With the popularity of calf kicks in mma. Stepping in, to jab in order to chew up space leaves the calf vulnerable to being low kicked.
The calf kicks that Figgy landed in the trilogy.
One of the ideas behind the fake teep is to chew up space while at the same time not putting the leg in a vulnerable position to be kicked while entering range.
The idea of using the fake teep to avoid low kicks is not new. In Muay Thai the fake teep has been used in conjunction with the jab.
For the full video from Lawerence Kenshin check the youtube video below.
In order for the fake teep to be effective, the lead leg teep needs to be established first. The lead leg teep can be used from long range: “Borders”.
Source: Intermediate Muay Thai by Jean Charles Skarbowski
The lead leg teep can also be used as an intercepting counter to low kicks and calf kicks.
Once the lead teep is established. There is a multitude of ways to build off it.
Skarbowski recommends using right sided attacks after closing the distance with the lead teep
Source: Intermediate Muay Thai Masterclass by Jean Charles Skarbowski
Volkanovski likes to use the step up inside low kick after the fake teep. If an opponent keeps retreating they have to give up an enormous amount of space to avoid the low kick.
Liam Harrison showing that a left hook can be used after faking the lead teep if the opponent is defending with their right side.
Source: Power Muay Thai by Liam Harrison
Charles Oliveira shows how the left hook off the fake teep can also be used as an effective clinch entry in mma.
“Two Sport ONE Champion” and coined “the greatest striker ever”by ONE enthusiasts and the weirdos that do podcasts about, despite beating an MMA fighter in Fabricio Andrade:
Jonathan Haggerty using the tomahawk elbow off the fake teep.
The way to execute the tomahawk elbow is to grab behind your opposite ear.
The fake teep is a great tool to exploit the opponents defensive habits. But, as with any tool in mma it also has its pitfalls
Alexander Volkanovski showed in the third fight with Max Holloway that by sliding back to draw out the fake teep, Holloway would not be in position to defend the step up low kick since he in a tall stance.
With the main defense in MMA is to move backwards and the popularity of the calf kick, the fake teep can be a good tool to add to any mma fighter’s tool kit.