Fight Like a Man!
Not quite ready to rumble? Then step into the Octagon with Randy Couture, Rich Franklin, and Chuck Liddell. With these three UFC warrior-scholars on offense (and man-beast Jason Lambert on D), you’ll be a seasoned bruiser in no time.
Chuck Liddell
6’2″, 205 lbs.
MMA record
20-4-0
Fight specialty Striking
Jason Lambert5’10”, 205 lbs.
MMA record
23-6-0
Fight specialty Submissions
Randy Couture6’2″, 220 lbs.
MMA record
15-8-0
Fight specialty Takedowns
Rich Franklin
6’1″, 185 lbs.
MMA record
23-2-0
Fight specialty Kicking
OVERHAND RIGHT TO
DOUBLE-HAND TAKEDOWN
Overhand Right to Double-Hand Takedown
Randy Couture shows you how to use the cold, hard earth to your advantage.
Randy Couture6’2″, 220 lbs.
MMA record
15-8-0
Fight specialty Takedowns
“The Natural” knows full well that when a fight goes to the ground, it’s better to be the guy doing the slamming. “Until you learn how to throw somebody down, you can’t take advantage of your grappling skills,” he explains. “It’s one of the areas where people tend to struggle.” True—people like your little brother, his punk-ass friends, and you if you don’t pay attention to this takedown specialist’s superior technique.
Punch: First, throw a strike to make him cover up and expose his midsection. “Always strike hard, even if you’re just setting up a takedown,” notes Couture.
Weave: You need to penetrate quickly or he’ll block your approach, so do a quick “level change” by bending your knees and weaving your head under his armpit.
Hands: Get a firm grip on the backs of his knees, but don’t worry about lifting him off the ground. “Focus on moving him laterally, not flipping him over on his back.”
Footwork: Once you’ve got a good hold, take short, choppy steps across your opponent’s stance to keep him off balance and unsure of where you’re going.
Eyes: Your head and upper body will follow your eyes, so look across the back of your opponent in the direction you want his body to go: sideways and down.
Slam: Spike your forward shoulder directly into your opponent’s midsection as he crashes headlong into the ground, readying him for pummeling and/or spit drips.
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Outside Leg Kick
Rich Franklin: foot-in-mouth expert.
Rich Franklin
6’1″, 185 lbs.
MMA record
23-2-0
Fight specialty
Kicking
This jujitsu devotee sees his legs as powerful long-range missiles that give opponents new and painful angles to consider. But before you shatter your tailbone attempting a Van Damme–style roundhouse, try a simple kick. “It’s like a jab or hand combination in boxing,” says Franklin. “It won’t end a fight, but it pays off over time.”
Fist: First you’ll need to throw a hand combo to get him to react. As soon as this happens, it’s open kicking season on anything he isn’t covering.
Eyes: Instead of looking where you’re kicking, focus on the little dimple just under his Adam’s apple. “Read his entire movement,” says Franklin.
Feet: To “chamber” your kick, step wide with your lead leg at a 45-degree angle so that you’re standing outside your opponent’s stance.
Hips: Roll your hips toward your opponent to initiate the swing, allowing your shoulders to follow. Use this same motion wherever you’re aiming.
Body: “Your body will naturally lean away from your opponent as you kick,” notes Franklin. “This helps protect you from a counterattack.”
Shins: Make contact with the bottom two inches of your shin, just above your ankle. “Don’t use the top of your foot or you’ll risk an injury.”
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Left Hook to the Body
Chuck Liddell gives you a bruisin’ on the inside.
Chuck Liddell
6’2″, 205 lbs.
MMA record
20-4-0
Fight specialty Striking
If you’re lucky, you’ll never receive a strike to the liver. “It’s like your brain wants to keep fighting, but your body wants to shut down,” says the UFC champ. To exploit this vulnerable organ on the body’s right side, try Liddell’s infamous left hook. “It’s the kind of punch that can slow someone down or even end a fight,” he notes. “I don’t think guys use it enough.”
Feet: Position yourself in a “ready stance” with your knees slightly bent and most (but not all) of your weight on the balls of your feet.
Eyes: “This strike can get your opponent to drop his hands, opening him up for face shots,” says Liddell. Don’t stare at any one strike target.
Hips: If you blindly helicopter your arm around, you’ll probably miss. Instead, initiate the blow with your hips. “The power comes from the twist.”
Arm: Lock your hand and forearm into one powerful unit. “When I throw the hook, I think of my arm as a whip with a rock attached to the end.”
Knuckles: Make contact with the first two knuckles of your fist; the other two are fragile and prone to injury (like dog-fighting poodles).
Follow-through: Swing through your opponent, not just up until the point where contact is made. “With this hook, it’s like I’m swinging a bat.”
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Focus Your Fists of Fury
Because Lucky Strike is a brand of cigarettes, not a punching strategy.
Chin
“This is the knockout punch I’m looking for,” says Liddell. “Ideally, I want to get him right behind the chin to make his head snap around.”
Temple
“I’ll take what I can get when I go high with a hook, but the side of the head makes a big target, especially if his hands are down.”
Ribs
“Aim for just below his floating ribs. If you get him good and hard right here in the liver, you’ll be amazed how fast he drops.”
Shin-Blade Weapon
Your chicken legs can do serious damage if you know where to aim.
Quads
“Aim for the area directly between the knee and groin,” advises Franklin. “This is where the muscle splits, so it’s an especially vulnerable spot.”
Ribs
“You want to rattle those organs just behind his floating ribs.Unlike in boxing, one good, solid kick to this area can end a fight.”
Chin
Don’t be picky with your high kicks. “Anything to the head can do some real damage.” That said, square on the chin is your best TKO target.
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