Caio Borralho, a 31-year-old Brazilian, is ecstatic about his upcoming UFC 301 fight in Rio de Janeiro. Having secured a unanimous decision victory in his hometown of São Paulo last November, this will be his second appearance in the UFC on Brazilian soil. Since his debut two years ago, Borralho boasts an impressive 5-0 record inside the Octagon, maintaining a calm demeanor throughout his fights. For Borralho, pressure is a privilege. He views every moment in the Octagon as a blessing, recognizing the countless athletes who aspire to be in his position. Heading into UFC 301 in Rio, Borralho feels particularly blessed to have two teammates, Mauricio Ruffy and Jean Silva, competing alongside him. The camaraderie and shared energy among them fuel his anticipation for the event. Borralho's opponent, Scotland's Paul Craig, presents a significant challenge. Despite acknowledging Craig's skills and experience, Borralho sees this as an opportunity to showcase his own abilities and move closer to his ultimate goal—the title. With meticulous preparation and a clear game plan, Borralho is ready to face whatever Craig brings to the Octagon. While Borralho draws motivation from the Brazilian crowd, his focus remains on the fight itself. Victory against Craig could propel him to stardom in Brazil, but win or lose, Borralho is grateful for the life he leads. Surrounded by loved ones, he plans to celebrate not just the outcome of the fight, but the gift of life itself. In Borralho's eyes, every moment is a victory.

Paul Craig, renowned for his enthralling fights, eagerly anticipates his next challenge at UFC 301, where he aims to secure his 18th career victory. Known as "BearJew," the Scottish middleweight faces the formidable Brazilian contender Caio Borralho. This matchup promises a dynamic clash at 185 pounds, with Borralho entering the fight undefeated in his last five UFC appearances and boasting a formidable record on his home turf in Brazil. Craig, undeterred by the prospect of less support from the local crowd, is confident in the appeal of his unique fighting style. His strategy often involves enduring considerable punishment to secure a ground position and aim for a submission. This approach has not only led to significant victories but has also garnered him a reputation for resilience and spectacle. Discussing the dynamics of fighting in Brazil, Craig acknowledges the passionate and vocal Brazilian fans. He expresses excitement about the opportunity to win over new supporters with his performance, regardless of the outcome. His preparation for the middleweight division has involved meticulous attention to his physical conditioning and recovery, aiming for an optimal state for this bout. Craig reflects on his career trajectory, noting how he has matured in handling defeats, which are as instructive as victories in mixed martial arts. Having experienced his first professional loss in his second UFC fight, he emphasizes the emotional journey of coming to terms with defeat and the importance of resilience. As UFC 301 approaches, Craig is set to open the main card against Borralho in Rio. He promises a fight filled with intensity and drama, true to his style of turning adversity into a spectacle. Additionally, he looks forward to the atmosphere when Jose Aldo, the "King of Rio," makes his return on the same card, enhancing the excitement for what promises to be a memorable night of fights.

I magine that you’re a coach who trains martial artists for competition. Also imagine that you’re informed that in the first match of an upcoming tournament, one of your students will face Bruce Lee, and you can select which student it will be. How would you go about choosing that person and how would you train him to face Lee? In this article — in essence, an elaborate thought experiment — I’ll give my recommendations based on the only available video of Bruce Lee demonstrating his fighting style, which is available on YouTube. While this is the best data we have, there are several limitations. First, the match lasted a little more than two minutes, as opposed to the normal three two-minute rounds we see in tournament sparring. Thus, it’s unknown what techniques Lee would have used in a longer fight. Second, the video presents us with just 12 first attacks to analyze. Third, one can argue that it was not a true fight because Lee’s opponent was Ted Wong. Who is Ted Wong? A member of the Black Belt Hall of Fame, he appeared in this magazine numerous times. Most relevant for our analysis of the video is that Wong was a longtime student of Lee’s and they frequently sparred. Thus, Lee was very familiar with his opponent’s approach to fighting, more so than a person would be in a typical tournament. For example, the video reveals that Wong always initiated the attack, always attacked when in a closed position relative to Lee (i.e., both fighters facing each other with their right limbs in the lead), and always attacked with his lead hand or leg. Obviously, Lee would have been well aware of these habits. Of course, Wong was also familiar with Lee’s fighting style. While this would appear to put the two on equal footing, that may not be the case. One could argue that out of respect, especially in a public performance, a student will not attempt to show up his teacher. It’s unknown whether this dynamic was in play in this video. Despite these limitations, this is the best available record of Bruce Lee’s fighting style, and it’s better than nothing. To further analyze it for our thought experiment, I have divided this article into four sections. The first addresses what one could expect given the style of fighting that Lee exhibited — what he always did and what he never did in the video. The second section addresses what one might expect — in other words, what he occasionally did. In the third section, I give my recommendations on how I’d select the martial artist to oppose Lee. Finally, I list the strategies I’d teach to give him the best chance to win. Here is what one should take care before battling Bruce Lee. Battling Bruce Lee: What One Should Expect? The video reveals several aspects of Lee’s fighting style that are used repeatedly. This might have been because of his familiarity with Wong’s style and the fact that it’s essentially the same as Lee’s style, as well as their long history of sparring with each other. Thus, Lee likely knew which techniques would be most successful against Wong.  When facing an unfamiliar opponent, Lee no doubt would have exhibited more variety. As noted, Wong initiated 12 attacks in the video. Lee always counterattacked or dodged the first strike. He didn’t block any of Wong’s techniques. When Lee delivered counterstrikes, they were always with his lead hand or leg (i.e., the closest limb). His right limb was always in the lead. Thus, Lee never used his left hand — not to block and not to strike. Most of the time, his left arm stayed at his side. His right arm was always extended almost to its full length. When Lee punched, it was always a right hand to the face, never anywhere else. Likewise, when he kicked, it was always with his right (lead) foot, and Wong’s face was never the target. Lee did not perform any front kicks. What Can’t Be Predicted? There are four main responses to any strike. The first is to block, which Lee never did in the video. The second is to dodge, which Lee did about 17 percent of the time. The third is to counterstrike, which Lee did 83 percent of the time. When Lee countered, 70 percent of his strikes were punches (three of his counters involved a second technique). As noted, all were done with his lead hand and all targeted the face. The fourth response is to counterkick, which Lee did in 30 percent of his counterattacks. The kick was either a side kick or a roundhouse to the abdomen. While not directly applicable to a review of Lee’s unpredictability, it’s noteworthy that in 17 percent of Wong’s attacks, he couldn’t deliver the strike before Lee’s counter hit him. All of Lee’s punches and kicks hit their target, and sometimes Wong was knocked backward from the force of the blow. None of Wong’s strikes appeared to make contact. Who the Opponent Should Be? Here, I present my approach to fighting Bruce Lee as if I was coaching a group of tournament martial artists. I believe that the ideal candidate to confront him would have at least four important qualities. First, he would be an experienced and successful tournament fighter. I’m sure the person would be nervous about opposing Lee, but I’d remind him that there’s no record of Lee ever fighting in a tournament. This might increase my fighter’s confidence. Second, the person would need quick reflexes. I wouldn’t expect him to be as quick as Lee, of course, but he would have to be quick enough to block or dodge at least some of Lee’s assaults. I would remind the person that from what we see in the video, Lee’s primary advantage is his speed. The key to overcoming that is anticipating that he’ll use the techniques he displayed in the video. Therefore, I’d train my fighter to concentrate on Lee’s lead (right) hand and foot. If Lee punches, I would tell him, he should immediately protect his face. If Lee kicks, he should immediately cover his side and abdomen. Third, the fighter I select would have a significant size advantage over Lee, who stood 5 feet 8 inches and weighed 130 pounds. Wong was the same height and weight as Lee, but I’d prefer my person to be at least 6 feet tall. I’d discuss with him that his reach advantage may negate to some extent the speed advantage Lee would have in his counterstrikes because my fighter might be able to perform side kicks and roundhouse kicks without stepping into range of Lee’s weapons — unless Lee moved toward him. Likewise, because of his size advantage, if any of my fighter’s strikes hit their target, Lee would feel it. Fourth, I’d want my person to be left-hand/left-foot dominant. There’s a chance this could move Lee out of his comfort zone because 90 percent of people are right-side dominant. Thus, the majority of the sparring contests in which Lee engaged would have been with righthand dominant students. Several well-known martial artists match all four qualifications. The most obvious is Joe Lewis. Lee once called Lewis “the greatest karate fighter of all time.” Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 195 pounds in his heyday, Lewis was known for the speed of his left-hand punch and left-foot side kick, although I don’t know if this was his dominant side. Two great MMA fighters also meet the qualifications. Both are left-side dominant and have extensive, and successful, fighting careers. One is Anderson Silva, who is 6 feet 2 inches and 185 pounds. The other is Lyoto Machida, who is 6 feet 1 inch and 205 pounds. In a hypothetical match with Lee, I’m not saying I’d bet the farm on any of these fighters. Rather, I’m saying that the qualities I’m looking for do exist and, although rare, there are capable martial artists who have them. What Strategies Could Work As for the general approach to competing against Lee, I’d offer these suggestions. First, I’d remind my fighter that there’s no pressure on him because everyone expects him to lose. All the pressure would be on Lee — even to the point of, were my fighter to lose by only a few points, it could be interpreted as a form of victory. With this in mind, I’d tell my fighter not to throw any first strikes. I’d advise him to dance around and wait for Lee to initiate. I’d instruct him to refuse to initiate even if the referee gave repeated warnings to both competitors to throw punches and kicks. What would Lee do then? If he refused to strike first, both would forfeit the match. Lee would not allow that to happen. He would have to initiate. This strategy could throw Lee off his game plan. In an effort to further disrupt his style, my left-side-dominant fighter would be instructed to face Lee primarily in an open stance. (Lee’s right-side lead would be shoulder to shoulder with my guy’s left-side lead.) Remember that in the video, Wong always attacked when in a closed stance. Because Lee believed in having one’s lead be his dominant side, he likely was accustomed to fighting right-handed students in a closed stance. My fighter’s strategy would force him to adjust. How difficult this would be for Lee is unknown, but what’s there to lose? Lee now would be forced to initiate attacks with his opponent in an open stance. In addition, his opponent would have a longer reach, making Lee’s approach to initiate a strike precarious. My fighter’s left leg could reach Lee before he moved into striking distance. I would teach my fighter to do the unexpected even if it didn’t have a chance to score points — as long as it didn’t make him vulnerable to having points scored against him. For example, I’d advise him to include strikes from his rear (right) hand and leg. This would be relatively slow, and Lee wouldn’t have a problem avoiding the strike. However, Lee would know that he couldn’t become complacent. Thus, he would have more to think about, and this might reduce his focus on the strikes my fighter performs with hisleft hand and left foot. I also would advise my fighter to repeatedly practice one unexpected technique that has the potential to score: a front kick executed with the lead (left) foot. Wong never attempted a front kick in the video, and Lee never countered with this kick. It’s possible that the lead-leg front kick, which reaches its target more quickly than any other kick, might have had little emphasis in Lee’s training sessions. Tying this final strategy with some aforementioned items, I would tell my fighter to front-kick after having covered his face with both arms because the technique would require him to get close enough that Lee could reach him with those lightning-fast hands. Because Lee’s punches in the video were always to the face, my fighter would have this area protected, which might increase his chance of success. So that’s my analysis of Bruce Lee’s fighting style and the way I’d train a martial artist to compete with him in the ring. Now the question is, What would you do if you were competing against Lee? Joel Kupfersmid, Ph.D., is a psychologist with a third-degree black belt in karate and jujitsu. This article originally appeared in a 2021 edition of Black Belt Magazine

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BRAVE Combat Federation is poised to expand its European footprint by hosting its inaugural event in Burgas, Bulgaria on August 24. This addition will place Bulgaria alongside Slovenia, the Netherlands, Croatia, France, and Germany as one of BRAVE CF's European venues in 2024. The decision follows BRAVE CF President Mohammed Shahid's visit to Burgas, which came at the invitation of Mayor Dimitar Nikolov. Burgas, already known for its K1 events, is set to capture the global MMA spotlight by hosting this first-ever BRAVE CF event in Bulgaria. This event marks a significant moment in the advancement of sports within the city and the country. BRAVE CF has made significant inroads in European MMA, hosting events across 13 countries. With further events planned in the Netherlands on May 25, Croatia on September 28, and now Bulgaria, BRAVE CF will extend its presence to 16 European nations. The Bulgarian event will be one of ten BRAVE CF events scheduled for 2024, with seven of these taking place in Europe as part of the organization's 2024 European Tour. BRAVE Combat Federation has started 2024 strongly, with a recent event in Slovenia on April 20, BRAVE CF 81, and an upcoming debut in Mauritius on May 11, signifying the organization's return to Africa.

On Friday, May 3, Akbar Abdullaev will get a chance to keep his professional record perfect at ONE Fight Night 22  and ascend into ONE Championship’s featherweight upper echelon. To do so, he will have to defeat Halil Amir, a lightweight contender dropping down to make waves in a new division. The prospect of taking on another heavy-handed finisher is just another exciting part of the matchup for “Bakal.” “Everything is interesting about this fight. It will be a puncher against another puncher. We are both undefeated with a strong fighting character, and we both give great shows, ” Abdullaev told ONE. Amir is also perfect in his career, and has three wins in ONE’s lightweight division. Abdullaev understands the tall order ahead of him, especially with Amir learning under one of the all-time greats, Khabib Nurmagomedov. “My first impression of him is that he is a good fighter. He is agile, moves well, and is a good puncher,” Abdullaev said. “I think preparing at Khabib’s training camp will give him confidence, so he will be more dangerous. He was born in Kyrgyzstan, so he is tough. Let’s see how he does when he moves down to our division.” Although Amir is dropping to featherweight to take advantage of his strength and power in a lower weight division, “Bakal” is banking on using his intellect. The undefeated Kyrgyz athlete is prepping to exploit “No Mercy” and lay claim to being a contender for the ONE Featherweight MMA World Title. “My most dangerous weapon is a good attitude and knowledge. You’ll see Amir’s weaknesses in the ring,” the featherweight hopeful remarked. “My prediction for the fight is always the same – the ring will be the judge. Whoever forces his style on the match will win.” The gold is gleaming in Abdullaev’s eye as he senses how close he is to a shot at the title. With Tang Kai watching closely, “Bakal” wants to keep his streak rolling to make his case for an incredible title tilt later in 2024. “It is very important for me to stay undefeated. There is a demand for undefeated fighters. I joined this organization to be the best. After this fight, I want a chance to fight for the belt against the World Champion,” Abdullaev said. ONE Fight Night 22 airs live on Friday, May 3, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Prime Video . The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.

Reece McLaren will continue his climb toward the ONE Flyweight MMA World Championship on Friday, May 3, at ONE Fight Night 22 on Prime Video . The No. 4-ranked contender will have to stop China’s Hu Yong to maintain pace and take the next step forward toward his ultimate goal. And the Australian athlete knows he will have to survive the heavy hands of “Wolf Warrior” to pick up the win. “Yeah, he looks like he’s a great striker, he has a big right hand and swings for the fences. He’s throwing the kitchen sink at you when he throws,” McLaren told ONE. With Hu’s comeuppance in the division, McLaren sees the chance to stop his hype train before it rolls too far down the tracks. By usurping his momentum, “Lightning” plans to jump to the front of the flyweight line. “I think he’s on a three-fight win streak. He just beat the guy that beat Yuya [Wakamatsu], so this is a big turning point for myself and him, I believe. Yeah, the sky’s limit after this one if I can get the nod,” the flyweight contender remarked. McLaren has been tightening up his striking game over the past year with the help of John Wayne Parr, but McLaren still knows where his bread is buttered. With “Wolf Warrior” possessing top-notch power, the Aussie is more than willing to utilize his superior grappling on May 3. “Honestly, I think I’ve got the wood over pretty much most of the ranked ONE Championship flyweights in the grappling aspect. Jiu-jitsu, submissions, yeah, give me an inch, and I’ll take that mile,” McLaren said. With the confidence in his ground game, McLaren expects a decisive result that will excite the fans. “Tune in, and you’ll see. I think it’s gonna be a bashing,” McLaren stated plainly. The title has been elusive, and McLaren is not shy about wanting a crack against Demetrious Johnson and the ONE Flyweight MMA World Title. However, the match simply has not come to fruition just yet. While the dream is still alive, McLaren is trying not to think too far ahead until it finally becomes a reality. “Yeah, I always think I’m one fight away from [the World Title shot]. Honestly, I’m trying not to think too much into it. I’m just taking it one fight at a time. Honestly, after changing camp, new year, we’re so ready to just get in and smash everyone,” the Aussie commented. The title is not the only thing on his mind. McLaren also wants to exact revenge against familiar foes. Whether the title bout comes next or not, “Lightning” knows he has options that will fulfill his desire to compete on the global stage. “I’ve wanted that Danny [Kingad] rematch since day one, and he’s hiding up in those mountains. I’d love to run it back with Yuya. That was a hell of a fight, and I think we’ll put on another hell of a fight, and we’ll see who’s improved the most,” McLaren said. “I know I’ve definitely improved since that one, and he’s definitely improved since that one. But yeah, I feel new tactics, new me. It’ll be a different story for both of them.” ONE Fight Night 22 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, May 3. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members based in the U.S. and Canada and begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Preparation is no guarantee of survival, but few doubt that the odds of prevailing in any stressful situation increase for the prepared person. See how you rate on a self-defense readiness test. Recall the words of Louis Pasteur: “Chance favors the prepared mind.” I agree with that quote, but when it comes to martial arts, I think it’s only part of the picture. Here’s an example of what I mean: We all know that in addition to having a prepared mind, our quest for self-defense readiness should include having good health. That’s achieved by moderating our food intake, choosing meals that are more wise than not, and getting in a good level of physical activity that strengthens the myriad physical processes that make up our bodies. These choices go a long way toward making our day less grumbling and, in hard times, making us more capable. So let’s expand on Pasteur’s wisdom: Skills and drills favor the individual whose mind has been prepared. In line with this expanded foundation of preparedness, I will offer a basic battery of self-assessment questions as food for thought. I’m not declaring that this list of skills is the list. I’m merely suggesting it as a series of prompts that might provoke the person who has never given much thought to readiness to evaluate his or her training. If you decide to undertake any of the tests outlined below, give yourself one point for each success. If you fail in a test, give yourself a half point for at least trying. If you do not perform any tests or skip a test — even if you know in your heart that you could do it — give yourself a big fat zero because maybe, just maybe, that “prepared mind” assumes something that the body really can’t deliver. And even if you know your body could deliver and you don’t do it anyway, well, maybe the body could deliver but the grit cannot. Rather than use an artificial construct such as BMI (body mass index), a sport-specific definition or a military test designed for the missions undertaken by a given unit, I prefer to start with the definition of physical preparedness provided by turn-of-the-century strongman Earle Liederman in his book Endurance. Despite his own physical specialization, he allows us to see the wisdom of a good overall base that requires no herculean effort: “Every man should be able to save his own life. He should be able to swim far enough, run fast and long enough to save his life in case of emergency and necessity. He also should be able to chin himself a reasonable number of times, as well as to dip a number of times, and he should be able to jump a reasonable height and distance.” Here we go with Liederman’s list! Remember to give yourself one point for each test you complete successfully. “A man should be able to:” “Swim at least half a mile or more.” “Run at top speed 200 yards or more.” “Jump over obstacles higher than his waist.” “Pull his body upward by the strength of his arms until his chin touches his hands, at least 15 to 20 times.” “Dip between parallel bars or between two chairs at least 25 times or more.” “If he can accomplish these things, he need have no fear concerning the safety of his life should he be forced into an emergency from which he alone may be able to save himself.” Allow me to add a few other potentially useful factors to Liederman’s guidelines.  Assistance Loads • In an emergency, you may be required to move a heavy object. Can you drag a 100- pound sandbag 50 yards in less than 30 seconds? (Make your drag weight mimic a human body’s resistance. Seldom do fallen companions come with the smooth runners you find on the bottom of a weight sled.) • Can you buddy-carry another human being at least 25 yards? (If you are small in stature, no worries on this test. But give yourself two points if you can perform the next one. It provides a benchmark for the grit required to stretcher-carry with a team or carry-support a small child out of danger.) • Can you carry a 45-pound weight 1 mile in less than 12 minutes without putting it down? (The weight can be a barbell plate or a kettlebell, but I’m a fan of using an empty Olympic bar — anything that requires you to carry it and not merely distribute it comfortably as in a rucksack or weight vest.) • Can you hold your breath comfortably for one minute with only a five-second preparation time? (When a car plunges over the guardrail on a bridge or a loved one goes beneath the surface of a lake, your desire to go to your calm free-diver happy place will not exist. Immediate action will be necessary.) Underwater Swimming and/or Walking Apnea Test You’re unlikely to require that emergency breath-hold in absence of activity. Sitting calmly, holding your breath while watching the seconds tick by is one thing; holding your breath while executing a task is another. Choose one of the following. BTW, if you can’t pass the Liederman swim test, it’s safe to assume that you won’t do well here. • Can you swim 25 yards underwater? • Can you take the aforementioned five-second breath preparation and walk at a moderate pace for 50 yards without taking another breath? Best While Un-Best • Do you partake of any substances to a degree that would impinge your cognitive or physical performance? Yes, we all like to unwind. However, we must acknowledge that when the feces meets the oscillating blades, it seldom says, “Is now not a good time? I’ll come back when the party is over.” Grit Tests The following are grit tests. That means that while they pertain to the body, they are tests of resolve rather than tests of physical prowess. • Can you stand in the full spray of your shower turned to its coldest for 60 seconds? • Can you fast for an entire day (water is permitted) while resisting the temptation to indulge in your favorite foods (which you have cruelly positioned in plain sight)? • Can you for three days straight set your alarm for 3:08 a.m. (or whatever time fits into your schedule), wake up immediately (no snooze button), get on your feet, and remain standing or walking around for 15 minutes? No texting, phone checking or reading is permitted. It’s just you facing the prospect of waking up in the middle of the night and simply being up. Curiously, our research revealed that this is a test that even the most rock-solid hate completing — which means it must be important. • Named after one of the sages of stoicism, the Epictetus Day tests your tight-lipped grit. Can you, for one day, place a pebble in one shoe so that you feel its uncomfortable dig with each step? Go about your day, and if at any point the pebble shifts to a more comfortable position, adjust it to one that’s less than fun. Do not complain to yourself or to anyone else. Know that this test might elicit an occasional wince. A companion could ask, “Is there something wrong?” You might say, honestly, “Oh, I have a rock in my shoe.” “Why don’t you take it out?” Simply reply, “I like it.” No other explanation is allowed. Enjoy yourself. Mark Hatmaker’s website is extremeselfprotection.com . This article originally appeared in a 2020 edition of Black Belt Magazine.

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The 2023 “COPA COMBATE” tournament champion returns to the promotion that discovered him and ignited his professional career in 2019 COMBATE GLOBAL today announced that it has re-signed undefeated Mexican Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) sensation,  Ramiro “El Cachanilla” Jimenez  (10-0), to a new, exclusive multi-fight, multi-year promotional agreement. The deal announced today comes four months after the 25-year-old battler of Mexicali, Baja California defeated three different opponents in one night to win the 2023 “COPA COMBATE” one-night, eight-man, $100,000 grand prize tournament on December 15. “Ramiro Jimenez is Mexico’s best new featherweight star, and COMBATE GLOBAL has helped develop him to the point where he is ready and able to fight anyone at the highest level of the sport,” said COMBATE GLOBAL CEO Campbell McLaren. Jimenez started his professional career with COMBATE GLOBAL at the age of 20 and has since finished 8 of his 10 opponents by way of (T)KO or submission, all inside the first round of battle. Jimenez’s trajectory is a testament to COMBATE GLOBAL’s talent strategy of discovering promising, young new talent from around the world and building these athletes from unknown entities to stars, from the onset of their respective careers.  His return to COMBATE GLOBAL is a reaffirmation of the franchise’s ability to challenge fighters at a world-class level. The recent   Forbes “Daily Cover” story   that named COMBATE GLOBAL the 10 th most valuable combat sports promotion in the world also pegged Jimenez as one of three COMBATE fighters to “lookout for”. Jimenez is expected to return to action in La Jaula and headline a COMBATE GLOBAL live television event at the end of July. Additional information about Combate Global and its athletes can be found on  www.CombateGlobal.com  as well as on  Facebook ,  Instagram ,  TikTok  and  YouTube .

Cage Warriors has once again bolstered the largest contracted roster in European MMA with a cohort of new signings and multi-bout contract extensions. Chief among those signing multi-fight extensions are hard-hitting Belgian lightweight Jan 'Q-Bomb' Quaeyhaegens, Welsh bantamweight Rory Evans and recent Cage Warriors: Glasgow headliner Chris 'The Bad Guy' Bungard. Bungard's recent outing went viral on social media following his pre-fight tribute to the late Windham Rotunda, a.k.a. Bray Wyatt. Quaeyhaegens also saw action in Glasgow, defeating highly touted prospect Konstantinos Ntelis in the second round to maintain an impressive 100% finish rate across his twelve professional victories. Wales' Evans recently saw action in Dublin, finishing highly touted prospect Taka Mhandu in the second round. Also re-signing was former title challenger Scott Malone, who returned to action in a fight of the night brawl at Cage Warriors 171. In addition to those signing multi-bout extensions, a number of athletes have committed to the organisation for the first time. Undefeated, four-title amateur prospect Shay Ingram, DWCS vet Eli Aronov, Fight Academy Ireland's Matty Elliott and Next Generation's undefeated Jack Axworthy have all inked deals to strap on the famous yellow gloves. The full list of those committing their futures to the organisations is as follows... Extensions/Re-Signings Jan Quaeyhaegens Rory Evans Chris Bungard Scott Malone Aidan Stephen Leon Aliu New Signings Jack Axworthy Eli Aronov Shay Ingram Mario Mingaj Scott Harvey Mariusz Mikołajewski Leon Naumann Jordan Little Kallum Parker Christian Tebbett Artūrs Leisāns Raz Bring EImear Darcy Daniel Konrad Matthew Elliott Brandon Guest Cage Warriors events are broadcast on  UFC Fight Pass  and international broadcast partners. Tickets are available via  CageWarriors.com

Joe “the Brown Bomber” Louis is often rated as the heaviest puncher in boxing history. We know that he augmented his natural power with Jack Blackburn’s schooling on his step-and-punch method. But what are the other heavy bag drills. Louis also had speed. For a big man, he put some quick movements together. Speed is often an innate attribute. It can be helped along with smooth, efficient drilling, but for the most part, speed is a God-given gift. But there’s an attribute of speed that can be developed, and that speedy attribute is balance. Let’s have a listen to trainer Walter Smith and what he saw as Blackburn’s biggest assist to Louis: “He taught him balance. As long as a man keeps himself on balance when throwing punches‚ that is one of the basic things of boxing. If you don’t have good balance, your punches are not going to be effective.” But let’s not take Smith’s word on Blackburn’s insistence on balance. This is the Brown Bomber himself on what he believed was Blackburn’s greatest advice: “You ask me what one great thing he taught me stands out in my mind? It was the trick of balance — balance in setting to hit, balance in delivering a punch, balance after I landed, but most important, balance if I missed. Balance in action was his god.” Are you hearing that? Balance in action was his god. This, in turn, became one of Louis’ self-admitted vital tools. So how do you make balance an important part of your own game? With the lightweight bag. Everyone knows that the heavy bag is a staple of boxing training. When it comes to developing power, there’s nothing quite like it. The bigger the bag you can handle, the better. But to develop balance in delivering heavy hands, it’s wise to spend time on bags lighter than you would usually consider. For instance, if you commonly work a 90- to 100-pound bag, you should spend a like amount of time on, say, a 40-pound bag. Ideally, you should throw just as hard as you did on the bigger bag and not adjust for the lightness. Resolving to throw heavy despite the smaller size of the bag will give you more sway and create more chaotic angles that force you to “find your balance” in the middle of misses, near misses and bag grazes. The following is a bag rotation designed to impart a good balance of speed and power. You’ll need a heavy bag and a lighter bag as described above. Round 1: Bang the big bag hard and fast. Round 2: Bang the light bag hard and fast. Strive to not reduce your speed or power There will be more misses and/or awkward moments initially, but that’s OK. It’s part of the learning process one needs to acquire balance. Rounds 3-6: Repeat rounds 1 and 2 for two more cycles. Your goal as a striker is to always find your balance and, should you momentarily lose it while throwing hands, always be able to recover your balance in a heartbeat. Realize that often fighters miss in the ring when being off-balance matters the most. Therefore, strive never to be off-balance. Programming your brain by engaging in gym sessions that train you to deal with occasions when you miss the bag or focus mitt will allow you to get a bit closer to the reality of combat. It’s also the best way to start making balance in action one of your own gods. Mark Hatmaker’s website is extremeselfprotection.com . ONE MORE REASON TO BUY A HEAVY BAG Benefits pertaining to power, speed and balance are widely known to result from heavy-bag workouts. However, few martial artists know that upper-body strength also can be enhanced. Your options for exercises are limited only by your imagination. • Push-Up: Place your feet shoulder-width apart on a bag that’s lying on the ground with your hands shoulder-width apart on the floor. Perform a standard push-up. Repeat 10 to 20 times to develop your pectoralis major. • Dip: Begin with your feet shoulder-width apart on the floor, your knees bent at a 90-degree angle and your body facing away from the bag. Squat until you can touch the bag. Your hands should be shoulder-width apart on it with your fingers pointing toward your butt. Lower your body as far as possible by bending your elbows, then return to the starting position. Repeat 10 to 20 times to build your triceps. • Row: Straddle the bag, bend your knees and hold the harness that’s attached to the top of the unit. Lift the top of the bag to your chest and slowly lower it back to the floor, allowing the bottom to remain stationary. Repeat 10 to 20 times to strengthen your trapezius and latissimus dorsi. • Front Raise: Get a bag with a water-filled base. Remove the padded top section. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Grasp the end of the top section and lift it in front of your body. Once your arm is horizontal, lower it. Repeat 10 to 20 times with each arm to develop your anterior deltoids. • Lateral Raise: This exercise is similar to the front raise except that you lift and lower the top section while it’s at your side. Repeat 10 to 20 times with each arm to build your lateral deltoids. • Military Press: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Grasp the bag and base (filled with enough water to match your ability) and lift it to face level. Hold it horizontal as you slowly raise it overhead and lower it. Repeat 10 to 20 times to work your posterior deltoids. • Biceps Curl: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. With your arms straight, grasp the bag and base by the ends. Slowly bend your arms to move the unit toward your shoulders, then lower it. Repeat 10 to 20 times to hit your biceps. • Triceps Extension: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Hold the ends of the bag and base and lift it overhead. Slowly bend your arms to lower it behind your head, then extend your arms. Repeat 10 to 20 times to strengthen your triceps. This article originally appeared in a 2021 edition of Black Belt Magazine.