Why Don't You See Pressure Points in MMA Fights?

"If pressure points work, why don't you see them in MMA fights?" It is a question that gets thrown around a lot, usually alongside the challenge to get in the cage with whoever the current champion is. In this video lesson I give my answer.

It is for martial artists, MMA fans and anyone curious about how pressure point fighting relates to combat sports.

The Simple Answer

The simple reason you don't see it is that most fighters don't know it. They are not trained in it, so they do not use it deliberately.

Cast your mind back to the early days of the UFC. Almost nobody knew grappling or jiu-jitsu, so you did not see it, until the people who did know it started winning. A method is not shown in competition until fighters learn it and train it.

You Already See More Than You Think

Look at what actually ends fights. A clean shot on the jaw at the right angle drops people, while harder shots elsewhere often do not. Body shots to the liver fold fighters up. Kicks to the leg take away the base. Those are pressure points and balance points, whether the commentators call them that or not.

What you do not see is a fighter deliberately choosing targets and angles the way I teach them. That is a training gap, not a sign that the targets do not work.

Sport and Self-Defence Are Different

It is also worth remembering that MMA has rules. Many of the most effective targets for self-defence, such as strikes to the throat, eyes or the back of the head, are banned for good reason. So a sport fight will never show the full picture of what works on the street.

Pressure point fighting is not magic. It is targets, angles, balance and relaxed power, and it needs proper training like any other skill. It should always be trained with control and with a cooperative partner, because some targets can cause serious injury or a knockout.

Take It Further

If you want to see how the principles work for yourself, start with the FREE Pressure Point Fighting Mini-Course, and read Pressure Point Fighting: The Complete Guide for the full background.