Brighton’s coaching staff have turned to mixed‑martial‑arts for a boost in aerial battles, manager Fabian Hurzeler revealing that an MMA practitioner now works with the squad on set‑piece duels. He argues that one‑on‑one combat drills teach resilience and timing, qualities he feels the Seagulls lack against taller opponents. The experiment aims to sharpen players’ blocking and attacking instincts for the upcoming season.

Brighton have netted just 13 goals from dead‑ball situations this campaign, placing them among the league’s lowest‑scoring sides in that category. Hurzeler admits the club isn’t traditionally a set‑piece powerhouse and rarely recruits specialists for that purpose. Borrowing techniques from combat sports, he hopes to create a mental edge that compensates for physical disparities, especially against teams like Newcastle this season.

While the Seagulls have yet to see a measurable uptick in set‑piece conversion, the unconventional training has already sparked conversation among Premier League peers. Hurzeler’s own stint with British boxer Harlem Eubank suggests a willingness to blend disciplines whenever it might shave an inch off a defender’s reach. The club will judge success by future goal tallies in the short term.