Seeing fighters with strong takedown defense like Mirko and Chuck do so well in mma it makes you wonder which fighters have the fastest takedowns.

So what do you guys think, who has the fastest takedowns? Im mostly referring to doubles and singles, but i guess even quick takedowns from the clinch and more exotic takedowns could count.

From what ive seen from Sean Sherk, I think hes a candidate for fastest double leg in mma.

Sherk is a no brainer...I'm thinking any fighter whose musculature is compact and explosive, such as Hughes, GSP...

And you don't necessarily have to be quick to take someone down from the clinch...

Sherk is a no brainer...I'm thinking any fighter whose musculature is compact and explosive, such as Hughes, GSP...

And you don't necessarily have to be quick to take someone down from the clinch...

Yah i know i was just trying to be as broad as possible. In fact take downs from the clinch probably have alot more to do with kuzushi than speed or surprise. Although, speed and surprise are part of kuzushi.

define "fast"

ie time from the bell rings to the actual takedown?
time from the start of the technique to the end of the technique?
are you looking for a fighters name or the name of the takedown technique?

also a fast takedown does not mean it was a good takedown, i've done throws to people that were counting on that type of throw to submit me
example: o-ouchi gari (outer reap?) i got the half point for the takedown and basically got pulled into a triangle very quickly, talked to the guy later and got told that he set me up

define "fast"

ie time from the bell rings to the actual takedown?
time from the start of the technique to the end of the technique?
are you looking for a fighters name or the name of the takedown technique?

also a fast takedown does not mean it was a good takedown, i've done throws to people that were counting on that type of throw to submit me
example: o-ouchi gari (outer reap?) i got the half point for the takedown and basically got pulled into a triangle very quickly, talked to the guy later and got told that he set me up

I'm pretty sure what he (Andrew L, which is my name too... weird) means the time from the start of the technique to the end and who does it the fastest.

Joe Lauzon vs Jens Pulver was a pretty fast takedown.

I'd say Sherk or GSP. Hughes has fast takedowns too, except against BJ Penn.

I'm pretty sure what he (Andrew L, which is my name too... weird) means the time from the start of the technique to the end and who does it the fastest.

Hah you wanna hear something even wierder. I did a quick google search and apparently theres atleast 2 other people with the exact same first and last name as me. Also my last name is Polish and uncommon (or so i thought).



define "fast"

ie time from the bell rings to the actual takedown?
time from the start of the technique to the end of the technique?
are you looking for a fighters name or the name of the takedown technique?

also a fast takedown does not mean it was a good takedown, i've done throws to people that were counting on that type of throw to submit me
example: o-ouchi gari (outer reap?) i got the half point for the takedown and basically got pulled into a triangle very quickly, talked to the guy later and got told that he set me up

What i mean is the time from when the takedown is executed to either succesfully grabbing a limb or finishing the takedown.

When I rewatched Fedor vs Nog 3 I was very impressed with how he went from a looping punch into a throw. If you measure from the end of the punch to the takedown, he's blindingly fast.

Karo has some really really quick throws....

When I rewatched Fedor vs Nog 3 I was very impressed with how he went from a looping punch into a throw. If you measure from the end of the punch to the takedown, he's blindingly fast.

I will have to see that.

What i mean is the time from when the takedown is executed to either succesfully grabbing a limb or finishing the takedown.

ok, to do a takedown you need to actually control the person
you cant measure the time between executing a takedown and grabbing a limb, because grabbing a limb is usually the start of the takedown /confused

also a takdown from the clich is a different beast from a double-leg that starts from range, its hard to compare the speed of them properly


also consider that there are takedowns that (if done perfectly etc etc) can actually be done very slowly and still be very effective
consider the firemans carry- you can pick someone up over your shoulders, actually stand up and walk a few meters and then dump someone on thier head from 1.5-2 yards in the air
is that any less effective than a lightning fast ankle pick that only causes the guy to fall on his ass?

randleman took down shogun pretty damn fast last week...too bad he lacks the ground knowledge to follow up his take downs to finish or defend the jitz....no thanx to the hammer house mentality

ok, to do a takedown you need to actually control the person
you cant measure the time between executing a takedown and grabbing a limb, because grabbing a limb is usually the start of the takedown /confused

also a takdown from the clich is a different beast from a double-leg that starts from range, its hard to compare the speed of them properly


also consider that there are takedowns that (if done perfectly etc etc) can actually be done very slowly and still be very effective
consider the firemans carry- you can pick someone up over your shoulders, actually stand up and walk a few meters and then dump someone on thier head from 1.5-2 yards in the air
is that any less effective than a lightning fast ankle pick that only causes the guy to fall on his ass?

Yes i know this, thats why i said i was mostly referring to shots (i.e. single/double). Although takedowns from the clinch arent the same as singles and doubles they still have an element of speed.

Even for the firemans carry, getting yourself in position to execute it has an element of speed.

Perhaps compare clinch takedowns and ranged takedowns seperately.

Also when i said grab a limb i meant having complete control and being in position to offbalance your opponent. I guess i was using grabbing a limb as a measure of speed because its something you can quantify easily, where as actually completing the takedown can happen long after you have control of a leg or two.

Or perhaps a better question to ask would be "In a purely takedown vs. sprawl game who would be your pick to go against the best mma sprawlers?"

randleman took down shogun pretty damn fast last week...too bad he lacks the ground knowledge to follow up his take downs to finish or defend the jitz....no thanx to the hammer house mentality

Yah Randlemans insanely talented to bad he wont add some sub wrestling to his game.

and diego sanchez (like him or hate him)....he has a relentless shoot....
if he can expand his take down skills a bit more...to add variety and keep his opponents guessing, he'll have an easier time with his shoot
but as it stands, its still a very quick and determined shoot he makes. And he's doing it to opponents that study this and formulate game plans around it....yet he still has good success

Or perhaps a better question to ask would be "In a purely takedown vs. sprawl game who would be your pick to go against the best mma sprawlers?"

best Vs sprawlers = obvioulsy someone who trains against the sprawling opponents (ie a wrestler)
i'm not up to date with the ufc as australia doesnt get the PPV and i need to wait for it to hit the local video store, i cant provide recent examples

mark kerr in his prime (drug induced prime anyways) was a monster, also terribly quick for his size
kevin randleman is also very fast and strong (although his striking and submission game needs work)

basically anyone who has wrestled at an elite level & is willing to branch out into MMA will fit into your category

if you have the time to search, check out frank shamrocks debut UFC fight, there is a good example of a fast takedown 4 seconds into the match i believe