Southpaw Strikers

willieshatner · #1 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 04:32 PM

so as I was sitting around watching the UFC show with a bunch of friends last Saturday, I started talking shit (surprise surprise). We were watching the Rich Franklin fight and I mentioned something about the dangerous left straight. I happen to be a lefty myself, as well as the proud owner of an occasionally lethal left straight. so I started going on and on about how lefties kick ass

somewhere in the middle of my self-glorifying tirade, I started thinking about all the great fighters who fight with there right foot forward. Mirko, A. Silva, Franklin. Then there are some particularly tricky bastards like Bisping who, following in the footsteps of the legendary boxer Joe Lewis, converted to the orthodox stance. Regardless of what stance they use, it seems like almost all lefties in MMA are primarily strikers

IMO, being a lefty is an advantage in the striking game. I think it makes sense, most lefties are used to fighting righties and most righties are also used to fighting righties. my own (limited) experience as a counterpuncher also supports this. I'm not sure it's all related to experience either, most lefties I've sparred with and watched fight (I've never actually fought a lefty)have particularly strong, snappy and accurate strikes, which has nothing to do with who they are used to fighting.

what do you all think? am I just talking shit or is there some truth to what I'm saying? is it coincidence?

also, who in professional MMA is left-handed? listing these may support or weaken my theory

NixHex · #2 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 04:36 PM

I'm a lefty and it has been quite beneficial when throwing punches. I, like Tyson, Lewis, and Bisping stand in an orthodox stance cuz I like throwing 3 punch combos left jab, right straight, left hook. I don't know how many MMAs are lefthanded though, just the major one's.

valheruking · #3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 04:53 PM

frank trigg, nick diaz, and cro cop are southpaw

AJL416AZ · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 05:44 PM

Gomi is a southpaw, he switches his stance back and forth though, if he stands orthodox he seemingly throws the 1-2-3 a lot
if he stands southpaw, he normally throws to the body a few times, and then throws the 2 at the head

willieshatner · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJL416AZ

Gomi is a southpaw, he switches his stance back and forth though, if he stands orthodox he seemingly throws the 1-2-3 a lot
if he stands southpaw, he normally throws to the body a few times, and then throws the 2 at the head

I thought Gomi might be a lefty but I wasn't sure. Some people like to switch it up.

I'm not one of them, I tend to stay in the southpaw stance and try to land the straight left counter then go for the finish when it lands. Is it safe to say that the southpaw stance is better for counterpunching?

Afro · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJL416AZ

Gomi is a southpaw, he switches his stance back and forth though, if he stands orthodox he seemingly throws the 1-2-3 a lot
if he stands southpaw, he normally throws to the body a few times, and then throws the 2 at the head

Thus why Gomi is such a damn good striker

domination · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 07:10 PM

im both. and i could throw big combos and little combos in both orthodox and south paw. but i like south paw better.

Salvy_Mic · #8 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 07:23 PM

Diego Sanchez is another southpaw, with real good power coming by way of his right hook. While being a southpaw does have it's advantages, an experienced, talented orthodox striker can nail a southpaw with the right hand lead all day, because the stances are open. Then again, the same goes for an experienced, talented southpaw striker, he can nail the left hand lead all day on an orthodox.

blah · #9 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 08:26 PM

who is actually a natural southpaw in mma? i think one way to guess is the power of their punches. guys like lawler and sanchez i believe are natural orthodox fighters who fight southpaw, based on the fact that they are noted for their right hooks, lawler especially. how about someone like jens pulver, who has the famous left hook? is he then a natural southpaw?

AJL416AZ · #10 (**permalink**) 03-12-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blah

who is actually a natural southpaw in mma? i think one way to guess is the power of their punches. guys like lawler and sanchez i believe are natural orthodox fighters who fight southpaw, based on the fact that they are noted for their right hooks, lawler especially. how about someone like jens pulver, who has the famous left hook? is he then a natural southpaw?

jens is a southpaw, and fights southpaw. its just that he actually has boxing skills, unlike most MMA fighters, and actually throws the hook from the back hand