Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hurzeler has revealed an unconventional secret weapon in the team's quest to shed their reputation as a "nice" club: a mixed martial arts fighter. The Seagulls, known for their attractive football, are now looking to add some grit and resilience, particularly when it comes to defending set pieces.

Midfielder Jack Hinshelwood first let the cat out of the bag last week, telling BBC Radio 5 Live that an unnamed MMA fighter had been brought in to help the squad with "blocking from corners." It's a move that makes perfect sense when you consider the numbers: Brighton have conceded 13 goals from set-pieces this season—a full third of their total goals against. With a trip to St. James' Park to face Newcastle United on the horizon—a team that ranks fourth in the Premier League for set-piece goals and boasts one of the tallest squads in the division—every edge counts.

"It was a couple of months ago," Hurzeler explained. "We brought him in because we spoke a lot about set-pieces, blocking, and new trends in the Premier League. We tried to adapt." The German coach is clear about his philosophy: "I don't always want to be known as a club that is nice. In certain moments, you need to be quite resilient in personal duels."

The logic is simple but brilliant. "An MMA fighter always has one-against-one duels. They always need to find a way to beat an opponent," Hurzeler noted. "We try to get ideas from other sports, and this was an idea we used. If it stays in a player's mind, then that's always a positive thing." From blocking techniques to winning individual battles in the box, the crossover from the octagon to the pitch is proving valuable for a team that has scored just 13 set-piece goals themselves—only four teams have fewer.

Brighton have never been known as a physically dominant side, especially from dead-ball situations. "We're never known as recruiting only for set-pieces, so we need to find ways to be innovative," Hurzeler added. "We need to find ways that we can't be beaten that easily against taller teams. That's what we face against Newcastle. We might not be that physical, but there are always ways you can defend and attack in one-on-one duels at set-pieces, and that's why we try to use techniques from MMA as well."

This isn't Hurzeler's first foray into combat sports for inspiration. The Brighton boss has previously trained with British boxer Harlem Eubank, showing that when it comes to gaining a competitive edge, he's willing to think outside the box—and inside the cage.