| Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, combines many | | | | competition. Although many critics have |
| different fighting techniques, including | | | | attempted to portray the MMA fighting style |
| grappling and striking, and high performance | | | | as violent and brutal, there has never been a |
| standards, particularly in the often intense, | | | | death or crippling injury in any sanctioned |
| and very popular MMA tournaments. The first | | | | MMA event in North America. The U.S. state |
| tournaments came about as a result of the | | | | athletic and boxing committee regulates the |
| 1993 Ultimate Fighting Championship, which | | | | MMA, requiring participants and sponsors to |
| matched different fighting styles in a | | | | adhere to a set of officially sanctioned |
| competition where the rules were minimal and | | | | rules and regulations, which include rules |
| the goal was to find the best fighters in the | | | | for knockout, submission, technical knockout, |
| world. The success of this mixed martial | | | | the ten point system, disqualification, and |
| arts combat style led to the development and | | | | no contest. Common fouls include clawing, |
| implementation of rules designed to keep | | | | twisting and pinching flesh, small joint |
| athletes safe and deflect early criticism of | | | | manipulation, attacking an opponent from or |
| the sport while still holding on to the | | | | on the break in the care of an official, |
| original concept of the UFC as much as | | | | attacking the groin or trachea, fish-hooking, |
| possible. The modern MMA tournaments have | | | | biting, and hair pulling, spitting, use of |
| their roots in the Vale tudo martial arts | | | | abusive language, and other similar acts. |
| tournaments held in Brazil by the Gracie | | | | |
| family beginning in the 1920s, and the | | | | The MMA continues to grow in popularity and |
| preliminary martial arts tournaments hosted | | | | reputation, as athletes associated with the |
| in Japan by Antonio Inoki in the early 1970s. | | | | sport have also gained reputation and renown, |
| | | | as well as successful careers and endorsement |
| There are several different competition | | | | deals. With mainstream acceptance, worldwide |
| techniques, including striking techniques, | | | | acclaim, and an every growing fan base, what |
| like kicks, punches, and knees, and grappling | | | | started as an abstract concept has become an |
| techniques, like pinning holds, submission | | | | established sport and a successful platform |
| holds, clinch holds, takedowns, throws and | | | | from which many athletic careers have been |
| sweeps. The permissibility and legality of | | | | launched. The future of the MMA appears to |
| certain other techniques like head butts, | | | | be bright, and the popularity of the sport |
| spinal locks, and elbows vary according to | | | | even more so. |
| the specific organization and sponsored | | | | |