[Mussolini]

Hi everyone, on the 17 of May I have my first professional MMA fight. I have a wrestling background and cut from 230 to make the 205 LW division. I won Jeff Joslins Canadian submission grappling tourney last year in the intermediate division, and in both wrestling and sub grappling I was usually the shorter of the two but it didnt seem to matter. Im just concerned that now with strikes I could be at a sever disadvantage because of my pathetic reach. In wrestling and sub grappling I always liked fighting taller opponents, as I found them easier to take down, and found it easier to submit lanky limbs than short compact ones.

What do you guys think? Are there any decent fighters at LHW or even HW that are around 5-9 5-10??

thanks for the replies.

I am fairly muscular but deffinatly not muscle bound, as I can do the splits.

Yah Monson and Igor are good inspirations

[Noth]

Igor / Monson

[Flibb]

Couldnt you get a shorter picture?

[Mussolini]

Here is somone you can compare my height to.

[Chris Kimmerly]

Where are you fightin?? It sucks not being able to fight here in ONtario unless its on a reserve.

[NinjaKilla187]

Originally Posted by Mussolini

Hi everyone, on the 17 of May I have my first professional MMA fight. I have a wrestling background and cut from 230 to make the 205 LW division. I won Jeff Joslins Canadian submission grappling tourney last year in the intermediate division, and in both wrestling and sub grappling I was usually the shorter of the two but it didnt seem to matter. Im just concerned that now with strikes I could be at a sever disadvantage because of my pathetic reach. In wrestling and sub grappling I always liked fighting taller opponents, as I found them easier to take down, and found it easier to submit lanky limbs than short compact ones.

What do you guys think? Are there any decent fighters at LHW or even HW that are around 5-9 5-10??

thanks for the replies.

I am fairly muscular but deffinatly not muscle bound, as I can do the splits.

Yah Monson and Igor are good inspirations

If you were a cruiser weight boxer you would be giving up some height to almost every guy your weight that is active in the pros right now. There are some exceptions. Darnell Wilson is 5'10.

However, if you were born to be a badass, short ain't gonna kill ya. Tyson is 5'11" and at 220 was fighting guys much, MUCH taller. Rocky Marciano was 5'11" 185lb. Archie Moore (141 career KOs) at 5'11" 185lb, Sam Langford (a great unknown boxer) was 5'7 at 185 and went 200-47-46 before going blind, and Sam MacVea 5'10 at 215.

Without knowing your body fat percentage or at least looking at a picture its hard to tell. I suspect most boxing coaches would tell you to cut unless you are like 6% bodyfat and a hell of an infighter.

Granted boxing is much different than MMA but the principles of cutting weight are much the same.

What's your reach?

[UrbanSavage]

Monson fights heavy at like 5 foot 9. Filho used to fight at 205 and he's only 5 foot 8, Arona and Wanderlei are both only 5'11". You'd be better off at 185, but if you weigh 230 and are already in fighting shape then I doubt you'll ever be fighting lower than 205. 230 is a big 205'er as is, so if you're solid at that weight and grappling's your thing then you're probably fine. The most important thing is fighting at the weight where you can perform to the best of your abilities and be comfortable fighting at, doesn't matter if most people are taller at that weight.

[Chris Kimmerly]

I am 230 at 5'7". Solid muscle. LOL No, seriously not all muscle but I am only 19%body fat

[Deloitte]

Ideally you wouldn't want to be in that weight class. Of course that's not the say it's not possible to be successful there, just a lot harder.

[BJJ-guy]

I'm jealous, I can not 'do the splits'