To be the best MMA fighter you can be, it’s important to learn from successful fighters. Paying attention to what great fighters do will empower you to overcome the challenges you’ll deal with as you train and improve your craft. Learning to fight takes time and dedication. You can’t become the best MMA fighter you’re capable of becoming without putting in the work and having the humility to learn from others.
Based on our experience in training fighters who have performed in Utah’s local MMA scene and in the UFC, here some of the qualities high-performing fighters share with each other:
Time
Investing quality time in your training is something that you can’t ignore. Experience is gained with time in the gym. It can take months and even years to understand basic movements and how to successfully execute them under pressure. Fighting in a mixed martial arts environment can be stressful but putting in the time will help you not feel overwhelmed and rely on the training you’ve done.
Be deliberate about your training and plan to workout regularly. This brings us to the next quality we’ve seen in top MMA fighters which is consistency.
Consistency
You can’t become great at anything if you lack consistency. Whether you’re a full-time professional fighter or you just want to start learning basic striking and takedowns, regular attendance is key to your success. Skipping workouts will greatly hamper your progress and make it difficult for you to improve. When you miss class, you miss workouts and lessons that help you sharpen your abilities. Showing up and putting in the work will strengthen your fundamentals. It’s vital to your growth and development that you’re training every day and getting quality repetitions in.
Team player
Another quality top MMA fighters have in common is they are invested in the success of their teammates. The best fighters willingly and graciously give of their time to help their teammates drill moves and push each other during conditioning. Fighters who care pay attention to the needs of their teammates in order to help their teammates achieve their goals.
No, this doesn’t mean that you put your own training aside and ignore your own development. It means you understand that as you work to help everyone grow around you, you’ll improve and will have stronger teammates to help you train for your next fight.
Self-motivation
On top of training in the gym and working out with their team, the best MMA fighters also put in the extra work on their own. They consistently remind themselves of their goals and find ways to improve even when they’re not in the gym. This can come in the form of going for a run after a private lesson with a coach or doing yoga in the mornings to increase flexibility. Top MMA fighters recognize that self-motivation is needed to stay hungry and continuously improve.
Remember that you’re not alone in your goal to become the best fighter you can be. You have your Absolute MMA team every step of the way as you learn and grow.