Quick Questions for the Boicast

Since Dominic Cruz is supposed to be fighting next month I wonder if you could share your ideas on what’s an additional wrinkle he could potentially add to his game. A few of his ideas of lateral motion from square-ish stance, feints and not backing in a straight line are slick. It would be cool to see some young new fighter take those concepts a step further. Maybe you’ve already talked about this if so could you share a reference?

Will you ever go back to adding audio to your fight primer articles?

Hey Jack how do you feel about Masaki Noiris career right now in one?Hes been on a 3 fight losing streak and been rocked pretty easily in his last fights and he’s fighting again this weekend with a relative short bounce back time since his last fight.I know he’s one of your favourite kickboxers and I wonder what you think of it. Thx Ps Hoping for a world where yuki yoza and Johnathan Haggerty can fight each other

Hello Señor Slack, I’m currently trying (emphasis on the trying) to write an MMA fiction book. Would like your advice on how to write interesting fight sequences that are not too simple but not get lost in the left hand, right hand technicality of it all? Thank you for any advice.

I really like the video you did on Marcelo awhile ago. Will you review the match he’s having with Imanari?

Hey Jack, big fan of the pod. With Merab's dominance at 135, it seems like he's a puzzle people have yet to solve. If you were to design the anti-Merab fighter and gameplan, what would that look like?

To the Joanna J of Koala MMA (us pre patreon bois remember) It seems being taller is an obvious benefit in striking, how does height advantage play out in wrestling? Seems like smaller fighter can reach the opponents hips more easily but plenty of ways to leverage height as well to stop the takedown, Id like to hear your thoughts and suggestions for all of the short kings out there. Also, can we hear some of your favorite fight choreography scenes from Movies/Tv (Enter the dragon is the bingo free space obviously)

How do you suggest training to be able to enforce your game on someone. Strictly speaking for striking based sports, and how would you tailor this for amateur’s who aren’t necessarily sparring hard?

Lyoto Machida is probably my favorite fighter of all time. Aside from his wonderful attitude and respect for his opponents in the cage, he also had a unique style that other fighters struggle to emulate to this day. His rise to the top on the UFC was so fast and overall quite uncomplicated until the Shogun fights. It seemed like his opponents really struggled to figure out his movement and his patterns. What was it about his style that made him so difficult to figure out, and why do other fighters struggle to emulate this style to this day?

What do you think about weighing title wins over regular wins when it comes to the goat discussion? I feel like gsp, dj, and Silva’s title reigns although impressive are given extra weight without considering how fast they got their title shots compared to modern guys like Merab, Belal, or Islam or that modern fighters as a whole are better than their predecessors . Arguably the latter 3 have beaten just as good or better competion in their streaks than the former 3 but it feels like people just see the title and weigh that fight more if that makes sense. Is anyone Anderson beat as good as Izzy beating Rob twice for example? Are Dj’s wins over Tim Elliot and Wilson reis really that much more impressive than pantoja’s over Steve erceg or Alex Perez etc?

We hear a lot about coaches who improve fighters striking or BJJ but who are coaches that you've noticed consistently improve a fighters wrestling?

1. What do you think are the benefits for fighters who start training mma rather than a specific martial arts example leon edward’s and rory mcdonald. 2.why did rory never reach the heights expected he seemed like a guarantee to win a title.

Ceiling for Inoue and match ups you think are intriguing? Thanks slacky boy

Hey Slack, I recently watched Luke Thomas’s video on the fight night weights from 311 and was surprised by how little Jiri cuts at 205, and it actually seems feasible for him to make 185. If Jiri ever decides to move down to middleweight, how do you think he’d stack up against the current top ten in that division?

Hey, hope you’re doing well. I just read your exchange on twitter, and how you said « they will both have terrible CTE, they are professional fighters ». I’m kind of struggling to continue watching and enjoying the sport, knowing these guys will have terrible brain problems in just a few years. I kinda feel guilty in a way even. How do you deal with that feeling ? Furthermore how much do you think a whole life of training combat sports, not professionally but as a serious hobby, like you, will affect an individual. Greetings from France

Still waiting for the heavy hands colab. I know this is not a question

What's the best way to go about developing "your game"? I see 2 kinds of methods, which boil down to "i want to be good at this so i'm going to work really hard at it" and conversely "i have a natural talent for this so i'm going to work on that because it feels good to be good at something already"

How about that Sakuraba Filthy Casual guide? Waiting patiently!

I've been listening back through the old podcast/history episodes and was excited to hear you recommending some books and manuals on boxing. I was wondering if you had an updated list of combat sports books that you would recommend. Also, have you thought about writing anymore books? If so, what topics would you write about?

1. Good clinch boxers outside of old ass Randy. Ways into the collar tie clinch and strikes to land (Our gym has started working on a wrestling style club strike. The entry is helping significantly) 2. Adding some natural head movement in the stance. (I have slow ass reactions and get popped with jabs every time I sit still. But constant moving in a fight saps energy)

What are some of your favorite combat books?

Does someone die in the Hooker V Gaethje fight?

How to shoulder role with kicks and the threat of a takedown?

Different type of question, did you see that open note grappling got suspended on twitter for copyright infringement? If you had the power to remove one twitter account who would you remove? would it be a competing analyst, an annoying rage baiter, or mohammad mokeav's most mentally ill fan?

Dear Mr. Slack, any reason why ground and pound seems to be so underutilized in modern mma?

What are your thoughts on activity for fighters. We tend to see top ranked fighters who are constantly active get better fighter per fight. Once they gain some traction, receive a low ranking or a belt they tend to relax and are allowed to heal the major injuries they've sustained and ignored since the start of their run. Do you think that dip in activity legitimately takes away from their ability to stay a top fighter? Do you think that fighters should stay active as long as possible and once they take a break someone else is still staying active and therefore getting better? Activity has always been this weird aspect of our sport where the second a great fighter needs to take a break, even if it's a relatively short span of time, they tend to never recover or get back to the same level that allowed them to go on their win streak. Even in cases where they are healing debilitating injuries.

What are your favorite conceptual/theory/macro heavy grappling instructionals? (As opposed to a more detailed/specific/micro approach)

Defense/counters to the 10 finger guillotine? Particularly from turtle/front headlock and seated guard.

What does your game center around when sparring? Surely you aren't 'an overhand & double leg' kinda fella??

Thoughts on a dirty moves / cheating tier list / guide? Are oil checks S tier?

Is Darren Elkins sandblasting meldonium so that he can take more of The Damage?

Hey Jack, love the work! I am half Welsh, half German. Will I ever have a compatriot as a champ? Doesn’t seem that likely.

Is Katlyn Chookagian getting finished by Valentina Shevchenko and then immediately turning around and beating her sister the funniest thing any fighter has ever done?

On your old boxing pieces you mention working on a Muhammad Ali piece. Is it still in the works? I'd love to listen!

It seems to me the mma star with the most enviable career (taking into account all time and all promotions) is unquestionably Genki Sudo. Yet he seems somewhat forgotten. I wonder if you would do a study of him, as I know it must be true that you admire his work.

Which highly talented fighters do you think could have been champions if they didn't stay in a shit gym despite not improving at all? Cyril Gane and Gunnar Nelson come to mind.

I’m watching some Yuki yoza fights, as he is the ultimate boi. I notice he finds himself on one leg a a lot, and I’m sure that is partially due to his yoza kick and dexterous legs, but how is he able to stay so defensively safe while constantly on one leg? Thanks jack, love the pod, you’ve advanced my knowledge as an athlete and fighter more than anyone in the space. -DSK

How to manage clinching position (collar tie, double collar tie., Over under...) in MMA vs other combat sports

How to incorporate feints and head movement

In Islams most recent title defense we barely got to see him put to the test, but like any fighter hes going to have weaknesses/ openings that can be exploited. What potential weak spots do you see that no one has tested so far in his carrer and what could be done to put them to the test?

I watched When We Were Kings and now I need more fight sport documentaries. Which other ones do you recommend?

How interested are you to see Marcelo Garcia return against a 48-year-old MMA fighter, early on card in the BJJ hotbed of Bangkok?

Could you talk about closed stance foot position battles? Feet inside Verse outside your opposition?

Hi Jack , I was reading your article on cutting off the ring and you conclude by saying next we will talk about infight. But I didnt find nothing about infighting , can you please analyze the art of infighting . Thanks

Why do so many fighters insist on pulling guard even when they're bad at it? Isn't bottom guard terrible in mma considering the opponent can punch and elbow you in the face?

Does Aldo stalling takedowns on the fence for minutes at a time worse than “letting” the takedown happen and working his way up to get a more preferable scramble.

What progress have you made with the Heavy Hands boys in figuring out what will be the single best mma podcast episode of all time once you three are all together for an episode? (also, me-in-the-future looks forward to asking when we can expect the second one, in case you want to get ahead of that question too)

Hey jack will you ever make a guide or article about guard work/play in mma? What works and what doesn’t, how to use it well, who uses it the best, when to look for sweeps when to actually attempt submission etc…

Why doesn't Islam put on 80 pounds of muscle and go up to Heavyweight?

A really really serious question: could you beat Dana white in a fight? The looser has to accept the other ones stance on fighter-pay;)

Whats the craic Jack What would be some of your favorite moments watching the art of struggle cuddling, man touching man time BJJ?? Also what have you learned from Neil Melanson that has improved your grappling most Appreciate all the content good sir

Ever entertained the idea of a fighter switching between multiple style based off which stance (i.e. squared, bladed) they adopt atm in a match? Like the stance system in Niōh

What are some of the intangible attributes that makes a good grappler and perhaps fighter. And how would one go on about improving them? Some context that may help clarify my question. In my experience I tend to lack that competitive edge, or perhaps confidence in my ability to land a technique, regardless of drilling, and as a result end up being put on the defensive and inevitably losing more than im winning exchanges. Ive seen a lot of people surpass me, regardless of number of hours on the mats.

What is your P4P ranking with your own criteria currently in MMA and boxing? Also would you be willing to watch and recap more boxing? As a mma and boxing fan thank you

Best cage wrestling techniques for lighter fighters? Struggling to produce enough of a mechanical advantage to get larger opponents down

Your opinion on the crackdown in mma? Also calf kicks from the open stance

As a fight fan, I sometimes get hit with a sense of guilt that there’s blood on my hands. Even though I watch for the more technical, tactical, and strategic side of things. As the internet’s premier fight nerd, how do you deal with the fact that people get brain damage for our pleasure and your pennies? Sorry if this is too real… Also why isn’t the underhook, head-post, with Wrist control a more popular position against the cage? Lots of space for knees and to turn over elbows. Maybe it makes it too easy to separate and circle off? Best, Your Boi Shrimps

I've become so jaded watching mma, that my friends who are new to mma, can't wrap their head around the fighters that I like or not, regardless of popularity. One example, was raoni barcelos, guys old, but he's skilled everywhere. He will never make a championship, but he's as complete as you could be to make a championship run. Who are some of the most skilled mma fighters you've seen, maybe top 5, who never made it to the belt but based on their abilities, should have Become a great. Thanks mate 👍

hi jack!! long time youtube subscriber but relatively new boi! I was wondering what you would have a beginner nogi grappler focus on early in their grappling career since nogi grappling is such a multifaceted game. What athletes do you reccomend a beginner study to get better at grappling and also what does your personal nogi game look like? Trinaldo is the goat bless

Is there anything the UFC has been doing right in the Apex slop era?

I love a front headlock cycle with Darce-Anaconda-high elbow transitions. And I’m pretty good with my arm bars and triangles when “falling” from top to bottom. What else can I add to my BJJ game to supplement these two things? (I’m more of a judoka than wrestler on the feet if that helps)

Hey Jack long time listener but recent subscriber, always loved Muay Thai/ certain styles of kickboxing (non Dutch). My question is, do you think MT gives a good base for mma, traditional MT seems too static and lacks boxing nuance but maybe a style more like saenchai with his footwork may translate better? Just would like thoughts as it seems like the meta around mma striking prioritises boxing

In light of the recent Saudi Funded boxing league, will there ever be a promotional format that can compete with conventional match making? This sounds like it will still be the conventual matchmaking style of the UFC thanks to a singular promoter. Would the PFL/GFL ever have a chance with infinite pockets? Even GFL's Darren Owen openly said their league format is open to manipulation with Mike Heck, and we all remember the Shane Burgos run in the PFL. What would the SFL (Slacky's Fight League) look like? Cheers!

In honour of Inoue fight week, who would you have on your 'Mount Rushmore' of Japanese combat sports and is there a current Japanese fighter that is going under the radar? Appreciate the content boss!

Did you end up watching the end of the OKTAGON lightweight tournament last year? Would love to hear your assessment of Losene Keita.

Do you feel like MMA is slowly leading to the eraser of specific curriculums of martial arts? I feel like MMA has gotten to a place where even if someone cross trains in something like JKD, Kung Fu, or Tae Kwon Do via their coaches no one makes it a point to say "I learned to do x from x curriculum of martial arts". I think a consequence of this is more casual martial artists saying if there was anything useful in this martial art why don't we see it in MMA. Similarly all grappling seems to just be BJJ to MMA fans now. Thoughts Slacky?

Grant Dawson applied what seemed to me like a far more suffocating/striking heavy game in his last fight at 311 that reminded me a lot of Khabib. In past fights he seemed like he hunted the sub and won boring decisions with the occasional cool grappling exchange or finish. Was this also your read on the fight, and what are techniques or strategies that fighters like Dawson could use to emulate Khabibs success without having the inhuman cardio? Assembling a team to break Kopylov out of the Apex bless

I really like the question episodes in between. Exited for the next History Episode! How do you handle the constant straight retreating in Sparring when there ist no barrier? And what are your thoughts on ear protection in grappling? I am the only one in my Gym using it and I feel there ist no downside exept for the Young Guys thinking they Look cool with crumpled ears.

In Boxing, how do I deal with a striker who is much faster than me when we are sparring outside of the ring? (I cant push him into other people)

Your top three Messy Du Plessis fighters who heavily favour tactics over mechanics?

Mr J Slack, Would you consider playing a multiplayer VR boxing game? There's one currently in testing on Meta quest, being rapidly developed. It's called The Thrill of The Fight 2. It's attempting to be a real boxing simulator, and so has the potential to be all the fun of sparring without the head trauma.

Hi Jack what are some of your personal dream fights in MMA and why? Also how do you think they would play out?

Hey Jack, been a long time reader and listener (2015 I think?) I'm currently an amateur MMA fighter, but ultimately want to become a coach in the future. Outside of teaching all the different disciplines/skills needed to compete in MMA, what do you think coaches should be doing to get the most out of their fighters and which coaches in the world of mma do you think are getting it right? I know this would be highly individualistic, but would love to hear your thoughts. As a bonus question, do you think there's anything MMA coaches could take from coaches of other sports? Cheers

Luke Thomas just posted about Jiri weighing-in at 208lbs on the night of the fight. How well do you think a weight-bullying Jiri does at Middleweight? Cheers from Minnesota!

Will you ever do an in depth article or video on how to stop the wall walk?

Hi Jack, do you have any book/ressources about the all behind the scenes,money laundering for yakuza, bigger than life characters of the golden age of Pride ?

dear slacky hacky: why can’t fighters do a peroneal nerve block (local injection done by regional anesthesiologist) to make themselves immune to leg kicks. there’s no way the commission could test for that. It’s a pure sensory nerve and it wouldn’t affect their motor function whatsoever. And as a corollary. What is your opinion on the enhance Games? cheers from North Cuba (miami)

Thoughts on Tenshin Nasukawa's nascent boxing career which is reaching an interesting point as he takes on Jason Moloney in Feb?

How do you find yourself continuing the same level of interest in MMA? I find from the apex card saturation I’ve lost some of the spark I used to have towards watching MMA. In you situation it’s your job, but I imagine to write analysis you have to have enough of an investment to make it have a suitable level of depth. Also if you could write about something non-fight sport related what would it be?

If invited, would you ever go to the MMA Hour or any other show of this kind? Why or why not?

Fence and ground new meta both offense and defense

Entry strategy to strike/grapple and exit strategy to escape to long range or close an exchange

What are some good examples for film study of smaller guys working their way into range on tall dudes? Preferably using smart tactics and not just "eat a few hits to get into range." Thanks!

What were your favorite personal learnings in all the time you‘ve studied the fight sports? Maybe you can think of some that stand out to you. Love your Podcast and content in general - thank you!

Who's currently utilising ground and pound the best in MMA? Been a while since Khabib and I miss seeing someone take someone down and use that to pile on damage.

Have you thought of doing some coverage of Sumo? This January basho has been very entertaining and I would love to hear your thoughts about it.

I am Dana White. If am giving you an unlimited budget to remodel The Ultimate Fighter with the goal of regaining interest in the program, which steps would you take to achieve this? You can’t simply just end it.

Hi Jack Long time reader and it’s been a joy to see your writing evolve over the years. My primary job is working as a martial arts instructor but throughout my entire tenure I’ve always competed in fighting games. As such, I have always seen a lot of crossover between the two mediums, aesthetics aside. Recently I heard you borrow the FGCism “yomi” as an example of layered adaptation. My question is do you think that martial artists could benefit from pulling mental concepts like yomi from fighting games? A conversation was briefly held in the FGC on the other side of the coin when people stumbled into the video where GSP was talking about BJ Penn’s broken reactionary “frame data” (lol), but have rarely seen anyone in combat sports give a thought to fighting fames outside of DJ. Anyways wanted to hear your thoughts as a fighting game player and martial artist. Keep up the good work; all my students are bunch of little Slackies and lover how you break down fights. Also, have you tried the new Gief in SF6? He’s been terrorizing the game from our local scene in Seattle all the way to the pro level. Cheers, Kenji (Wimp Lo)

Is the long straight, like the Nate Diaz straight where you lean into the shot too much of a takedown risk for mma?

What’s your mic and recording / editing setup?

Thoughts on traditional stadium muay Thai v "entertainment muay Thai"?

Jack! Happy new year and hope you and the family are doing well! Thank you for breaking down RJJ, specifically his bout vs James Tony. May you please do a similar video for Marvin Hagler, specifically discussing his strategy in his bout versus Leonard? Cheers!🥂

Not sure if you’ve spoken about this but keen to get ur thoughts on the current ufc commentators, who you like, dislike etc.

Hi Jack I had a question around the high guard and some examples of it being used great in mma, because the only example I can think of rn of someone who uses the high guard as his main source of defense is chito Vera, thanks for the content always appreciate your body work

Good feinters to watch in boxing?