives:
- Stifle (same side) or cross stifle by using your palm to stuff the uppercut. Instead of catching the hand, you are stifling the punch with your hand and/or forearm on his forearm, inside of the elbow, or even the outside of the elbow (last is much more challenging than the first two).
- You can block/deflect an uppercut with your elbow or forearm (or a bit of both). I use my elbows to block body-level uppercuts, mainly because I am a taller fighter but I like to fight in a middle to closer range. Just a very slight turn and level adjustment can put your elbow into the path of an uppercut - then a good counter is your own hook, then uppercut combo.
- One of my favorite techniques is to follow a stifle with an aggressive step forward and pivot around him. He'll usually twist right towards you, but his best weapon is out of line - so you've got time for some rare punches (tight overhand right).
- Many uppercuts can be easily defeated with a slight lean back, particularly if you want to remain outside anyway. This doesn't work well for me, as I don't actually fight well from the outside - but this is common for most fighters. Just make sure you snap back and come forward on different angles (e.g. go back diagonal to the left, pop forward straight with a right hook, etc). Otherwise you will get tagged with his next punch (this is true for leaning away from any punch, but an uppercut is one of the easier punches to lean away from).
Simple side-to-side slipping is an option, though not my favorite (I'm either too slow or too inept, probably both).
