How does Mike Zambidis get inside

[Macca97]

Recently I've taken a like to Mike Zambidis, due to him having a style that would be perfect for myself if I could perfect it, but I just can't see how he gets inside all the time without getting hit.
His head doesn't move all that often and he doesn't usually cut big angles but he still manages to get in and start landing those big body shots, if someone could show me some clips or a particular fight to watch to explain how he does this so effectively so I can attempt to apply it myself that would be great.

 

[ButterStoch]

If you want to watch a fight where his style is completely shutdown, watch him vs Buakaw. It worked against Masato too, until the changed the rules because he was winning to much.

When he rushed he would eat a front kick to the body, in punchin range he got clinched & smashed & on the outside...

I just haven't seen it be effective, because I've only seen the final 8 in K1

 

[Higus]

I'd have to watch more of his footage, but he takes a pretty fast, deep instep and moves his head off center when he initiates attacks. He catches a lot of people with OHR counters on the way in.
He doesn't cut much angles, but he does have a good sense of timing and is good at disrupting his opponents timing with instep feints.

 

[Macca97]

If you want to watch a fight where his style is completely shutdown, watch him vs Buakaw. It worked against Masato too, until the changed the rules because he was winning to much.

When he rushed he would eat a front kick to the body, in punchin range he got clinched & smashed & on the outside...

I just haven't seen it be effective, because I've only seen the final 8 in K1

I've seen that fight, no shame loosing to buakaw, the kicks he's throwing don't even look humanely possible😅
His style was only ever really shut down by longer dudes who were at the highest level of kickboxing in the world, and is definately something all short fighters should be looking at to atleast take something from

 

[SAAMAG]

It's not just short vs tall. It's also the fact that Mike Zambidis punches exceptionally hard. Much like Mike Tyson, a lot of people first feel that power and then that puts them on defense mode psychologically which further allows that power style to work.

Instead of opponents using sound tactics to counter Zambidis they would simply move back and hope they don't get hit or just cover instead of countering.

Now I'm not saying you can't be a short guy that learns to come in punching, I'm saying it's success is heightened when you hit harder than most.

 

[Harukaze]

He punches his way in like SAAMAG said.

 

[Queen B]

If you want to watch a fight where his style is completely shutdown, watch him vs Buakaw. It worked against Masato too, until the changed the rules because he was winning to much.

When he rushed he would eat a front kick to the body, in punchin range he got clinched & smashed & on the outside...

I just haven't seen it be effective, because I've only seen the final 8 in K1

Kohi kneed the shit out of him before K-1 changed the rules.

I think the K-1 rule change helped him more than hurt him.


He throws a lot of little low kicks to set up that big overhand, and then stays inside.

 

[Macca97]

It's not just short vs tall. It's also the fact that Mike Zambidis punches exceptionally hard. Much like Mike Tyson, a lot of people first feel that power and then that puts them on defense mode psychologically which further allows that power style to work.

Instead of opponents using sound tactics to counter Zambidis they would simply move back and hope they don't get hit or just cover instead of countering.

Now I'm not saying you can be a short guy that learns to come in punching, I'm saying it's success is heightened when you hit harder than most.

This makes a lot of sense, he throws one counter punch then he's just in throwing combos and finishing with a kick, it works fantastic of him, is there any other short strikers I can take a look at to get some ideas?

 

[AcumenAthletics]

For the majority of his fight against Chahid, The Mayor of Munchkin town used side step hooks to the body. A strategy he uses to get in a new angle & set up the overhand right. He's also one springy booger! Uses jumping knees or superman punches to close the distance.

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