Mauricio "Shogun" Rua: HEEEeeeey!!!!UFC 2009 Undisputed Strategy: Closing Distance to Work the Clinch

We’re about five days out from the release of UFC 2009: Undisputed, and you’re worried.

With all due respect, you should be. You’ve wandered the hallways of mom’s house for the past half-decade or so, scolding your little brother every which way possible whenever he so much as breathes ”MMA,” and now, you’re looking at all those months of his video gaming equaling your own ass-kicking, the one time you want to sit down and play a game that doesn’t involve a toy guitar.

In the third installment of our strategy series dedicated to UFC 2009: Undisputed, the clinch comes into play. You’ve learned how to take your opponent down, and various methods of strategizing your way towards doing so. We’ve learned the ground game, from the importance of position to transition, then to submission, as well as counter-grappling.

Obviously, the ground is an option for any fighter with a Judo, Jiu-Jitsu or Wrestling background. With that, it’s important that we understand all the ways to get an opponent there. The third, and as-of-yet uncovered way of doing that would be through use of the clinch.

The clinch can be an effective launch pad for close-quarters offensive combat. From a clinched position you can unleash a diversity of offense of options including takedowns, devastating striking combinations (there are many) and even submission attempts. With Shogun, who we will use in our example (you’re used to that by now) here, it's even possible to pull your opponent down to the floor and into your guard, creating somewhat of a backdoor takedown.

The clinch is also a great way to frustrate an advancing striker, neutralize the takedown range of a wrestler, or establish a more conservative approach when an obvious deficit in striking advantages has presented itself. It’s also a great way to slow an oncoming opponent who may have more stamina, and therefore more quickness and strength.

There are two different types of clinches: the Thai clinch, and the body clinch.

Body Clinch	-
Muay Thai Clinch	-		+

Most commonly, flicking the right analog stick towards your opponent will land you in the clinch with double underhooks established. Train your timing in this maneuver to offset advancing strikers, to give your fighter time to recovery following an exhausting exchange, or to setup a takedown. The body clinch is not a launch pad for a striking assault, as it doesn’t afford an advantageous position for striking to the one pursuing the position.

Double Underhooks

Once you've established double underhooks, the only transitional option from here is to separate back to a standing, striking position. However, your options for taking an opponent down are plentiful, and this is what you should be looking to do from this position. As your two options for initiating a takedown from this position, you can:

Drop to Double-Leg Takedown	-
Pull opponent into open guard	-		+

Drop to a double leg takedown (LT + RS toward opponent)

Pull your opponent down, into your open guard (LB+ RS any direction).

You can also drop to counter an opponent’s striking attempt from this position with a single leg takedown to either side.

or

(LT+RS diagonally down-towards, or LT+RS diagonally up-towards)

Should you end up on the receiving end of an opponent's clinch attempt, flick the right analog stick to either side to maneuver your way out of the double underhooks position… first to get to the over/under position, then again to go from over/under position, to double underhooks [offense] position.

In essence, your positioning against your opponent should always be your utmost priority, and your primary concern when engaging an opponent in close quarters. The clinch is a great example. Before you’ve time to react, a standing opponent can clinch and have you setup to dine on his incoming knee before you've even figured out how to counter. For this reason, it's important to get out of a disadvantageous position in the clinch as soon as you find yourself in one.

Nothing takes priority above escaping your opponent’s advantage. In any instance of your opponent catching you at a disadvantage, the risk of being finished increases vastly.

Over/Under Position

Even in the over/under position, your takedown options are substantial, as you can use either the double underhooks or the over/under position to secure takedown via the same set of commands. You're going to have to work for position either way once the fight hits the ground, so it's good to set your takedowns up with that in mind. Be ready to immediately start attempting transitions, and time them with the animations of your on-screen fighter.

Muay Thai Clinch

The Muay Thai clinch is an effective launch pad for an offensive striking assault involving close range knees and short, strong punches. Because this type of clinch attempt can leave you more open to a big strike, it's important that you time it appropriately, only trying sporatically, and always inconsistently in your timing. As to throw your opponent off and keep him wondering when this type of attempt to may come, do not become predictable, as it’s easy to counter a Thai clinch attempt with a vicious head kick. I’ve learned this the hard way.

Once clinched, your opponent’s defensive options will be limited to striking defense (RB + RT), counter-grappling (RS up and down), and grapple blocking (holding RS away from opponent). Your offensive options, however, are much more impressive.

Once your victim is entangled in your Muay Thai clinch, you most certainly will feel the urge to drive knees down the middle into the face of your opponent, much like Anderson Silva did to rich Franklin so long ago, as we’re reminded of in one of the video game’s main menu animations. You'll be pleased to hear that it's easy to do. There’s even some range of diversity offered in how to throw those knees.

Use the right analog stick to whip your opponent in any direction: up, down, left, or right. It must be timed to properly, but after whipping your opponent in any given direction, you can put a knee squarely in their mouth with either kick button (A or B). By holding down LT while holding either the A or B button, you can throw a hard knee from either side into your opponent's body.

The Single Collar Tie

From the Single Collar Tie [Offense] position, Shogun has a signature submission that you’ll want to try pulling off against your friends: the Flying Armbar. The question for many has been how to get Shogun into position to setup the attempt. The answer is simple.

From the Muay Thai clinch, simply punch your opponent. Yep, that’s it.

In punching your opponent from a clinch position, your fighter will break the Muay Thai clinch with this free punching hand, and continue to tie-up his opponent using the other. From here, as long as you don't move the right analog stick in any given direction after punching your opponent, you are now in the single collar tie position. Attempting your flying armbar from here is as easy as pressing down on the right analog stick.

When to Clinch?

Even if you’re not playing with the power and stamina gauges visible, your fighter’s range of motion and agility will become evident when he’s getting bombed on. In these instances, the clinch works to neutralize an oncoming attacker, and buy some recovery time.

In the event that your opponent presents a substantial reach advantage, or presents a vastly superior striking ability of some other sort when opposing your fighter, work the outside perimeter by quick-stepping ( two quick taps on the analog stick in any direction) as you circle, and go for the clinch, possibly even the counter-takedown, when your opponent commits to a striking opportunity.

If having difficulty with the takedown against a striker Shogun (and other Jiu-Jitsu players) have the ability to pull an opponent down and into their guard from secured double underhooks on an opponent. If your opponent isn’t as keen on his counter-grappling and reversals as you are, this is the beginning of his end.

Anytime a pursuing opponent has gotten you to a point of eating repetitious strikes, perhaps backed into a corner or against the fence, the double underhooks are a good way to neutralize the power of the oncoming strikes, and slow the pace of your opponent’s offensive. This can also serve as a way to get striking opponents to the ground in just two sweeping motions once you’ve secured the double underhooks. Try this.

(1) As Shogun, capitalize on an opportunity to secure the double underhooks, and secure them.

(2) Hold down the LB button, and move the right analog stick in any four-point direction.

(3) Once your opponent is in your guard and down, strike aggressive with punches to the face until they posture up. Attempt your first submission once they do.

Advancements like this one, which involved a process that aimed towards an intended and thought-out result, will ultimately create your “game” on the ground.

Next Week…

We’ve covered a lot of the ground game over the past few weeks leading up to the monumental release of this game, and in the coming weeks, will look to further our knowledge of the mechanics of the game through more pieces like this.

There will be one more piece published within a few days, prior to the release of the game, which will supplement each of the previous pieces we’ve written on the game so far (here and here).

In it, we’ll round up a couple of the more effective ground sequences we’ve practiced with Shogun, and we’ll go over not only how setup opportunities, but how to set them up so that you nail them when you get there.

Until next time, folks.