Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows striking and grappling, both standing and on the ground, using techniques from various combat sports and martial arts.
Where It Came From?
The first documented use of the term mixed martial arts was in a review of UFC by television critic Howard Rosenberg in 1993. The term gained popularity when newfullcontact.com, then one of the largest websites covering the sport, hosted and republished the article. The question of who actually coined the term is subject to debate.
What Is The Difference Between MMA & UFC Fighting?
Difference Between UFC and MMA. UFC and MMA are interlinked. ... Well, Mixed Martial Arts or MMA can be termed as the sport and Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC can be called as the organization. It is just like NBA and basketball, where the former is the organization and the other one is a sport, Mixed Martial Arts is a combination of several schools of fighting. The Ultimate Fighting Championship is a United States based organization, which is aimed at the promotion of martial arts, 6. UFC is the brand name through which the MMA sells. The MMA would not have got this wide popularity without UFC.
What Martial Arts Styles Does MMA Include?
Mixed Martial Arts Styles
• Western Boxing.
• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
• Karate.
• Kickboxing.
• Shoot Fighting.
• Judo.
• Muay Thai Boxing.
• Western Wrestling.
• number of shows:
more than 200 Events + 14 Seasons of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF)
• years of operation:
From 1993-Current day
• validity of matchmaking:
Great (5/6).
• Television deals:
Major TV deal in multiple countries including FOX, FX, and Fuel TV as well as a major PPV schedule in the US.
• Whether they hold regional, national, or International shows:
UFC is an International promotion holding events all over the world.
• strength of roster (Fighters):
awesome (6/6).
• number of shows:
more than 68 Events
• years of operation:
From 2008-Current day
• validity of matchmaking:
Strong (4/6).
• Television deals:
Major TV deal in Japan.
• Whether they hold regional, national, or International shows:
Pride was an International promotion holding events in Japan and the US.
• strength of roster (Fighters):
awesome (6/6).
• number of shows:
more than 53 Events
• years of operation:
From 2009-Current day
• validity of matchmaking:
Strong (4/6).
• Television deals:
Minor TV deal across Multiple Countries.
• Whether they hold regional, national, or International shows:
WEC was mostly a national promotion only holding one event outside the US (in Edmonton Canada).
• strength of roster (Fighters):
Strong (4/6)
• Number of shows:
more than 60 Events (including 19 Challenger shows).
• Years of operation:
From 2008-Current day.
• Validity of matchmaking:
Good (3/6).
• Television deals:
Major TV deal with Showtime and a limited deal with CBS.
• Whether they hold regional, national, or International shows:
Strikeforce is a national promotion and has never had a show outside of the US.
• Strength of roster (Fighters):
Great (5/6).
• Number of shows:
more than 61 Events.
• Years of operation:
From 2008-Current day.
• Validity of matchmaking:
Strong (4/6).
• Television deals:
Minor TV deal on MTV2 with Viacom's backing and a move to SpikeTV inevitable.
• Whether they hold regional, national, or International shows:
Bellator is a International Promotion holding multiple shows in the US and Canada.
• Strength of roster (Fighters):
Good (3/6).
• Number of shows:
more than 100 Events.
• Years of operation:
From 1993-Current day.
• Validity of matchmaking:
Bad (1/6) The early days of Pancrase, one in five fights were alleged to be "worked" or "fixed" bouts.
• Television deals:
Minor TV Deal in Japan.
• Whether they hold regional, national, or International shows:
Pancrase is a national promotion never leaving the island of Japan.
• Strength of roster (Fighters):
Strong (4/6).
• Number of shows:
more than 23 Events.
• Years of operation:
From 2008-Current day.
• Validity of matchmaking:
So-So (2/6).
• Television deals:
Minor TV deal in the US and Japan.
• Whether they hold regional, national, or International shows:
Dream is a national promotion in Japan.
• Strength of roster (Fighters):
Good (3/6).
• Number of shows:
more than 229 Events.
• Years of operation:
From 1999-Current day.
• Validity of matchmaking:
Good (3/6).
• Television deals:
Minor TV deal.
• Whether they hold regional, national, or International shows:
KOTC is an International Promotion.
• Strength of roster (Fighters):
Good (3/6).
Number of shows:
more than 100 Events.
• Years of operation:
From 1994-Current day.
• Validity of matchmaking:
Good (3/6).
• Television deals:
UFC FIGHT PASS SIGNS SHOOTO JAPAN TO EXCLUSIVE LIVE-EVENT AND ON-DEMAND CONTENT DEAL, and with GFL Combat Sports Network.
• Whether they hold regional, national, or International shows:
Shooto is an International promotion serving nearly 20 countries.
• Strength of roster (Fighters):
Good (3/6)
Number 10: International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF)
IMMAF was founded on 29 February 2012 as the international governing body for amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Registered as a non-profit organisation under Swedish law, IMMAF serves as a democratic hub for national MMA federations and supports the growth of regulation and sport safety globally by aiding countries in the formation of federations where none exist, launched with support of UFC.
Number 11: World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA)
WMMAA was founded as a non-profit organization, in 2012 in Moscow by Vadim Finkelstein (President) and Alexander Engelhardt (Senior Vice President and General Secretary). The World MMA Association was an organization that aimed to manage and develop mixed martial arts, establishing standards and standardization procedures and organizing MMA competitions around the world. The first world championship took place in October 2013 in St. Petersburg. In 2018 WMMAA was absorbed by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) which in Italy exclusively recognizes the Italian Federation of Grappling Mixed Martial Arts FIGMMA.
Number 12: Invicta Fighting Championship (Invicta FC)
Invicta FC is a fan favorite for anyone interested in women’s MMA. The promotion features all female professional bouts with cards that include veterans of the sport that have been around since before WMMA was a thing, as well as new up-and-comers. The promotion now streams live on UFC Fight Pass and has champions in all major weight classes.
ONE FC is arguably Asia’s largest MMA promotion, and through partnership with FOX and ESPN STAR Sports, reaches over 70 countries with its broadcast. The Singapore-based show hosted its first event in 2011 and has expanded rapidly across the international MMA scene. The promotion also differs from most others by combining PRIDE rules and the Unified MMA rules, allowing soccer kicks to the head, all elbows, knees at anytime and stomp kicks to a grounded opponent anywhere but the head.
Number 14: World Series of Fighting (WSOF) OR The Professional Fighters League (PFL)
The Professional Fighters League (PFL), formerly the World Series of Fighting (WSOF)
WSOF came on the scene without much of a warm up, jumping right in to a three-year contract with NBC Sports after the network lost its bid for UFC events to FOX Sports. Earlier this year WSOF Global announced a new focus on the Asian MMA scene. Having previously hosted events in Canada and Nicaragua, they will be promoting in China for the first time with a show on November 21 in Haikou.
Titan FC began its journey throughout the Midwest in 2005. In 2010 they negotiated a deal with AXS TV (then HDNet) to air live events, followed by a seven-card stent on CBS and now airing live on UFC Fight Pass. To date, the promotion has hosted 35 events and has become a respectable home for veterans of the sport who are in between promotions, and top notch undiscovered prospects.
Number 16: Legacy Fighting Championship OR Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA)
Legacy Fighting Alliance is an American mixed martial arts promotion broadcast on AXS TV. It was created as a result of the Legacy Fighting Championship and Resurrection Fighting Alliance merger in early 2017.
Headquartered in Houston, Texas. Legacy FC hosted their inaugural event in 2009, though it could be said that “Lonestar Beatdown,” a college-based early version of “Legacy” served as a predecessor. In 2011 the organization began being televised on AXS TV (formally HDNet) and has a contract with the network that extends into 2016. The promotion has recently surfaced as a forefront proving ground for those on the verge of stepping into the higher ranks. The promotion also has a kickboxing component and an amateur series.
M1 is another 90’s throwback that has survived and thrived over the decades to become a staple in the industry. The Russia-based promotion spent most of its early years co-promoting with other organizations before hosting its first solo show in 2009 in Kansas City. M1 host events across the globe and has current champions in six divisions from five different countries.
VFC is another top tier promotion centrally located in the North American midwest. The organization hosts events across Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, feeding some of the highest levels of industry with some of the best talent the region has to offer. All said and done, VFC has over 60 events under their belt and continues to grow and expand, especially with the recent addition live broadcasting agreement to be announced soon.
