hairgel62

Guys like Jeff Monson, Sean Sherk, Rousimar Palhares, Melvin Manhoef, ect are shorter guys who kick all sorts of ass for their weight divisions. It would seem that wrestlers are better if they are shorter due to the whole gravity thing,and I could see how dirty boxing would be advantageous to the shorter limbs as well. I was just wondering since im about 5'8 or 5'9 (and have a decent wrestling background) and not exactly built like a lightweight, if it would be foolish to ever hope to fight heavy guys. Usually they are easier to take down for me, and ive been training at a local gym. The reach is a semi-issue, but the strength advantage for me is huge disadvantage for them too. Why dont you see more shorter guys fighting at heavy weights? It is clear that any disadvantage created by reach is almost always made up by a strength advantage? While a guy like arlovski is 240lbs and strong with a long reach, he is not 240lb jeff monson type strong.

KratosX91

If I fight at 5'9 135, and my opponent is 5'5 135, he is likely stronger with a lower center of gravity so I probably wouldnt try to grapple with him is all.

Tarter

I would say ground and pound... you can get powerful punches in without a whole lot room.

Toxic

The reason you dont see shorter guys in the bigger division is simple see Monson Sylvia, a huge reach advantage is difficult to overcome. Personally I feel Monsons height or lack there of has really held back his MMA career.

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Adasko

in the whole jiujitsu aspect of mma being shorter is an advantage.
if you are shorter, you have shorter arms and legs as well so they are more difficult to catch in submissions i guess...

Aaronyman

isn't length better for initiating submissions tho...armbars, triangles, kimuras...?

Guy

I was watching Vovchanchyn vs. Kerr I and Kerr was LnPing Igor and then Igor escaped the and Bas said it was easier to escape from the bottom if your shorter (Igor was 5'9 and 233) due to your legs being closer to your abdomen so you could push off easier.

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Mc19

Height is over-rated in my opinion. Look at Tyson in boxing, he was one of the smallest heavyweights around.

name goes here

Though shorter limbs are less useful for hitting stuff hard, they are better for pushing weights, so getting out from teh bottom.

Guy

I think if you have a short, compact body it will also increase your punching power. Manhoef, Vovchanchyn, and even Rashad Evans are great examples of this.

__________________
Jack Johnson: Boxing's greatest Heavyweight champion.