Training Camp for MMA

Training Camp for MMA

By: Zach Rogers

When you watch UFC, the fighters don't just get into shape and walk into a ring, they prepare for eight to 12 weeks before a match.

Roan "Jucao" Carneiro at American Top Team, Atlanta
Photo taken by Zach Rogers

UFC Champion, and American Top Team owner Jucao Carneiro told us what it takes to become the best MMA fighter.

"When I train a fighter, we first focus on training the body into shape when it comes to dieting and physique," Carneiro said. Carneiro said the fighters on his team must stay away from gluten, alcohol, and non-natural sugars and get lots of rest.

Carneiro made a cameo in the 2011 Academy Award Winning film, Warrior, and to train to for his appearance, he did the same routine he would for a fight.

"For the first four weeks, we do lots of cardio, lots of drilling, and lifting weights. For the second six to eight weeks we focus on individual martial arts day by day, then bring them all together," Carneiro said.

He said for the last two weeks of training, the fighters either cut weight or build weight to make their weight class. This is what separates the professionals from the amateurs.

"If you don't make weight, you don't make the cut, it's why most of us only do three fights a year," American Top Team teammate Clay "Heavy Metal" Harvison said.