Fighters Only

Issue 069

January 2011

Since the switch from ring to cage, the fence’s existence has introduced a previously unknown element to the grappling arts (the cage’s purpose is actually to prevent wrestlers rolling out, rather than to appear threatening). By utilizing the cage correctly the bottom man can hinder the top man’s offense by eliminating his opportunity to move to certain positions, or supercharge his escapes by taking advantage of the extra leverage to be gained by pushing off the wall.

Cage Bridge out from cross-body pin

‘Rampage’ Jackson used this escape against Dan Henderson in their UFC 75 clash.

1 Pete (black shirt) is trapped beneath Mikey’s side control and lying parallel with the cage wall.

2 Pete puts his heels in the chain link and starts to walk himself up the cage until his body is perpendicular to the fence.

3 Pete twists his hips and kicks against the cage with both legs.

4 Holding tight onto Mikey's upper body, Pete propels himself over and lands in side control reversing the position – except that Mikey's legs are away from the cage, ensuring that he cannot use the same technique to escape.

Stand up from half guard

Take a look at Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley in his September 2010 Shark Fights 13 bout against Jorge Masvidal for multiple examples of effective scrambling against the cage and escaping to standing position from the half guard.

1 Pete is trapped underneath Mikey next to the cage. Pete has half guard, and is blocking Mikey’s bicep to stop punches and elbows. Note that Mikey is holding Pete down with superior head position.

2 Pete hips-out against the fence. He slides his arm down to take a wrist control and works on the whizzer with the far arm. Note that Pete has equalized head position.

3 Using the whizzer Pete kneels with his shin tight against the fence. Pete has achieved superior head position and can stand up without risking a knee to the head.

4 Pete stands up, with his foot tight against the cage wall and maintaining his wrist control so as not to allow Mikey to hit an ankle pick.

Stand up from double leg

1 Mikey has double legged Pete against the cage. Pete has scooted his butt back against the fence and posted his hands out wide with stiff arms to prevent Mikey getting his shoulders down on the mat and finishing the takedown.

2 Pete reaches over Mikey’s head, but instead of grabbing a guillotine he reaches deep and establishes an underhook.

3 Pete slips his far leg out from beneath Mikey and brings it back against the fence.

4 As Pete stands up he switches to a guillotine.

5 Using the guillotine Pete steers Mikey on to the fence.

Kimura escape from closed guard

1 Pete has Mikey in his closed guard up against the fence. Pete cannot afford to stay in this position or he will get ground 'n' pounded, but Mikey has made a mistake and put his hand on the mat.

2 Pete sits up and reaches over Mikey’s shoulder and makes the figure four grip for the kimura. Note that Pete doesn’t have his guard-closed like a normal kimura attack. Because Pete has scooted his butt up against the fence Mikey cannot take his back or establish a cross-body pin. If Mikey does try to pass, it will be even easier for Pete to stand up.

3 Pete lets go of the wrist control to post his hand on the mat and slides his shin back against the fence. Pete keeps his elbow tight to maintain control of the one-arm kimura.