Why have Greco-Roman wrestlers done better in MMA than Freestyle?

[@antonp9245]

Chael: Every fight starts on the feet Old man at the pub: Ok great

[@bcagz9835]

Nice 😂

[@pinatatomata2221]

Fight memes Cowboy’s gonna beat himself? interesting take.

[@michaelfarar4232]

Chael...You should explain the differences between the two. What you're saying wouldn't make sense based on the differences, i.e. single and double leg take downs. I am certainly no expert in wrestling, but why do you think the GR wrestlers who are seemingly more limited than than Freestyle, doing better???

[@pandabearpbear3005]

@@fightmemes2342 kek

[@gtdhujgryhj5231]

@@michaelfarar4232 greco takedown or more kin to throws or sweep while folk, free and shoot more kin to going head below the waist. I am more of a senglease or greco guy

[@jwiese100]

Randy Couture actually got in the Greco when he was in the army by accident. His coach by mistake put his name down for a tournament and some how won his first match and from there he went on to win Pan American titles to being an Olympic alternate. He was the Natural even before the UFC.

[@dustinlarkin8582]

That's where he got the name just because he was good at everything he did

[@mohdhuzaifahsalleh3093]

Wow.. didnt know that. Its like an anime

[@chopstyx141]

That's hilarious lmao

[@MechanicalPigg]

Who is he kakarot

[@jwiese100]

@@MechanicalPigg no more like Captain America

[@bigtreecombatacademy2927]

Greco stance + freestyle leg attacks + judo trips = best mma takedowns

[@iamalpharius9483]

I wrestled folkstyle and greco-roman, been with judo for 21 years but never trained jujitsu and I think that your observation is very correct. Very correct.

[@bigtreecombatacademy2927]

Indiana Jones same no bjj but was freestyle and judo I would add some Muay Thai specific clinch stuff like double head ties and more bicep control from high stance too

[@aaronsmith6307]

@@iamalpharius9483 what in hell is folkstyle wrestling

[@iamalpharius9483]

@@aaronsmith6307 folkstyle is the style of wrestling that the NACC, high school and National Championship Tournaments are under in the United States. Different rules. Different objectives than Freestyle.

[@aaronsmith6307]

@@iamalpharius9483 cool I'm Australian so I hadn't heard of it

[@DoubleDwarf]

The way you described perfect way to train wrestling/grappling for MMA is actually the way Khabib trains with his teammates: they start standing up and from there everything goes, they hit the walls, they take each other down etc

[@zacharycrater2588]

That's how most gyms train in America.

[@drossi101]

Are there MMA gyms starting from the ground? Lol

[@donniedoesdishes]

teammates ? you mean bears

[@Doofenshmirtz1088]

Khabib doesn't even hunch at all he's like a surfboard

[@cameronforbes2649]

'Wrestling' in Russia has a longer history of being mixed with Judo, Sambo, etc. A lot of Judoka start training standing straight up, and the grip fighting portion is like a mini boxing match. I know a lot of American wrestlers want to relate to Khabib, but they really have an entirely separate style of grappling.

[@sherrykohl7799]

I love when chael gets into this kinda stuff. Love the knowledge

[@UnexpectedWonder]

Exactly! This is what I'm really Here for.

[@SelectCircle]

Sherry - the type of girl who never says "OK Boomer."

[@teamgitusome]

i wade through the conor and floyd talk for this stuff!!!

[@sugewhitejacoby8654]

For real, I love this!I wrestled Greco and Freestyle. I was better at Greco because I had a Judo background. But I wanted to wrestle Freestyle but looked and was alot more fun. But just couldn't break Greco out of my head. 1🥋🤼‍♂️

[@shable1436]

Same here sherry, this is Chaels wheelhouse, and his vast knowledge in grappling history and his insistence on recency bias in mma is impressive as he has firsthand understanding of the speed of evolution of this sport.

[@carljacobson7156]

I would also add that the Greco-Roman wrestling style is EXTREMELY Strength-Endurance/Stamina based - those guys are taught to keep grinding. It wears out non-greco/roman wrestlers that aren't well trained and prepared for that type of grappling contest. Randy Couture is an excellent example of a 'Grinder' who is able to wear out bigger, stronger, younger opponents with Greco-Roman techniques I also think that if I were to teach Boxers some grappling training that would improve their boxing - I would get them coached in Greco-Roman and have them train in that style for a full training period (3-4 months) in order to build up their strength in the boxing clinches.

[@donovanb9020]

Facts. I've gone back to my wrestling roots in my grappling and have really fallen in love with greco but, good lord, it is such an exhausting grind to fight in the clinch. As much as I love well setup leg attacks and such from folkstyle, there's just something deeply satisfying about outmaneuvering, overpowering, and dragging someone to the floor with just upperbody techniques.

[@El_Camionero]

Greco is a brawl, freestyle is a dance.

[@_penguin_9946]

@@El_Camioneroexactly

[@djz2308]

Chael the kind of guy to upload a video before recording it

[@Nenad-ICXC-Shuput-GFAMMA]

Hahahahaahha

[@Steve-gj3gf]

Or before reviewing it.

[@jamesteegardner2273]

In his defense, he's a 1 take wonder. I never seen him freeze up talking trash.

[@Crumplepoint]

“I still think I am right” Chael Sonnens rightness is a very real thing!

[@TheSid2355]

The idea makes a great point for Judo. Judo starts standing and can be done with or without a gi. Also, judo used to have double leg, firemen carry takedowns. It also incorporates alot of ground game. ie. submissions and controlling people on the ground.

[@chrislaverick6413]

Since taking leg attacks away from judo though it affects the compatibility to mma, may as well do freestyle wrestling

[@henrykim921]

That's nonsense. You still do leg attacks but not in competition and the skills are great. Both Khabib and Fedor are judo guys. The greatests.

[@henrykim921]

And u can't attack legs in Greco

[@kuriouskoopatroopa3129]

Nogi judo is drastically different though. I train Judo, and I cannot imagine not having grips in a competition setting. I agree, I think freestyle is more suited for mma

[@jestfullgremblim8002]

@@kuriouskoopatroopa3129 "No gi Judo is freestyle wrestling, but better" -Mexican Jestfullgremblim

[@kryptonj8]

Chael said these guys are "used to being bent over" and didnt even pause.

[@johnsmith-wx5fb]

Greeks

[@chalky_white]

HAHAHAHHA!!!!

[@brianj5770]

Joshua Mitchell Most underrated comment on this video. 😆😆

[@tacosrock11_34]

This comment isn’t funny to real men in wrestling btw

[@kryptonj8]

@@tacosrock11_34 but to everyone else it's hysterical

[@Tobby4063]

This is 100%. I got told by a very experienced guy to cross train Greco Roman with my jiu Jitsu. Now I can see why. Uncle Chael is a legend.

[@anklepick9524]

It's also the Greco clinch that helps in MMA. Against the cage when you have lift you oponent away from the cage in order to get the take down. The Greco clinch helps alot against the cage.

[@animatronix5676]

Also in muay thai

[@jeffreymorris1752]

Chael killing the KZbin game rn. Killing it. Getting us through this UFC drought.

[@daanvandijk166]

a fellow addict suports this message

[@panosts6178]

Chael: I think I am onto something Eddie Bravo: Look into it

[@michaelterrell5061]

Panzerkampfwagen 1 What do you mean by that?

[@dragos8839]

Hold on brother I'm talking

[@Goon.29]

@@bum7659 eddie is a king

[@tupapi1931]

Look at it closely

[@vkadiv]

Here in Serbia, there is no freestyle wrestling, or maybe recently started, but we had many great Greco-Roman wrestlers and Olympic medalists through our history.

[@El_Camionero]

The view of freestyle being the more prestigious style seems to be an American thing.

[@jimmie125]

You guys now have Stevan Micic and Khetag Tsabalov representing freestyle in the country!!

[@THE_Secular_Conservative]

A Serbian Film

[@sycho67ak]

that's not so true many... the only Serbian wrestler who won an Olympic medal for Serbia was Davor Štefanek in 2016... Yugoslavia has won 16 Olympic wrestling medals mainly in 60s 70s and 80s but not all medalists were Serbian.

[@mizutxko]

Master of grappling Greco-Roman + Judo: Throws, Clinching Freestyle/Folkstyle: Wrestling skills, Control, Shoots, Ducks, and Leg Takedowns BJJ/Catch: Submissions, Pins, Chokes, Joint Locks, Groundfighting, and Mounts Muay Thai: Clinching, Sweeps, Dumps, Knees + Elbows MMA: Ground and Pound, Strikes in the ground, Striking to Grappling transitions, Fakes Learning Muay Thai, Folkstyle, and BJJ is the easiest, cheapest, and most realistic way to become this fighter, then join a MMA gym

[@VintageGamer70]

Since I coach both freestyle and Greco-Roman I can say that a grecco wrestler also has a bigger motor. GRECO-ROMAN is by far more strenuous the freestyle or folkstyle. 6 min of constant pressure and handfighting it creates grit, and natural aspects that transition over to boxing and MMA. Most Folkstyle or even Freestyle cant handle the brutality of 6 min of grecco without collapsing.

[@harrisonlincoln8343]

Yes this is exactly my conclusion, dominating, the grappling, dominating the clinch, pressing them up against the cage, tire them them. And with your superior grappling, and that upper body strength creates not only a strong foundation for boxing, but too many advantages, getting inside, throwing uppercuts, switch stance to south paw, for rear uppercut. Whilst they think you're running, unprepared for a counter. This worked great for Marvin Hagler, creating space and switching into othordox stance to great affect. As far as i know, Marvin was right handed, is there an advantage to starting out for the next few months in South Paw?

[@americantopteam135s-t7]

Cool to know, thank you for the knowledge.

[@tmak4699]

freestyle was annoying for me..as soon as they told me i need to expose myself i said F that! it goes against any fighter instincts! i absolutely hate freestyle wrestling.if you wanna play passive aggresive sports play basketball or freestyle wrestling.lol. my goal is to smash your head on the mat and make you quit

[@keithsalidosmallwood9808]

@@harrisonlincoln8343 there are many advantages to having your power hand as your lead hand, orthodox standing southpaw and the opposite. It's highly defensive but also loads up the jab and hook. Jeet kune do suggests that this style is the more efficient/ effective style. Boxers who deploy this tactic include Lomachenko and Shakur Stevenson

[@dab0331]

Greco-Roman is designed for ancient combat where you HAVE to stay on your feet. Greco-Roman is more focused on hand control because you DO NOT want to allow the enemy to whip out a blade. In a battle formation where you're surrounded by other men in close proximity (both friendly and enemy) you don't have the luxury to acquire space to get that far down low in order to attack the legs, NOR do you want to. As it exposes your ass and back to be stabbed by the guy's comrade while your distracted. In combat the goal is to ALWAYS STAY ON YOUR FEET. In a modern street fight it's the same thing If you get to low trying to go for legs, you have no situational awareness of other attackers OR if your opponent has a knife. If you're going for a leg take down because you got into some beef with a guy at a bar, you may THINK it's a one on one fight but his boy will stomp your head in while you're on the ground. STAY ON YOUR FEET.

[@ausvstheagenda]

You don’t even need to have notifications on Uncle Chael’s channel, you refresh your subscriptions and a new video just pops up

[@TD_1815]

Also take into consideration Greco-Roman was created by a Napoleonic soldier for combat, who was inspired by a wrestling style created for phalanx/legion warfare. Greco-Roman is for combat, freestyle is for sport.

[@dab0331]

Greco-Roman is designed for ancient combat where you HAVE to stay on your feet. Greco-Roman is more focused on hand control because you DO NOT want to allow the enemy to whip out a blade. In a battle formation where you're surrounded by other men in close proximity (both friendly and enemy) you don't have the luxury to acquire space to get that far down low in order to attack the legs, NOR do you want to. As it exposes your ass and back to be stabbed by the guy's comrade while your distracted. In combat the goal is to ALWAYS STAY ON YOUR FEET. In a modern street fight it's the same thing If you get to low trying to go for legs, you have no situational awareness of other attackers OR if your opponent has a knife. If you're going for a leg take down because you got into some beef with a guy at a bar, you may THINK it's a one on one fight but his boy will stomp your head in while you're on the ground. STAY ON YOUR FEET.

[@LOLLYPOPPE]

I started wrestling after years of mma and bjj nogi and when I had my first greco sessions and trained with some really good greco guys I was like ok screw single legs this is some badass stuff. They will literally break you ribs with body locks

[@DedeUrkut]

​@@LOLLYPOPPE for real bro lol,im 16 and was training with a 14 year old who is experienced and almost weights same with me 2 week ago(i started two weeks ago)whenever the dude locks up a body lock,i make a noise like "UGH"no joke lol😂

[@Ze_Moose]

​@@dab0331 I salute you for that detailed comment. Learned a lot 💪👍

[@kallepikku4991]

Chael is talking Catch wrestling here... 1900s styles making a full circle, and coming back all over again.

[@Guavauava]

Randy Couture, Jon Jones, Lindland, Volkanovsky, Chael, Dan Henderson, etc. The list of greco roman based MMA champs goes on and on.

[@bre4kd0wn1]

And nowadays we have Merab Dvalishvili, Ilia Topuria, and Movsar Evloev. One of them is a champion, one of them is undefeated, and one of them is both a champion and undefeated, but three of them are Greco-Roman wrestlers or have Greco-Roman wrestling background. Heck, in his Wikipedia, Evloev has Master of Sports in Greco-Roman.

[@Guavauava]

@ Precisely. Greco-Roman wrestlers excel in mma because they specialize in an area most martial arts overlook: the clinch. This skillset puts greco roman wrestlers on another level, because clinch wrestling is their bread and butter.

[@tatertots0046]

Outside US, Greco has the 1st tier wrestling athletes in most of the world(Turkey, Russia ex-Dagestan, Japan, Korea, China). Some places are neutral like Iran and Cuba. Only place where Freestyle gets the 1st tier are Dagestan, US & India I think

[@robertnewell4054]

@tatertots00 ...... Freestyle Top Tier: Iran, Georgia, ROK, Cuba, Japan .... quickly off the top of my head

[@TurfDoe]

Russia, Iran, US, Cuba, all freestyle. Nobody cares about the other countries. Also you can’t separate Russia and Dagestan like that and you can’t say Sadulaev is a second tier athlete to anyone. Overall your comment is idiotic.

[@isos6534]

Not only Dagestan, North Ossetia!

[@ShepardOfficial]

Chael uploading so much I feel like I'm having a conversation with him and his upload notifications are his replies 😂💯

[@backbone93]

If you talk like steve from malcolm in the middle the timing would literally be on point i think

[@ShepardOfficial]

@@backbone93 I meant like texting back and forth lol that's where the notification part comes in. But yea that would be perfect

[@UnexpectedWonder]

I feel ya.

[@backbone93]

@@darkhypno2787 hahahaha fk you Second time you accuse me of that

[@AdobadoFantastico]

That's how good channels tend to operate.

[@MP-oj6zo]

original Greek fighters used ancient pankration which is the original MMA, Pali/wrestling was just part of it and posture is like this to be ready for strikes.

[@mskidi]

Wrestling (pali), and pankration were different sports in the ancient games. Milo from Kroton and Theagenis from Thasos were probably the most famous winners in each.

[@robbybee70]

one undeniably huge consideration is all 3 of the top guys you named trained together at the same MMA gym...that could be more a factor of that specific gym then the Greco background

[@OverproofMMA]

Darren Till vs Kelvin Gastelum is a great example of what he's saying with the upright wrestling nullifying an opponents setups

[@DMMDwrestler]

Wtf? Gastelum never wrestled. He’s not a wrestler

[@OverproofMMA]

@@DMMDwrestler I'm talking about how Till keep clinching him with the double underhooks. Till would get a handful of strikes in, then he'd clinch up before Kelvin had a chance to throw back. The height difference made Till's double underhooks almost unmanageable for Kelvin and it was Till who would land shots when they broke. Till's not a wrestler but he used that upright wrestling to totally fuck Kelvin that night

[@bum7659]

@@DMMDwrestler 🤣🤣🤣idiot

[@thedust850]

@@DMMDwrestler yes he was a wrestler in high school and I think college.

[@josen2791]

Always liked greco roman more than freestyle but where I live there is neither

[@radi2986]

Same here in states they do too much freestyle while over seas it’s Greco

[@rstlr01]

Loved Wrestling on schoolboy and cadet national teams for Greco-Roman. There would be like 20 of us at camp compared to the freestyle camp of 50 plus kids trying to make the team. Greco-Roman offers top tier standing footwork for MMA.

[@willr.9903]

i like both although im more comfterble from greco

[@Bravo-Too-Much]

Two words, “The Clinch”. The Greco tie-ups are that ever happens in Greco. They’ve been doing that for years, good luck getting an above the waist takedown on a Greco guy. The have enormously strong backs and grips. In many cases, if you can control in the clinch, you can dictate the fight. And Greco guys have years of experience conserving their energy and breathing in tie ups. That will immediately throw guys off who aren’t ready for the energy demand.

[@PenjoDutch]

I was a wrestling coach and national medalist as a competitor. I always said the most important thing is body position, particularly in greco. Body position is related to balance but way more subtle. You can move a hand by a few inches, angle your elbow by 10 degrees, or put 10% more weight on one quadrant to create an advantage.Perhaps this is a bit of what Chael is alluding to. Also, most greco wrestlers started out in freestyle or folkstyle, therefore they have the training and muscle memory for both attacking and defending the legs. However, the fresstyle guys don't have those specific greco skill he elaborates on.

[@km9235]

I agree but feel you missed mentioning one additional MMA specific tool. THE CAGE. The cage gets you to the standing chest to chest grappling position with such a frequency that Greco becomes the wrestling tool of choice. Frequency of opportunity to work in your natural environment must pay dividends or why do we practice. I hypothesize that if you remove the cage freestyle returns as more dominant. I've never wrestled with my back firly pressed to a wall, with little ability to move or drop. Greco guys are not weirded out by being pressed to a wall like freestyle guy/gal.

[@alantaylor6691]

That's interesting. What wresting style would you train for street fighting to combine with boxing?

[@mattgeiger8247]

Doing Greco-Roman in high school has given me a huge advantage in every fight I've been in, once I get them to the ground they're mine. It's the perfect counter to a good striker

[@HulkVahkiin]

I actually agree with this. A similar thing is Muay Thai fighters who fight in Boxing matches suffer because their guard is naturally high due to the fact the Muay Thai stance has their hands up all the way to their eyebrows.

[@dayoonman3264]

Chael is wrong. It's the individual who determines the effectiveness of their style. Daniel Cormier, Mark Coleman, and Ben Askren did freestyle. Henry Cejudo was freestyle gold in the Olympics. Yoel Romero was world gold and Olympic silver. Many olympic wrestlers from other nations are often well compensated and given opportunities such as in government for example. They are honored by their nations and can retire with dignity so you are unlikely to see them looking for opportunities in the UFC. Similarly, in the US, Greco wrestlers are nowhere near as successful on the international stage as freestyle wrestlers. It may also be harder for US Greco wrestlers to secure funding to train full-time back in the days, so that could explain why there were many more searching for an outlet in mma. Successful freestyle wrestlers end up with better opportunities, such as in collegiate coaching. For example, Cael Sanderson got a job as head coach at Penn State after his Olympic Gold, as did John Smith at Oklahoma State, Dan Gable at Iowa, and Kevin Jackson at Iowa State etc. Most of the successful wrestlers in mma only did collegiate and folkstyle growing up, so unless they are working in the fields that they majored in, mma probably offers a more lucrative career in the short term. And I would say folkstyle is probably the most effective style for mma among the three as far as the effectiveness of controlling the opponent and getting off bottom. But international style wrestlers seem to have better hand fighting skills in neutral.

[@thedarkknight646]

HulkVahkiin I think it goes beyond the hands thing though the mechanics are different as a whole. the way they punch, the stance, footwork (or lack there of) head movement motions. That’s one of the reasons I found boxing to be more enjoyable than MT because you don’t get penalized for using footwork to evade shots and move out of range

[@AdobadoFantastico]

@@dayoonman3264 this should be top comment on the video

[@whysosrs5534]

The Mystic MacTAPPER you dont have to be a flat footed zombie in muay thai to win fights. Look at saenchai. Hands down, footwork. Its all on you.

[@thedarkknight646]

WhySoSrs? yeah I know about him but he’s the exception most MT coaches do not teach you how to fight like that they teach the more traditional way or the dutch version which is basically to sit there and answer your opponent’s hard shots with hard shots of your own. That’s good and all but what if your opponent is bigger and stronger than you are you really going to sit there and trade shot for shot in that situation? It happened to me my first kickboxing (glory style) fight the guy was a lot bulkier than I was (truthfully I probably should have been at least one weight class down for my height). I’m more of an mma guy rather than a kickboxing/muay thai guy anyway so I just think that style of fighting and the upright stance does not translate well with the little gloves. Majority of boxing coaches will teach you footwork to evade and to change levels and head movement which is useful in moderation rather than just cover up and taking it all on the glove (which will likely get you ktfo in mma). But idk it really just comes down to preference in the end I used to be a wrestler so maybe that’s why I feel more comfortable with the level changing

[@TheKevinClarkson]

Makes me wonder about how far Bo Nickal will go in his MMA career. I still think he will do great. However, just because he is a great folkstyle wrestler doesn’t mean it will dominate in the MMA. The threat of striking, forces a lift in posture.

[@lyonmusictv]

Jesus.. Uncle Chael, I’m trying to go to sleep 🥴

[@chaosdweller]

Sorry

[@MKillrZ]

I feel like its still very relevant, Its just that more and more fighters are well rounded now and train in a more complete way. I feel like the reason why GR wresters have an edge is that they have less "bad" habits to unlearn. As well GR could be seen as more of an "aggressive" sport and its jives well with MMA and the mind set that's needed to compete and keep at it.

[@wingoreviewsboxingandmma3667]

It's the stance and rules, greco stance is closer to a kickboxing stance. You also end up in upper body clinching situations in mma which is what greco is all about.

[@craig7021]

The one question I wish Chael would answer is "Why the spinning back elbow?"

[@johnryan6456]

That's cold.

[@joeschmoe3946]

Dan Severn was an Olympic alternate in Freestyle as well as Greco. Both Severn and Couture were finalists in the NCAA Folkstyle National Championships. Kevin Jackson's two losses were by armbar submissions. Also, there are several of Dan Henderson's MMA fights where, even though he won the fight, he got taken down by non-wrestlers, most likely as a result of getting distracted by striking and submissions.

[@pwslattery]

There is a good amount of sport and exercise physiology research that has compared athletes from both the Greco-Roman and Freestyle wrestling focus. In short, the Greco-Roman participants in the studies (all Olympic or NCAA competitors in what I have read) had more power and strength in their legs and better grip-strength. The hidden killer in any MMA fight is the exhaustion from constantly squatting, lunging and or leaping back to your feet when your leg muscle is getting hampered by calf and knee kicking that will slowly take up oxygenated blood in cells that are damaged and no longer helping you in the current fight, which is going to make any leg contraction increasingly more reliant on a fewer number of muscle fibres, which is going to make your contraction more and more likely anaerobic and therefore higher in energy demand and lactic acid accumulation. Having legs with more muscle tissue - due to having more muscle cells (as opposed to just larger muscle cells that you can achieve doing any standard weight-training program) - this is a gigantic advantage. People talk a lot about the stand-up game and the ground-game, but the getting up and staying up game is what gases the fighters out more than anything else.

[@dustinlarkin8582]

I 100% agree with this. I used to wonder why they practice wrestling for MMA the way they do. It works great when you got ahold of someone but even most of the greats often look awkward and somewhat vulnerable attempting to get the fight on the ground.

[@Seuspesos]

Its them greco headbutts! Them greco guys r savages with their mental toughness and ability to withstand all that chaos of collision!

[@ejcastle14]

In school rn,learning more from chael then my lame teacher🤣

[@Italiangentleman2394]

Greco Roman has helped my bjj game it's great for bjj and MMA ! Love the video

[@alantaylor6691]

I heard that collegiate wrestling employs getting off from the ground as well as takedown defense, where as freestyle does not. Is greco like freestyle or collegiate in this regard?

[@shopielong2915]

I like how this channel can go from fandom to training concepts

[@SeptemberAdam]

Greco Roman is an art. Much beauty in it. Free style, being more pular allows the athlete or contestant in it to make much more money than otherwise. The trade off there folks

[@TrapperTVFoss]

Because they are in an octagon and not an open field. The cage helps Greco wrestlers. If it was on a football field, freestyle would surpass

[@mh7968-e6l]

What about all the double/single leg takedowns against the cage ? I feel like that’s an example of how the cage benefits freestyle but wouldn’t translate to an open field

[@jordanl8733]

At Gracie academy of Philly we start from our feet and even use the padded wall for takedown attempts/defense. A few of the black belt instructors also compete mma so they incorporate the wall and it’s old school Gracie gym so it’s 50% takedown and trip and 50% ground BJj stuff

[@Taekwon-Brando]

Same here at the Gracie academy in Albuquerque, my instructor has also competed MMA

[@chalky_white]

This begs the question, what sort of cereal does Conor McGregor like?

[@connor3371]

*Raises the question. Begging the question is the name of a logical fallacy

[@sherrykohl7799]

😂😂

[@sherrykohl7799]

@@connor3371 Shut up Nerd

[@teamgitusome]

and does he drink the milk? or does he pour it down the sink?!

[@chalky_white]

@@teamgitusome ya know, the boys on the underground have a lot to say about this

[@nigelliotta3440]

Chael is developing Sonnen Style Kung Fu. He's doing for wrestling what Eddie Bravo has been doing for JJ.

[@nigelliotta3440]

@S F Hahahaha, thanks for the laugh.

[@Goon.29]

Based

[@youngmetroh]

Chael "restleeeen" Sonnen

[@tuttosalve8352]

IT'S NOT REAL WRASTLING!!!

[@joennejordbaer]

Good lesson with viable points. Uncle Chael's great at explaining the intricate differences and the thereof following consequences in MMA of the different wrestling styles. Love the analysis!

[@derkaturka]

this is awesome analysis!!!! thanks for the breakdown of distance closing.

[@kallepikku4991]

Chael talking a bit out of his *ss here. Statistically speaking, Freestyle wrestlers have out performed Greco-Roman wrestlers (and pretty much everybody else) in recent years. This holds true even if we would take a longer view, starting from 2010 to 2020. For example, here's a list of current UFC champions and their background: Stipe Miocic: Folkstyle wrestler (~ Freestyle wrestling) Jon Jones: Greco-Roman wrestler Israel Adesanya: Kick-boxer Kamaru Usman: Freestyle wrestler Khabib Nurmagomedov: Freestyle wrestler Alexander Volkanovski: Greco-Roman wrestler Henry Cejudo: Freestyle wrestler

[@thomashatcher3056]

Did you know Henry Cejudo was an Olympic gold medalist though? You forgot to put that by his name. People need to realize he was a gold medalist

[@EricTheActor805]

Turkish Oil Wrestling+Sumo Wrestling+Aikiedo+Tai Chi is the best combination for MMA

[@antonistsafarakis]

Bet

[@bum7659]

Isn't tai chi for yoga.

[@railz1510]

“Freestyle wrestlers are used to being bent over” PAUSE🤣🤣

[@evanarce3458]

I learn a lot from these videos. He explain things (with examples) in a practical way that nearly anyone can understand.

[@IncredibleMD]

Randy Couture only became a Greco-Roman Wrestler in the army, when they sent him to the US Army Greco-Roman Wrestling Team tryouts instead of the Freestyle tryouts on accident. He'd already won a state-championship in high school.

[@Uptac14]

Chael out here really discovering the bridge between mma and wrestling

[@TheKevinClarkson]

I’m regards to the lack of setups when an opponent is standing straight up is accurate and it did confuse me at first. When you have a wrestling background and train Jiu Jitsu ,the Jiu Jitsu practitioner tends to have a more upright posture. However even though a lot of the traditional setups do not work, it still leaves them overly exposed. So no set up and or a very minor set up is all the is needed. You can still grab a wrist/gi ect. You can still force them to step via a push or pull a lot easier due to their weak upright posture. Obviously in MMA and upright posture is more ideal to defend strikes, but the theory of confusion when am opponent stands upright still holds true to strictly grappling as well.

[@spencerantoniomarlen-starr3069]

The line between genius and insanity is indeed a very thin one

[@karimbarakat2865]

im here so early but i cant think of an edgy comment

[@johnnybacon8675]

Been there lol

[@SAM-ru4vx]

amateur. lets talk about catch wrestling vs folk wrestling

[@SelectCircle]

Whatever your predicament - put Tony in it. "Tony - the type of guy who tunes in early but can't think of an edgy comment."

[@tonyeleaglenurmagomedov4550]

Trouser Troll chael ain’t scared of anything

[@TheMan-WithNoName]

Trouser Troll aye alright winston your just stealing that wardens patter

[@AlexHellene]

I suspect Greco-Roman has an advantage against Freestyle wrestling in MMA or a Street fight because of the following: A Freestyle wrestler can't obviously be bent over forward in a real fight, because he'll cop a knee to the head, or upper cut - Therefore forcing him to stay upright. Therefore in an upright position, the Greco Roman Wrestler, being a bit more experienced in the upright position and upper body clinch, would have the advantage against the Freestyle wrestler in a MMA or street fight. Meaning in MMA or a street fight, Greco Roman Wrestling may be better to learn than Freestyle wrestling for MMA or self defence.

[@alantaylor6691]

I have been wondering what wrestling style would be best for street fighting. I agree with you that the greco posture would be better for street fighting especially when you add it with boxing, the transitions must be smoother. However when you include other wrestling styles such as catch wrestling do we still go with greco roman? I don't know much about wrestling but just learning. Would you also say that greco is more mobile than freestyle? I think being mobile is a very important skill to have in street fighting, which is another reason I like boxing in that context. As well, is greco or freestyle more strength-based? There I'm talking in the context that street fighting is faster-paced than the octagon with fighters going more 100% for a shorter period of time. More explosive VO2.

[@AlexHellene]

@@alantaylor6691 Hi mate. I'm from a stand up (kickboxing) background, so I'm only speaking about this wrestling scenario, theoretically. I don't really know much about Catch wrestling an other wrestling forms. So I can't comment on whether they are better than Greco-Roman Wrestling. I've only seen a lot of Greco-Roman, Freestyle, and Submission Wrestling. As for which is more strength based, I'd say Greco-Roman Wrestling is abit more strength based than Freestyle Wrestling, because you don't have the option of tripping an opponent, or taking him down by his legs in Greco Roman Wrestling. Therefore it's a lot of upper body strength and technique. As for which is more mobile, to be honest, I'm not sure.

[@alantaylor6691]

@@AlexHellene "Submission wrestling", that's interesting. I think catch wrestling is supposed to be like that. What would you say are the disadvantages of submission wrestling over greco in a fighting context? You'd assume if wrestling also had submissions it would be the way to go as you can submit your opponent, however there may be reasons you'd still go with greco over submission for real life application.

[@AlexHellene]

@@alantaylor6691 From what I've noticed, the few Greco-Roman Wrestlers vs BJJ submission wrestlers on youtube bouts, the Greco Roman wrestler is always easily the more dominant one. Although I've seen after being dominated for a while, the BJJ guy from his back, eventually submits the Greco-Roman Wrestler - only because the bouts could be only won submission, rather than also a pin - Meaning the Greco Roman was obviously at a disadvantage with the rules. If pins were also counted than the Greco Roman Wrestler would win those. Not to mention, in a street fight or MMA fight, the Greco Roman Wrestler would rain down punches... or even headbutts in a street fight. So definitely, I'd think Greco- Roman Wrestling would be better for real life application. BJJ guys dropping on their back, trying to goad someone into their guard, wouldn't work in a street fight. However Submission wrestling would still be good to learn as well, wouldn't harm. :)

[@alantaylor6691]

@@AlexHellene That does make sense. Here is a fight between schoolboys, the winner seemed to be using greco. I like how with greco you can deal with an opponent with minimum contact without getting too wrapped up with them. Looks like they both had basic boxing, but the winner also had much more skilled greco wrestling. The loser was actually going for double legs I think in a more freestyle application. The winner was also doing it barefoot which was a disadvantage, I've fought barefoot on pavement before and it does suck a lot, rips your feet up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5DRiIKtl8elaac What I think is I've prefer to be able to do greco first, then afterwards supplement with more technical grappling styles for the rare case the opponent meets you despite your greco.

[@aaronpacillio8189]

Often wondered about this regarding Greco & Judo 🥋. Insightful.

[@jerryjuliangutierrez7536]

Greco wrestling makes u a hell of a hand fighter in mma the cage was built perfect for a wrestler period.freestyle wrestling u can shoot and in the cage a person can shoot and dive u to the cage were they can work to break u and take u down or they break u dirty boxing. All wrestlers have a great chance in the cage the ring they dont do as good because they dont have a cage ro push u against and break u. Greco roman is better in a cage cause u hand fight alot and roman greco is all upper body fighting.

[@GrecoReview]

I agree that the upright posture is a big reason why Greco Roman transfers so well.

[@Prettyboysad]

Henry, Kamaru, and DC were all freestyle wrestlers

[@TandemKnights]

I think you are over-complicating it Chael, it all comes down to the clinch. Anyone who has a significant background in Greco-Roman is going to have an advantage in the clinch and the clinch equates to control. Once control is gained, you just sprinkle in a little ground and pound and that's all she wrote. Greco-Roman have the best "hooks", under and over and are also awesome at controlling an opponent once downed. These all transfer to MMA seamlessly. Trying to win the clinch against a Greco-Roman wrestler is like trying to out-kick a Tae Kwon Do practitioner. It CAN happen, but, most likely you are gonna come up short.

[@keyodi]

I was Chaels first wrestling coach - TK Kirkland

[@UnexpectedWonder]

LOL. 😁😁😂😂🤣🤣😋😋 You watch DJ Vlad Vids I suppose.

[@lemmegogo7053]

Why is no one talking about the actual conversation This is actually grown breaking and can change the teachings of future generations

[@mrbadguysan]

I wonder what it would take for a Turkish Oil Wrestler to gain prominence.

[@SelectCircle]

Permission from his Imam?

[@PyDuK]

@@SelectCircle phahaha dude I cried from your comment. Good one:D

[@Darren_Tay]

Probably alot of oil.

[@atillacnar5785]

@@PyDuK not funny

[@ricoco7891]

16yaşında bi adam it is

[@angel-rq4fz]

Absolutely True , Base and posture are very good contrary to Free style that the Posture is already broken ; Also Greco Roman has CLINCH which is very important in MMA !

[@GrecoReview]

His Greco Roman background is what helped Uncle Chael go undefeated in MMA

[@SkyGodKazuha]

Ehat I like about Chael Sonnen is that he is from a middle class family, got a good life and yet he still choose to be an MMA fighter because he genuinely loves the art of fighting

[@christosphotiou3896]

Greco + Catch as Catch Can + Boxing + Muay Thai make a great MMA combo

[@Mac10Demarco]

Jon Jones’ Greco Roman wrestling was able to beat DCs freestyle wrestling

[@dayoonman3264]

Edward, you do realize that jon Jones took down Cormier with leg attacks, right? Therefore Jones used freestyle/folkstyle in their matches.

[@dayoonman3264]

@zef sagala OP specifically stated that Jones' greco beat DC's freestyle in their match, when in actuality jones used leg attacks which are not allowed in greco.

[@bradfrancis3495]

I don't know for sure I'm just learning but it feels like when I wrestled a Graco wrestler they put way more pressure and Harley leave your body

[@Cheetah-tz3ut]

greco-roman got that gladiator mentality it's perfect

[@Runescapewithred]

Watching this only confirms to me that Mark Madsen is Kahabibs most equal matchup in terms of grappling in the LW division.

[@ГолосУлиц-ю6в]

When is his fight? What happened to him?

[@Abbassis15]

Greco has the posture thats more realistic for mma. The ability to take down your opponent without touching the legs gives you great advantage. This comes especially handy when you fight high level BJJ guys who will put chokes on you immediately. Greco gives you allot of strength which will come in handy in your weight class. You must also train leg attack defense, thats a no brainer. Most people dont realize that when most leg attack defense you end up in the over under position

[@yolcujiujitsummasporsalonu4779]

Man thanks for the video love you a lot 👍👍

[@imreadydoctor]

I had always assumed that it was because greco has a stronger clinch-game, which I think is hugely advantageous in mma. I also notice that, at least in the US, most greco have cross-training in freestyle, but not as many freestyle wrestlers have much experience in greco.

[@JustKeepFlowingYes]

When chael mentions Austin Vanderford he really means MR. Vanzant

[@casstom]

I just found this video, a friend recommended it to me. You are absolutely, 100% correct. I don't know if this theory has been proven yet, but you're right on.

[@jurrytaalib-deen9788]

Man!!! What an excellent analysis! I never seen it from that perspective.

[@tazbod6723]

I might add, wrestlers use the "wall" - or fence - better than other fighters in MMA. Wrestlers just adapt. That's why they Thai box mostly now in MMA. That's stand-up fighting.

[@duanedragon2]

I respect your opinion and thank you for your content. I am also from Portland, wrestled from grade school to high school and a little older than you. My experience was the Greco guys were in another league. They were prodigies or multi-generational family efforts. And most of them could freestyle just fine. In fact all the ones I came in contact with wrestled on the school team just to stay busy. BTW standing straight up in front of any wrestler is a great way to get dumped on your head. You paid a sparing partner and got one. Don't add 2 and 2 and think it's 22. Been in plenty of real fights.

[@jackwilson6467]

It's the hand fighting and high clinch work.

[@peekaboojujitsoo525]

yes, its the best kept secret. People think that because you cant attack the legs in greco that it makes it inferior to folkstyle and freestyle but fail to see the value in the handfighting, clinch work, and off balancing

[@teamgitusome]

2:36am i woke up about a half hour ago delighted at what i see....more chael?! man we are spoiled!!

[@wonder-bred]

I like wrestling, wish they had it in Mississippi when i was growing up. Now im old fat and slow so i just watch Chael Sonnen.

[@vybinn1805]

:|

[@daricklapaglia4337]

Fs takedown lands in full guard (double leg) while a greco takedown lands in side control (body locks)

[@aftercarecarez]

Chael my coach Jeff Funicello use to train with Rulan and They’re coach Roman from Poland I believe… I actually got to train with the old man Roman a few times and even as a senior citizen He could head snap me like I was a 90 lb woman and I reckon he was easy on me .. Jeff use to talk about Dan a lot and I actually hit to wear his blue pride gloves for sparring once lol it was so cool .. and he said he saw you chael at the gym working the desk sometimes and u were really young at the time and up and coming stud they all thought was gonna be the next super wrestler

[@AngelofDethMetal]

These wisdom drops are always the best Chael videos

[@mohamedakim]

Greco ❤

[@mateuszstelmach]

You are rigth my MMA coach said the same thing and he was national level greco-roman chempion in Poland.

[@shadbarends2729]

Fantastic. What a well reasoned theory. Kind of like applying the rule that is used in Judo whereby bending over is considered negative stalling but applied in a wrestling context to better realistically simulate the fact that a crouch is generally not realistic when striking with all weapons (not just hands).

[@willr.9903]

i think also that greco is less complicated so its easyer to master

[@gerski8901]

Transition to MMA might not work for american freestyle guys, but it for sure works the fighters from Caucasus. Chimaev, Khabib (according to Uncle Chael Khabib is a freestyle wrestler)

[@Chris-jj6ty]

Khabibs actually a combat sambo guy the reason chael made that video was to parody and do his character about sambo because it was the lead up to fedor and fedor is a multiple time champion in that. Combat sambo is better than any wrestling base because you can get comfortable with going for takedowns while someone is striking you. Chimaev however I think people overate his wrestling he’s a high risk high reward type fighter

[@xPrymeTimex]

this is facts! Jon Jones is also Greco.

[@TheChadavis33]

Chael, you have great technical insight in combat sports, period. Keep it up brother

[@f0cus2021SOT]

Hey chael in a lot of bjj schools in europe we start sparring standing up! Just fyi its like 1/4rth frop the knees 3/4 standing up

[@mcmahon1130]

Same in the U.S. I don't know where the fuck he got the idea that it doesn't happen.