Many people looking to enrol in MMA or learn more about the sport wonder — what are the best martial arts for MMA? The one that will allow you to get the most out of your physical advantages and talent. To quickly develop a strong base on top of which, when you switch to cage fighting, you can add other essential skills and succeed.
In this article, we are bringing you the 2 best martial arts for MMA from all three elements: Striking, Grappling, and Ground Fighting. We will also take a closer look into traditional martial arts used in cage fighting.
Best Striking Martial Arts For MMA
According to the rules, cage fighting is a sport where athletes strike each other using all limbs. This means they can punch, kick, and hit each other using elbows and knees as well. Two martial arts that fit well within this concept are Muay Thai and Boxing.
Boxing
Boxing plays a key role in modern MMA due to its emphasis on fast footwork, head movement, angles, and above all, laser precise striking. At first glance, boxing might seem one-dimensional and too “simple”, but its core skills are a crucial part of freestyle combat.
Pros:
- Precise Striking
- Effective Footwork and angles
- Head movement and counterattacks
For instance, fighters trained in boxing have a prominent feeling of distance and higher spatial awareness. They are masters in using quick footwork and angles to out-position their opponent on the feet and create openings for unleashing powerful and fast punching combinations.
At a distance, they usually fight behind the jab, keeping the opponent out of their range and doing damage. If the opponent decides to move in, they would explode with laser-perfect body-head combos. And the defensive work is important too.
The defensive skills honed in boxing, including slipping punches and parrying, enhance a fighter’s ability to avoid strikes and counter effectively. Most fighters from other styles have rigid movement which gives boxers a big advantage. However, there are a few cons as well:
- No clinch work
- No grappling or ground fighting
- Lack of Kicking Techniques
Who are the best boxers in UFC?
Several renowned boxers have successfully made the transition to cage fighting. Some of the biggest names are:
- Holly Holm — former boxing and UFC world champion
- Conor Mcgregor — former UFC two-division champion (featherweight and lightweight)
- Max Holloway – UFC featherweight champion
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is widely regarded as the most effective striking martial art in MMA. This is because it is the only, or at least the most popular combat system that includes striking using all limbs. As such, it fits the best within the rules of the sport and it represents the best striking base.
The concept of Muay Thai includes striking with punches, kicks, knees, and elbows at all ranges. Next, fighters are allowed to compete at all ranges, including inside the clinch where they use positioning to break the opponent’s posture before hitting them with vicious elbows and knees.
They are also allowed to throw each other down using trips and throws, which adds to the versatility of their skill set. Keep in mind that the emphasis is on landing vicious kicks, and fighting inside the clinch while punches are seen as a secondary tool.
This, among other reasons, is why Thai boxers are among the most brutal fighters responsible for many highlight real KOs.
Moreover, they are also known for their exceptional conditioning, flexibility, and of course durability. In fights, they can absorb a lot of damage which makes them a tough matchup for anyone.
Best Muay Thai fighters in MMA:
- Anderson Silva – former 185-pound UFC champion
- Edson Barboza – UFC contender
- Matt Brown – Legendary UFC Fighter
- Jon Jones – UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion
Best Grappling Martial Arts For MMA
Grappling is, perhaps, the most advanced aspect of cage fighting. In MMA, fighters are allowed to clinch, take each other down to the ground using takedowns, hold down, or submit using chokes and joint locks. The two most used grappling arts are Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Wrestling.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ)
BJJ originates from judo and its emphasis is on advanced ground control and submissions. As a concept, the system excels in taking an opponent to the ground, manoeuvring into a dominant position from which grapplers apply joint locks or chokehold.
The most popular moves include armbars, kimuras, guillotine chokes, or rear-naked chokes.
Pros:
- Advanced ground positioning
- Submission holds
- Hard to defend against
Cons:
- Lack of striking
- Lack of standup wrestling
- Quite One Dimensional
In freestyle combat, BJJ practitioners pose a constant submission threat. They often force the opponent to be cautious both on their feet and on the ground. Basically, it matches well both against striking and wrestling-based opponents.
Even if they get taken down by a skilled wrestler, BJJ works the best on the ground where fighters can quickly find their way out to escape or place a submission.
In some way, fighters can’t compete or succeed in modern MMA without BJJ skills. The modern practice requires a high level of grappling skills, at least defensive, to be able to survive. Sooner or later, the lack of ground game would catch up on you.
Best BJJ fighters in the UFC are:
- Charles Oliveira — a former lightweight champion who holds a record for most submissions
- BJ Penn — is a former lightweight and welterweight champion and BJJ world champion.
- Demian Maia — is a legendary UFC fighter known for his exceptional ground game.
Wrestling (Freestyle Primarily)
According to many experts, wrestling is the single most important martial art in MMA. What’s more, statistics suggest that wrestling has produced most UFC champions in history which gives you a good insight into how effective and dominant wrestling is in MMA.
First, wrestlers are the ones who have the ability to control and dictate the pace of the fight, both on the feet and on the ground. They excel in initiating and executing takedowns, employing techniques such as single-legs, double-legs, and trips, showcasing their adeptness in changing levels and maintaining balance.
The ones accomplished on the international scene who switch to MMA are too superior to most fighters, making their attacks almost impossible to defend. It is much easier for a wrestler to defend against striking than vice versa.
This brings us to the learning curve. Wrestlers who transition to MMA need around 18 to 24 months to develop top striking games. However, strikers must take a much longer learning curve as learning how to wrestle takes almost a decade. And the worst part is, even that won’t be enough as most wrestlers are on the mats from a young age.
Best wrestlers in UFC history include the biggest names like:
- Daniel Cormier — former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion
- Jon Jones — former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion
- Chris Weidman — former middleweight champion
Best Hybrid Martial Arts For MMA
Hybrid combat systems that mix grappling and striking are very much in line with the type of freestyle combat in MMA. Though there aren’t many of these systems, one that stands above the others is the Russian Combat Sambo.
Combat Sambo
Combat Sambo, a dynamic martial art with roots in the Soviet Union, boasts a rich history that dates back to the early 1920s. Developed by the Red Army to enhance their hand-to-hand combat skills, Sambo incorporates elements of judo and traditional folk wrestling.
Over time, it has evolved into two distinct styles. First is Sport Sambo, which focuses on throws and ground control with limited striking. The second one is Combat Sambo, which integrates striking techniques, making it particularly applicable to MMA.
The effectiveness of Combat Sambo in MMA lies in its comprehensive approach. Practitioners are trained in a wide array of techniques, including throws, joint locks, and strikes, allowing for seamless transitions between standing and ground-based combat.
The system emphasizes an aggressive approach, explosive attacks, rapid submissions, and positional dominance, aligning well with MMA’s diverse skill set requirements.
Several notable MMA fighters with a background in Combat Sambo have excelled in the sport. The most famous ones are:
- Khabib Nurmagomedov — former lightweight UFC champion
- Islam Makhachev — lightweight UFC champion
- Fedor Emelianenko – former PRIDE FC champion
Traditional Martial Arts For MMA
Traditional martial arts do not fit as well within the rules of the sport as the other combat systems. However, the ones that have produced a lot of UFC champions that stand out are Karate and Taekwondo.
Karate
Karate plays a big role in modern MMA. Although it is not considered an ideal base, no one can deny the effectiveness of its techniques inside the cage.
Karatekas are known for their fast and precise striking. They are masters in throwing all types of kicks and direct punches to protect their range and do damage. Also, they have amazing footwork, and lateral movement, and are skilled in using angles to out-position their opponent.
Pros:
- Fast and precise striking
- Footwork, movement and angles
- Unpredictable and hard style to prepare for
Footworn, in particular, makes them superior to other styles. Since the action resets after each point in karate, they are really good at moving in to land a strike and moving out without being hit back.
And their defense is exceptional since most karate styles emphasize counterattacks. This enables them to capitalize on their opponent’s mistakes and counter with quick and powerful strikes.
Karate incorporates a wide range of techniques, including traditional and unorthodox strikes. As a result, MMA fighters with a karate background can bring an element of unpredictability to their game, making it challenging for opponents to anticipate their movements and strikes.
A lot of UFC fighters, for instance, have a hard time preparing for this specific style. There are not many karatekas in MMA they can use as training partners to prepare while karatekas regularly spar against conventional styles.
Taekwondo
While it may not be as prevalent as some other martial arts, Taekwondo can still be effective. It is, by far, the best martial art for developing strong kicking games which are very practical in cage fighting. For instance, fighters with a strong Taekwondo background can use their kicks to maintain distance, control their opponents, and deliver powerful strikes.
Taekwondo practitioners often develop exceptional speed and agility and learn how to fight from both stances. This allows them to move quickly in and out of striking range and can be advantageous in evading attacks and setting up offensive maneuvers.
In modern MMA, having top kicking them is an essential skill. Apart from learning proper technique, and how to throw kicks with speed, fighters trained in Taekwondo are also capable of generating a lot of power in each strike. This makes them a scary matchup for anyone deciding to stand in front of them.
What Is The Best Martial Art for MMA and UFC?
Statistically, wrestling is the best martial art for MMA because it has produced the most champions. However, modern MMA is so advanced that relying on one specific skill set does not work anymore. Each athlete must be well-versed in multiple martial arts and combine both striking and grappling in order to succeed in the sport.
Yes, most UFC champions are experts in one particular martial art and this is considered their base. But looking at them perform, you can see that they are using skills from other martial arts, both when it comes to defense and offense.
Which martial art is the best for MMA depends on many individual factors. This includes your physical attributes, talent, personal preferences, and previous fighting background. In the end, the best is the combination of ones that enable you to get the most out of your talent, genetics, and hard work.
Best UFC Fighters Of Each Martial Art
