The Southpaw: Cracking the Code

By Ricardo Jean-Pierre

In striking, the southpaw has always been seen as having an edge when challenging orthodox fighters. But, two men during UFC Fight Night 45 proved otherwise.

The southpaw stance, regarded to be a very confusing stance to fight against is the natural position of most left-handed fighters and has been adopted by many successful right-handed fighters.

Bruce Lee preferred to fight as a southpaw even though he was right-handed. Other notable right-handed southpaws include Anderson Silva, Rich Franklin and Winky Wright.

What supposedly makes a southpaw so dangerous is not necessarily within the stance itself. In fact, the disadvantages an orthodox fighter faces against a southpaw are exactly the same.

The power of the southpaw comes from experience. As most people are right-handed, southpaws spend most of their careers training and fighting against orthodox fighters and not vice versa.

Three strikes that prove to be an issue for orthodox fighters are the southpaw’s right jab (especially if it's the power hand), the right hook and any strike coming from the rear left.

Manny Pacquiao repeatedly lands the right hook over the top of Margarito's jab

Mirko Cro Cop times the rear left high kick on a leaning Mark Hunt

In the co-main event, Dunham, the southpaw, tries to bring the orthodox standing Barboza to the ground by shooting in for a single leg, which Barboza stuffs. Dunham attempts to close in on his opponent to keep him from using his range all the while circling him to avoid dangerous strikes. Soon enough, the cat and mouse chase is over.

Dunham's body catches the toes of Barboza's rear right kick, a shot typically reserved for the left side of the body, but this time, clipping Dunham's liver. Dunham crumbles and Barboza finishes him with strikes from the top.

During the main event, Miller seems to have one up on Cerrone. He connects with a powerful straight right and completes two successful takedowns (although Cerrone quickly recovers).

Then, Cerrone lands three piercing knees to the body everytime Miller closes in and plants a front middle kick.

Miller secures the first round for octagon control.

However, a few seeds were planted in the mind of Cerrone.

In the second round, the previous body shots are slowing Miller's advances. A snap kick to Miller's body causes a referee time out. The referee misjudges the clean shot for a low blow.

With a minute and twenty-nine seconds left on the clock, Cerrone feints a straight right, disguising a crushing right shin to the head. Cowboy claims another head kick victory.

On the post-fight UFC Tonight show, Daniel Cormier and Kenny Florian discussed how the southpaw's body is vulnerable to body shots coming from the rear leg as seen in the two fights.

They discussed whether Miller should have switched stances or have kept his right arm in tight to block body shots.

I noticed both southpaws confronted challenges usually reserved for orthodox fighters.

There are more commonalities between Barboza and Cerrone besides the body shots. Both fighters were professional muaythai/kickboxing champions before they entered mixed martial arts. Miller and Dunham are accomplished grapplers, not strikers.

The wrestling position for southpaws is usually the orthodox stance allowing them to plant their left foot foward and push off for a takedown. Dunham and Miller's objective was naturally to shoot for a takedown or at least close the distance to achieve the clinch, in this case to no avail. With Barboza and Cerrone dictating the range and especially Cerrone’s ability to throw unpredictable strikes, the orthodox fighters had the southpaw advantage.

So, the next time you see an MMA fight where the southpaw is getting schooled in stand-up, ask yourself if the fighter is a true southpaw striker or an orthodox fighter looking to wrestle.

The southpaw-orthodox matchup is a two-way street. The southpaw stance can be exploited as easily as a righty's. The advantage lies in the understanding, not the stance.

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