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Introduction
A particular movement has become almost synonymous with MMA—where a fighter rushes toward their opponent, alternating punches. I call it the MMA rush. This movement isn't about fighters not knowing how to strike or box properly, but it's born out of the unique conditions of MMA.
In kickboxing, fighters tend to stand further apart than in boxing because of the threat of kicks. In MMA, they stand even further apart due to the added threat of takedowns. From this distance, strikes look exaggerated and off-balanced because fighters have to extend further to reach their opponents.
The smaller gloves in MMA, with their open fingers, increase the potential damage from strikes, making distance a preferred strategy for safety. Unlike in boxing, where you can use your gloves to cover your face, MMA does not allow such luxury. These unique features of MMA make closing the distance more critical than in other combat sports, and that's where the MMA rush comes in—it allows fighters to cover ground fast while staying offensive.
Of course, there's a risk of getting countered while rushing in, but this risk is more manageable in MMA than in boxing or kickboxing. Why? In boxing, you can tie your opponent up to stop their momentum, but in MMA, tying up might get you taken down. You can't simply block because the small gloves can still get through. There's also the risk of eye pokes.
The MMA rush is more threatening in MMA and, therefore, harder to counter or nullify. Plus, the twelve rounds in boxing make fighters more conservative with their movement strategy and energy, while MMA fighters have less time to work and take more risks. Also, in MMA, the size of the cage provides more room for developing momentum. The fence itself adds to the effectiveness of the rush because fighters can't just lean back away from punches as they can in a boxing ring.
UFC 307
At UFC 307, we saw several fighters utilize the MMA rush with varying levels of success. One fighter, in particular, Alexander Hernandez, who's known for overusing the rush, showed a more disciplined approach in his fight against Austin Hubbard and earned a much-needed win. It's important to remember that the MMA rush isn't a cheat code—it's a movement unique to MMA that finds success because of the sport's specific conditions.
Thompson vs. Buckley
Joaquin Buckley found great success with the MMA rush against Stephen Thompson, securing a knockout in the process. Buckley used the rush as a double threat—punches or takedowns. If Thompson defended the punches, he'd get taken down; if he defended the takedown, he'd get hit. And remember, the cage has no give, so Thompson couldn't lean away from the punches as he could in the center of the Octagon. Buckley capitalized on that dilemma.
Thompson's stance and style also require straight-line movements, either forward or back, for success. The MMA rush works best under these conditions. Tyron Woodley found similar success against Thompson in their two fights. However, over the course of five rounds, the rush takes its toll on stamina, as we'll see in our other championship fights. Thompson, having accumulated hundreds of fights in karate, kickboxing, and MMA, can't take the same damage he once did.
Aldo vs. Bautista
Mario Bautista defeated Jose Aldo in a close split decision by employing the MMA rush not just as a striking or takedown threat but also as a way to press Aldo against the fence. Against the cage, Aldo's movement options were limited, and Bautista took advantage. He landed short strikes and controlled the fight. The MMA rush takes a lot of energy, and Bautista won by putting in more effort than Aldo. Judges reward that.
Pennington vs. Peña
In this fight, both Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña used the MMA rush, but there was a fundamental difference. Without the threat of a takedown, Pennington's rushes were less effective, and she often got countered.
Peña, on the other hand, was able to combine the punches and takedown threats to win the first three rounds. But in a five-round title fight, the MMA rush started to show its limitations. Peña's energy took a steep dive after round three, and she lost the last two rounds as a result. Even when you avoid taking damage, as with Woodley against Thompson, it still taxes the body.
Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.
Like Peña, Khalil Rountree Jr. had early success with the MMA rush in the first three rounds of his title fight against Alex Pereira. But Rountree didn't have the same takedown threat, which left him more vulnerable to counters. He was always in a firefight, without the chance to reset or take a break as he could've with a successful takedown or pressing Pereira against the fence. Rountree's movement options were limited, which forced him to explode more with rushes than all the other fighters. By round four, Rountree was gassed, leading to his eventual TKO loss.
Conclusion
The MMA rush is an effective tool for closing distance in MMA, but it works best when paired with a takedown threat. However, it's not without its drawbacks—the energy cost is significant, and it seems to work better in shorter, three-round fights. Ultimately, MMA's open ruleset and material conditions create opportunities for these unique movement strategies, where multiple threats—striking, takedowns, and clinching—can be combined. The MMA rush is a product of its conditions, but what thrives best under MMA's conditions isn't any one particular movement but the ability to utilize multiple treats effectively. Maximizing the conditions of MMA means maximizing all the allowable threat options.
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Fight Study 161: UFC 307