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