I was wondering, I watch MMA and I see fighters my own height who weigh less than me but still appear to have much larger muscles and are ripped. Can anyone tell me why this is? I’m not fat my BF is about 10%.
Got any pictures?
People bodies are different, 2 guys who weigh the same, are the same height and are the same strength can look completely different. Not to mention unless you’ve had a quality bf% test maybe you aren’t really 10% bf, we all tend to under estimate how fat we really are.
You’re also compairing yourself to a professional athelete, don’t.
Different body composition. Height/Weight can only tell you so much.
TBH 10% is probally off quite a bit I use some crappy plastic calipers I could be anywhere from 10%-14% I’m 5ft 10 and 78kg ill post pictures later this evening, but for the mean time here is Georges St. Pierre a welter weight who weighs 77kg and is 5ft 10 (keep in mind here im the same but wiegh one kg more)
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/articlefiles/3766-StPierreMiller067UFC52.jpg
Ill put a picture up after Judo.
Because GSP is coming in somewhere around 5-7% BF and at your height.
This is me, not the most flattering photo ever but oh well. SO the only difference between us is that he has a bit less fat and a bit more muscle while I have a bit more fat and a bit less muscle? Seems to me just having a bit more or less BF is not enough to explain the huge gap.
Hes leaner and has a better tan.
[quote]Brisks wrote:
So the only difference between us is that he has a bit less fat and a bit more muscle? [/quote]
Yes.
I can only assume you do not understand the significance of your statement. I will not speculate on why.
I could be wrong, but GSP looks a little shorter than you.
GSP is probably carrying fifteen pounds of muscle more than you are. Not only that, but the level of conditioning required to be a fighter give his physique that ‘wiry’ quality to it, medically called tonus, commonly referred to as tone, and generally applied as the ability to contract maximally with lightning speed.
So lift heavy, eat proper, and when you’ve got some size on you diet down and perhaps you’ll find yourself looking like Mr. St Pierre.
Well, it’s actually pretty simple. If you are both they same height and weight, yet he has less body fat than you, he has more lean body mass (mass that isn’t fat).
Here’s the math:
You: 170 lbs. at 14% BF = 146 lbs. (muscle)and 24 lbs.(fat)
GSP: 170 lbs. at 7% BF = 158 lbs. (muscle)and 12 lbs. (fat)
See the difference? Also, he has excellent genetics, muscle attachment, etc. All these things make up the difference in aesthetics.
Lighting and angles always affect it too. The one thing I learned from Myspace oh so long ago…
Another thing, GSP in that pic is probably a lot more like 180-185 pounds, most fighters walk around at a lot heavier than they fight at, cut about 15 pounds of water, food etc the day before the weigh-in, then are back near their normal weight by the fight.
All right thanks for the awnsers.
Oh and one more question. Is it possible to gain strength without gaining weight? Assuming your height and BF stay the same?
[quote]Brisks wrote:
Oh and one more question. Is it possible to gain strength without gaining weight? Assuming your height and BF stay the same?[/quote]
Yes.
Such gains come through neural adaptation to moving heavier weight, and greater skill, speed and efficiency at contracting HTMU’s (High Threshhold Motor Units). Examples include any lifter in a weightclass.
The way to do this (I’m assuming there are many, the way I’ve seen most common) is to eat at maintenance, and train hard.
This is why newbs post about not being able to gain mass, they’re commonly told to rectify their diet.
It’s worth pointing out though that it is much easier and faster to gain strength while eating in a caloric surplus. And that in real life, there are no weight classes.
I’ve always wondered why the MMA folks think that guy has such a good physique. He looks decent, but he’s nothing special, really.
Agreed with Otep. I cannot see why you seem concerned about not gaining size. If you consume a caloric surplus and lift heavy shit, you will grow. If you really want to look shredded and be roughly your same body weight, bulk bout 10-15 lbs and cut 5-10. You wont be a massive monster at only 5-10 lbs heavier than your currently weight, but you will be, to quote you, “have much larger muscles and [be] ripped”.
Look at my pictures if you want to see a guy about 156 @ 8% BF, same height as you. I may look like I have some serious beach muscles, but its really because I am a skinny dude. You probably are packing some more muscle mass than I am within those 14 lbs difference between us as well.
Another thing that might effect the situation…do MMA guys have to cut weight like boxers? If so he could actually be 10lbs or so heavier than his fighting weight.
I m not sure I dont watch MMA but I know for boxing their walking around weights are between 5-15lbs heavier than fighting weights.
Rumor has it Artruo Gatti weighed in at 154 for a welter weight fight but his walking around weight was around 177 he almost killed the other guy who legitametly weighed about 160.
[quote]bostonbigticket wrote:
Rumor has it Artruo Gatti weighed in at 154 for a welter weight fight but his walking around weight was around 177 he almost killed the other guy who legitametly weighed about 160.[/quote]
Apparently, the size of the dog in the fight does matter.
Who knew?
Thanks a lot all my questions got awnsered.
Yes, MMA fighters DO typically cut ~10-20 lbs. before a fight. This is because you always want to be that heaviest in any weight class. Size in fact DOES matter, it doesn’t make you Muhammad Ali, but there’s no arguing physics, a heavier object exerts more force.
Size doesn’t necessarily means strength and vice-versa, but strength training more often than not produces SOME muscular growth.
Everyone’s physique goals are different. Not everyone is trying to be Ronnie or Bruce Lee for that matter. Our goals may be different but the way you get there can be similar. Work your ass off.
GSP has a natural physique, and people think it’s awesome because he has a good muscle/fat ratio and good genetics. Everyone has a different opinion on what they feel is the ideal physique. While I may like a physique like GSP (because I’m and athlete and also do MMA), someone else may feel the look of Arnold is ideal.