ADFC

MMA Definition

Mixed Martial Arts is a hybrid sport allowing the participation of all martial arts and hand-to-hand combat styles such as Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Karate, Boxing, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Kung fu, Take Kwon Do, Muay Thai & others.

Combining street fighting with the Martial Arts makes this much more entertaining and exciting for the spectators than other forms of combat.

MMA History

Dating back to 648 B.C. in the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece, Pankration or ‘all-powers’ was a combination of wrestling & boxing with only two rules: no biting and no eye gouging.

Pankration died out with the decline of Greece but it was revived years later in 1925 in Brazil by the Gracie family who infused the sport with Asian Martial Arts and exported it to the United States.

MMA Weight Divisions

• Bantamweight 125 to 135 lbs (56.7 to 61.2 kg)
• Featherweight 135 to 145 lbs (61.2 to 65.8 kg)
• Lightweight 145 to 155 lbs (65.8 to 70.3 kg)
• Welterweight 155 to 170 lbs (70.3 to 77.1 kg)
• Middleweight 170 to 185 lbs (77.1 to 83.9 kg)
• Light Heavyweight 185 to 205 lbs (83.9 to 93.0 kg)
• Heavyweight 205 to 265 lbs (93.0 to 120.2 kg)

How an MMA fight can be won

• Knockout (KO): As soon as a fighter becomes unconscious due to strikes, his opponent is declared the winner. As MMA rules allow ground fighting, the fight is stopped to prevent further injury to an unconscious fighter.
• Technical Knockout (TKO)- Referee stoppage- Doctor stoppage- Corner stoppage
• Submission: A fighter may admit defeat during a match by:- a tap on the opponent’s body;- a tap on the mat or floor;- verbal announcement
• Decision: The judges make the decision on who is the winner if the match goes the distance.
• Forfeit: A fighter or their representative may forfeit the match prior to the start.
• Disqualification: When a foul or illegal action is committed or if the referees’ instructions are not followed a warning will be given. Three warnings will result in disqualification. If a fighter is injured and unable to continue due to a deliberate illegal action from his opponent, the opponent will be disqualified.
• No Contest: If both fighters violate the rules or a fighter is unable to continue due to an injury sustained from an accidental illegal action the match will be declared a ‘No Contest’ by the referee.

Warnings and Fouls

If committed, these fouls will result in penalties:

1. Butting with the head
2. Eye gouging of any kind
3. Biting or spitting at an opponent
4. Hair pulling
5. Fish hooking
6. Groin attacks of any kind
7. Intentionally placing a finger in any opponent’s orifice
8. Downward pointing of elbow strikes
9. Small joint manipulation
10. Strikes to the spine or back of the head
11. Heel kicks to the kidney
12. Throat strikes of any kind
13. Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh or grabbing the clavicle
14. Kicking the head of a grounded fighter
15. Kneeing the head of a grounded fighter
16. Stomping of a grounded fighter
17. The use of abusive language in fighting area
18. Any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to opponent
19. Attacking an opponent on or during the break
20. Attacking an opponent who is under the referee’s care at the time
21. Timidity (avoiding contact, or consistent dropping of mouthpiece, or faking an injury)
22. Interference from a mixed martial artists seconds
23. Throwing an opponent out of the fighting area
24. Flagrant disregard of the referee’s instructions
25. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his or her head or neck