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MMA

The MMA Tree

88 techniques · FOUNDATION → AMATEUR → REGIONAL PRO → CONTENDER → CHAMPION

The systems over this tree

Dagestani system Sambo + wrestling base, chain grappling against the fence, positional smothering that removes hope.
American wrestle-boxing The college-wrestler conversion: boxing built on level-change threat.
Dutch kickboxing MMA striking's deepest lineage: combinations that end in low kicks.
Thai clinch arts The clinch and kicking canon every striker borrows from.
City Kickboxing Karate distance and counter precision.
Brazilian lineages Chute Boxe aggression to BTT grappling — the submission conversion.
29-0, UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov The Dagestani system in its final form: chain takedowns, the fence, and top control that removes hope.
UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev The system's heir: Khabib's wrestling with a finisher's submission game welded on.
2-division UFC champion Georges St-Pierre The complete blueprint: jab, double leg, and gameplans that made great fighters look ordinary.
2x UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya City Kickboxing's masterpiece: range, feints and counters — hit and don't be hit, at title level.
UFC lightweight champion, most UFC finishes Charles Oliveira Chute Boxe do Bronx: danger from every position, guard included — the submission conversion in one man.

FOUNDATION

STRIKING

Stance & footwork Jab Cross Guard & blocks

CLINCH & CAGE

Collar tie & posture Frames in the clinch

WRESTLING (MMA)

Sprawl▶ Level change under fire▶

GROUND & SUBMISSIONS

Posture in guard (top) Technical stand-up & wall walk▶ Frames & guard bottom under strikes

FIGHT IQ

Range management Breathing & pace▶

AMATEUR

STRIKING

Hooks & uppercuts Leg kick Teep & front kick Body jab Slips & rolls Checking kicks

CLINCH & CAGE

Over-under control▶ Underhooks Plum clinch & knees

WRESTLING (MMA)

Double leg (open floor)▶ Single leg▶ Front headlock▶

GROUND & SUBMISSIONS

Half-guard ground-and-pound▶ Side & mount strikes▶ Rear naked choke▶ Guillotine▶ Americana & keylock

FIGHT IQ

Distance & pressure▶ Damage management & chin discipline

REGIONAL PRO

STRIKING

Combinations (3–4 shots)▶ Body kicks & knees Calf kick Switch kick Counters (check hook, cross counter) Feints & level fakes

CLINCH & CAGE

Wall wrestling (defense) Dirty boxing Clinch entries off punches Cage cutting footwork Inside & outside trips▶

WRESTLING (MMA)

Shots off strikes Takedown chains Kick catches & returns Guillotine defense on shots▶

GROUND & SUBMISSIONS

Back riding with strikes Arm triangle▶ Knee-on-belly strikes▶ Half-guard dogfight get-ups▶ Kimura system Submission defense under strikes Elbows on the ground

FIGHT IQ

Octagon control Judging criteria IQ

CONTENDER

STRIKING

Elbows Head-kick setups Intercepting knee Oblique kick Calf-kick counters Question-mark kick Southpaw vs orthodox IQ Spinning attacks

CLINCH & CAGE

Bodylock takedowns vs cage▶ Elbow exits & re-frames Knees against the fence

WRESTLING (MMA)

Reactive takedowns (catch kicks) Mat returns vs wall-walks▶

GROUND & SUBMISSIONS

Heel hook entries & defense▶ D'Arce & anaconda vs sprawl Wall-walk denial (top) Crucifix ride with strikes▶ Body-lock back ride (hooks vs triangle) Get-up systems vs riders

FIGHT IQ

Gameplanning an opponent▶ Round-by-round adjustments

CHAMPION

STRIKING

Knockout counter systems Finishing sequences off level changes▶

CLINCH & CAGE

Cage-control systems Clinch-breaking mastery

WRESTLING (MMA)

Strike-to-takedown fusion Takedown mastery vs elite sprawl

GROUND & SUBMISSIONS

Ground-and-pound systems Strike–submission–position chains

FIGHT IQ

Championship-five pacing Title-fight composure Fight camp & periodization

Canon: Jackson's MMA (Ground Game, Stand-up Game) · Penn, Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge · the Unified Rules judging criteria