In this month’s MMA 101, Chris Weidman’s striking coach, Ray Longo, chronicles the standing elbow that Weidman used to derail Mark Munoz’s four-fight win streak and catapult him to a title shot against Anderson Silva.
From watching video of Munoz, we noticed that he was telegraphing his overhand right by leaping into the punch to cover distance. Any time a fighter telegraphs his intention, it allows the opponent to “stop hit” or intercept his movement. Knowing Chris would have a reach advantage, coupled with Munoz’s exaggerated motion, we thought Chris could intercept his punch with a standing elbow.
1) Chris and Ray square off in orthodox stances.
2) Chris throws a straight right to get a feel for distance, which Ray parries. Ray begins to counter with a looping overhand right.
3) As Ray continues to throw the overhand right, Chris slips the punch to the outside, steps in, and delivers a short, right elbow to Ray’s face.
4) As in the Munoz fight, the elbow rocks Ray, who turns to the inside, giving Chris the opportunity to take his back.
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