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