One major issue with Muay Thai is that it has no ground grappling.
As we all know, Muay Thai is very grapple heavy, with holds becoming the go-to option for fighters in a tight sport who want to avoid any more punches.
However, when it gets to the ground, the tradition stops.
In MMA, fighting on the ground is a very important part, as many fighters proactively try to bring the fight to the floor to get that submission or to avoid the heavier upper body strikes.
Muay Thai also lacks the bopping and weaving we often see in other schools such as traditional boxing.
In the ring, this can be a problem as those trained only in Muay Thai may struggle to dodge a powerful right hook in time.
The head is a lot more exposed too, with the fists and arms slightly further away from the upper body, given they also come into play in defending against body attacks – a common area of attack when watching Muay Thai on Muay Thai.
Another issue Muay Thai fighters may face is that moment during the round kicks where the hand drops, leaving an open target for a lightning speed attack from your rival.
If a Muay Thai fighter throws a right round kick, his hand will drop down behind the buttocks.
If you are on the receiving end, you can step into the kick, reducing its power, and deliver an unblockable right cross or left hook of your own.