How much training do you put in for an MMA match?

mattsylvester · 09-03-2005 11:36AM #1

Just interested. How many hours do you have to train a week, how long before the fight do you start and what do you actually train in?

Do you change your diet as well?

What, what what?

Cheers

Matt

09-03-2005 01:18PM

Hey Matt,

Personally I havent fought in a full rules MMA match and have only competed at the MMA League competitions which involves two matches in a day each with one five minute round. The major factor that would stop me going to the next level is the amount of training the guys put in.

When I train for the MMA League I go running a few nights a week, cut down on my carb intake, eat more fruit, more meat, loads of water, no booze. It really depends on whether you have to drop weight and how much you have to drop.

Training wise you do some high intensity cardio, loads of drills to work on crashing the clinch, you do Ironman rounds (a nasty variation of sharkbait) and train maybe 4 days a week.

When I see Colm or Mick preparing for an event like Bushido Rings in the point its amazing to see how much work the guys put in. They train their guts off. Mountain runs, getting hit a lot, cardio, getting punched, cardio, cardio, cardio. Its a testament to the work put in by any MMA athlete stepping into the ring or cage. Im sure Colm O'Reilly will fill you in on his training routine.

Colum

Colm_OReilly · 09-03-2005 01:39PM

Training routines vary from fighter to fighter but Columok has given the general gist of what we do.

Generally fighters are training all the time. About 4-6 weeks before the fight they start upping the intensity and focus. The type remains the same. You train Stand Up, Clinch, and Ground. All with strikes thrown in. Depending on your opponent or game plan you make focus more on one area (crashing the clinch if he's a better striker, or anti-clinch if you don't want to go to the ground with him) but it's important to be adaptable and comfortable at all ranges.

Columok mentioned Ironman. Essentially you get battered by your team mates for a round. It's more to do with controlling your panic reactions and testing your resolve rather than skill development.

Again depending on the fighter you're looking at will determine what changes in diet they make. As for cutting weight it's generally only done on the week before the weigh in. I try and be Paleo as much as possible but I enjoy my chocolate, burgers and cinema food. Most, if not all of this, needs to be cut out in order to prepare for a fight.

Hope this helps,
Colm

How much training do you put in for an MMA match?

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