Why Dutch Kickboxing Fails in MMA (Harsh Truth)

Yesterday in Phuket, Thailand, I visited Kandy Bar to break down one of the most controversial questions in combat sports: Why doesn’t Dutch kickboxing translate well into MMA? Dutch kickboxing is one of the most respected and battle-tested striking styles in the world. It has produced legends, world champions, and some of the toughest fighters ever seen in combat sports. But when many traditional Dutch-style kickboxers transition into MMA, the results are often disappointing. In this video, I explain why. We dive deep into the technical and structural differences between Dutch kickboxing and mixed martial arts, including: • The impact of big gloves vs small MMA gloves • Why a tight high guard works in kickboxing but fails in MMA • How volume-based combinations become dangerous under MMA rules • Why standing in the pocket gets punished in MMA • The constant threat of takedowns, clinch wrestling, and ground fighting • Why distance management, feints, and shot selection matter more in MMA • How Dutch kickboxing encourages trading, while MMA rewards precision I also discuss why fighters like Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira succeeded in MMA, despite their kickboxing backgrounds — and why their style was never traditional Dutch kickboxing to begin with. This is not disrespect to kickboxing. Quite the opposite. This is an honest technical breakdown of why certain styles thrive — and others struggle — when the rules change. 📍 Filmed at Kandy Bar, Phuket — a modern sports bar with big screens showing MMA, kickboxing, football, and major sporting events. If you’re interested in: • Kickboxing vs MMA • Dutch kickboxing analysis • MMA striking evolution • Why some styles fail under different rule sets Then this video is for you. #mma #kickboxing #combatsports #fighting #champion