The biggest recurring storyline in the UFC for the past 3 years has been the number of highly anticipated fights that have been scrapped due to injury. It seems like no matter the weight-class, style of fighter or skill of fighter, the injury bug is out to bite anyone and everyone.
To solve the problem of fighter injuries, the first place we must look is where the fighters train, as that’s where the majority of injuries occur. Every week or so we hear a story about how a takedown attempt led to “x” fighter tearing their ACL or rolling their ankle. We also hear of broken hands, back problems, and the occasional facial laceration.
Although injuries can be seen as accidents, one fight team has been able to avoid these types of injuries at a very high rate. Team Alpha Male, a very unique group of fighters, consists of mostly lighter-weight wrestlers.
Team Alpha Male Has Solved The Injury Problem
The thing that makes Team Alpha Male different from every other fight team is their approach to training for a fight. Most teams designate the 12 weeks before a fight as their “fight camp” in which they get a fighter back into shape, focus on their opponents game plan, and make sure that their fighter is at a physical peak at the time of the fight.
Team Alpha Male does not fit this mould. The team prides itself on being in-shape all year round, being ready for any fight on a week’s notice. They do not take long periods of time away from the gym, and have turned training in MMA into a lifestyle rather than a job.
So, what does this have to do with preventing injuries? Here are the facts (All facts as of the UFC/WEC merger):
– Between the 7 current UFC fighters on Team Alpha Male, 65 Matchups have been officially announced by the UFC, and fought, containing these fighters since the WEC merger
– Out of those 65 matchups, only twice has a Team Alpha Male fighter been removed from a fight due to an injury (3% injury rate)
– Team Alpha Male has seen 10 opponents removed from a fight due to an injury (15% injury rate)
– Team Alpha Male has been a “Late Replacement” for a fight 4 times, meaning they have saved more fights than they have been removed from
– Team Alpha Male members fight, on average, once every 138 days (4.5 months) while current champions, excluding Team Alpha Males’ T.J. Dillashaw, fight every 169 days (5.5 months)
– In 2013 the UFC put on 386 fights, with 101 injuries changing or cancelling fights, while Team Alpha Male were involved in 19 of those fights with 0 injuries changing or cancelling fights
Either the beautiful Pacific Ocean contains some injury-preventative solution, or Team Alpha Male knows how to keep themselves in-shape without getting injured. The fact that the team is extremely active in fighting while also pulling out of a very low number of fights compared to the rest of the UFC shows that their training methods are working.
So, what’s the solution to the injury problem? If you are going to point the finger and blame someone, blame the fighters and their trainers. These injuries are not happening inside of the cage and they aren’t happening at home. They are happening as a fighter is preparing for a fight. It could be a mix of going from in-active to active between training camps, or simply the drills that are being run.
The fact is, Team Alpha Male is doing something right to prevent injuries. If you don’t want to be disappointed by your favourite fight being cancelled or changed, then you better hope your favourite fighter and their camp start following Team Alpha Male’s lead.
No more high intense fight camps, no more taking considerable time off in-between fights, no getting out of shape and no more dangerous sparring. That is the solution to the injury problem.
Fact Breakdown
| Announced | Self Injury | Opp. Injury | Late Replace | Avg Days B/wn Fights | |
| Chad Mendes | 13 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 152 |
| Danny Castillo | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 122 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 12 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 118 |
| Urijah Faber | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 132 |
| Joseph Benavidez | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 147 |
| Andre Givens Fili | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 126 |
| Chris Holdworth | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 168 |
| Total | 65 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 138 |
Champion’s days between UFC fights: Velasquez (199 days), Jones (152 days), Weidman (167 days), Hendricks (147 days), Pettis (249 days), Aldo (160 days), Mighty Mouse (124 days) and Rousey (154 days).
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