Fighters Only

Issue 115

June 2014

After some of the sport’s most high-profile names admitted they’re changing the levels of punishment they’re absorbing in training, we ask the MMA universe...

YES

URIJAH FABER

Three-time UFC title challenger and Team Alpha Male leader

There is some merit in taking less head shots, especially when guys are getting older, taking more care with blows to the head and training smart. But there needs to be some full-contact sparring to get familiar with being hit. I mean, it’s not a natural thing so that’s a part of our sport you can’t avoid altogether.

You can minimize it, especially if you’ve been in the sport for years and you’re comfortable getting hit. But not everyone is, and it’s not something people are instinctively good at.

Actually, it’s one of the only things where your instincts are wrong, to put your head up and lean out of the way. So we have probably a little bit less intense sparring but you still have to do it in my opinion.

The only way to prepare for battle is to go into battle. It’s vital you get into a fight before you fight professionally.

NO

JOHNY HENDRICKS

UFC welterweight champ with a 50% KO win record

I don’t take head shots in sparring any more. The reason why is that you don’t get paid in the gym – you train in the gym. I want to save my faculties for in the Octagon, and I think that’s what helps me a lot, why I don’t take so many in a fight.

I don’t know how many knockouts you get in your lifetime. I don’t know how many times you can get dazed in your lifetime. So I want to save those for the important moments – and that’s in the Octagon.

I believe every time you get rocked it takes a little bit away from your defenses for next time. Look at a lot of guys that take punishment. They get daz

ed, and the next time it’s easier. And the next time after that, it’s easier again.

When I train I use a head guard with a full bar across the front, to protect my head. I want to save my fight for when it matters.