Striking Isn’t Everything: Wrestling Skills for Women Who Want to Fight in the UFC

Women are now part of the MMA world and everyone is noticing how skilled women fighters
are. Proof of that fact is that women are now fighting and are even champions in MMA’s biggest promotion, the UFC.

Women like Alexa Grasso, the current UFC Women’s Flyweight champion and Amanda Nunes, one of the UFC’s greatest female fighters at Featherweight and Bantamweight, are all masters of the striking game. With their punches and kicks, they have propelled themselves to the top of the UFC rankings.

As with other great fighters, both these women also have skills in wrestling that helped them climb the ladder. In MMA, striking is just one aspect of a successful gameplan. To truly dominate the sport, one should also have a wide knowledge of wrestling and the skills within that discipline. With that said, aspiring female fighters should have these wrestling skills to make it big in the UFC:

Takedowns
Takedowns are a fundamental aspect of wrestling, involving techniques to bring an opponent to the ground. In the UFC, takedowns are crucial for gaining control and positioning, making them a valuable skill for fighters.

To execute a takedown, a wrestler must close the distance to their opponent, secure a grip, and use leverage and momentum to bring them down. Standard takedown techniques include the single-leg, double-leg, and ankle pick.

Takedowns allow fighters to dictate the match’s pace, control their opponent's movements, and create opportunities for ground-and-pound or submission attempts. Effective takedowns can also score points with judges, influencing the outcome of close matches.

Agility and Flexibility
Agility and flexibility are critical components of wrestling, allowing athletes to move quickly and adapt to various situations. These attributes are equally important in the UFC, where fighters must be able to dodge strikes, execute techniques, and maintain balance.

Improving agility and flexibility involves dynamic stretching, plyometrics, and agility drills. Wrestlers work on quick footwork, rapid directional changes, and maintaining flexibility in their muscles and joints.

Increased agility and flexibility enhance women's ability to evade attacks, execute quick transitions, and maintain effective positioning in the UFC. These skills contribute to a well-rounded fighting style and can provide an edge over less agile opponents. Moreover, understanding these attributes can help you on who to choose if you’re betting on UFC Prelims Bets and main card matches as well.

Grappling Control
Grappling control involves maintaining a dominant position over an opponent, preventing them from escaping or counterattacking. In both wrestling and UFC, controlling the opponent is essential for success.

Achieving grappling control requires maintaining a strong base, effectively using body weight, and anticipating the opponent’s movements. To refine their control, wrestlers practice techniques such as holds, pins, and transitions.

Robust grappling control for women in the UFC translates to better defense against submissions and the ability to impose their game plan. It helps them wear down the opponent and set up for strikes or submissions, giving them a tactical advantage.

Endurance and Conditioning
Endurance and conditioning are critical in wrestling due to the sport's physically demanding nature. Wrestlers train to maintain high energy and performance levels throughout matches, benefiting their UFC performance.

Endurance training involves cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Wrestlers often engage in drills that simulate match conditions to build stamina and resilience.

Enhanced endurance and conditioning enable women in the UFC to maintain their performance from the first to the last round. This physical preparedness can be a deciding factor in matches, allowing fighters to outlast their opponents and capitalize on any signs of fatigue.

Mental Toughness
Mental toughness is staying focused, composed, and resilient under pressure. Wrestling instills this trait through rigorous training and competition, making it a valuable asset for UFC fighters.

Developing mental toughness involves facing challenging situations in training, learning to manage stress, and cultivating a strong mindset. Wrestlers are often put in difficult positions to test and build their mental fortitude.

For women in the UFC, mental toughness means staying calm during high-stress moments, recovering quickly from setbacks, and pushing through physical and mental fatigue. This resilience is crucial for handling the intense environment of the octagon and achieving success.

Defensive Techniques
Defensive techniques in wrestling, such as sprawling and countering, are crucial for avoiding takedowns and controlling the match’s pace. These skills are directly transferable to the UFC, where defense is critical to surviving and countering an opponent’s attacks.

Sprawling involves quickly moving the legs back to avoid a takedown, while countering uses an opponent’s momentum against them to reverse the situation. These techniques involve drilling with partners and using reaction-based training to improve response times.

For women in the UFC, mastering defensive techniques means fending off takedowns, protecting themselves from strikes, and creating counterattack opportunities. A strong defense is essential for maintaining control and setting up offensive moves, making it a vital part of any fighter’s skill set.

Final Thoughts
Wrestling skills offer invaluable advantages for women in the UFC, enhancing their performance in multiple areas. The blend of physical and mental preparation provided by wrestling is crucial for success in the octagon. Women fighters should embrace wrestling as a critical part of their training to maximize their potential and excel.