Strength difference between a 50kg and 55kg fighter

Q&A with the coach. Shanghai based MMA coach and Kunlun Fight Combat League ringside commentator Ramsey Dewey answers questions from the viewers.
How much difference do a few kilos or pounds make in a fight? Why do combat sports like boxing and MMA separate the lower weight divisions by relatively small increments and the heavier weight classes by larger increments? Does lean athletic muscle make for a better fighter than extra body fat?

[@RamseyDewey]

If you have questions for the next Q&A just leave them in the comments below!

[@darxcide7375]

How do muay Thai fighters have full contact wars with elbows and knees 2-3 times a week retire after 400 fights and yet show little to no injuries or CTE? Gentlemen like Sam A Gaiyanghadao amaze me over 400 fights in muay Thai and still competing! How is it possible that after less than 15 fights fighters like Jimi Manuwa, Chuck Liddell or Luke Rockhold can see such a noticeable deterioration? Is it really all down to hard sparring in camp? Bless you coach, take care and look after yourself during these strange times we find ourselves living in 🙏

[@Wingzero90939]

Darxcide 马克思 fight tips and Ramsey did a few videos about how you should spar Ramsey talked more in-depth about it during his interview with Jowad, and Dr Antonio they talked about that... also CTE can only be diagnosed after death.... oh and they do see damage by the way www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thai-child-fighting-culture-sparks-debate-after-13-year-olds-death also this, it’s the bobble head affect, those kids don’t possess a strong neck which makes everything worse. It’s also why the skull crusher challenge going around on Tik Tok is so bad, kids getting slammed. www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/qa-soccer-players-wear-helmets-top-neurosurgeon-weighs-concussion-risks,

[@jackmac7099]

Out of Dutch kickboxing, boxing and muay thai in the west, what striking style would you recommend for someone who wants to transition to mma in the future?

[@karimachim1537]

Hey Ramsey, how can one increase their speed? i'm around 65kg, but in sparring even people who weigh 20kg more than me are faster, both attacking and blocking. that goes for both strikes and kicks, but especially high and middle kicks feel very sluggish and therefore i don't feel confident using them in a fight.

[@janis2280]

Wouldn't it be better to have % difference? Like 50kg+10%=55kg so from 50-55kg. 100kg+10%=110kg. here 100-110kg.

[@Drewcatmorris]

"Size and strength don't matter in a fight." Says all the people that don't actually fight.

[@roberth4395]

Nobody said that you cannot use weapons in a fight. I would not fight a midget who has a glock.

[@Drewcatmorris]

@@roberth4395 Using a glock isn't about fighting as the subject of this conversation goes. It's at minimum assault with a deadly weapon.

[@roberth4395]

@@Drewcatmorris Weaponless vs weaponless=fighting Melee weapon vs any weapon that is non biological or ridiculous like a tank or a missle is still fighting We duel with weapons and it is called *fighting* We live in a day and age were a fight inwhich you only use your body parts is extremly rare. To the point where learning a skill like that is irrelevant. Spend that time on making money andwear it as armour.

[@Drewcatmorris]

@@roberth4395 good luck bringing a weapon like a knife or glock into an MMA fight. That is the conversation here, you are simply arguing semantics.

[@roberth4395]

@@Drewcatmorris Read your original comment there is no MMA there. Also your MMA experience has barely any usage in real life. In the country I live in if you are trained to fight and you use any of your fighting skills to protect yourself, then you receive a more serious punishment, than the person who assaulted you. In the us you would just get shot. Hand to hand combat is anlmost useless skill in our current life.

[@akiwi2827]

Ramsey is reaching his final form as Agent 47

[@artyombychkov2134]

Then he infiltrates UFC and kills McGregor like Sanchez from Hitman: Absolution.

[@johnhendricks8140]

He could definitly be agent 47 or one of the men in black.

[@martinv.b.3415]

Looks more like a guy, who want's to sell a insureance to me. Maybe i would even subscribe one... 😂

[@mugwa5423]

@@artyombychkov2134 i just shot the fatass and ran away

[@adrianjagmag]

Mighty bald of you to say that 🙃

[@nasri]

If size doesn't matter, why would it be impressive when a smaller guy defeats a bigger guy? The truth is it matters and we know it. Some of us just don't like admitting it.

[@ricodsanchez6792]

true but 5kg come on. i have spared with guys 15-20 kg more than my self and done well despite there harsh efforts.

[@mr.orangeaide5260]

@@ricodsanchez6792 how big are you?

[@ricodsanchez6792]

@@mr.orangeaide5260 5ft6 and 154lbs

[@ricodsanchez6792]

@Rangus brawlers actually

[@mr.orangeaide5260]

@@ricodsanchez6792 then you're either fighting cans or freak strong for your size

[@painandsorrowcards]

Ramsey: Size does matter in a fight. The Internet: But this one time I saw a fight and the smaller person won so size doesn't matter.

[@SunOfAztec]

Actually, when they say "size doesn't matter", they should say "technique beats size and strength". There is always a way for a smaller opponent to win the fight, but off course it doesn't mean that strength and size doesn't matter.

[@painandsorrowcards]

@@SunOfAztec That is a better way of saying it. I was just making fun of the people who swear "size doesn't matter" and they always site one or 2 examples of a smaller person winning a fight against a larger person.

[@joesmith5159]

what it really means is the bigger the size difference the more skilled the smaller guy has to be....a good big man beats a good small man because the only real difference is size and strength......unless the bigger guy is completely unathletic or the smaller guy is trained ...bigger guy has a big advantage in general

[@painandsorrowcards]

@@joesmith5159 agreed

[@painandsorrowcards]

@Mr. Frank 'forever 40' Garret Smaller guy is often faster. More scared really depends on the situation.

[@poopidoopi9575]

WhenI was 9, I was 50kg now I'm 55kg, I would totally destroy my 9 year old self in a fight

[@josen2791]

poopi doopi I don even remember when I was 55kg

[@SantiagoRodriguez-zi3gv]

Lol

[@MatiasAlric]

I'm 55kg... I'm not 100% sure I'd defeat the 9yo you though.

[@boliussa]

+poppi I don't think he was talking about overweight children

[@Spartan-ip5qm]

JustABoxer Stfu

[@duchi882]

*"Weight doesn't matter"* The Mountain: _Are you sure about that_

[@iliveinsideyourhouse3943]

50kg fighter: *tries to fight strongmen* 50kg fighter: *gets crushed to death*

[@screamtheguy6425]

Against someone like the Mountain, is there really no way to win in a serious fight? I mean when there is a will there is a way, right?

[@hfix307]

A trained mma fighter will beat the mountain without too much trouble. There comes a point where extra weight actually hurts your chances in combat. Depends on your frame somewhat, but you rarely see 300lb+ fighters do well. Consider that a single punch from most 200lb fighters can end a fight, so ask yourself what advantage does the extra weight give. We saw a lot of these fights in the early ufc where 170lb Royce Gracie took out sumo wrestlers and the like.

[@hfix307]

Dennis Helgi I have. In a real match McGregor would easily win. The fight would look similar to the sparring, and involve Conner circling him and getting him tired all the while hitting him with leg kicks. At some point it goes to the ground and the mountain will have no idea what to do and get submitted. Watch the original ufcs for many, many examples of david vs Goliath fights. Past a certain weight for the mma fighter (say 170lb) the untrained fighter almost always loses. Of course with a year or two of training the mountain starts looking a lot better. But no Conner (or any other pro mma/Muay Thai or boxer) easily wins.

[@periodic98]

H Fix hahahah no,you realise the halftor weighs 200kg and is one of the strongest men on the planet.Technique matters yes,however the greater the gap grows between strength and technique,its starts to become less and less significant. Take for example a silverback gorilla,(this is just an example)they may have sloppy technique but its their strength that matters.

[@RicoMnc]

As a relatively small guy (59kg) who has trained wrestling, krav, kick boxing and bjj, I can tell you size matters. It can be overcome and countered to an extent, but it definitely matters.

[@boogeyman1016]

Definitely influences the way you fight them. You cannot fight bigger guys the same way you fight same size guys. Vice versa

[@Defender78]

just so us Americans know, and for reference: 50kg = 111 lbs, 55 kg = 122 lbs, 59 kg = 132 lbs, and like me, 67 kg = 148 pds

[@KnjazNazrath]

50kg here. Trained karate, muay thai, JJJ, taiji, and zui quan. Size makes a massive difference. Smth else that makes a massive difference that a lot of gym fighters forget is environment. I managed to take out a 6ft guy who easily weighed twice my weight by getting the sun in his eyes and keeping it there. In the gym he would've destroyed me. A while later I got jumped in an alley and no lie got thrown in a dumpster by a dude shorter but heavier because he knew he could pick me up and forced the situation rather well. Luckily the latter guy was just my drunk mate or I'd've been in real trouble.

[@dacedebeer2697]

As an 85kg athletic guy that trains stand up and grappling I can tell you size matters. If I roll or spar anyone at around 100kg or higher I can clearly feel the difference. If they are clueless it's something easily countered, if they have some basic notion it can make things very difficult even for advanced practitioners that don't have that much weight to throw around.

[@Bosh783]

@@dacedebeer2697 At what point does it become impossible for a lighter person to beat a heavier person ? If you are 57 kg how much heavier does a person have to be to the point that they can’t be beaten by you in a fight ? For example could a fighter in the lightweight division ever beat a fighter in the welter weight division if they are technically superior?

[@BeeBN]

People keep mistaking height for size not realizing MASS is size, a 5'7 220 lb guy will usually crush a 6'2 150 lb guy

[@maxkarlsson7326]

Idk but the image of a 50kg strongman just made me chuckle lol

[@tompuc4336]

Before he started lifting he was 25kg !

[@Wingzero90939]

Actually I think that existed when you have a chance look up Joe Greenstein, he was known as the Mighty Atom.

[@RamseyDewey]

There are some really impressive competitors in that weight class, actually.

[@maxkarlsson7326]

I compete and Im about 115kgs, but most Im up against are 110-160kgs. Some bigger too. Smallest guys Ive seen doing strongman are like 90kgs and those are seen as tiny.

[@Wingzero90939]

Oh and I forgot some of the Japanese CrossFit guys are lifting incredibly heavy stuff, also when you look at women’s weightlifting with their size and weight what they do is incredible

[@cerebellicose]

Simple math: the larger the numbers get, the less percentage difference any number of pounds makes. i.e. 150 lbs. is a 7.14% increase from 140, but 230 lbs. is only 4.55% more than 220. Toss in the law of diminishing returns and it makes perfect sense to have larger margins in the higher weight classes.

[@notproductiveproductions3504]

Next video: the reach difference between a 5'7 guy and a 5'8 guy

[@OmniscientWarrior]

That would depend on the frame and sometimes the training of the person.

[@Kaledrone]

@@OmniscientWarrior Answer to any question that exists can be boiled down to "it depends" if you are picky enough.

[@scottcoxworthy]

Size does matter.Once you are over 6'3 and 240lbs i have a 'I'm only fighting you with a baseball bat' rule.... Lol

[@adrianjagmag]

Depends, scariest guys I know don't look big...they're just hella mean. And they're usually underestimated.

[@nicholaiscottman8428]

@@adrianjagmag agreed

[@adrianjagmag]

@Mr. Frank 'forever 40' Garret monsters who are big and fast do exist. One dislocated my shoulder in grappling sparring 😐

[@nicholaiscottman8428]

@Mr. Frank 'forever 40' Garret True. Though there are exceptions.

[@scottcoxworthy]

I play basketball to i have my whole life.Point guard in high school but I play more hockey these days and train kempo karate along with some BJJ in the weekends.I'm pretty green myself but i feel like I'm excelling alot faster in karate then i am in BJJ.It's hard to get good gains in BJJ but it's fun and a really good atmosphere amongst the guys at the gym.

[@mmma5261]

Difference between 50 and 55 is 10%, between 100 and 105 is only 5%. Super heavy UFC, fun to watch but too many anabolics

[@akiwi2827]

Alisteroid Overdoped?

[@mmma5261]

@@akiwi2827 !

[@Wingzero90939]

If they make the division they should just allow all steroids, let’s see what the human body is capable of, go all the way.... It’s not cheating if we know it’s rigged.

[@mmma5261]

@@Wingzero90939 we can see that in bodybuilding. Big shoulders but small balls and dead or seriously disabled before 50

[@jsplit9716]

@@mmma5261 but you do know that they're already on steroids. Everyone at that level is. You don't necessarily see it, but there's a lot of doping in combat sports.

[@obesus787]

I’ve seen and experienced in real life that size matters. One of my best friends is currently playing hockey professionally, but used to box while training hockey, and could’ve gone professional either way, this was before I knew ‘im though, but he once had a spar with the national champion in Tae Kwon Do and knocked him out cold almost immediately, that was a long ass time ago though. And since it was such a long time ago and he had put on weight for playing enforcer and I’d been doing Muay Thai and boxing I thought “he’s bigger and slower, and outta practice, I should have a chance” so I was a cocky little shit and said that. Boy did I regret it, simply difference in reach makes a difference, but the fact that he had more weight to put into his punch compared to the other people I sparred with was something I’d not prepared for. I was already rattled from the first hit, and he was the one to call it quits for my sake. So any time someone says “size does not matter” I cringe.

[@Kaledrone]

I myself have experienced how much of a difference size and strength can make on several occasions in real life. So when I see some dude on the internet who has clearly never been in a fight ramble about how size and strength don't matter and how they can easily beat someone larger using "skills" and "dirty tricks" it annoys me quite a bit.

[@Yadid1]

Ramsey looking 8 different kinds of sharp today.

[@umbrellastation25]

Yadid Chowdhury including the knife-sharp one.

[@marcopohl4875]

UFC: *Introduces superheavyweight division* -Sumoka- Rikishi: "It's free real estate"

[@Testosterooster]

Can you imagine Hakuho in mma ?

[@vibhushukla8900]

Dude go watch ufc 1 they had a sumoka and he got killed in like 5 seconds

[@boulderthefat154]

They hit hard but can only throw 3 puches before needing a snack.

[@vibhushukla8900]

@@boulderthefat154 Don't know about that but that's not the biggest issue they have the thing is they strike unidirectionally they don't cut a whole lot of angles kinda like the wing Chung chain punches. Its good IF it hits and against ufc fighters that's a big if

[@pinocchio418]

I get the joke but they are called "sumotori" or "rikishi" ( which means "man of strength" and is used more often). If you want to address the wrestlers in the two upper professional divisions specifically, you can call them sekitori. ;)

[@sobriquet]

That's not how to pronounce it. It's "Nietzsche".

[@TheClinchMagazine]

😂😂😂

[@grantbaugh2773]

I did a college BJJ class one semester and one experience really taught me how big of a difference weight can be. Normally we had weight divisions, but one day the teacher said we were going to intermingle weight classes so everyone could see what it was like to grapple people of different weights. I was in the heavyweight division, so had been used to grappling guys bigger than me. I'm not a huge guy by any means, but I was now grappling against guys and girls who were 50-100 pounds lighter than me and I could just destroy them. This wasn't due to me being any better at grappling, since we were all the same level, it was entirely a size issue. With enough training you can overcome someone bigger than you, but it's not gonna be as easy as many people make it sound.

[@aiyahuntacheimumbi236]

This came right as I'm struggling to find my healthiest weight class. Thank you for the video.

[@minipai]

Thats why Butterbean vs Genki Sudo is epic

[@st1buchanan698]

Original boxing weight classes "Old School 8" Heavyweight 175lbs + Light Heavyweight 175lbs Middleweight 160lbs Welterweight 147lb Lightweight 135lbs Featherweight 126lbs Bantamweight 118lbs Flyweight 112lbs Weight classes get closer together as you go down because each pound represents a bigger percentage of total mass. A ten pound difference at 125 is huge at 205 not so much.

[@rossthebesiegebuilder3563]

Interesting. I guess before anabolics, nobody in athletic shape weighed much more than 175 lbs.

[@st1buchanan698]

@@rossthebesiegebuilder3563 Rocky Marciano was 5'10" 183lbs. Pre suspension Ali at his best was just over 200 . Different era .

[@sheadoherty7434]

A super heavyweight division would be pretty cool. Boxing having no upper weight limit in the heavyweight division makes it so much more interesting

[@silentwatcher5348]

It's obviously not done for a reason, it's too dangerous

[@boulderthefat154]

I wondered this also. When I used too compete in powerlifting there was a weight class every 5-7 kgs, the strength differences between one class not being much. Yet there was 4 weight classes over 100kgs being 100, 110, 125 and SHW (over 140). But the lighter classes were 50,55,60 etc. Obviously the differences in the larger classes where greater, but also not a contact sport just always seemed weird how sports differentiate weight or height.

[@turkeyherder9456]

They don't usually separate height, just weight.

[@fergcrichton8058]

My first MMA fight I had an almost 4kg weight advantage (weighed just shy of 62kg). I'm pretty sure it helped me out and I'd rather be the heavier guy (especially in lighter weight categories).

[@spidermaxx8819]

Bro what an amazing video you seem so professional and much-knowing

[@Millie-um2bi]

I think that one of the dangerous things about the popular portrayal of martial arts and the experiences some gyms provide is that it gives people unfounded confidence that they can protect themselves adequately in dangerous situations i.e. against larger opponents or armed opponents. All martial arts programs should include a significant amount of instruction on proper humility.

[@boshirahmed]

Those movies were very irresponsible before the first UFC. They still are.. most have no experience of real world violence and only have fantasy. The thing about self defence is hard work and scary and very boring..

[@nekomiaou]

Thank you for answering! As you guessed, i'm not a native english speaker. Is "miaou" a difficult word to pronounce in english? It would be "meow" in english (neko is japanese for cat). Didn't know weigth class were different from one sport to another, i only looked into boxing, as I started wondering this after watching "Hajime no Ippo", who is about boxing.... "Categorie" is category in english, class, group, grade (if a believe the dictionary i just looked). Sorry to assume the meaning or the spelling was the same....

[@a-blivvy-yus]

In English, it's very rare to see more than 2 vowels in a row. It's not difficult to pronounce, but for many native English speaks, it's simply confusing to read.

[@CommanderSharpEye]

Hajime no ippo is great reading material, the author was a boxer, owns his own gym now, and puts enough information that you learn about boxing the more you read, I wish there manga like it but for other styles, it helps to remember the old man and his cane when you're training lol

[@MrRayWolf]

I feel like getting out there and train after watching this video. Great talk!

[@paulaht]

Well considered, well said & grounded in stark reality. Thanks I enjoy your viewpoints.

[@Snipersounds]

Great video Ramsey! Lots of great info as usual! Thanks for sharing!

[@magnus25304012]

i am a 176 pound(80kg) that regular rolls with a guy who is 330 pounds(150kg). Id invite anyone who says weight dosent matter in a fight to come visit our gym, or find a gym with a guy twice your size and try rolling with him and tell me that weight aint a factor

[@mauricematla1215]

Also 10 percent difference in mass even iff it comes from fat not muscle when used correctly is lot of difference in impact of a strike.

[@sjcobra84]

Would like to one day see a cruiserweight div in MMA - 104KG. And make the Heavyweight Div Open mass like boxing. Or even increase the cap to 130KG.

[@paksaoify]

Great video! The size doesn't matter comments sound like somebody is feeling inadequate. Everything matters in a fight. There are just fewer decisive factors then people think. Dempsey beat some giants but being smaller in the fight is generally a disadvantage that has to be overcome with strategy, skill, other attributes or luck. An implement is also useful. Also pronounce niche however you want as long as we are getting what you're talking about it works. I use both niche and niche personally.😁 Again thanks for the video.

[@danielmcgibbon8200]

How did KZbin know i was 55kg?

[@jamesmejia2955]

As 138lb pounder, I fought a 180lb guy recently in a BJJ competition, I was stuck in side control and mount for a pretty long time and was getting picked up and tossed around quite a bit. The guy couldn’t tap me but it was one hell of a tough bout. Size most definitely matters

[@Bosh783]

Was it possible for you to beat him though or was the weight difference too big ?

[@boshirahmed]

Most won't teach u that u cannot teach yourself to defend against most people unless they are of less skill or the same size.

[@evanmclellan9014]

My man sounds like John wick

[@Bansheexero]

Reminded me of a rather amusing situation when I tried the Wrestling Team one year. At that point, I had about a decade of training in TKD and about 3 years of fencing (which I blended into my sparring technique), so I was/am a dedicated striker. I figured I'd try to expand my horizons with something different. I found I was terrible at wrestling. I only won my first match and was pinned all the others. Anyway, I was at the 190 lb range, which was right before heavy weight. I had a reputation at being a skilled fighter, but it was not evident when I wrestled. So, during a training session, the others in my weight were not there, so I tried working with the heavyweights (I want to say one was about 250 lbs or 275, and the other was right below him). Anyway, they decided to try actually attacking me during the practice with punches and kicks and I was able to block both without really paying attention to them, which sort of freaked them out (came back later when they along with another threatened to triple team a buddy of mine, I was able to cow all three). Another issue I dealt with was being mocked a lot by the team, so I challenged one of the other guys in my weight class to a fight. I made it explicitly clear that he could use any technique, whether wrestling or striking he wanted to and I would do the same. So, we square off and he immediately tries to shoot for my legs, which I expected, so I simply sidestepped and kicked him in the shin really, really hard. I was surprised I did not break anything (I was trying to break his tibia), but it did give him a decent bone bruise. He could not stand for about 10 minutes, so I walked over, squatted down and asked if he would like to continue or yield. He yielded and the rest of the team shut up after that. The point of this was that I had trained so much in martial arts that I developed specific muscle mass related to my techniques, and in wrestling, theirs is dedicated too, but not nearly for as long a period (I started when I was 4), so their level of proficiency was less and more generalized. So my weight was less of a factor because my muscles were all useful and theirs were not. Due to the nature of how I trained, I never had any pacing, which was why I lost, as I was and am unaccustomed for fights to last so long. My top running speed was timed at 21.6 mph and I am 5'7" and I was always at max effort. Weight-wise, this was right after the season ended, so I was about 210. Back then, I looked like I was only 140 lbs, which confused people who were dumb enough to try to hit me and realized how dense I was (I actually had my teacher in Gifted English slam her hands on my shoulder since I was tired and zoned out. It sort of frightened her when she found it was like slapping a stone)

[@joeisonyoutube]

I competed in Muay Thai at 170lbs. I held pads once for a 6ft 7 280lbs fighter. Before his kick had even landed on the pad, I could feel a puff of air like when truck goes past. As it struck upwards into the pad, the force was sufficient to literally raise me off the floor! We have weight classes for a reason folks!

[@googleuser2609]

I like your aside about pronouncing the word "niche", the way that you delivered the point.

[@MatiasAlric]

Things that make Ramsey angry: 1. People telling him WHAT his faith is, or WHAT he believes. 2. People correcting his pronounciation of "niche" 3. ? Sorry, but that's the shortest list I've written.

[@CommanderSharpEye]

Loaded gloves..

[@peterpace3379]

3. Size and strength don't matter in a fight.

[@Kaledrone]

@@peterpace3379 I would be mad when someone says that to me too if I trained and sparred with 120kg dudes like Ramsey routinely says he has in the past.

[@Ydidutakemyname]

Hey Ramsey I was wondering if you could do some more videos on Sanda. Specifically on getting a double or single leg takedown as well as any other throws like hip throws or shoulder throws (if their are any). Thanks in advance!

[@AssassinsWeed4U]

Kyokushin Knockdown tournaments only have three weight classes -70KG, 70-80Kg and 80KG. Size matters.

[@politicalbigboss611]

Thanks for the info

[@maamriabassem3818]

Amazing content thanks for sharing

[@DSNugent91]

5kg of muscle is a fair bit of a difference but strength is measured in numerous of ways. The 50kg/55kg fighter might have better core / chest / arms / back / leg / grip strenght than the other one, we're all built differently. When it comes to 2 trained fighters I don't think you could flat out say the 55kg fighter is stronger due to just the extra mass. Technique, fight iq , backgrounds.... Is the more important thing when comparing 2 similar weighted fighters, imo.

[@preachingara2423]

You aren't going to wrestle a gorilla because it's laughably more powerful than a human. So you can acknowledge that there is a cap to skill vs power. The rest is just figuring out where the line is.

[@Xplora213]

Rantin Rampagin Ramsey the Destroyer Dewey.... your angry voice says to me “I’m not scared yet” Gunnery Sargent Hartmann LOL 😂

[@tiagovazkez9356]

Totaly agree. A superheavyweight divition would open the door to the smaller heavyweights to try to hold the the championship titles and see exactly how much difference the weight gap makes with over 250lbs guys. I am a 200lbs guy that can easily beat a much more expirienced 265lbs guy in my gym and I know for a fact I woulve been broken in half by him if I wouldve fought him when I was 150 no matter my strength. So my theory is that the bigger you get the larger the weight difference has to be for it to really matter. A 300lbs dud vs a 320lbs dud is not alarge percentage weight gap and at that size the extra weight is probably mostly fat but an 80lbs dud vs a 100lbs dud is just MASSIVE

[@JaimeAGB-pt4xl]

You look almost like a priest telling everybody THE TRUTH!!! XD PS: the moment anybody says to me "size and strenght don't matter"..... I know that person is training on a non-functional style (i.e aikido), under very specific rules with not much experience (i.e: wimpie jujitsu practitioners that complaint about getting beat by strenght and not technique).... or have NO IDEA what a fight is

[@nicholaiscottman8428]

@Tyler Storm Small guy+ big guy + same level of skill= big guy more likely to win. Deal with it.

[@GhostRider-hy9zt]

Tyler Storm A small guy can win, but size and strength do matter. An 8 year old can have more technique than a 27 year old body builder, but the 27 year old body builder will win. That’s obviously an outrageous example, but you get the point.

[@hectormejia5090]

@@GhostRider-hy9zt eh a lot of the time people that don't work out might as well have the strength and endurance of a baby

[@Lemontarts01]

Dude. It still doesn't you all get the argument backwards Go watch connor wreck the mountain. Or go watch a smaller guy fuck a bigger guy up. Depends on the better man. If you use your smaller body against my big body right. Good on ya mate youve won. Edit: you all sound like idiots who havent been in fight. Take it from me. I've been armbared. Didn't do shit seeing as i socked him in the fucking nuts and regained control of the situation. Rule fights are different go discover it for yourselves

[@Kaledrone]

@@Lemontarts01 "Conor *wreck* the mountain" Go home kid, maybe go watch Kung Fu Panda or something because you clearly have no idea what you are talking about.

[@binaryglitch64]

People conflate the phrase 'size and weight aren't everything in a fight', with the phrase 'size and weight don't matter in a fight'... it is an important distinction. One statement is correct while the other is false.

[@drumrocka]

HAHA Your rant about niche is hilarious

[@grantaum9677]

I'm actually glad he did I wasn't aware of that, I like that pronunciation better. I'd never correct someone on something even if they were wrong though, to me if I understand what is intended then it's job done as far as language is concerned imo

[@blintorzabat5798]

@@grantaum9677 Yeah, I didn't know "nitch" was actually correct too. I used it sometimes (even though I thought it was wrong), just because it sounded better to me...

[@alantaylor6691]

I've just watched the first 14 UFCs and it started with one Open weight class, then after several went to two divisions of Heavyweight and Lightweight which was over and under 200-lbs. The next change was only a semantic naming change where they replaced the name Lightweight with Middleweight, but it was still two divisions, one over and one under 200-lbs. I haven't gone past UFC 14 yet but up to that point it's still just two divisions, one over and one under 200-lbs.

[@doctorllama2507]

Im 55 kg and I am a 16 year old myself and when I get in a wrestling match with my 78 kg taller friend I toy with him and lift him easily but when I wrestle my 110 kg and 130 kg friends I get squished. They are both super strong

[@skyguytomas9615]

😂 Years ago I used an audition monologue that brought up the ‘niche’ conundrum. I could feel a storm brewing in the silence after Ramsey said it. Good stuff.

[@thenigerianconservative773]

Ramsey Dewey is the Stefan Molyneux of martial arts commentary. This is no insult as I absolutely adore Stefan Molyneux

[@jessemelendez6305]

Hello Ramsey, Shirt & Tir is a nice touch Ramsey, the Coronavirus has hit my town and the town is following the CDC guidelines. Any advice as too what to expect? I'm in the NYC area

[@Chief2Moon]

Yep, me again...I can attest that in boxing many years ago, being a welterweight& a sparring partner with middle& light heavyweights too, most of those bigger guy's punches could knock the elastic out of a smaller or even same sized guy's gym shorts if they chose to load up.

[@saifullahkhalid286]

Hey whats up coach, my name is saifullah khalid (pronounced Safe-Full-Law) my first question is that I always hear if a fighter has to cut weight or gain weight for a fight, they'll most likely not be as good as the fighters accustomed to that weight class, so my question is what is this the case, and what are the negative consequences on the body for these severe weigh changes. Im not a fighter but my goal is to go from 6'1 160lbs to 180lbs by the next year and then start some boxing,muay thai, and bjj. So is 20lbs in 10 months reasonable, and what do you thing those 3 martial arts would be effective to protect me in a fight? I tried to look for wrestling, but here in Toronto theres no wrestling schools, just side lessons with bjj, Thanks

[@fireeaglefitnessmartialart935]

Short answer, if you can cut it safely then sure. As for the styles you mentioned, they are great for self defense. Boxing for technique, range, footwork. Thai for kicks, knees, elbows, and clinching. Bjj for if/when the fight gets to the ground. I'm only 5'7" and I have weighed 150-155. And I have also dropped to 135-140 due to location, diet, and lifestyle changes; some of which werent directly intended. If you want to cut that weight and do it safely, then as coach ramsey would say, "if it gives you the results you want, that's the right way." I myself have/do train in thai, boxing, bjj, and others, for context.

[@RamseyDewey]

I discussed that issue a lot in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enLTdaKjqNucoMU The less you cut the better you’ll perform. That’s a good combination of training. Just make sure to make the time to cross train regularly.

[@saifullahkhalid286]

@@RamseyDewey thank you

[@opperbuil]

Strength difference isn't the only factor for weight categories. Body length and resulting reach will also vary and matter. A situational advantage of 5 kilo's and i.e. 7 cm reach advantage can matter significantly.

[@JoBlakeLisbon]

This guy's voice is incredible.

[@RamseyDewey]

Thanks

[@potfliptop8183]

In short yes weight classes does matter. Overall strength has many factors, physiological strength “muscle size”, neurological strength “motor neuron”, mechanical strength “leverages/technique.” You can work on neurological strength and mechanical strength without getting heavier but there will be a limit to your strength development without getting bigger.

[@harleyzeth]

Unless you're referring to technique, you can't change your mechanics. And neurological strength only accounts for about 5 to 10% of your strength. Lean muscle mass is by far the strongest indicator of strength. EKG scans can predict a strength athlete's max squat with 90% accuracy.

[@harleyzeth]

But I guess that does make a huge difference when you and your opponent weigh the same and have the same amount of muscle

[@ltravail]

Great question, nice explanation. I've always wondered myself about the rationale for the boxing weight classes in particular, where you even have sub-classes in each weight division (junior, regular, and super). Some people get a little annoyed by the fact there's so many weight classes and sub-classes. But it's a double-edged sword as far as I'm concerned.

[@drunkenclown4805]

agent 47?

[@daniel-zh9nj6yn6y]

The tie should be red, though.

[@Zekersaurusrex]

Hey. Love, your content. Keep it coming... You mention size a lot, and how it "matters". Well, I've been wondering for the longest time, what do you think a smaller person should do in a fight with a larger person. In this scenario it's a self defense situation and running or using a weapon are not an option.

[@RamseyDewey]

If the only option is fighting, then you had better be good at fighting.

[@sheadoherty7434]

Don't get hit. Don't grapple. Don't try to outstrike them. Being bigger means you hit harder but you could be slower. Lighter fighters are faster on average. So keep moving. Don't let him corner you. Keep moving until there's an opening then...run.

[@targetfootball7807]

I used to wrestle in highschool. Even 7 pounds seemed to make a big difference. For sure the guy above was much harder to manipulate than the guy below.

[@randalps]

I love how Ramsay is always calm and ponderate but loses his shit with grammar nazis

[@Cavouku]

I might not be the first, and I probably won't be the last, but generally the reason for larger margins in upper weight classes is (or if it isn't done intentionally, it occurs by happenstance) because of the Square Cube Law. As an object increases in the XYZ dimension by a factor of [x], its surface area increases by a factor of [x^2], and its volume increases by a factor of [x^3]. Strength is directly correlated to the cross-sectional surface area of a muscle (I think it's ~35-40 Newtons of force per cubic centimeter, though biomechanical leverage comes into play with practical testing), and mass correlates very closely to volume (humans have a density of about 0.985 - 1020 kg/m^3, depending on body composition; within the same ballpark as water at 1000 kg/m^3). Cross-sectional surface area increases at the same rate as any other surface area, so what you find is the more you increase in mass (volume), the more you increase in surface area (strength), but the latter is at a lower rate. Individuals will obviously not follow these numbers to a T, but this sort of formula will give you a ballpark of strength vs size differences.

[@TheGreatgan]

I personally think the reason why the spread is bigger in heavier weight in boxing is fighter pool.. Especially in asia, most fighter never go above 75kg.. so there are tons of fighter in the world whom can be a champion if he were to get closer in his ideal weight class.. But once you get above 75kg, the fighter pool around the world is getting smaller n smaller.. And remember, most boxer came from poor family, so they are mostly smaller in size compared to the general population. It would less interesting to see a fighter pool of just few hundred people around the world n all came from several western countries in a specifict weight class..

[@TheGreatgan]

But i agree, time for UFC to add super heavyweight. Maybe range of 250pound to 350pound.. Weight limit still neccessary, cus we dont want it turn into a debacles.. where UFC try to fill the fighter pool with giants whom doesnt know how to fight properly. Or some people with genetic problem. Like what happen in pride

[@tzaeru]

It'd be interesting to see at which point gaining more muscle and more size is no longer worth it. Like if you're now a 180cm 85kg fighter, how much better do you get by packing another 10 kilos? What about 20? How much time and effort would you really want to put into gaining mass and pure strength, compared to putting that time and energy into technique, drilling and sparring?

[@RamseyDewey]

That depends on the size of your skeleton

[@MrAckers75]

Size always matters! A good big fighter always beats a good smaller fighter! Strength between even 5kg difference is enormous. Look at weightlifting, between the classes and the weights lifted goes up massively even between 56kg and 62kg

[@FatFilipinoUK]

If boxing is any indicator, a super heavyweight MMA division will just be two huge dudes hugging each other on the mat after gassing out 2 minutes into the fight. It'll be as disappointing as Cleganebowl in GoT.

[@AeolethNionian]

Hello Ramsey hope you're doing good. I have 2 questions for you. First is I am looking to change martial arts. I've been doing judo for about a year but want to join an mma gym. They have muay thai kick boxing, bjj, no gi bjj, and wrestling all as options. I plan on taking the muay thai classes for sure but I'm trying to decide whether no gi bjj or wrestling would compliment by judo better. I was always better at ne waza in judo than standing. Any thoughts on the differences and benefits to taking one vs the other? My second question is my girlfriend wants to get into martial arts for fitness, self defense, and to boost confidence. The problem is she broke her ankle last year and the recovery is getting in her way. It was a pretty bad break and somedays it's excruciating to walk on other days she walks faster than people with 2 functioning legs. Any advice on what she could take and how she could train with an ankle that causes that much pain sometimes? Thanks in advance.

[@MitsuMitsu385]

In powerlifting the weight classes are similarly spread apart. And at the elite level, when looking at world records both drug tested and untested federations, the differences in strength between weight classes is significant.

[@jon...5324]

Ramsey looking like my old school principal

[@aurelienyonrac]

Interesting info. Better than TV. So thor vs the beast fight is the starting of that super heavy weight category?

[@angelsjoker8190]

More size matters until around 240lbs, above that it seems the diminishing returns start to outweigh the strength benefits of more weight/muscle mass. The best HW champs in MMA and boxing seem to have been around that weight.

[@AnonW]

5kgs is 10% of 50kgs so yeah there is a 10% difference in weight which is noticable.

[@damocles4591]

How effective is inside low kicks ,and is it better to land it from the lead leg or go for power from the rear leg and how does it effects the pace of the game and your dominance in it ???

[@alexguerreiro15]

the lead leg because a reat portion of the power generated by a kick comes from balance you have not so much from the soreness of the leg you are kicking with

[@ishan4472]

This guy’s voice though 🔥 🔥 goals

[@Torthrodhel]

That was a great question, I have always wondered about this stuff too. :) I definitely would also watch a superheavyweight category. In my mind, if your fighting sport has an upper limit, that means you need another category. If you introduce another category and it still has an upper limit, then you still need another category! You reach the right number of categories when you reach one where it's beyond the threshold of being an advantage to add even more weight. That threshold definitely naturally exists, and so therefore your categories can be open at the top end. No reason why not.

[@giovannip.1433]

Great discussion about weights. About weights - about 15 years ago ankle, wrist and waist weight belts were a 'fad' in exercising. Earlier, I found at school the heavy shoes which were popular 'in the day' meant I had to use more effort in moving my legs. Now, could weighted clothing be used to 'weight train' in? Wearing weights not distributed evenly all the time can throw off you balance when removed, however wearing tight fitting clothes weighing say 5 to 10 kgs all the time would force 'your' muscles to compensate. 'Fat guys' carry around a lot of extra weight but are they unfit? - e.g. how 'fit' would someone be if they carried around 40kg the entire day doing day to day tasks as well as running to catch the bus or going up and down stairs?

[@fireeaglefitnessmartialart935]

I've worn weighted materials while training and doing daily tasks. Used to go to school with a makeshift weighted vest. Would bike to and from school and try to wear it throughout the day. Sometimes I would take it off during a class so my body could get a rest. I have ran with actual weighted vests, hand weights, sometimes ankle but very carefully. Only reason I dont currently is I relocated and didn't want to rebuy everything.

[@giovannip.1433]

@@fireeaglefitnessmartialart935 The military kind of do it by loading soldiers up with heavy packs and weapons...

[@fireeaglefitnessmartialart935]

@@giovannip.1433 yeah. I tend to forget that. I myself never joined, but have other family and friends that have. But I got the idea from dbz.

[@dimex82abvbg]

World record in weightlifting can show exactly how relative strength works. Fro example: 56 kg - 307 kg, 62 kg - 333 kg, 69 kg - 359 kg, 77 kg - 380 kg, 85 kg - 396 kg, 94 kg - 417 kg, 105 kg - 437 kg, +105 kg - 477 kg Also it is interesting that 56 kg - 307 kg record for men is more than 90 kg - 283 kg record for women.

[@RamseyDewey]

Which lift is this?

[@dimex82abvbg]

Snatch + Clean & Jerk = Total, but percentage wise it does not matter.

[@Pirxel]

Completely agree that if you think weight and size don't matter you don't really know what a fight is, isn't the internet beautiful? :P

[@alexandrusutzu9594]

Man , my trainer once made me fight someone that was 97 kg and i was 82kg(an actual match n-ar a sparing session)!!! Thats why i moced to another gym

[@Ben-fx9kx]

Thank you this always bothered me like why is heavyweight unlimited like you could have a 220 pound guy vs a 260 pound guy it makes no sense to me

[@theastralknight390]

Can u make videos reviewing/ commentating on recent mma fights?

[@JLewis1979]

Anyone that has trained knows that weight matters in a fight. It's not nearly the only thing that matters though. Some 100kg guys are stronger than me at 115kg, but I am stronger than some 130kg guys. However at the elite levels, yes 5kg is a big deal.

[@pascoett]

I fear an open weight category could result in serious injuries. Some of these guys are so powerful and heavy, the could squash limbs and bones for real. Also I wouldn’t want to know how a choke feels by one of them. Maybe that’s the reason. The idea of „The mountain” killing convicts in the arena maybe isn’t stretched far from ancient reality. Even David had to use a fling to kill Goliath with a lucky shot. He didn’t grapple him to death.

[@MrBarnouze]

You forget a point in size: the bigger you are, the better you absorb hit. I like, sometimes, looking at some street fights, you know, this phone amateur videos. And the bigger guy win like 90% of times, not only because he have more muscular mass hidden under fat, but also because his body volume help him to absorb punch, you've got more matter to the energy of hits being dissipated without dommage, that's physics.

[@GuitarsRockForever]

Great idea, super heavy weight, I will definitely watch it.

[@CombatVault]

All attributes matter (strength, speed, flexibility), skill just matters more.

[@gsalsam]

This is gonna sound weird as hell, but you got a very “capturing” (i dont know what to call it, but it is very soothing and it captures my attention and it keeps it) voice. I would love to hear you narrate something or read an interesting book.

[@tincci.dvaput]

Hey Ramsey, first of all, your content is great and I enjoy watching every video and keep on doing them, now for the question.I do a lot of stretching, but when it comes to kicking (any type of kick), I cant do it properly, my question is how can I get better and does stretching even matter for the flexibility of the kicks (sorry for the bad english). Thank you if you answer the question mr. Dewey.

[@jeffismywaifu4093]

Stretching does matter, specifically hip flexibility and the proper technique, ton of videos out there, specially Kwonkicker has good stuff if you want to look into it.

[@tincci.dvaput]

@@jeffismywaifu4093 thank you for answering, will go check out straight away

[@RamseyDewey]

Yes, BUT, dynamic stretching is the kind of stretching that actually matters for kicking.

[@tincci.dvaput]

@@RamseyDewey thank you for taking your time to answer 🙏🏿

[@Fitz2393]

Weight division in most combat sports started with US insurance companies after WW2.

[@londiniumarmoury7037]

I have a very high metabolism and I fluxuate in weight all of the time, fighters are constantly having to put on weight or lose weight just to make the cut to get into the division they wish to fight in. Sometimes a fighter doesn't want to fight in a higher weight class, so he will shed weight before a fight so he can make the cut. Other fighters have to cram gains in quickly before a fight or they won't make the higher class cut. It all depends on the fighter people have different optimal fighting weights depending on their body type, you have to take endomorph, ectomorph mesomorph ratios into account and metabolism as well compared to muscle mass and body fat ratio.

[@amirhb7531]

I'm 140 kg and I started boxing 6 month ago (now we're on quaranty because of corona) before that I did judo and I really saw the difference in power I mean even the world champion couldn't punch as hard as I did (his also in our class)

[@BootsofBlindingSpeed]

My dream is to one day see Openweight &/or Catch weight bare-knuckle MMA.

[@4EverAwesomness92]

as a small athletic guy on 55.5kg- 57.5 kg i will say that it should be obvious that size matter, and that is why it is nice to beat a bigger guy as a small guy. And there is a TON of different fighting a big guy that is not atheletic, never trained and a big guy with experience. In the end if you are in the fighting community i feel like today there is a big level of respect, even for smaller guys. As a small guy you really have to think out of the box and be alot more creative with what you do. Once people find out of that and they realize that they can not even move or be creative as the small guy, they respect the amount of effort the little guy must have but in to learn it. Because what small guy need to be good at is movement, and movement is hard.

[@cloudy_gomo]

I've never seen Ramsay as triggered as he was when talking about the word "niche"