Dean Glazer on MMA, Boxing, and Going for the Pros

FAQs

• What is the difference between jiu-jitsu and MMA?

  Dean Glazer described jiu-jitsu as ground fighting and submission grappling, where the goal is to get an opponent to tap out, with no punching or kicking. His father Shelby said that at the MMA level there is striking to the face and kicking, and anything goes.

• What does Dean Glazer's daily boxing training look like?

  Dean said he goes to the gym around 11 or 12 in the morning, usually starting with jump rope and stretching, then the speed bag, which he called his number one tool in the gym. He moves around the ring for at least a few rounds, and six to twelve rounds of moving and shadow boxing closer to a fight, then does a lot of core work to strengthen his body for body shots.

• What kind of diet does Dean Glazer follow before a fight?

  Dean said that closer to a fight he tapers off to a completely plant-based diet and even tries to eat it raw, while when he isn’t fighting he eats a lot of seafood and eggs. He does intermittent fasting, training on an empty stomach, and usually eats only two meals a day, around 2:30 or 3 o’clock and a later dinner around 8 or 8:30.

• Has Dean Glazer had an official MMA fight?

  No. As of this episode Dean had had one amateur boxing fight and had competed in jiu-jitsu, but no official MMA fight. He said he plans to box for maybe a couple more years and get a lot of amateur fights before moving into MMA.

• Is MMA safer than boxing?

  Shelby Glazer said there has never been a death in the ring in MMA, while in boxing it happens almost every year. He said boxing is repetitive punching to the head, while in MMA fighters have other options, like taking it to the ground, so injuries are way less. He said he hates to call it safer, but there are fewer life-threatening injuries.