Midnight Mania! McGregor Goes On Epic Instagram Rant About Defense In MMA

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Conor McGregor is a man of many talents and personalities. Online, he’s just as likely to to trash an opponent as he is promote Proper 12 whiskey, but there’s also always a fair chance that McGregor takes the time to self-analyze or give his own insight into the sport he quickly conquered.

Even though we’re a couple years past the era of McGregor dominance, his thoughts on the sport are always interesting. For those that cannot read the caption, it’s transcribed below:

“I’m not sure what does be going on in most trainers and fighters minds.What’s the most danger in a fight? Being clocked clean while over extended, without your feet under you and your defence fully open.Yes? Yes.Lights out. Good fucking night.So why the fuck are 99.9% of fighter and coach I see, all about wacking shots in full wack, with ZERO defensive or positioning responsibilities in there? You are setting yourself up to be clattered badly. Know that.Calculate how many punches you throw in practice Versus how many times you slip/roll/parry/pull/block in practice.It’s crazy. I estimate 1000 to 1 is the difference. In that ball park anyway. If you don’t practice these and just overload on punches and kicks and not much else it’s going to be your downfall.I can sit and put every ounce of power into a pad strike or bag strike. But imagine that pad is not there. You’re going out on your face. Even without being hit. Even with the pad there and you make full clean contact, too much force in the shot leaves you completely open. You can’t retract your guard or get your legs under you in time. You come in against a smooth operator he is going to take the point of impact away, or catch it cleanly for counter, and then what? Wide open.Sitting duck.Does my nut in seeing it all the time, and why I was always more spar heavy in my rise. Unrealistic practice develops too many bad habits to the already uneducated. Even if they do work defensive work it’s usually unrealistic. One example say, on giving shots to parry. But half throwing the shot for parry. This will then develop the habit of reaching for the soft punch. Who is that helping? That’s walking them into danger when the real pace of shot comes. And that’s just one small example.Get clued in guys.I am fully clued in, now more than I ever was, and I’m going to rip this game a new smile when I get back.I am also really eager to progress into real work with my son, who now at 2.5 years of age is beginning to piece together combinations. It’s all he wants to do. We’ve been training since the jump also. Day 1!Get with the program young fighters and coaches! Get with the fucking program.Otherwise..”

Speaking as one of the young fighters this rant seems to be aimed at, it’s definitely not bad advice. On the whole, a lot of fighters focus more on their offensive kickboxing, and it’s only later in their careers that defense develops. That method has formed plenty of champions, but it’s also caused many to suffer damage and losses early in their careers.

Insomnia

Rather than come up with my own caption, Derek Brunson’s comment really summed it up: “Whoever kidnapped my bro Diego please return him@back to ABQ.”

I love this bizarre fight much more than the original match up. Mauricio Rua should be able to pick apart Paul Craig and knock him out. However, the older a fighter is, the more prone to weird losses he becomes, and Craig is the king of winning weirdly.

Body conditioning drills are always fun to watch.

It ain’t all hashtags and retweets.

My wrestling coach, Alexander Munoz, has now fought on both Contender Series and Dana White’s Looking For A Fight show, and I’m confident there will be an eventual UFC debut in his future as well. Until then, here’s his disgusting elbow after a recent win— what’d I just say about hashtags and retweets?

I think this officially makes Jorge Masvidal an adopted New York gangster.

Slips, rips, and KO clips

A subtle change in level set up this high kick KO beautifully:

Until it happens to you, it’s easy to underestimate the pain caused by a foot stomp or kick to the ankle/calf.

This is just a perfect elbow.

Random Land

I am hugely invested in Cinderblock’s weight loss journey. BIG KITTY!

Midnight Music: I’m still very much loving Angel Olsen’s recent release All Mirrors. At times, I do think Olsen herself gets a bit overshadowed by the production, but the strings and synths are all very pretty, which lessens the blow considerably.

Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.