The Rare MMA Meta Attack (Patreon)

By Sam (@StuffFromSam) 

UFC 55, October 7, 2005, then UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski knocked out then challenger Paul Buentello.

Commentators and fans at home, however, were confused to why Buentello fell on top of Arlovski instead of ending in a walk away KO. The confusion occurred because people's eyes will naturally follow the fighter who is falling over.

What went unnoticed was Arlovski using the right to duck down into a takedown.

In UFC 261, current UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman knocked out challenger Jorge Masvidal in their rematch.

Where Arlovski threw a right cross-counter over Buentello's jab, Usman parried Masvidal's defensive hand to throw the right straight, before dropping down into an unnecessary takedown attempt.

Tito Ortiz used to throw an overhand into the air before dropping down into a double leg, which after a while became predictable.

Curtis Blaydes will throw a noncommittal feint before ducking down, which recently got him in trouble with Derrick Lewis.

What both Arlovksi and Usman did is much more complicated in that they set up their punch, which set up their takedown. This is an MMA meta attack, an attack on top of an attack. This is the ideal of mixed martial arts where your strikes not only set up your takedowns, but you're also intending to cause damage before you take your opponent down. In the next exchange, if there is one, the opponent will not know if a strike or a punch is coming because both will aim true.