What Is MMA? Things to know about Mixed Martial Arts

MMA stands for Mixed Martial Arts. The first documented usage of the term ‘mixed martial arts’ came in 1993, when Howard Rosenberg used it to review UFC 1 (the first sporting event hosted by The Ultimate Fighting Championship).

It is a full contact combat sport where one competitor attempts to win dominance over another through physical force.

The fights are completely real, and not faked like in the WWE.

It is also commonly known as the fastest growing sport in the world. Popular stars of MMA include; Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar, Jon Jones & Chael Sonnen.

What Does it involve?

The sport itself involves 3 main combat styles; stand-up fighting, clinch fighting and ground fighting.

Using different styles of combat is what MMA is all about. All major styles and disciplines are allowed to be used in a sanctioned fight, in order to find out who is truly the best real fighter out of the two competitors.

For example, stand-up fighting usually involves Muay Thai, Karate, Boxing or Kickboxing. Clinch fighting usually involves Judo & Wrestling techniques. Finally, ground fighting can involve Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sambo & Wrestling.

The different styles listed above are just examples of popular martial arts used by modern professional martial artists. The full list of fighting disciplines goes on and on.

Rules

The sport of MMA does of course have rules. Set out in the Unified Rules Of MMA, fighters are instructed not to take advantage of tactics which are considered barbaric. For example, the following is not allowed in modern mixed martial arts competition; groin strikes, hair pulling, biting, eye gouging, headbutting, kneeing the head of a downed opponent, footballing kicking the head of a downed opponent, 12 to 6 elbows, finger bending. Again, the list could go on but you can see the full list of rules right here.

Fight results can be drawn in a number of ways;

• Knockout / Technical Knockout (KO / TKO)
• Submission Finish (SUB)
• Decision Victory (DEC)
• Draw
• Disqualification (DQ)
• No Contest

It’s possible for a fight to be ended by “doctor’s stoppage” (classed as a TKO). Doctors are hired at most major events, and if a fighter gets a nasty injury then the referee will call the doctor into the cage. The doctor will then analyse the injury and decide if the fighter should continue fighting or not.

If a fighter can’t see out of an eye, or if they have a broken bone, or they have a large gash / cut then 9 times out of 10 the doctor will stop the fight. This is to protect the injured fighter.

Major MMA promotions include; The UFC, Bellator, Cage Warriors, One, PFL.