Fighters are trained to see a blow coming and they know how to move their head an inch this way or that. Those tiny differences help to deflect much of the power of blows. But if you punch them off guard, the damage is equal to that being received by someone who’s never even been in a fight.

    If my wife sucker punched me, it’d hurt. The same blow coming in the octagon wouldn’t faze me, because of my posture and my high level of adrenaline.  This is how stunt experts can do amazing things and not get hurt. They rotate this way and that – and they come out unharmed.

    Go on YouTube to the pre-fight staredown between Heath Herringand Yoshihiro Nakao. Nakao leaned into Herring and delivered a kiss on his lips. Heath didn’t appreciate this loving display, and immediately sent a moderate punch to Nakao’s jaw – knocking him flat-out! If they had been fighting, Nakao would have barely felt that strike. 

    An important item that experienced fighters know: a half-hearted punch delivered at a surprise is far more powerful than a forceful punch delivered to someone who sees it coming. This is why in street fights, he who hits first usually wins.

    With sucker punches, all people are equal.