Ultimate Fighting Championship is a mixed martial arts sport, considered as the largest MMA promotion in the world. The UFC started out as a no holds barred tournament featuring some of the best fighters in the world. The early start of UFC fighting was brutal, ruthless and borderline inhumane. However, as years went on, rules were revamped and the overall format was overhauled, gradually evolving it into the legal sport it is today.

Compared to the early days of UFC, fighters today are better-rounded by training in different fighting styles to dominate the Octagon. Fighters will find it difficult to win a UFC match using only one style. This makes UFC training more difficult because it will involve multiple disciplines all rolled into one fighter. However, whoever dedicates his training regimen to mixed martial arts will certainly have an advantage in the Octagon. 

One of the most important aspects of UFC training is grappling, which is also referred to as wrestling or clinch fighting. The evolution of the sport not only requires a fighter to possess tremendous stand-up fighting skills, but he also needs to have a grappling strategy, and an overall clinching style. Although it is associated to ground fighting, clinch work is part of stand-up fighting and is very important especially from a defensive standpoint because it can eliminate the opponent from using his kicks and punches.

Some of the more popular forms of the clinching include freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, Sambo, and Judo. Training in these various combat styles improves clinching, grappling, takedowns and throws. Muay Thai is also an important part of clinch fighting because it enhances the strikes and blows during a clinch. By mixing stand-up moves and grappling, a fighter can successfully overcome any opponent inside the UFC battle arena.

Training in clinch fighting requires a high level of strength and endurance in the arms and legs. Since UFC matches are split into five-minute rounds, a fighter needs to pace himself when engaging an opponent in ground fighting because this tactic requires a lot of intensity and explosive movements. However, strength training through bodybuilding may not be the best idea because it could only tighten the muscles and affect performance drastically. 

The best way to get ready for clinch work training is combining strength and endurance into muscular endurance. This can be achieved by performing many weighted repetitions for a prolonged period of time. Obviously, an opponent would not lie on his back during a fight. To get him on the ground, a fighter needs fast and quick movements to take his opponent down, usually through a leg trip or leg takedown.

UFC training can be very difficult for the unprepared, but for fighters who have dedicated their whole lives into mixed martial arts will always find the motivation to push their limits even further. Those who say UFC is nothing more than a streetfight should try the sport themselves. This is no brawl. This is how real fighters fight.