Thoughts on right handed southpaws?

[twone21]

The advantages to fighting southpaw are clear but what are the pros and cons for right-handed fighters specifically?

 

[Rygu]

Hooks, and accurate ones.

 

[M Raid K]

They are not really better than natural southpaws. In fact, when fighting southpaw, lead hand is smothered most of the time by opponent's lead hand and right leg is only good for low kicks. I'd say left-handed orthodox fighters are in much more advantageous position because they have full access to their left side strikes which are, by the way, harder to defend for their orthodox counterparts. Tumenov is a nice example of that: throws a murderous left hook and left roundhouse kick which is ideal for his orthodox opponent.

 

[The Big Babou]

Who falls into that category?

 

[Mr.Maelstrom]

According to Emmanuel Steward (RIP) he thought it was the way to go

 

[NotoriousNick]

I think most pros and cons are hinged on the fact that a right handed southpaw is naturally going to have more motor control on their right side. So right hooks are gonna have more power. But footwork might be harder to develop because you don't have your dominant leg steering your movement (although pivoting on the front foot might be easier). Lead kicks can be more effective given their dexterity (Rockhold's question mark kick).

Both stances have their angle advantages, but ultimately it's your understanding of body mechanics that determine how effectively you can exploit them.

 

[AngryPorto]

I'm right-handed and have fought southpaw my whole life (my instructor is southpaw so it must have rubbed off), and I found that after a good 10+ years of doing so I've developed ambidexterity, at least when it comes to fighting. I can switch back forth with little to no difference.

 

[thack]

Who falls into that category?

Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida?

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I heard a lot of traditional Muay Thai and ex-Soviet bloc boxing camps always encourage their young fighters to start off southpaw simply because they have a statistical advantage against orthodox. For them, it's having that competitive advantage from day one.

I know there is an ungodly amount of southpaws in Muay Thai even though I'm sure half of them are naturally right handed.

 

[The Big Babou]

Sorry I meant who fights orthodox but is left handed?

Figured Spider fights either side but was probably right handed