"A brave man, a real fighter, is not measured by how many times he falls, but how many times he stands up." – Rickson Gracie
Mixed martial arts is a full-contact combat sport in which fighters compete using techniques from various disciplines, including striking, grappling, and ground fighting. Seeing 2 opponents face off in an enclosed space already offers a raw, primal thrill that few sports can match, and with the fighters employing a range of martial arts skills, MMA arguably showcases some of the most well-rounded combatants on the planet.
📜 MMA History
The origins of mixed martial arts can be traced as far back as ancient Greece in the form of pankration – an event introduced to the Olympic Games in 648 BC which combined grappling, striking, and wrestling – although evidence of mixed combat sports can be found across the globe.
The concept returned to prominence in the 20th century with the rise of vale tudo (which roughly translates to “anything goes”) fighting events in Brazil, while legendary martial artist and film star Bruce Lee introduced his philosophy of jeet kune do (a hybrid of multiple martial arts) to the Western world.
Mixed martial arts further entered mainstream consciousness in 1993 with the formation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. MMA promotions can now be found around the world, with competitors incorporating multiple disciplines into their fighting style, from Brazilian jiu-jitsu and taekwondo, to muay thai and judo.
💯 MMA Format & Scoring
MMA matches typically take place in a boxing/wrestling ring or fenced cage area. The latter usually has 6 or 8 sides, or it can be round. Matches come to an end when 1 of the fighters is unable to continue, having either been knocked out, submitted (when a fighter literally “taps out” to concede defeat), deemed unfit by the referee or fight doctor, or their corner concedes defeat by quite literally “throwing in the towel.” Should the fight go the distance, the outcome is determined by a panel of 3 judges who have assigned scores for each round.
Most professional fights take place over 3 rounds lasting 5 minutes each, while championship fights are fought over 5 rounds, and fighters typically wear small, open-fingered gloves. Like other combat sports such as boxing, fighters are separated into weight classes and by gender.
Specific rules may vary from promotion to promotion. The biggest MMA promotion in the world is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Other notable promotions include Bellator, ONE Championship, and the all-female Invicta Fighting Championships.
