**How Are You Going to Win a Fight?

Developing Your Methodology**

One of the biggest problems I see when talking to fighters—especially amateurs—is simple:

They have skills, but no actual idea how they’re going to win a fight.

They can hit pads, wrestle, roll, drill… but when you ask, “What’s your methodology? What are you trying to do?” you get a blank stare.

This is a thinking man’s sport. If you’re facing real, competent opposition, you can’t rely on vibes and conditioning. You need a way to win.

1. What Is Your Methodology?

A methodology is just your repeatable way of winning—a simple, structured plan that fits:

Your personality
Your physical attributes
Your prior skills
Your risk tolerance
Your cardio and pace
Your ability to adjust under fire

It’s not a rigid script; it’s the strategic backbone that dictates your choices.

2. Example: My Original Methodology

For me, the plan was always straightforward:

Use amateur boxing combinations to pressure them backward, pin them against the fence, and remove their footwork.

Once their number-one defensive weapon was gone, I had two clear paths:

Knock them out when their movement options were gone.
Take them down, get on top, and stay on top.

Simple. Effective. Repeatable.

This is what a methodology looks like—a plan that compounds your strengths and forces opponents into your world.

3. Meta Shifts: Learning From the Dagestani Blueprint

Every few years, the meta evolves.

Right now, the modern Dagestani grappling system—using rides, turks, wrist rides, leg rides, breakdowns—is dominating because it:

Drains opponents
Controls them with minimal risk
Forces them into slow, losing positions
Builds naturally toward backs, finishes, and top-dominant submissions (kimura, darce, RNC)

You don’t have to be Dagestani to use the concepts. The point is: elite teams have an actual system. A consistent pathway to victory.

4. Why Most Fighters Don’t Have a Plan

When I speak to fighters, especially those with only a few bouts, the conversation often goes like this:

“So what’s your plan to win?”

“Uh… just fight my fight.”

They’re thinking about:

Making weight
Not losing
Getting in there and “fighting”

Not about winning strategically.

Meanwhile, in every other professional sport, teams study film, break down tendencies, identify weaknesses, and build tactics around them. MMA fighters often just freestyle it.

No wonder predictable specialists beat “well-rounded” opponents so often.

5. Style Archetypes: What Are You Actually Doing?

You don’t need 50 tactics.

You need clarity on your identity.

If you’re a striker…

Are you a pressure striker, holding centre and forcing reactions? You’ll have an entire open side of the cage to defend takedowns.
Or are you a counter striker, creating rhythm and tempo to punish mistakes? That requires composure, timing, and economy.

If you’re wrestling-based…

Do you shoot from the open?
Do you pressure to the fence and work from bodylocks?
Do you want mat returns and ride time, or do you prefer passing and ground damage?

If you’re grappling-centric…