Issue 075

May 2011

Peter Irving is a professional welterweight fighter and Fighters Only’s resident fight expert for the last three years. Irving has fought in Europe and the USA and coaches fighters in London. 

Stabilizing your hooks from back control often requires committing both arms. If you’re on top this can leave you unable to strike, or forced to deploy under-effective punching. The side ride position offers strong leverage for hooks and uppercuts. There are obvious avenues of escape from side ride, but these can be anticipated to catch a submission or advantageous transition.

3 MINUTE CLINIC

Free Arm 

With an arm left free after the side ride has been stabilized, one is at liberty to throw punches without sacrificing any control – unlike in the majority of positions. 

Tight Waist

It’s possible to commit deeper on the far side, controlling your opponent’s inner thigh. However, this increases the risk that the turtled fighter will be able to capture your arm and execute a sweep. By using a tight waist, reaching only to the far hip, the bottom man cannot capture your arm.

Points of Contact

The side ride should be executed hip to hip, and knee to knee. With his thigh in bodily contact, the top man is sensitive to the movements of his turtled opponent.

Brabo Choke from Side Ride

1 Pete (black shirt) has Ash under his side ride, keeping Ash’s head down with his forearm.

2 Pete reaches between Ash’s knee and elbow then wraps Ash's head, meeting his hands in a gable grip.

3 Pete squeezes his elbows together and drives forward with his shoulder. The pressure on Ash’s neck causes him to turn to his side.

4 With Ash tilted off his base or ‘broken down’ Pete continues to squeeze his grip, keeping Ash’s head pulled in. He positions his bicep to close the arm-triangle choke.

5 Here’s the same position in close up from the other side.

6 Pete plants his hand, palm on the mat, and shoots his other arm through deep, as far as it will go.

7 Pete closes the mata leao grip on his wrist, not on his fingers, and puts his hand high on Ash’s shoulder.

8 Pete sprawls to add weight to the finish, and squeezes his elbows together once more.

Striking from the Side Ride

Welterweight champion Georges St Pierre made great use of the side ride, using knee strikes from this position to TKO Matt Serra in their rematch at UFC 83.

1 Pete has Ash in the side ride, using a tight waist with his leg flush against Ash’s thigh. From here Pete cocks back his right arm.

2 Pete lands a heavy hook, causing Ash to raise his arm and cover up.

3 As Ash covers the side of his head Pete sneaks an uppercut through the space Ash has left open.

4 When Pete feels Ash has consolidated his defenses on that side, he jumps his hips in one fluid motion to the opposite angle.

5 Pete can repeat the pattern of hooks and uppercuts...

6 ...Or he can step off the side ride then pin Ash’s neck and hip.

7 Pete slams his knee into Ash’s ribs.