Since then a lot has changed in the mixed martial arts world, it went from being called “vale-tudo” to the well known MMA, UFC was bought from the Gracie Family by Dana White who transformed it into a multi-billion dollar business. The spotlight went from America to Japan, hence the Pride years, and back to America again. Gone are the days that so called street fighters had chance of winning a UFC fight, who doesn’t remember Tank Abbot?

What hasn’t changed is the need for a top MMA fighter to have good ground work and the best way to obtain that is still through BJJ. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can give the edge an MMA fighter needs to win a bout at any moment through a variety of submissions that range from simple arm bars to more complex triangle chokes and leg locks.

The best MMA fighters are the most complete, those that have powerful striking abilities, fast footwork, huge stamina levels and off course are good on the ground. Why the emphasis on ground work?

For the simple fact that most MMA fights end up going to the ground, being on top fighters can cane their opponent with punches, kicks and so on. To dominate an opponent on the ground a fighter will need to know grappling techniques that can be learned with BJJ training in special the no GI training sessions, also known as submission.

But BJJ is also good when a fighter is underneath their opponents, BJJ specialists can reverse the situation easily or simply attack from the guard position which is by far the preferred attack position of a BJJ specialist.

Since Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fights starts with both opponents standing up, BJJ fighters have also a wide range of takedowns up their sleeves, needless to say what a well applied takedown can do to an opponent.

Where to get top BJJ Training?

Years ago the best place to get top notch BJJ training would be in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, home of the legendary Gracie Family and the Grand Master Helio, who died in January 2009. Helio together with his brother Carlos Gracie created art of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, internationally know as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Nowadays with so many high quality BJJ professors around the globe you can get top notch training in the four corners of the world. There are renowned world champions in Europe, America, UK, Australia and even in Abu Dhabi where one of the most important tournaments of the BJJ season is held.

To sum things up a good BJJ professor won’t be shy to his credentials and titles. So avoid those ones that say they’ve done this and that but have no evidence to prove it. Talking is cheap, remember?

But if you have the time and money to do it, I recommend you spend a couple of months in Brazil training with the best BJJ fighters on the planet.

Nowadays most of the gyms providing MMA training offer complete training sessions that includes stand-up and ground training. The most important thing to remember is to train safely and always make use of mma equipment.

It is a clever compilation of famous movie scenes where movie celebrities become UFC fighter and ring girls. The trailer features Mark Wahlberg as Tito Ortiz, Cuba Gooding JR as Rashad Evans, Antonio Banderas as Vitor Belfort, Chi Hui Liu as Yoshihiro Akiyama, the hot Jessica Alba as the hottest ring girl Arianny and Samuel L. Jackson as Dana White.

Liked it? Share your thoughts in our comments below.

Workout Planet MMA Section is sponsored by Reaction Sport MMA Equipment Online Superstore.

The bold fighter in black and white trunks goes for a take down but sadly leaves his arms between his opponents legs. The other fighter in black trunks simply had to grab of hold of his arm and swing his legs over his opponents head to lock the arm bar. Watch it and let us know if you’ve seen a faster submission in an official MMA fight.

Kudos for the guys at Ironforgesiron.com, where I found the video.

Workout Planet MMA Section is sponsored by Reaction Sport MMA Equipment Online Superstore.

This bout was fought on the 8 of July for the M1 Challenge 26 in Canada, Tyson Jeffreis was knocked out with a spinning back fist by Arthur Guseinov from Russia. Tyson started the fight well and even manage to mount Guseinov who then managed to get up and landed a lethal spinning back fist that sent Jeffreis to sleep. All that action in just little over a minute of into the bout.

What do you reckon can this “Spinning Back Fist from Hades” make to the top of MMA KO charts? Share you thoughts and comments below.

Workout Planet MMA Section is sponsored by Reaction Sport MMA Equipment Online Superstore.

5 – Edson Barboza (BRA) vs Anthony Njokuani (NIG)

In a fantastic display of the Art of Eight Limbs, a.k.a Muay Thai, Barboza and Njokuani showed octagon fans what Muay Thai is all about in UFC 128 back in March. In epic a fight that was decided by close, but unanimous decision, the Brazilian Edson Barboza won his second straight UFC fight. Barboza is now 8 for 8 in his professional career.

4 – Kyle Kingsbury (USA) vs Fabio Maldonado (BRA)

These two fighters put one of the most exciting final bouts of The Ultimate Fighter has ever seen. In season TUF 13 season finale Kingsbury and Maldonado clashed in a grueling, blood spilling and spit flying brawls fight that kept me shouting and cheering through out the 15 minutes of fight. Despite a controversial unanimous decision Kingsbury took home gold but his face was so wrecked that he earned himself a six month injury due to a rupture on his left eye ball.

3 – Diego Sanchez (USA) vs Martin Kampman (USA)

This fight can be summarized by the simple fact that Dana White gave a bonus of $160,000 bonus to both fighters for such a marvellous display of determination and skills that kept the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish. When Kampman opened Sanchez face with a precise strike everybody thought he was on his way to victory but “The Dream” didn’t back down and made an incredible come back with relentless attack that no only inflicted damage on Kampman, but earned him the victory by unanimous decision.

2 – Dominick Cruz (USA) vs Urijah Faber (USA)

In the title fight of UFC 132, bantamweights Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber fired all their tricks in a frenetic, high paced 25 minute fight to remember that ended with Cruz’ victory by unanimous decision. Now the scores are even between the top two batamweights which sets the hopes for a third and decisive bout. For now Dominick Cruz is the current UFC Bantamweight Champ.

1 – Frankie Edgar (USA) vs Gray Maynard (USA)

It is not very often that we see a fight that ended up in draw been chosen as the best fight of the first semester. But for those of you who watched the UFC 125 title will know that this fight established the standards for 2011 on New Year’s Day. After dominating the first round when “The Bully” nearly ended the fight, “The Answer” made a remarkable come back and after 25 minutes of fight both fighters and the public were disappointed by the split decision. Maynard retained his title but this war is far from over and a rematch is due anytime soon.

You can watch all these fights at the UFC website but unfortunately you will have to pay for most of them.

That is it for now, for those MMA practitioners out there happy training and don’t forget to use your MMA equipment to avoid injuries and keep on evolving.

A few days after that interview as filmed it was announced that Sonnen will be fighting Brian Stan in UFC 136 to take place October 6 at the Toyota Center in Houston Texas.

During the interview Sonnen who wasn’t aware he was fighting Brian Stan spare his opinion about the fighter but once attacked and insulted Brazilian MMA fighters as well as the Brazilian people by saying he did not know they had computers in Brazil yet.

The guy is such a nut case the he even goes on to say that Brazilian people love him because he goes there and spends money while the Brazilian fighters made their fortunes away from Brazil and don’t even go back there to visit their families and friends. Yeah right Mr Sonnen!

Sonnen has not fought since loosing to the UFC Middleweight champ Anderson “The Spider” Silva when after dominating the whole fight he submitted to a triangle choke/armbar during UFC 117. During the interview you will see that he considers himself the winner of that fight but if my memory doesn’t fail me when you tap out three times means that you lost.

Chael Sonnen can’t keep his mouth that is the truth, don’t believe me watch the interview and take your on conclusions. Feel free to express your opinions and thoughts in the comments below.

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Yesterday during a press conference in Rio UFC president Dana White its CEO Lorenzo Feritta announced the long waited fight card of the event, in case you missed yesterday’s press conference here it is:

UFC 134 Fight Card

Anderson “the spider” Silva vs Yushin Okami (Middleweight Title Fight)
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs Forrest Griffin (lightheavyweight)
Edson Barboza vs Ross Pearson (Lightweight)
Minotauro Nogueira vs Brendan Schaub (Heavyweight)
Luiz ‘Banha’ Cané vs Stanislav Nedkov (lightheavyweight)
Antonio Carvalho vs Yuri Alcantara (Featherweight)
Paulo Thiago vs David Mitchell (welterweight)

Stay tuned for more exclusive news of UFC Rio here at workout-planet.com. Over the coming we’ll be publishing an in-depth analysis of each fight. Till then happy training and remember:

“For many the ground is the limit for us is just the beginning”

The “Mighty Monkeys” programme, specifically designed to prepare children from ages 4 to 6 for martial arts class, and life, has been a great success and saw 10 of these young children complete the 2 year course, demonstrating outstanding martial arts skill, as well as an array of life skills, focus, concentration, balance, strength and fitness to gain their Mighty Monkey Black Belts!

The Might Monkeys programme includes 8 dynamic martial arts pad drills including jumping, spinning, kicking and punching in various forms, 4 ‘Traditional Forms’, numerous martial arts movements, and 8 life skills, which include Teamwork, Traffic Safety, Stranger Danger, Fitness, Balance, Memory, Fire Safety and First Aid. Fantastic life skills, with a great deal of fun, martial arts and self defence, and the children work through their attendance and reward badges throughout the course.

All 10 now progress to their choice of the Taekwon-Do or Kick-Boxing classes on offer. The Taekwon-Do graduation saw some great talent from young and old as children and adults demonstrated their new skills, power and abilities, whilst family members looked on in amazement at their children new found confidence, discipline and focus.

Mr Nicholson said:

“The standards over the weekend have been outstanding, and this is not only our biggest, but also our highest quality graduation event to date. These high standards are a great reflection on our eleven instructors who have all been present over this weekend. I wish all our members competing at MA Tournament on 17th July the very best of luck also”.

If you are into Martial Arts I recommend you pay a visit to ReactionSport.com there you will find an extensive range of martial arts equipment, sports nutrition supplements and fitness equipment to train at home or to equip your gym.

Alternatively, if you would like to sponsor Tom’s Nicholson Martial Arts Charity Event, please visit www.MAtournament.co.uk.

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