If you had to fight someone bigger than you..Best MMA?

Question

Say one person is 5'8 145. very athletic and strong but not big (as you can tell from height and weight.) Vesus a 6'0-6'2 200-250 lbs guy...

Which Martial Art would probably help you the most in the fight?

Muay Thai - Could help keep your range and if you didnt get pummeled close range you could throw dangerous elbows.

BJJ - i would think this would help the most because if he got you to the ground you could counter with an arm-bar or something.

Boxing - If hes bigger than you and able to get in close i dont see this helping too much.

Any others that might help significantly in a fight that i missed?

Answer 1

The number one choice I would reccomend, is Baguazhang.  It is an obscure Chinese fighting style, that emphasizes stepping methods for dodging.  Another good martial art that emphasizes dodging, is the Tibetan Crane Style of Kung Fu.  Thing is for dodging to work well, you have to train fanatically hard, and learn to read an opponent who tends to charge.

Here is a general rule, although, take it with a grain of salt because it varies; a stupid big man, will charge at you like a bull, using their size and weight advantage as an attempt at intimidation.  A smart big man, on the other hand, thinks of himself as a castle, a fortress if you will, and holds his ground.  Indeed, once a big dude plants his legs, good luck sweeping or moving him.  When Roycie Gracie, in the very first UFC, went up against what's his face, Jerry Bohlander was it?  It was some really big European Judoka, he foolishly attempted a leg trip while the big man's feet were firmly planted.  I say foolishly because, when there is a huge weight and strength difference, you DO NOT attempt to trip a big man.  The best time to trip a larger fighter, is when he is moving but your timiming must be perfect, you have to have the right instincts and hopefully a good background in Judo so you know when to do it without having to look at their feet.

Judo, believe it or not, is also a good martial art, because that does not seem like too big of a size difference.  Thing is, again, you'll have to train hard.

If you have Boxing available to you just stick with it.  Believe it or not, boxing's evasive work can actually negate size difference.  Here are the three principles of boxing, as taught to me by an old f**t boxing coach;

1)  Boxing, is about rhythm

2)  Boxing is about making the other guy miss, and making him pay when he misses.

3)  Speed kills

The advice I give you, to answer your question, is to drill dodging maneuvers FANATICALLY, until they are second nature.  Any evasive drills, you MUST drill, passionately.  If he's got grappling skill, emphasize escapes, both standing and ground, and force him into a slugging match.  Look man, you go toe to toe against someone bigger and stronger than you, in the same way a bull successfully gores an unskilled or cocky bull fighter, a big man, will rip you apart in a similar manner.

The only way to negate superior physical strength, is with superior evasive maneuvers and speed.  Although...... few people know how to "get out of the way" well.  You are thinking in terms of comparing strength to strength, but, sorry, that just won't work.

A former friend of mine from high school sparred once.  He was way bigger, and much stronger, first time we sparred, he mopped the floor with me because I attempted a strength vs strength thing.  Second time, I made sport of him.  The trick?  All I did was imitate bobbing, weaving, and slipping from boxing I saw on T.V.  I did those things over and over and when we sparred again it was second nature.  Later on, for fitness purposes, I received formal boxing training.  Never actually boxed though.... I got ripped apart by the guys who actually did it seriously.

Still though from my experience, the bobbing, weaving, and slipping and rolling principles of boxing work really well against a bigger guy.  Think of him as the bull, and you, as a bull fighter.  But remember; more bulls have been killed by bullfighters than the other way around, but the horned bovine males have scored their share of victories.

Be careful, and I hope this is a sporting event you're talking about rather than some silly backyard c**p, or, protecting yourself against a bully.  In which case.... don't pit strength against strength.  Stick and move, stick and move, use evasive instincts.

peace out.

Answer 2

See Marco Ruas vs. Paul Varleans.

Muay Thai, or solid striking that uses footwork would work very well.

BJJ or Judo, a grappling arts which if used properly can help you negate the advantage on the mat. Of the two I would say Judo more, simply because of the leverage principles and understanding bigger guys are more succeptable to rear throws, then double legs.

Boxing would probably be one of the worst in some ways. For one you have to be a very experienced boxer to be able to get in and out on someone taller than you. Which generally requires that you are going to take a few shots in order to get in and deliver yours, not great for someone who has more power to hit you with.

Also there is a huge difference between someone 6ft 200 against you, and someone 6'2" 250lbs. (which would be over sized slightly)

Your best bet aside from some expert grappling, (in which you would take more damage for sometime) would be something like a Muay Thai, something that you can punish a dude with Thai thigh kicks, keep moving, and pushing a hard pace that wears a larger guy out quickly so that you can come in and do real damage as he is worn out.

Because wrestling with a bigger dude is going to make you tired quicker than him (it takes more strength and muscle to move around a big guy), so something that is very aerobic such as Muay Thai, or Kyokushin, something with kicks that allow you to keep an outside range, deliver damage (occassional body kicks, or body shots, constant inside and outside kicks with quicker footwork would wear a dude down and cause him to be a sitting duck.

That would be my way of going about things...

Answer 3

For striking: muay thai, boxing, sanshou, kyokushin karate.

For grappling: Judo, Brazilian jujitsu, wrestling.

For a mix of grappling and striking: shidokan karate, combat sambo, kajukembo.

Answer 4

BJJ, take him to the ground and you can take advantage of them.

Answer 5

Of course the best from all martial art is, Mix Martial Art... It's icncluding boxing, kicking, grappling, locking, etc... this how you fight with a bigger guy. i thought all of the element can handle the power of someone..

Answer 6

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.  You saw how Royce Gracie used to submit fighters that were twice his size.

Answer 7

I actually have a great example for you on this question. I am 6'-0" 240 pounds, and like to think that I am strong and quick for my size. I have boxed quite a bit (as long as I can remember) and have been MMA fighting for about 5 years now. There is this guy who works out with us and he is a Muay Thai guy. He is probaby (I am guessing) 5'7" 135-140 pounds and this dude is a bad-a@%ed m**o! I think this guy could take guy way bigger than him. I say Muay Thai - you are in for a fight if you are in with a Muay Thai guy. Bad intentions man....bad intentions. My answer is based on my assumption that I have to single on discipline out.....the truly toughest guys to beat are the ones who are well rounded and have skill in every discipline.

Answer 8

BJJ was made in the first place for self defense against someone bigger than you, so that would be the best

Answer 9

BJJ - It is designed for the smaller fighter to submit/win against bigger stronger appononets.

Royce Gracie (in the early UFC days) is a prime example...

Pretty much everyone he fought was bigger than him, but he submitted (almost) everyone.