Training varies depending on which sport you're partaking in and you'll often find that you could be fit enough to play a full match of rugby but you'll struggle to last more than fifteen minutes in a swimming pool.
That's because you work different muscles depending on which sport you're doing and you therefore need to base your training regime around this.
MMA fight training is one of the most demanding forms of exercise. The rounds are longer than boxing and you need to make use of your entire body. Add in the fact that you have to uphold a strict diet in order to maintain weight and you've got yourself a pretty strict training regime.
Patience
Preparing for a fight requires more mental than physical strength. You're bound to spend long days in the gym, some of which will be slower than others, and it may take a while to see results. The same goes for your diet, you'll have to ditch any crappy food well in advance of your fight which can prove difficult for amateur fighters.
For beginner and amateur fighters it is extremely important to establish a physical and mental base and build on it as you progress. If you cannot maintain this from day one then you will struggle to see any progress
Less Heavy Weights
It is obviously important to build and maintain your strength as an MMA fighter, but it can actually be detrimental if you engage in heavy weightlifting in the weeks building up to a fight. MMA is all about fluidity, Conor McGregor swears by fluidity and movement in his training camps and he's rarely pictured lifting heavy weights.
Most UFC fighters lift heavy weights during their downtime, when they haven't got a fight scheduled, as was the case recently with Jon Jones and his monstrous deadlift.
Weightlifting is all about static and single movements which can stiffen your body, you're also more likely to be sore the day after a heavy weights session than a fluid MMA session.
Find The Right Balance
Seeing as MMA is a combination of different fighting styles, it's important to find the right balance between each one. You want to be careful you don't focus too much on ones aspect of you're training because it will compromise the other.
For amateur and aspiring MMA fighters this can be a little more difficult due to work and family commitments. A UFC fighter will have an entire team behind them to ensure that they are covering all bases in the lead up to a fight.
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