The Role of 'The Guard' in MMA

[KJ Gould]

Would have loved to have had Eddie's input on this one, but I was on a deadline. Maybe next time!

Eddie, PM me if you'd be interested in consideration for future Coaches' Corner roundtables.

KJ

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Grappling's guard -- developed and innovated in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, while existing to varying degrees in other arts and styles -- has come under scrutiny in recent years over its effectiveness in MMA, specifically the classical form of closed guard that relies on double wrist control. In 2010, Kenny Florian on ESPN's MMA Live once famously stated he believed the closed guard was dead in MMA. Fighters like Jon Fitch have echoed similar sentiments.

Just looking at fights within the last couple of years, we've seen types of Guard used to varying levels of success dependent on type and strategy. For example, Miguel Torres was arguably more effective in using his guard to sweep Demetrious Johnson when they fought at UFC 130, compared to his attempts at submissions from his back. Carlos Condit has used the Butterfly Guard to great effect, almost as a Double Elevator to get back to his feet to continue striking, as he notably did against Dong Hyun Kim at UFC 132.

We have seen submission success from forms of guard as well though, such as Paul Sass' ability to triangle Jacob Volkmann at UFC 146, or Nate Diaz' dangerous guillotine choke variations against fighters such as Jim Miller (UFC on Fox 3) and Marcus Davis (UFC 188). There have also been times when a fighter works to maintain or regain a form of guard on bottom, but ends up losing a decision possibly due to how judges perceive their offensive effectiveness from their back compared to the man on top, or they just get plain beat up in their guard (eg Nick Lentz vs Mark Bocek at UFC 140, Jim Miller vs Ben Henderson UFC on Versus 5).

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[Tony Toffolo]

actually just read your article on bloodyelbow kj. solid stuff. keep up the great articles

[derrick ikwueme]

people have to realize theres no '' The Guard " everyone's guard is different. theres no one guard style that is the solution. theres only individual guard players. some dudes like Nick, Nate, or Shinya will asassinate you with there guard. & that's why even good jiujitsu players still avoid the guards of those cats. they'd rather get boxed up, than rolled up, but out of all the ever evolving guard systems gi or nogi. once understood, the rubber guard is invaluable for mma & not getting smashed in your guard in general. just the clinch & raining elbows without taking damage on bottom makes it the best for mma. & thats before all the offensive options starting from the clinch. even retard judges understand elbows, that's how Conner Huen won that fight in strikeforce. he won the 2nd round on his back using rubber guard with a broken arm.

[KJ Gould]

actually just read your article on bloodyelbow kj. solid stuff. keep up the great articles

Thanks Tony.