| Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a combat sport in | | | | pankration missed out. |
| which a wide variety of fighting techniques are | | | | The techniques utilized in mixed martial arts |
| used, including striking and grappling. | | | | competition generally fall into two categories: |
| Modern mixed martial arts tournaments as a | | | | striking techniques (such as kicks, knees and |
| popular phenomenon emerged in 1993 with the | | | | punches) and grappling techniques (such as clinch |
| Ultimate Fighting Championship, based on the | | | | holds, pinning holds, submission holds, sweeps, |
| concept of pitting different fighting styles against | | | | takedowns and throws). Some unarmed hand to |
| each other in competition with minimal rules in | | | | hand combat techniques are considered illegal in |
| place, in an attempt to determine which system | | | | most or all modern competition, such as biting, |
| would be more effective in a real, unregulated | | | | eye-gouging, fish-hooking and small joint |
| combat situation. In the late 1990s and early | | | | manipulation. Over the last ten years, strikes to |
| 2000s, mixed martial arts events implemented | | | | the groin have become illegal in all sanctioned |
| additional rules for the safety of the athletes and | | | | organizations. The legality of other techniques such |
| to promote acceptance of the sport, while | | | | as elbows, headbutts and spinal locks vary |
| maintaining as much of the original no-holds-barred | | | | according to competition or organization. |
| concept as possible. Since these changes, the | | | | A victory in a bout is normally gained by the |
| sport has grown rapidly, to the point of setting | | | | judges' decision after an allotted amount of time |
| pay-per-view records. | | | | has elapsed, a stoppage by the referee or the |
| Though rules have been adopted, there is no | | | | fight doctor (in the event that the competitor is |
| general sanctioning body for the sport, and the | | | | injured or can no longer defend himself |
| sets of rules vary according to the laws of | | | | intelligently), a submission, by a competitor's |
| individual organizations and localities. It was thought | | | | cornerman throwing in the towel, or by knockout. |
| that Olympic recognition would be forthcoming for | | | | While competition in the sport is occasionally |
| the 2004 Summer Olympics, held in Athens, under | | | | depicted as brutal by the media, there has never |
| the banner of pankration. However, the | | | | been a death or crippling injury in a sanctioned |
| International Olympic Committee was unconvinced | | | | event in North America. The only verified fatality |
| that Greece could handle the total number of | | | | in competition is the 1998 death of Douglas |
| sports proposed. To placate the IOC, the | | | | Dedge in an unsanctioned fight in Ukraine. |
| organizers removed all new medal sports and | | | | |