General

Mixed Martial Arts is an intense hand-to-hand combat sport, which involves a variety of different fighting styles. The techniques utilized in MMA competition generally fall into two categories: striking techniques (such as kicks, knees and punches) and grappling techniques (such as clinch holds, pinning holds, submission holds, sweeps, takedowns and throws. The best MMA fighters in the world can effectively dominate in either striking or grappling style matches.

Rules

Originally deemed as No Holds Barred fighting (NHB), the sports name was unofficially changed to MMA with the addition of rules and regulations in the late Ninety's. Due to the fact that there is still no general sanctioning body for the sport, all of the rules vary according to the individual organizations and localities. Most MMA leagues worldwide share similar rules prohibiting things such as fish hooking, eye gouging and any form of hitting to the back of the head. The number and timed rounds can vary but the overall safety of the fighters remains its highest priority to all MMA leagues. Victory usually can be achieved through submission, knockout, and stoppage by the referee or judge's decision. In the event that a fight does last its total scheduled rounds the decision of the match is determined by the 'judges' score based on the following criteria: aggression, striking and grappling.

History

The NHB matches in the early 1990's were originally meant to pit different fighting styles against each other. There was not any set weight classes, and most fighters were experienced in one formal fighting style, such as judo, or karate or even sumo wrestling! It didn't take very long for fighters to realize that the key to success wasn't in mastering a single style, but rather to become a well-rounded fighter capable of taking on any opponent seen by Roce Gracie who mastered the art of jiu-jitsu. Gracie's distinct style led to a shift in the way to fight these types of matches and it quickly evolved the sport into an organized sport, which is evident in today's televised events.

In recent years, the popularity of MMA has risen exponentially. This is largely due to the creation of reality TV shows, and numerous Pay-Per View events being broadcast all over the world. The momentum of the sport continues to increase as people begin to realize the dedication and athleticism required to excel in Mixed Martial Arts. What was once seen as nothing more than brawlers have transformed into athletically, skilled and gifted athletes that have their strengths and weaknesses.