Today is all about standing in the pocket and going toe-to-toe with another fighter. Of the 6 fighting styles in Undisputed, 3 are devoted to striking and while many might believe there aren't many differences between them, that is far from the case. So let’s start with one of the simplest and yet deepest fighting styles:

Boxing

Boxing is the literal definition of hand-to-hand combat. It’s all about one thing and that’s using your hands to knock another person out. Boxers utilize a variety of straight punches, hooks and uppercuts to target and an opponent’s head and torso. Anyone looking to use boxing as their primary fighting style would be wise to make use of the speed and power it provides. Quick combos are a great way to wear an opponent down and set them up for the big KO. The biggest tradeoff that players will need to be aware of is the relatively short range. Focusing on using just your hands means you’ll need to be in close to do any serious damage. As a result you put yourself in more danger. This makes the defensive aspects of boxing as important as the offensive aspects. One very important defensive technique is moving and utilizing proper angles. Positioning yourself in a way that minimizes the exposure of your vital points is key. Also counter punching and feints will keep your opponents thinking twice about trying to take you out.

Kickboxing

Obviously the immediate difference between boxing and kickboxing is the use of kicking. Just by adding that one facet to the style adds so much though. Firstly kicks are somewhat stronger than just about any punch a fighter can throw. As a result, it makes a knockout far more likely and in a shorter amount of time. Also kicks can be thrown to all levels of the body. Punches are focused entirely on the head and torso but kicks can be aimed at both those areas as well as the opponent’s legs. It might not seem like much, but leg kicks are a devastating weapon throughout a fight in terms of taking away your opponents mobility and setting up a devastating KO head shot. The kicks are not the only thing that characterize Kickboxing. The style also uses a similar variety of punches as boxing but with the added depth of strikes like a spinning backfist. However as different as Boxing and Kickboxing are, they share similarities particularly when it comes to the clinch game. In the clinch both boxers and kickboxers place one hand on the back of the opponents head and use the other hand to throw hooks and uppercuts. They are able to throw knees as well, but those are specifically used against the body. For two styles that are especially knockout centric, don’t underestimate the clinch game they bring to the table.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai is every bit as devastating as people think it is. When you’re thinking Muay Thai fighters you have to look at them almost as if they have eight limbs. They use their two fists and two shins to throw punches and kicks respectively but the use of both elbows and both knees to equally devastating effect is what sets the style apart from Kickboxing. The use of elbows and knees as often as punches and kicks shows just how widespread and varied the focus on striking is in Muay Thai. However if there’s one thing that can overshadow the striking abilities of a Muay Thai fighter, it’s the Muay Thai clinch. This version of the clinch sees both hands locked behind an opponent’s head as a fighter again attacks with elbows and knees. Elbow strikes can severely damage an opponent’s head, specifically in a way that cuts them open. The elbow strike in this position is surprisingly versatile allowing for direct strikes, uppercuts, downward elbows, diagonal elbows, back elbow strikes, etc. The use of knees in this position is even deadlier though. Primarily they can punish an opponent’s torso making breathing difficult throughout the fight. However a knee to the head is almost an instant KO. With both hands controlling your opponent’s head, you can pull them down adding to the amount of damage the attack does. Muay Thai has a number of facets that can lead to victory, but if you master them all only a fool would want to stand and trade blows with you.

Check back again on Thursday when I take a look at the 3 grappling styles that will be present in UFC 2009: Undisputed.