Although I would say if you "rarely" see it, you aren't looking hard enough. The single-leg clocks in at the #2 TD in MMA. FAR behind the double, but on average, you should see about one single-leg or every double:
http://www.mmafightdb.com/top-10-mma-tak...
If you read that whole article, you'll also notice that different fighters have different strengths, when it comes to takedowns. Nurmagomedov rarely uses the double, instead preferring to clinch with his opponents first. Bendo and Velasquez also scored more with other takedowns than with the double.
Also, how do you count moves like the Barsagar, which start as a single, then finish as a double?
It's not like the single leg sucks. It's very good. It's my go-to, and a lot of southpaws (guys who fight with their right foot forward) find more opportunities for the single than for the double. But again, the double is a better takedown overall. It shows up more in MMA than in pure grappling because in MMA, the stances are higher, and guys naturally square their hips when throwing rear-hand shots, both of which make the double easier to get.
Depends on who you talk to.
Some fighters believe grabbing one leg and using their shoulder or grabbing one leg and using it as leverage is a more effective way of getting your opponent to the ground, others will tell you that a single leg takedown is giving your opponent both your hands in exchange for one leg, some will just go for whatever is on offer.
Takedowns are a matter of personal preference and opportunity.
The single leg takedown for your opponent is more easy to defend against. He can of course sprawl which is one way of dealing with it or he can instead let his opponent take his leg but direct it up in between that attacking opponents legs. Then as that attacking opponent is standing he can't lift the leg high enough to disrupt or take his opponents balance away from him. You often see a combination of both these ways of defending against it used with the defender first sprawling and as he is forced back towards the cage and close to the side of it then letting his opponent have his leg while directing it up in between his attackers legs.
Also the attacker is very open to various attacks himself like hammer fists, punches to the back of the kidneys, etc., along with maybe getting caught in a guillotine choke maybe while shooting for a single leg. It is in a lot of ways one of the easiest takedown attacks to defend against for anyone that is well trained.
Takedowns in MMA?
A hard question specially take downs in MMA. There are more experienced MMA gladiators. But I learned one thing over MMA about the take downs and not aware of the skill they are trained.
So lessons and advices I had from many seniors and masters. To me it because of the experiences MMA environments they had, I had lessons covering escapes and pinning or take downs myself toward MMA gladiators.
It doesn't seem like beginners sore of tackle, does it. To have been left with a twisted limps or dislocated joints. To me it isn't beginners skill.
Many senior instructors seeks advices. Grand masters slowly introduced us to similar skills but to their advantage. And it has to work ;#@(:@) my Chinese master finally covered most aspects I kept during 2014 in MMA.
Conclusion learn it carefully. I would rather seek for advices. The two legs in MMA is not impossible escape..... Mate!
I would thank useing a double would be more effective than a single
The most common takedown I see in MMA fighting is the blast double leg. I see single leg takedowns way less often and I have always wondered why it is not used as much.
Is it simply not as effective for an MMA fight than double leg?
