| MMA or mixed martial arts refers to a fighting | | | | sport less violent image and prohibit, biting, eye |
| competition that combines techniques form many | | | | gouging, fish hooking, hair pulling, foul language, |
| other fighting styles such as boxing, wrestling, kick | | | | spitting, small joint manipulation, groin strikes, head |
| boxing, and martial arts. MMA fights begin standing | | | | butts, and kicking the head of an opponent while |
| up and resemble kick boxing with opponents | | | | he is on the mat. Originally, the UFC had no weight |
| trading punches and kicks. Almost all MMA fights | | | | classes, which only helped perpetuate the unruly |
| make their way to the ground and then | | | | image. The UFC now has weight classes and even |
| opponents continue to fight in a manner that | | | | screens fighters for drug use prior to entry into |
| resembles wrestling although the object is not to | | | | the ring. |
| win by pinning your opponent. MMA became | | | | MMA fights are won by knock out, submission, |
| popular in the U.S. early 1990's and the UFC, the | | | | judge's decision, or referee stoppage. Time limits |
| biggest U.S. MMA organization was founded in | | | | were also added so that fights lasting longer than |
| 1993. Originally, MMA competitions were met with | | | | the set amount of rounds would be decided by |
| great controversy from politicians and concerned | | | | judges. The referee and fight doctor can also |
| citizens because the UFC claimed to be a | | | | stop a fight if they think that one fighter is not |
| no-hold-barred competition and proved to be | | | | longer able to intelligently defend himself. Fighters |
| extremely violent with only a few rules. The idea | | | | must wear mouth guards and special fingerless |
| behind the UFC was not a new one and the idea | | | | gloves that protect the knuckles while allowing |
| of creating a competition to determine which | | | | fighters to grapple. |
| fighting style was the most effective began in the | | | | Even thought the UFC and MMA fights were |
| early 1900's. MMA type competitions were popular | | | | originally considered barbaric, they have come a |
| in other countries and after their brutal | | | | long way since then. The UFC is gaining popularity |
| introduction into the U.S. in 1993, they did not | | | | and some PPV MMA fights have even outsold |
| seem like they were going to stick around. | | | | PPV boxing matches. With clear rules and |
| The initial disdain for the violent competition | | | | sanctioning, MMA has made a comeback in the |
| actually caused MMA fights to be banned from 20 | | | | U.S. and is set to become the most popular |
| states and even Pay Per View stopped televising | | | | combat sport. MMA already draws millions of fans |
| MMA events. After a few years of shame, the | | | | and more and more fighters are conditioning |
| UFC added rues and regulations and actually got | | | | themselves to be able to compete in the MMA |
| sanctioning to become a legal sport. MMA has | | | | ring. Even though it had a rocky start, MMA in the |
| since become very popular and is loosing some of | | | | U.S. is quickly gaining ground and more and more |
| its brutal stigma. Rules were added to give the | | | | people are accepting it as a legitimate sport. |