An interesting collaboration between two YouTubers, Jedi BJJ (Jedi Does Jiu-Jitsu) on one side, representing grappling, and Jeff Chan as the MMA YouTuber (MMA Shredded) demonstrates that specialization in one area of MMA does not provide the edge it once did against someone training MMA as a whole.
Striking
As round one started, the MMA YouTuber was clearly in control of the striking exchanges, even tho the BJJ YouTuber had some effective striking combinations as well. The gap was obvious with Chen using counter-punching to control the distance and always having the last say.
Some of the errors on the side of Jedi BJJ that Chen points out in the video (below) is that the uses no setups for his kicks or punches, but rather tries to get them directly, which rarely works against experienced strikers.
There is also a very detailed analysis of body positioning during a cross, and how the BJJ YouTuber leans back, moving the head away from the knee line, while the MMA YouTuber goes the opposite way. You can see who is more successful.
The lack of head movement during exchanges also gets Jedi BJJ in trouble.
In the second round, Chen keeps up the dominant effectiveness in striking exchanges but almost gets KOd when a double leg shot meets an extremely well-timed counter knee by Jedi.
The best moment of the round is Chen’s baiting spinning back fist, when he pretends to run away, only to set up a very sneaky spinning back fist when Jedi give chase.
At this point, Chen has thrown so many low kicks that he easily uses the old Dutch fake by faking low and going high, which he does on several occasions.
The final round sees the two YouTubers pick their pace up, with Jedi BJJ able to score by some impressive counterstrikes, in particular a well-aimed side kick. He also uses follow-ups here, when Chen intercepts his teep, by looking for a spinning back fist of his own to stop Chen from countering.
Grappling
The grappling is actually scarce because the MMA YouTuber does not want to get caught up in the BJJ YouTuber’s game.
At the end of round one Jedi BJJ shoots for a single and gets a solid takedown. Chen responds by immediately going into the oK-guard and attempting to use it to get to the back, which fails, but does give him the space to stand up once again, and striking resumes.
In the second round, Chen manages three takedowns (after almost getting knocked out with that knee during the first attempt). He gets an inside double leg first but decides to stay far from Jedi’s guard and ground and pounds instead. Jedi does bait him towards a single-leg setup from the guard, but Chen disengages once again.
The MMA Youtuber follows this up with an inside double leg takedown which again leads immediately back up, and an inside double that Jedi BJJ tries to turn into a backside single via seated guard, but fails.
After a striking exchange when Chen catches Jedi’s steep in the third round, he gets a rear body lock, and the two end up doing some clinch grappling on the wall, before disengaging once again to go into striking.
Take Aways
As cool as specialization is until you can bring the opponent into the area of that specialization, it won’t help a lot against an MMA-trained fighter. The MMA YouTuber, in this instance, outstrikes the BJJ expert but also manages more takedowns due to his ability to set them up with strikes rather than from clinching. He stays I control by denying the BJJ YouTuber to going to his domain, disengaging and forcing him back up every time danger lurks.
