How To Become The Best Mma Fighter

Is Professional MMA for You? Let’s be real straight away – the best MMA fighter’s lives are not all. MMA has become more and more popular nowadays for its stress-release and weight loss effect. Many people admit that by training MMA, they are stronger, healthier, and even less stressed. Therefore, with such amazing influences, many people have changed their minds from learning amateur to becoming professional MMA fighters.

• Max Holloway could become the best fighter to ever compete in MMA, Khabib Nurmagomedov believes.
• Holloway recently dominated Calvin Kattar on Fight Island, and is only going to get better.
• 'I think … in future, [he will] become maybe the best fighter of all time,' Nurmagomedov said.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

FIGHT ISLAND - Max Holloway could become the best MMA fighter who's ever lived.

That's according to Khabib Nurmagomedov, who marveled at the volume striker's punch-perfect performance Saturday, in which he destroyed Calvin Kattar at the Etihad Arena on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi.

Holloway's performance was so dominant it forced the UFC boss Dana White to order Kattar to the hospital where he received staples in his head, as well as treatment for a broken nose and bruising.

Kattar has since been slapped with a six-month medical suspension from fighting unless he receives clearance from a doctor that his injuries have recovered sufficiently.

What may perhaps be concerning to Holloway's featherweight rivals in the UFC is that, as Holloway is only 29, he might not yet be at the peak of his powers, Nurmagomedov said.

'He's already one of the best who ever competed in MMA. One of the best,' Nurmagomedov told Dan Hardy's YouTube channel Full Reptile.

Holloway has been fighting in the UFC since 2012 and, after dropping a decision to Conor McGregor the following year, he's gone on to score wins over Charles Oliveira, Jose Aldo (twice), and Brian Ortega.

For Nurmagomedov, the weekend win was 'his best performance.'

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The Russian wrestler added: 'When we look at Max, he's not old, his prime time is coming. I really like Max. End of the year, next year [his time will come].

'He has the potential to be a more great fighter than he was. He has good cardio, chin. Now he's experienced. I think … in future, [he will] become maybe the best fighter of all time.'

Nurmagomedov, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, has an ambiguous status as an active fighter.

He abruptly retired after submitting Justin Gaethje last year, saying he could not continue to compete after the death of his father Abdulmanap, but reportedly told White he'd return if a lightweight rival like Conor McGregor did 'something spectacular' this weekend.

Nurmagomedov is on Fight Island to support his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov, an unbeaten fighter who makes his UFC debut Wednesday against Sergey Morozov.

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Becoming an MMA fighter requires total dedication and love for the game. The sport is currently one of the fastest-growing in the world. It’s a sport that can help you get in top shape and prepare you for a successful pro career. However, attaining a pro-level statue takes hard work.

In this guide, you will learn what it takes to be a pro-MMA fighter.

What are the Steps of Becoming MMA Fighter?

Joining an MMA Gym

One of the biggest obstacles to becoming an MMA fighter is the time needed to train and the right gym for quick learning. This is one big issue that requires thorough research before venturing into. To get the right place to practice your skills, you need to look around for gym centers that have the proper training equipment.

Just remember that the first gym you started with might not be your last as you might likely get to know that the gym does not have all the bells and whistle to turn you into a champion. Also, you need to talk to the coaches you will be working with because sometimes, you might discover that the best coaches are not necessarily in the fancy gyms.

This is why it is essential that you first do thorough research on the gym and the coaches that you might likely be working with.

Get protective gear

Practicing to be a good MMA fighter can sometimes result in an injury. That is why it is recommended to always wear protective gear like putting on your boxing gloves, your headgear, and shin guards. These protective gears are specially made to protect you from severe injuries in some areas of the body that might be fatal in case of an accident.

Some gyms may provide you with some gears when you register with them. However, it is also vital that you ask the manager what other tool kits to bring along in case they don’t have it, and it’s necessary for your training.

Here are some necessary gears if you are preparing to become an MMA fighter:

• Headgear

Maintain a healthy diet

Becoming a professional MMA fighter is not limited to hardcore training alone. You won’t get anywhere if you don’t balance your training with a healthy diet.

Professional MMA fighters are known to spend months perfecting the right diet plan to go along their required training sessions. So if you are starting as an MMA fighter, you can take advantage of some diet rich foods like fruits, vegetables, including healthy fats.

It is also essential to limit yourself on your carbohydrate intake and make sure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after every training session.

You can also try increasing your metabolic activities to support your MMA training sessions by consuming 5-6 small meals throughout the day so it can speed up muscle growth.

Eating enough protein is very vital to building and maintaining muscle. For optimum results in your training schedule, you should aim for 0.5 to 0.9 g of protein per 1 pound (0.45 kg) of body weight per day. For instance, if your weight is 150 pounds (68 kg), your protein consumption should be in the range of 75 g and 135 g daily.

How To Become Better Mma Fighter

Have stand-up fighting knowledge

Becoming an MMA fighter, you must know how to stand and fight. Your training must include developing your footwork so that you can dodge your opponents, kicks, elbows, punches, and knee strikes. Your footwork makes you a better fighter in the ring.

Therefore, to up your training, it is good to train in varieties of disciplines like Karate, Muay Thai, and boxing. However, the best way to develop your footwork and make you agile is through kickboxing.

Learn To Master The Ground Game

Another essential basic technique of MMA training is the ground game. The ground game is where you finish up your opponent by making sure you put them to submission. Ground game techniques are mostly used in Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and Judo.

Also, knowing the right way to defend yourself when you are on the receiving end (and you are already on the ground) is very crucial to winning any fight, especially MMA fights.

Many MMA fighters you’ll come across probably have gone through the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu art, so you need to be very careful and well prepared to defend yourself against submissions. So you must learn and train your submission tactics when you have your opponent on the ground during a fight.

When your opponent is on the ground, you need to find a way to mount him so you can have optimal control. The mounting position is from the back or the sides.

How To Get In Mma

Related: Best BJJ Gi’s for Beginners

Take opportunities to practice technique(s)

Whenever you are training, always make sure to practice different techniques you were taught from a different discipline. No matter what game you finally settled in, your techniques from other disciplines like Karate, Muay Thai, Jiu-Jitsu, etc. will come handy and can be employed when it’s most needed.

For example, when you are hitting the heavy bag, there are lots of ways you can control the bags either with your punches, knees, elbows, etc. you need to put into action what you have learned to make sure the bag heeds your controls just the way you want it.

Becoming A Ufc Fighter

Also, make sure you know how to keep your composure even when you are dead tired in training. This way, if translated into a real fight, you have a much better chance of coming out of danger when you are in the ring.

In conclusion, even though the MMA is a regulated outfit, there are still many fighters that get injured for one reason or another.

How To Be The Best Mma Fighter

However, to stay safe from joint injuries, be sure to wear your protective gear and make sure your coaches and sparring partners understand the extent to which you can go in training.

List Of Mma Fighters

Also, in cases of serious injuries, especially in cases where you think you might have broken a rib, bone, or a concussion consult with your medical professional to ascertain your fitness level.