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| Mixed martial arts | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mixed martial arts |
| Focus | Striking and grappling |
| Country | Multiple |
| Creator | Various practitioners and organizations |
| Parenthood | Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Wrestling (sport), Boxing, Muay Thai, Judo |
Mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts is a full-contact combat sport combining Boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Wrestling (sport), Muay Thai, and Judo techniques within regulated competition. Originating from cross-disciplinary contests such as the Vale Tudo (Brazil), the sport evolved through events like the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Pride Fighting Championships into a global industry featuring athletes from United States, Brazil, Japan, Russia, and Australia.
Early antecedents include classical contests such as Pankration at the Ancient Olympic Games and grappling traditions within Sambo (martial art) and Luta Livre. Modern consolidation began with the 1990s rise of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the 1997 founding of Pride FC, and cross-pollination from Pancrase and Vale Tudo (Brazil). Prominent figures such as Rickson Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Mark Coleman, Royce Gracie, and Don Frye influenced stylistic integration, while regulatory shifts led to adoption of unified rules promoted by bodies like the Nevada State Athletic Commission and events hosted by Bellator MMA and ONE Championship.
Contemporary governance follows variations of the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts promulgated by state and national commissions including the Nevada State Athletic Commission, California State Athletic Commission, New York State Athletic Commission, and international federations such as the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. Major sanctioning organizations coordinate weight classes, fouls, scoring, and judging panels featuring former competitors from Chuck Liddell, Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones training lineages. Arbitration and licensing interact with institutions like the Association of Boxing Commissions and national bodies in Brazil, Japan, and Russia.
Fighters integrate striking from Boxing, Muay Thai, and Kickboxing (full contact) with grappling from Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Wrestling (sport), Judo, and Sambo (martial art). Training camps often involve coaches and sparring partners from programs led by figures such as Greg Jackson, Firas Zahabi, John Kavanagh, Rafael Cordeiro, and Eddie Bravo. Periodized strength and conditioning borrows protocols from CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, and Sports medicine research at universities like Ohio State University and Penn State University. Game planning adapts to opponents with records and styles associated with athletes like Conor McGregor, Anderson Silva, Amanda Nunes, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Valentina Shevchenko.
Approved equipment includes gloves, mouthguards, groin protectors, and athletic cups used in events staged by UFC and ONE Championship. Protective measures and medical screening draw on protocols from World Anti-Doping Agency, International Olympic Committee concussion guidelines, and commissions like the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Ringside physicians and athletic trainers often have affiliations with hospitals such as Mayo Clinic and research centers including Emory University. Injury prevention emphasizes rule changes influenced by cases involving athletes like Brock Lesnar, Fedor Emelianenko, and Ronda Rousey.
Promotions implement standardized divisions — flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight — mirroring charts used by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Rankings are published by outlets and panels connected to organizations like the Ultimate Fighting Championship, independent media such as Sherdog, Tapology, and the Association of Boxing Commissions. Title lineages trace through champions including Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, Jose Aldo, Henry Cejudo, and Stipe Miocic.
Major promotions include the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Bellator MMA, ONE Championship, Pride Fighting Championships, Rizin Fighting Federation, and regional circuits such as King of the Cage and Legacy Fighting Alliance. Landmark events include UFC 1, UFC 229, Pride Grand Prix, and international cards in cities like Las Vegas, Tokyo, São Paulo, Moscow, and Singapore. Media rights and pay-per-view deals have involved broadcasters and platforms including ESPN, Fox Sports, Sky Sports, and DAZN.
The sport influenced mainstream culture through crossover appearances by athletes in Tony Robbins-style motivational contexts, film roles in productions such as Warrior (2011 film), and celebrity fights featuring figures like Conor McGregor in boxing crossovers. Coverage spans dedicated outlets including MMA Fighting, Sherdog, and mainstream newspapers like The New York Times and The Guardian. Academic study engages departments at institutions such as University of California, Los Angeles, University of Oxford, and University of Toronto examining sociology, economics, and health policy related to the sport. The global expansion shaped national sports policies in Brazil, Japan, Russia, United States, and China.
Category:Martial arts