What is Dirty Boxing in MMA? Win the Clinch Battle

You need to win the fights you pick, and at times there is no other way than with some dirty boxing. Knowing dirty boxing in MMA can make the difference between victory and defeat when it gets down to the wire in a clinch battle.

Disclaimer: This article was published for entertainment and educational purposes. It should not be used as personal or professional or medical advice. Please consult your doctor before deciding to engage in any new exercise activities or nutritional regimen. Take care!

What is dirty boxing?

Dirty boxing is a style of fighting that focuses on battling “inside a phone booth.” It involves close-in brawling, clinching to control one’s opponent or protect oneself from attack, and using “dirty” moves that are legal but not respected by all fighters.

The term dirty boxing originated from the sport of boxing, in which many aspects of it are against the rules. But in MMA, dirty boxing can legally involve elbow and shoulder strikes, standing grappling techniques, and other close-quarters methods of attack and defense.

What is dirty boxing in MMA?

Dirty boxing in MMA is when two fighters clinch or tie up to exchange strikes at close range. Short punches, knees, elbows, and even shoulder strikes and foot stomps can all come into play in dirty boxing.

mixed martial arts

Where Did The Phrase “Dirty Boxing” Come From?

The term dirty boxing in MMA comes from boxers who broke the rules, employing “dirty” tactics that were either illegal or frowned upon.

What types of dirty boxing techniques are used in MMA?

Most of the effective dirty boxing techniques in MMA are derived from muay Thai and Greco-Roman wrestling and even judo. Muay Thai is a type of kickboxing that originated in Thailand, permitting knee and elbow strikes as well as the standing clinch. Greco-Roman wrestling and judo focus on controlling the opponent’s upper body to move, trip, or throw them.

When you combine these techniques with other “dirty” tactics like shoulder strikes and foot stomps, you have an MMA strategy that can help fighters overcome skilled opponents.

Let’s break down some of the most common moves in dirty boxing:

Shoulder strikes

One technique often used in dirty boxing, and therefore found in MMA, is shoulder strikes. 

One way of avoiding being punched when you’re in a standing clinch position is to “hide” your head against your opponent’s shoulder.

Unfortunately, this can backfire badly if your opponent thinks of implementing shoulder strikes! While a shoulder strike is unlikely to score a knockout, they have wobbled many fighters and turned the tide of many bouts.

Elbow strikes

Elbow strikes are an essential tool in dirty boxing. Fighters will use elbows to cause painful damage and increase the odds of opening cuts. A cut in the wrong (or right) place can end a fight quickly, so some fighters embrace elbow strikes wholeheartedly. 

Elbows are also quite capable of causing flash knockouts, especially if you get your opponent to run or fall into the strike using your clinch game.

Combat Clinching

Dirty boxing is a term used to describe infighting or clinching. Combat clinching is an example of dirty boxing in MMA. 

Fighters can achieve the combat clinch by using techniques such as overhooks, collar ties, and underhooks. They use clinching to control, throw, or otherwise unbalance their opponent so that they’ll be more susceptible to follow-up attacks.

Knee Strikes

One of the most effective dirty boxing techniques in MMA is knee strikes. Knee strikes are useful for attacking a fighter’s legs, body, or head with devastating effects. Knee strikes can work to wear down a fighter’s defenses or land a single thunderous attack.

knee strikes in mma

Underhooks and overhooks

A fighter can use underhooks and overhooks to control their opponent, throw them, or shift them off balance to create an opening. 

There are multiple different types of underhooks and overhooks. But generally speaking, if your arm is wrapped over your opponent’s arm, it’s an overhook. In contrast, if your arm is wrapped beneath theirs, it’s an underhook.

Collar ties

Collar ties are technically a type of overhook, but they deserve their own mention because they’re so effective. 

A collar tie involves grabbing your opponent’s head or the back of their neck with one or both hands. These are called single and double collar ties, and they can be used to force your opponent into knee strikes or just to jerk them off balance.

Famous Fighters’ Dirty Boxing Tactics

While dirty boxing is pretty common in MMA, some fighters have taken the strategy to another level. Let’s take a look at some of the legendary dirty boxers of the UFC and mixed martial arts.

lead hook punch

Randy Couture’s Greco-Roman wrestling and boxing

Randy “The Natural” Couture is an American mixed martial artist who held titles in both the light-heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. He is a UFC Hall of Famer and also competed at the Olympics as a Greco-Roman wrestler.

Randy exploded onto the UFC canvas at UFC 13, winning multiple fights in one night to claim the tournament belt. 

“The Natural” went on to become one of the most dominant heavyweights and light-heavyweights in early UFC history. He is known for his use of the Greco-Roman clinch combined with short punches and uppercuts.

Conor McGregor’s shoulder strikes against Donald Cerrone

“Notorious” Conor McGregor is a fighter known for his precise, pristine punches. But McGregor is not shy about using a wide range of attacks in his arsenal. 

He implements a variety of kicks at longer range and some nasty close-range tactics when in his opponent’s face.

At UFC 246, McGregor fought Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone. Some fans feared that Cowboy would out-grapple McGregor, but as soon as they clinched, Conor shifted his opponent off balance, delivered several stunning shoulder strikes, and followed up with a vicious knockout.

Kamaru Usman’s foot stomps against Jorge Masvidal (first fight)

Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman has fought and defeated Jorge Masvidal twice, but the first time they met at UFC 251, some fans questioned his tactics.

Through much of the fight, Usman held Masvidal against the cage and viciously stomped on his feet. Masvidal later posted images of his badly swollen feet on social media, demonstrating the effectiveness of this “dirty” tactic.

striking martial arts combat sports

Is Dirty Boxing Effective For Self-Defense?

Yes, dirty boxing can be effective for self-defense. In fact, it is often more effective than traditional boxing. One of the most important reasons for this is that dirty boxing requires a lot less skill.

While boxing depends on using several physical skills simultaneously (including footwork, timing, punching, and more), dirty boxing is much more instinctual. 

It can take years to perfect a simple jab in boxing, whereas you can teach someone how to grab their opponent’s head and introduce it to their elbow in minutes.

Conclusion: Dirty boxing is a legit strategy in MMA

When applied at the correct times, this style of fighting can be incredibly effective in MMA. However, dirty boxing should not be used as a stand-alone technique. Instead, it should be used as part of a larger strategy.

While this form of fighting is often effective because opponents fail to prepare for it, people will expect it from you if you rely on it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Dirty Boxing

Here are some common questions and answers related to fighting “dirty” in mixed martial arts.

Which Dirty Boxing Moves Are Used In MMA?

This style of fighting employs standing grappling techniques such as overhooks, underhooks, and collar ties. These moves are generally used to off-balance an opponent or otherwise open up their defenses so you can score short punches as well as elbow, knee, and shoulder strikes.

Which Dirty Boxing Moves Are Used In Boxing?

The same moves are considered “dirty” in boxing as in MMA. The difference is that in boxing, most of them are against the rules. However, some boxers will still use dirty moves if they think they can get away with it.

What is considered dirty boxing?

In a nutshell, it focuses on getting in your opponent’s face and using grit and determination, and even the element of surprise. Generally, any form of combining standing grappling with close-quarters strikes can fall into this category.

Is dirty boxing allowed in MMA?

Yes, using techniques such as shoulder strikes and foot stomps are permitted in most mixed martial arts competitions. While rules can vary, dirty boxing is part of what makes MMA a unique and awesome sport.