muay thai smoker fight advice

[ironkhan57]

ok so my gym recently told me that their gonna be doing friday fight nights, so i'm probably gonna be fighting in their but it's gonna be smokers, so i'll be going up against one of my old instructors students, and their really good, keep in mind that i usually spar light so i'm not used to a fast pace fight, so i was gonna train even harder so that i can compete with my old instructors students i think they've been training muay thai longer then me, so i need some advice for my first smoker. like what should i expect and how should i be training? now the owner of my gym said that the smoker fights will be evenly matched, but i don't know if their are gonna be anyone whose the same level as me, their actually going to be better then me, i don't know if anyone is at the same skill level as me at my old instructors gym. so i need some advice. i've been working on my cardio the most and my kicks got more powerful, and sometimes in sparring i'm like a brawler when i'm in the corner so i try to brawl my way out of the corner, which usually works.

 

[j123]

Its your first time competing it will end up being a disgusting brawl. Despite looking like a Yodslankai on pads, you'll most likely up brawling + being in the clinch, its just how it is.

Focus on breathing properly. Its good to exhale on each strike, but you need to breathe in as well, or you will gas. No matter how awesome your gas tank is, you spew out while not taking any air in, you'll gas.
In between rounds, show your breathing down, it will seem very difficult, but you have to fight the urge to hyperventilate, if you slow your breathing down and do it properly, around 40 seconds in, you'll feel alot better, your heart rate will be somewhat back to normal state (instead of the usual 180+bpm). You can recover about 60-70% of your tank doing that. The break between the rounds is to recover, its not to waste time hyperventilating, while your opponent has been doing his best to slow his heart rate down + recover.

How soon is the exhibition? If its too soon, there's not much you can do, you'll end up resorting to your training, and doing what's been ingrained since day 1. At this level, coaches have their fighters doing the basics, and drilling them to death so it'll be muscle memory and it'll happen pretty much on instinct. Usually what you'll want in your toolbox is:

-a solid combination (eg. 1,2,3, kick)
-basic clinch understanding (keep your hips close, pummel to get single/double collar tie, turns)
-interrupt your opponent's strike ASAP, never let him get more than 3 strikes off on you. The longer you wait, the worst the next strike will be (eg. eating a liver kick or solid knee)
-press forward so you won't lose on ring control (its a exibition, so there's no wins or losses, but do try to do this, you don't want to rely on bad practices for the real thing down the line)
-solid guard (I know alot will say hands up or a high guard is overrated, but at your exp. level and this being your first event, a solid high guard is necessary, you most likely don't have the skill level to play with fancier defenses, and you most likely aren't very good with distance management either -- unless you've had alot of boxing exp. you're with holding from your coaches/fight coordinator)

Its good you're working on getting out of the corner fast.
As for matching opponent, they'll be picking usually based on record, in order words another 0-0 guy or 0-0 + 1-2 exhibitions

Rounds are usually 3 x 2min, so they are extremely fast paced like a HIIT sprint. If you haven't been sparring with that duration (2min), start doing it. The problem with sparring 3 or 5 min, is you adjust your gas tank based on that, you try to pace your tank across 3-5min, when 2min is a very short and intense burst. I know 1min doesn't seem like alot when tacked on, but it does make a difference. My mistake during my first exhibition was sparring 5min rounds (we were training with alot of the MMA guys, they sparred MT with me of course, but the 5min round timer threw things off).

Anyways, best of luck

 

[TheyAllFloat]

Just get in there a give it a crack- don't overthink it. You will have people there to make sure no one gets too hurt.

You got Nothing to lose.

 

[DaGenius]

Just focus on your cardio man. As long as you have enough gas to get past the adrenaline dump and keep moving and defending, you'll learn a ton and have fun.

 

[Darwinambrosius]

Ask Thenightmancometh. He's an expert on smokers and whatnot.

 

[ironkhan57]

Its your first time competing it will end up being a disgusting brawl. Despite looking like a Yodslankai on pads, you'll most likely up brawling + being in the clinch, its just how it is.

Focus on breathing properly. Its good to exhale on each strike, but you need to breathe in as well, or you will gas. No matter how awesome your gas tank is, you spew out while not taking any air in, you'll gas.
In between rounds, show your breathing down, it will seem very difficult, but you have to fight the urge to hyperventilate, if you slow your breathing down and do it properly, around 40 seconds in, you'll feel alot better, your heart rate will be somewhat back to normal state (instead of the usual 180+bpm). You can recover about 60-70% of your tank doing that. The break between the rounds is to recover, its not to waste time hyperventilating, while your opponent has been doing his best to slow his heart rate down + recover.

How soon is the exhibition? If its too soon, there's not much you can do, you'll end up resorting to your training, and doing what's been ingrained since day 1. At this level, coaches have their fighters doing the basics, and drilling them to death so it'll be muscle memory and it'll happen pretty much on instinct. Usually what you'll want in your toolbox is:

-a solid combination (eg. 1,2,3, kick)
-basic clinch understanding (keep your hips close, pummel to get single/double collar tie, turns)
-interrupt your opponent's strike ASAP, never let him get more than 3 strikes off on you. The longer you wait, the worst the next strike will be (eg. eating a liver kick or solid knee)
-press forward so you won't lose on ring control (its a exibition, so there's no wins or losses, but do try to do this, you don't want to rely on bad practices for the real thing down the line)
-solid guard (I know alot will say hands up or a high guard is overrated, but at your exp. level and this being your first event, a solid high guard is necessary, you most likely don't have the skill level to play with fancier defenses, and you most likely aren't very good with distance management either -- unless you've had alot of boxing exp. you're with holding from your coaches/fight coordinator)

Its good you're working on getting out of the corner fast.
As for matching opponent, they'll be picking usually based on record, in order words another 0-0 guy or 0-0 + 1-2 exhibitions

Rounds are usually 3 x 2min, so they are extremely fast paced like a HIIT sprint. If you haven't been sparring with that duration (2min), start doing it. The problem with sparring 3 or 5 min, is you adjust your gas tank based on that, you try to pace your tank across 3-5min, when 2min is a very short and intense burst. I know 1min doesn't seem like alot when tacked on, but it does make a difference. My mistake during my first exhibition was sparring 5min rounds (we were training with alot of the MMA guys, they sparred MT with me of course, but the 5min round timer threw things off).

Anyways, best of luck

well i don't know exactly when it will be. all i know is that the owner of the gym said that we were gonna have friday fight nights and that we we were going up against my old instructors gym, and he told me not to mention anything to anyone in the gym, but i told a guy who i am really good friends with about it, and he told me that people in the gym might get beaten up because the guys at my old instructors gym are really good. but i'll try to work on the breathing as well i usually forget to breathe and but i don't get that gassed anymore in sparrinf. btw you said something about pressing forward what do you mean by that?

 

[ironkhan57]

Ask Thenightmancometh. He's an expert on smokers and whatnot.

is that like a username on here?

 

[Darwinambrosius]

is that like a username on here?

Yeah, but it's pure sarcasm. He's a troll and I believe he's banned.

 

[j123]

well i don't know exactly when it will be. all i know is that the owner of the gym said that we were gonna have friday fight nights and that we we were going up against my old instructors gym, and he told me not to mention anything to anyone in the gym, but i told a guy who i am really good friends with about it, and he told me that people in the gym might get beaten up because the guys at my old instructors gym are really good. but i'll try to work on the breathing as well i usually forget to breathe and but i don't get that gassed anymore in sparrinf. btw you said something about pressing forward what do you mean by that?

Sucks to not have an ideal date, but whatever, just work on what you have to do. I don't think your coach would you one too early aka 1 week; Unless of course, your coach doesn't really give a shit. Even though its an exhibition, both fighters still have to weigh in. Its pretty much a mock ammy fight.

pressing forward:
I mean you go forward, being the aggressor, and do your best not to back up. If you watch some ammy fights, there are guys when overwhelmed with strikes, they back up to make space. The preferred solution would be to tie up in a clinch, work from there, or dirty box and make them step back.
Stepping back, you lose on ring control and aggression. The judges will see an opponent who's punching and pushing forward, while another guy is just backing up, and in most cases shelling up while backing up.

If you happen to end up like that. Shell up or back up, don't do both. Besides when you're backing up, its harder to check a kick, and to the guy pressing forward thats almost a freebie

Ask Thenightmancometh. He's an expert on smokers and whatnot.

lol

is that like a username on here?

Yeah, he was advocating people forgo any sanctioned amateur fights, and only take exhibitions then going pro. He mentioned having no exp. competing as an amateur or pro, but gave life lessons on the topic.

 

[ironkhan57]

Sucks to not have an ideal date, but whatever, just work on what you have to do. I don't think your coach would you one too early aka 1 week; Unless of course, your coach doesn't really give a shit. Even though its an exhibition, both fighters still have to weigh in. Its pretty much a mock ammy fight.

pressing forward:
I mean you go forward, being the aggressor, and do your best not to back up. If you watch some ammy fights, there are guys when overwhelmed with strikes, they back up to make space. The preferred solution would be to tie up in a clinch, work from there, or dirty box and make them step back.
Stepping back, you lose on ring control and aggression. The judges will see an opponent who's punching and pushing forward, while another guy is just backing up, and in most cases shelling up while backing up.

If you happen to end up like that. Shell up or back up, don't do both. Besides when you're backing up, its harder to check a kick, and to the guy pressing forward thats almost a freebie


lol


Yeah, he was advocating people forgo any sanctioned amateur fights, and only take exhibitions then going pro. He mentioned having no exp. competing as an amateur or pro, but gave life lessons on the topic.

ok, i never really clinch in sparring, i watched rafael dos anjos fight and saw how he clinches up after a combo and throws a knee, i try to do that in sparring sometimes, but it never works i don't think i'm in the right position yet or something. i'll try to work on my clinch more because i think its important for my first smoker, i'll try to get my friend to help me in the gym, or someone in the class, one of the muay thai instructors in the gym is mainly kickboxing so he doesn't use the clinch much he had a pro kickboxing record of 5-1. would a good gameplan be to when making my opponent step back when he gets against the ropes to go for a leg kick and then clinch up?

 

[ironkhan57]

Yeah, but it's pure sarcasm. He's a troll and I believe he's banned.

lol, looks like he watches too much its always sunny in philedelphia.

 

[j123]

ok, i never really clinch in sparring, i watched rafael dos anjos fight and saw how he clinches up after a combo and throws a knee, i try to do that in sparring sometimes, but it never works i don't think i'm in the right position yet or something. i'll try to work on my clinch more because i think its important for my first smoker, i'll try to get my friend to help me in the gym, or someone in the class, one of the muay thai instructors in the gym is mainly kickboxing so he doesn't use the clinch much he had a pro kickboxing record of 5-1. would a good gameplan be to when making my opponent step back when he gets against the ropes to go for a leg kick and then clinch up?

Probably the distancing, either your partner knows how to clinch and is escaping or pummeling out because he/she knows how, or you're initiating the clinch from too far away. Also, it could be, when you're there, you're not tight. For a double collar, try to get your elbows to touch each other, palms over each other on the back of his head, not the neck. You're trying to keep his head in your upper chest, if he can look up, its not proper. Look at it as controlling the head, not the neck.

Like the guy on the right in this pic, not the guy on the left

This is for when you strike, if you're not striking, keep the hips close so he won't be able to knee you straight down. Even if you're at the disadvantage like the guy on the left here, keep your palms on his head, try to keep the hips close, and try to turn him -> pummel to get out.

Against the ropes, pick your shots, he will most likely tighten his guard upstairs (head), so really bs some hands, and throw hard leg kicks or a solid knee.
Try to keep him there, if he tries to move to your right, use your regular body kick to keep him inside, if he moves the other way, use hooks. So eg.

you get him on the rope, you tee off with 1,2,3, kick a few times. He decides he has to get out ,and moves to your right.
-Hard body middle kick, and repeat your combination.
-He tries moving out the other way, throw hook, kick, and repeat.

Its a exhibition so its about 80-90% of a real fight, most likely if you keep hitting him, and nothing good happens for him for about 20sec, the ref will break it. In a real ammy fight, if he doesn't do anything, he gets a standing 8 count, which is great for you.
They say "hard sparring", but really for newer guys, both of you are going to go 100%

 

[ironkhan57]

should i also watch some smokers on youtube?

 

[ironkhan57]

Probably the distancing, either your partner knows how to clinch and is escaping or pummeling out because he/she knows how, or you're initiating the clinch from too far away. Also, it could be, when you're there, you're not tight. For a double collar, try to get your elbows to touch each other, palms over each other on the back of his head, not the neck. You're trying to keep his head in your upper chest, if he can look up, its not proper. Look at it as controlling the head, not the neck.

Like the guy on the right in this pic, not the guy on the left

This is for when you strike, if you're not striking, keep the hips close so he won't be able to knee you straight down. Even if you're at the disadvantage like the guy on the left here, keep your palms on his head, try to keep the hips close, and try to turn him -> pummel to get out.

Against the ropes, pick your shots, he will most likely tighten his guard upstairs (head), so really bs some hands, and throw hard leg kicks or a solid knee.
Try to keep him there, if he tries to move to your right, use your regular body kick to keep him inside, if he moves the other way, use hooks. So eg.

you get him on the rope, you tee off with 1,2,3, kick a few times. He decides he has to get out ,and moves to your right.
-Hard body middle kick, and repeat your combination.
-He tries moving out the other way, throw hook, kick, and repeat.

Its a exhibition so its about 80-90% of a real fight, most likely if you keep hitting him, and nothing good happens for him for about 20sec, the ref will break it. In a real ammy fight, if he doesn't do anything, he gets a standing 8 count, which is great for you.
They say "hard sparring", but really for newer guys, both of you are going to go 100%

well most of the people in my muay thai class don't know the clinch that well the only one that knows the clinch really well is one of my good friends in the gym but he doesn't use it, i thinks its just that i haven't been working on the clinch lately so thats why, but yeah i do probably get the clinch a little too far away, and then they get out or i try to get the clinch when i'm trapped in the corner and they use a clinch escape, i'm thinking i should use the clinch when they cover up and then land some knee's to the body.

 

[j123]

well most of the people in my muay thai class don't know the clinch that well the only one that knows the clinch really well is one of my good friends in the gym but he doesn't use it, i thinks its just that i haven't been working on the clinch lately so thats why, but yeah i do probably get the clinch a little too far away, and then they get out or i try to get the clinch when i'm trapped in the corner and they use a clinch escape, i'm thinking i should use the clinch when they cover up and then land some knee's to the body.

In that case you don't even need to clinch. Throw a knee. If you want clinch after that. Knee to clinch is a good entry actually. It closes the distance, and its a strike to get right into range.

Eating a knee from the outside is actually worst, in the clinch everyone expects knees to come, so we all somewhat brace for it, but from the outside no one expects it, and they don't brace. I would say, as a counter to a committed punch has the most impact (given you lean back properly so you don't eat the straight full on -- but if your opponent is alot taller than you like say 8 inches, there's not much you can do then)

 

[ironkhan57]

In that case you don't even need to clinch. Throw a knee. If you want clinch after that. Knee to clinch is a good entry actually. It closes the distance, and its a strike to get right into range.

Eating a knee from the outside is actually worst, in the clinch everyone expects knees to come, so we all somewhat brace for it, but from the outside no one expects it, and they don't brace. I would say, as a counter to a committed punch has the most impact (given you lean back properly so you don't eat the straight full on -- but if your opponent is alot taller than you like say 8 inches, there's not much you can do then)

ok you said before when i have them in the corner t-off on them with 1,2,3 kick a few times but won't they counter it after the first time?

 

[ironkhan57]

ok you said before when i have them in the corner t-off on them with 1,2,3 kick a few times but won't they counter it after the first time?

sorry i meant the ropes

 

[DoctorTaco]

Cardio wins fights. If you have time, do a practice weight cut and get some sparring to see how you feel afterwards

 

[ironkhan57]

Cardio wins fights. If you have time, do a practice weight cut and get some sparring to see how you feel afterwards

theirs weight cutting for smokers?

 

[ironkhan57]

1 quick question if theirs weight cutting for smokers, what weight class should i be in, i'm 5'7" and 137 lbs, so what weight should i practice cutting down to?