Clinch wall work in MMA is the art of fighting for position when your back is against the cage. Most cage fights spend significant time here, and the fighter who controls the clinch against the wall controls the round.
The BIGGEST mistake guys make when they're pressed against the cage is panicking and trying to muscle out. That burns energy fast. Instead, you need a system.
In the video above, Kru Robert Perez breaks down the first thing you should do when someone locks you up against the wall -- break their grip. Here's the key detail most people miss: don't grab their wrists. Look for the elbows.
From a double underhook position against the cage, you change levels, get low, and hunt for your opponent's elbows. Once you locate that joint, all you do is pinch your arms inward. That's it. The grip breaks because you're leveraging the weakest point of their hold.
The coaching cue that makes this click: get your hips out, find the elbows, and pinch down. Don't try to peel their hands apart -- that's a strength battle you don't need to fight. Attack the structure of the grip at the elbow, and it falls apart.
Once the grip breaks, you're free to circle off the cage, re-establish your stance, or shoot your own takedown while they're still reaching for you.
For the complete breakdown of MMA clinch fighting, check out our full guide to dirty boxing and clinch techniques. The full course is available in The Complete MMA Fighting System.