WBA Champion Austin Trout Says Carlos Condit Brings the Sweet Science to MMA

 There’s always something to be said for diversifying a fighter’s training ahead of a big fight, and that’s no different for UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit.

With still a few months remaining until UFC 154 and a showdown against Georges St-Pierre, Condit has taken some time to work with WBA champion Austin ‘No Doubt’ Trout to get better with his hands.

Trout is an undefeated champion with 25 wins, 14 by knockout and currently holds the WBA light middleweight title. He also happens to be a New Mexico native so when the chance arose to work with Condit, Trout was happy to stop by Team Jackson/Winkeljohn to help the UFC champion with his striking.

“I’ve worked with Jorge Hernandez and Will Fox before they do local radio here in southwest New Mexico, and Will Fox is real close with (Carlos) Condit so through him, Carlos reached out and wanted some work and it just went from there,” Trout told MMAWeekly.com about how he first met Condit.

Trout went out to the gym and worked with Condit on the bags, watched his technique and taught him some new tricks to add to his arsenal. A fan of MMA, Trout knows that striking in mixed martial arts is much different than striking in boxing, but there are elements that will always crossover.

“It was great, it was a lot better than a lot of other MMA fighters. They throw their punches a little different in MMA, but Carlos he threw like a boxer. With a couple of exceptions because you have to guard against different striking points, you can’t stay in the same boxing stance the whole time I understand that,” Trout said.

“His stand-up was very impressive especially for being as versatile of a fighter as he is.”

There are certain weapons utilized in boxing that are regularly underused in MMA, like the jab or the body shot. Trout helped Condit with his combinations and technique, but was remarkably impressed with how well his boxing acumen lined up with his MMA skills.

“He thinks in a boxer’s mind, he was throwing jabs, throwing good body shots. He would follow up with a good knee to the body and a hook to the head. I do see those qualities in him, he definitely utilizes everything he’s taught,” Trout stated.

Trout says the key to Condit, or any MMA fighter’s success for that matter, is to look at striking in the cage the same way you should in a boxing ring. The techniques may differ, the stances and footwork may be drastically different, but ultimately there still needs to be a high IQ approach at how to best beat your opponent.

Trout believes Condit has those qualities to out think his opponent on the feet, and that is immediately a very dangerous and potent weapon.

“He’s smart, he uses the whole sweet science instead of the tough man type of striking. You take MMA and make it a sweet science just like boxing is. He’s one of the best strikers in MMA,” said Trout.

When looking at the fight coming up between Condit and St-Pierre, Trout knows that the Canadian’s game has traditionally been to look for the takedown and avoid striking too much on the feet. Trout knows it won’t be easy for Condit to avoid St-Pierre’s wrestling, but if the fight stays on the feet for very long he anticipates a short night for the incumbent champion.

“I would love for him to beat GSP,” said Trout. “And bring the title to New Mexico.”

(All photos courtesy of Will Fox)

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