To the untrained eye, last Saturday night's destruction of UFC champion, Frank Mir may have looked like nothing more than a big, strong, (dumb) jock, overpowering a technically superior fighter, and winning via brawn and sheer size. Not so at all. Lets watch as the positions used to dominate the match are analyzed and broken down. A magnificent video, IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIDmN...layer_embedded

there are two strategies that form the foundation of most successful half guard attacks:

1. Being on your side, facing your opponent, and
2. Getting your body under his center of gravity

Now in the fight Frank Mir was basically never able to apply either strategy, and it wasn't only Brock's physical attributes that shut down Frank Mir's half guard game. There was a lot of deliberate technique there too!

Brock deliberately kept Frank on his back and/or facing away from him, and also didn't let him get under his center of gravity.

How did he do this? At various times in the fight Brock used the following techniques and tactics:

• He stiff armed his neck (keeping Frank away),
• He pinned the head and moved his body back
• He turned the head away with his forearm
• He secured the far underhook and applied chest pressure
• He used his head to grind into Frank's jaw, and drive into the chest and armpit
• He grabbed the far armpit to turn Frank's face away and place it directly in the line of fire

Finally, when Frank tried again to turn in at the very end of the fight, Brock let him turn, and secured the far wrist. The brutal flurry of unanswered blows that ended the fight came right afterwards...

Stephan Kesting
The Grappling Tips Newsletter

http://www.scientificwrestling.com/p...partment19.cfm

can't watch the video, but the comments on positioning for a safe GNP are interesting.