Maybe it’s all hype. Maybe it’s a bit of theatre drummed up by the PR people, an attempt to create the illusion of animosity even in fights where there is none. Whatever you call it, the pre-fight staredown can be a tense and exciting moment, so I feel it as my duty as a fight fan and a journalist to get to the bottom of it.
Sometimes – as was the case for Heath Herring recently when Yoshihiro Nakao kissed him on the lips during the stare-down – they can be bizarre. Even the unflappable Herring seemed confused there, launching a reflexive punch that “knocked out” Nakao and ended the bout with no contest.
What some people won’t do to prove they’re not gay.
But what does the stare-down really mean for fighters? Is it all meaningless posturing, or is something really happening in those few seconds?
To find out, I asked fighters from all backgrounds and skill levels what was going through their minds when they stepped in the ring and locked eyes with their opponent. The goal was to learn the intricacies of the stare-down, something I could pass on to all the up-and-coming fighters out there.
“For me, when I look across at the other guy, the only thing going through my mind is, ‘It’s on,’” said Wolfpack fighter Ryan Schultz. “I’m not thinking about anything else. Just him.”
Lions fighter Dan Molina had another way of putting it.
“It’s a strange feeling, almost like a dream. What’s strange is that it starts with the stare-down and then right after the fight, reality sucks back in. You look around and think, what was I just doing?”
So what makes a good stare-down? After talking to the fighters and reviewing some footage (this is serious research, after all), I’ve arrived at a few basic approaches. I recommend working on these at home in the bathroom mirror before taking them out on the road, but hey, I’m a perfectionist. Here are three easy ones to choose from:
The High School Quarterback: think Matt Lindland or Matt Hughes here. This is the guy who has seen it all, and simply knows that there isn’t anything you can do to him. It’s part arrogance, part annoyance.
The key is swagger, people. That, and keeping your head cocked back and to an angle, almost like a confused dog.
Why it works: there’s a sense that, because this guy is so confident and nonplussed about fighting in a ring for money, maybe he knows something you don’t. Kind of like if Han Solo were a pro fighter. Cracking wise at the press conference afterwards isn’t a bad idea, either
The Wide-Eyed Madman: this could also be known as “The Wanderlei”, because no one has ever done it better, though Ken Shamrock comes close. The key here is to make yourself look like your head may explode at any moment.
It’s not just about anger, though. You have to make your opponent believe that you are actually on the verge of cardiac arrest, such is your excitement. If the paramedics at ringside don’t have the defibrillators primed and ready after seeing you, you’re not doing it.
Why it works: when done properly, the fighter should resemble a rabid dog, and let’s face it, rabid dogs are scary. Even Ghengis Khan thought so. That’s a historical fact. Look it up.
The Bored Russian: obviously, Fedor is the king of this one, though his brother is a close second. Not that Russians are the only ones who can pull this off, but they do seem to be the best at it. An important feature here is to come down to the ring looking like you just woke up.
It’s especially great in contrast with another staredown style, like “The Wanderlei.” The best example of this may be Aleksander Emelianenko’s fight with James Thompson. It also helps when you have a tattoo of death holding a baby across your entire back. Why it works: when done right, this style should say, Cyborg. And as those of us who grew up with the Robocop franchise know, Cyborgs are relatively easy to trick using their intricately programmed moral code, but they’re extremely hard to finish.
Of course, there are more than just these three to choose from, but this should serve as a good starting point. A skilled competitor can even mix and match, like Sergei Kharitonov’s bored/intense Russian. The important thing is to pick one and go with it.
But always remember, a good right hand beats a good staredown every day of the week. Best to have both in your toolbox, just in case.
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