Bloodyelbow's breakdown of Matt Brown vs Erick Silva

wowspare

Brown Belt
@Brown
Joined
Jan 7, 2012
Messages
3,942
Reaction score
0
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2014/5/1...-chop-stunning-muay-thai-mma-technique-ko-gif

If the myriad martial arts out there, Muay Thai is always one of the first mentioned when it comes to the question of applicability to MMA. As a proven and multi-faceted combat sport, there is little question that Muay Thai fits nicely into the toolkit of any mixed martial artist, and yet we rarely see a true representation of Muay Thai in MMA. More often, we are treated to some other region's interpretation of Muay Thai. The styles of Jose Aldo, Anderson Silva, Thiago Alves, Alistair Overeem, Shogun Rua, and Donald Cerrone, while undeniably effective, bear little more than a superficial resemblance to the real Art of Eight Limbs.

In fact, there is only one big-league fighter who comes to mind as an example of relatively pure Muay Thai in MMA: Matt Brown.

Yes, Brown punches a lot more than your average nakmuay, and his kicks aren't nearly as powerful or as frequent as you'd expect from a true Thai stylist, but the moment the fight goes to close range, Brown exhibits the purest Thai approach to in-fighting in the sport. Knees, elbows, dumps--even kicks and punches between ranges--Brown's close-range striking is archetypal Muay Thai, and it is this clinch game that makes him such an offensive dynamo.

THAI DUMPS

Throws and sweeps are quite possibly the most neglected aspect of the Thai clinch in MMA. Even fighters who know their way around striking in the clinch tend to switch to wrestling or judo tactics when it comes to takedowns. Even the Immortal's throws and sweeps have been referred to as "judo" on more than one occasion (perhaps due to the erroneous notion that he possesses a belt in judo, which he doesn't), but Matt Brown's clinch is all Muay Thai, and that includes the takedowns.

Takedowns are well-estabished in the sport of Muay Thai. A throw, or "dump" in Muay Thai nomenclature, is effective for a number of reasons, even in a striking-only context. First, it establishes dominance over the opponent, both for the sake of the judges and the opponent himself. Second, it tires the opponent out--this was clearly at play in Brown vs. Silva, wherein Erick Silva got up more slowly after each and every takedown. Finally, the dump can expose the opponent to a powerful strike. In Muay Thai, this is usually a kick or knee as the fighter falls, but in MMA there is the added advantage of having an opponent on his back and vulnerable to a grappling-based attack, or extended ground strikes.

Brown's first dump was remarkable in its effortlessness.

foot_sweep_medium.png


1. As Silva charges in with a combination of punches, Brown stands his ground and slides into the clinch.

2. Brown pulls Silva in close with a left underhook. His right hand (not visible) controls Silva's left biceps (an inside tie, in wrestling terminology).

3. Pulling with his underhook and pushing with his inside tie, Brown steps slightly forward with his right foot and swings the arch of his left foot into Silva's left leg.

4. His leg swept out of position, Silva cannot rebase to save himself, and falls flat on his back.

There are about a million tutorials of Thai dumps online, and any instructor worth his salt could probably teach you a few dozen different set-ups and executions, but these takedowns are better viewed conceptually, rather than focusing overmuch on the specific "moves."

Full article in the link above. Very much appreciated, and I do agree with him about Matt being one of the few fighters that bring over the 'whole package' from muay thai to mma.

Another MMA fighter which i think has a relatively pure muay thai style is Joanne Calderwood
 
Agree with you....War - Matt "Muay Thai" Brown!
 
Stopped reading at Donald Cerrone. His mt is more trad than most fighters. Also, in what way is brown's mt more trad than Ben Saunders'?
 
Last edited:
Stopped reading at Donald Cerrone. His mt is more trad than most fighters. Also, in what was is brown's mt more trad than Ben Saunders'?

Ben Saunders doesn't kick as much ass so it's less traditionally awesome.
 
Stopped reading at Donald Cerrone. His mt is more trad than most fighters. Also, in what was is brown's mt more trad than Ben Saunders'?

I don't know about that, Cerrone isn't really that effective up close. Sure he can clinch, grab a thai plum and start throwing knees, but when he is up close in elbow and upper cut range, he's effectiveness is really diminished. We saw first hand in his fight against Diaz that his offense can be smothered with high pressure, in the pocket boxing. He has his kicks for long range, and his punches for mid, but once he gets up close he isn't nearly as dangerous.
 
Stopped reading at Donald Cerrone. His mt is more trad than most fighters. Also, in what was is brown's mt more trad than Ben Saunders'?

Stopped reading at "Stopped reading". Thank god because the rest is just a jumble of words.
 
Overeem also uses a LOT of thai trips in his fights. The one that really stood out to me was how easy he threw Brett Rogers to the ground with it.

35lhftd.jpg
 
Stopped reading at "Stopped reading". Thank god because the rest is just a jumble of words.

Thank god you convinced me that Matt brown is a "true representation" of muay thai in mma. Hell, even Amir is years beyond brown in trad muay thai
 
Thank god you convinced me that Matt brown is a "true representation" of muay thai in mma. Hell, even Amir is years beyond brown in trad muay thai

Amir Sodollah is the first fighter that came to mind when they were talking about trad Muay Thai.
 
Myriad and plethora might be MMA journalism's most overused terms.


[Stephen Colbert wordiness.jpg]
 
The author mainly talks about Brown's clinch game being the closest to pure muay thai, he hardly ever talks about fighting from range. He probably should have worded that better.
 
Great article, few things in there I was not aware of that he does.
 
Back
Top