Benefits of a Long Reach in MMA

Let's face it: reach plays a huge influence on how a fight can play out. In mixed martial arts, having a longer reach than your opponent can be a big advantage. It can make you harder to hit, your opponent easier to hit, and it can keep you on the outside of takedown attempts. It can also give you more leverage and torque in both striking and grappling.

A longer reach or wingspan is especially useful when you are reaching for techniques in the octagon such as a double leg which might require you to get your fingers together in certain circumstances. Imagine if you are trying to get a takedown against the fence and you are trying to get your fingers together to complete that double leg. The difference between you getting your fingertips locked and getting that crucial takedown could be getting those fingertips only two inches closer.

How is Reach Measured in MMA?

Reach in MMA is measured from the tip of your middle finger on one outstretched arm to the other when your arms are raised parallel to the ground at shoulder height. Reach is sometimes referred to as wingspan or arm span. Some people might argue that including finger length in reach measurements is wrong and that it should be done closed fist. This might be true in boxing but it's definitely not true in MMA where you might need to get your fingers together to complete a choke or get a crucial takedown.

What Is an Ape Index?

Ape index measures your arm span or reach relative to your height. A common method of calculation is having the height subtracted from the arm span. Most people have a neutral size ratio. However, there are individuals who possess an arm span that exceeds their height by a huge margin. A good example is the famous boxer, Sony Liston. He stood at 6'1" but had a whopping 84" reach. Therefore, he had a positive ape index of 11".

The height among fighters in a given weight class rarely offers a significant difference, so having a very high positive ape index can be quite advantageous. A larger arm span can potentially create a bit of balance if facing an opponent who is significantly taller.