Weight training for mma fighter?

I would hit the gym about 4 times a week to work on heavy weight training since, like most males, liked being very strong and look built...I would also take a supplement called CellTech every now and then...I am a lightweight and I got quite big but then realized the muscle mass was slowing me down in my boxing...the strength I acquired helps me push guys around while grappling but made me a bit slower...my coach told me I don't need to lift heavy weights at all...several guys have told me that bulking up will really slow down my boxing...basically I want to know some of your weight lifting workouts...I've been considering circuit weight training added on to my regular cardio workouts...so what do you all do to keep strong and look muscular (and roids are not an option) yet remain speedy and fluid?

Weight training for mma fighter?
A few years ago I ran into the same question. After talking with a couple of personal trainers and some close friends who are weight lifters I've come to this conclusion.





In essence your body is built to handle a certain amount of bulk while performing at your optimum speed and agility. If you go beyond that then you will lose speed agility and believe it or not straight up hitting power, even though by then you can bench press a city bus. You are also more prone to muscle tear at a larger size especially when grappling. I am technically a middle weight but a few years ago I was fighting heavy weights do to a rather large gain of muscle mass. (no roids, just supplements) I was getting my a$$ handed to me all the time at that weight by both heavy weights and a couple of middle weights. I lost alot of speed and hitting power from bulking up, So I decided to try circuit training and uping my cardio. Huge difference. After a year I was back into middle weight class and faster than ever. I also looked better because the circuit training did more for toning than straight up weight training. I was able to hit harder do to a better core work out from the combination of both circuit and cardio.








My advice would be tone what you've got. Find what your optimal weight is and run with it. Bruce Lee or Oscar de la Hoya did not or do not look like punks. But niether of them are what you would call "big".





good luck.
Reply:Working out for MMA is a bit different.....you dont necessarily want to lift as much and as heavy. You should try working out with lighter weight and higher reps....that will help you cut up and help with endurance. The main thing with having too much muscle especially in MMA is that you fatigue alot quicker (mark coleman , ken shamrock) those being good examples of that.
Reply:Alot of mma fighters are all ready at the body weight they want to compete at so many do not lift weights to gain anything. Many do body on body exercises like lifting guys on their backs and doing exercises that which are rooted in fighting.