There is only ONE style to fight in for short limbed fighters

[Z28MARO]

James toney at heavyweight didn't have much footwork but he was elusive as hell. Defensive genius with a chin and very good fundamentals.

 

[Kemeticsoul]

So much easier to do in boxing

A short limbed fighter with explosive speed would be an even bigger destroyer in MMA compared to boxing.......with the bob and weave. It would actually work better in MMA.

Since you're keeping at a longer distance in MMA because of kicks you have the luxury of using the bob and weave to defend against kicks. You can also disguise take downs and transition into the take down well with this movement. Ducking under high kicks opens a lot of offense. Plus, a non stationary target is always a good thing.

The biggest enemy would be leg kicks.

 

[Kemeticsoul]

James toney at heavyweight didn't have much footwork but he was elusive as hell. Defensive genius with a chin and very good fundamentals.

Imagine a prime Tyson with wrestling and TDD and sub defense. Jesus Christ. Scary thought.

 

[Xenon_]

I mean really, it comes down to the same thing regardless of if you're the shorter, or longer fighter. Just in opposite fashions. Distance control. The longer guy is trying to keep the opponent at the end of the punch, the shorter guy is trying to get inside it. But moral of the story, distance control. The one who better dictates that distance, lands their preferred shots more often than not. We've seen plenty of cases of both being successful.

I'd tend to agree with this.

Great post though TS.

 

[STEVEN SEAGOLD]

Grappling. This is why short limbed fighters NEED a wrestling background.

 

[ImNotSurpisedDonks!]

Cus Tyson would have KO'd prime Ali IMO.

 

[Kemeticsoul]

Well, Marciano had the shortest wingspan of any heavyweight champ...and he was the only to retire (and stay retired) undefeated.

Yes, exactly. With the footwork and head movement to get inside of a longer limbed fighter's preferred range, you can make their life hell. Short limbed fighters like Marciano, Tyson can destroy almost every other long fighter there because it's just naturally where they excel. It's way easier for a short reach to get leverage on inside punching.

You can always sprint forward faster than someone can sprint backwards. Master the entry like Tyson, Frazier and a few others, combined with defensive acumen of kicks and a little wrestling ability........destroyer. That could be Garbrandt even at 145.

 

[Kemeticsoul]

Grappling. This is why short limbed fighters NEED a wrestling background.

Absolutely.

 

[STEVEN SEAGOLD]

Absolutely.

Cormier is perfect example. Not sure if he has short reach, but in absolute terms he's a 5-10 dude fighting in LHW and HW against guys much taller and longer than him... Shows how powerful wrestling can be.