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Good Morning Team,
With Bailer’s second pro fight on the horizon—this time against a tough, undefeated 5–0 southpaw—I thought it would be a good moment to share some thoughts on one of my favorite parts of coaching: film study. Preparing for an opponent like this isn’t just about sharpening Bailer’s tools, it’s about understanding the puzzle in front of us.
For me, breaking down tape is every bit as enjoyable as running pads or teaching technique. For me, studying opponents is every bit as exciting as running pads or teaching technique. Each fight is a living puzzle. Every punch, every step, every reaction is a clue, and the challenge lies in piecing those clues together until a clear picture of the fighter begins to take shape.
When I study tape, I’m not looking to memorize combos. Combos are surface-level and fleeting. What really matters is the why behind the fighter—the foundation underneath the strikes. How do they build their structure? Where are they strong, and where are they vulnerable? Do they cut angles well, or do they struggle when forced to circle? These small details often reveal more than any single highlight.
A major part of this puzzle is understanding how opponents attempt to control the fight. Some fighters rely on raw power to dictate the pace. Others lean on rhythm and timing, setting traps and forcing reactions. Then there are those who impose themselves with explosiveness, bursts of speed that overwhelm in short windows. By studying tape, we begin to read their “fight language”—how fast they pull the trigger, what makes them hesitate, how their rhythm can be broken. In short, we don’t just see what they throw—we begin to understand how they want to shape the fight.
Footwork plays an equally important role. Movements are harder to disguise than combinations. Do they retreat straight back when pressured? Do they pivot well? Do they stay planted too long after throwing power? Once we recognize these habits, we know not just what’s likely to come, but also where they’ll be when it does.
And beyond analyzing their past, I also try to anticipate who they may have become since their last bout. No fighter stays the same. The opponent we’re preparing for has been training, too—likely correcting mistakes and developing new tools. Our job is to look ahead: What adjustments might they make? What new skills might they bring? Preparing for both who they were and who they could be gives us a sharper edge.
But here’s something important about our approach: we don’t study tape to abandon our style or reinvent ourselves for every opponent. That’s a losing game. Instead, we study tape to see how our strengths can solve the puzzle. Every fighter in this gym has unique weapons, instincts, and advantages. The goal isn’t to turn you into someone else—it’s to sharpen what you already do best and then place it against the opponent’s weaknesses.
Yes, there will always be mild adjustments. We may refine our timing, adjust distance management, or emphasize certain tools that line up well with a specific fight. But those adjustments are never about changing your identity as a fighter. They’re about growth—about evolving within your own style while staying authentic to what makes you dangerous. This balance—staying true to yourself while sharpening the edges—is where confidence and success are built.
What makes this process even more fascinating is the role of coaches. A fighter’s habits are rarely theirs alone; they are shaped by their team. You can often see the fingerprints of a gym in the way a fighter approaches the game. Some gyms produce relentless pressure fighters. Others develop patient counter-strikers. By studying tape, we’re not just watching the athlete—we’re studying the philosophy behind them.
This is why fight tape is so powerful. It builds our fight IQ, gives us insight into strategy, and allows us to anticipate problems before they happen. Every second of footage sharpens our ability to walk into competition with confidence and clarity.
Remember, fights are won in preparation as much as they are in the cage. And preparation begins by studying the puzzle in front of us—then finding the ways our own strengths break it apart.
For all amateurs out there, here’s something to remember both you and your opponents are constantly changing, and that evolution impacts how you should study one another. Early on—say, your first six fights or so—it’s less about obsessing over every move your opponent makes and more about figuring out who you are inside the ring or cage.
Think of it like this: those first handful of fights are your identity phase. You’re building your foundation, shaping your style, and deciding if you’re more “calm chess player” or “bull in a china shop.” Your main job is to train hard and grow into the best martial artist you can be. When you do that, you’re not only becoming the best version of yourself—you’re also naturally becoming the toughest possible matchup for whoever stands across from you.
Film Study Checklist
1. Big Picture
- What type of fighter are they? (pressure, counter-striker, explosive, grinder, technician, etc.)
- How do they try to control the fight? (power, pace, rhythm, timing, explosiveness)
- What do they look like in Round 1 vs Round 3? (Does cardio fade? Does pace drop? Do they adjust coming out of the corner?)
2. Structure & Movement
- Footwork: Do they move straight back, pivot, circle? Do they get stuck on the fence/ropes?
- Balance: Are they heavy on the front foot? Do they reset often?
- Stance habits: Do they switch stances? Are they stable, or do they square up?
3. Offense (Weapons)
- Punches: Which ones do they trust? Jab, cross, hook, overhand?
- Kicks: Low, middle, or high? Which side?
- Knees & Elbows: How often and in what situations?
- Combos: Do they throw in predictable patterns, or do they mix it up?
- Pressure or counter?
4. Defense
- Guard: High guard, shell, long guard, or hands low?
- Reactions: Do they slip, block, or just back away?
- Counters: Do they fire back immediately or hesitate?
5. Clinch
- Do they initiate the clinch or avoid it?
- Are they strong at controlling posture?
- How’s their balance in close range?
6. Rhythm & Triggers
- When do they throw? (after feints, after being hit, when backed up?)
- What situations make them freeze?
- Do they get impatient if the pace slows?
7. Growth & Adjustments
- Compare fights: Are they showing new tools?
- Do they fix past mistakes, or repeat them?
- What’s likely to have improved since their last bout? Glaring weaknesses?!
8. Fit Against Us
- Which of our fighter’s strengths line up well against their weaknesses?
- Which tools should we sharpen (timing, distance, pressure, counters)?
- What small adjustments help growth without changing our identity?
