More and more people are becoming interested in MMA as the sport’s popularity rises. Despite mixed martial arts (and the UFC’s) meteoric rise from its imbalance and freakshow roots to the status of genuine, respectable, and immensely popular sport it is today, not everyone knows about it.
Therefore, in response to many inquiries regarding MMA, we have compiled a list of things most people don’t know about the sport. Before we dive into what MMA entails, it is worth noting that online casinos are also rising in popularity, and with online slots real money South Africa platforms available, you can enjoy your favorite slots whenever and wherever – even on your phone while watching MMA fights.
1. It Encompasses Many Rules
It’s a popular fallacy that MMA doesn’t have any regulations, yet there are actually quite a few. When it comes to MMA, the most widely adopted set of rules comprises the Unified Rules agreed upon by all state athletic commissioners in the United States.
The regulations cover a lot of ground, from the dimensions of the fight ring to the wrapping of hands to who gets to judge and what constitutes a foul. Anyone interested in learning more about the sport should read these.
MMA is governed by regulations meant to ensure the safety of its competitors. Fighters are required to use gloves at all times during the competition. The purpose of this regulation is to avoid severe wounds.
No eye gouging, biting, hair pulling, or groin strikes are allowed, among other rules.
In most fights, each round lasts about five minutes, with each match having three rounds in total. However, championship fights have five rounds.
2. Scoring of Fights
There are a total of three judges sitting on the outside of the cage, and they all have unique perspectives on the fight. Striking, grappling, ring command, aggressiveness, and defensive prowess are just some of the MMA skills that get graded.
The victor of a round receives 10 points and the loser no more than 9 points, with the exception of the extremely unlikely event of a round ending in a tie.
3. Hugs and Handshakes are Actually Important
Mixed martial arts (MMA) have their own special kind of respect. Before weigh-ins and the bell, fighters are known to exchange pleasantries.
There is a showmanship element to the sport; however, after many fights, the competitors embrace along with shaking hands in the Octagon before doing so again backstage. Each player has the utmost regard for the other and for the sport itself.
4. UFC and MMA are NOT the Same
The UFC and Mixed Martial Arts are two very different things. The UFC is a business whose primary objective is to publicize MMA bouts. The Ultimate Fighting Championship is not a sport but a business. However, MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a popular combat sport today that draws from many diverse fighting traditions.
Essentially, there would be no UFC without MMA.
5. MMA Fights Can Get Dangerous
There are too many adverse aspects to MMA. Mixed martial artists have a higher risk of suffering from wounds, fractures, and even spinal cord injuries. Many people who have been in combat end up with permanent injuries. Almost a quarter of mixed martial artists suffer some form of brain damage during their careers.
The violence and bloodiness of MMA fights contribute to the sport’s negative image. Contrary to popular belief, it is actually safer than boxing, according to research conducted at the University of Alberta.
Boxers have a higher risk of severe head trauma, among the most deadly injuries, compared to mixed martial artists, who are more likely to sustain cuts and bruises.
6. How Matches End
The conclusion of a match can be due to a number of potential fight outcomes. When a fighter strikes the mat three times or verbally submits in any other fashion, it is considered a submission. It is imperative that the submission be clear.
Technical knockout occurs when the competitor is not unconscious, and the referee decides that the damage has been so severe it might be risky for him to keep up the fight, while knockout occurs when a fighter loses consciousness and, therefore, cannot continue with the fight. Technical knockouts can be called for a variety of reasons, including the decision of the doctor, referee, or the corner man.
The judges will make a decision if a score of 1-3 cannot settle a match. If a fighter commits a flagrant and purposeful violation of the rules, the match may be called off due to disqualification.
A match could also end because of no contest when a fighter cannot continue fighting before there have been enough rounds for the judges to issue a judgment and a forfeit when a fighter purposely stops the bout before it concludes without a clear reason.
7. New York State Has Banned MMA
There have been great UFC battles, but which one stands above them all? That would be MMA takes on New York.
Almost all states outlawed “extreme fighting” in the late 1990s, but thanks to the efforts of the UFC, that practice is now legal in nearly all of them. The UFC had persistently attempted to appeal the statute since 1997, when New York state prohibited MMA, to the United States Court of Appeals.
New York officials have voiced concerns that MMA promotes a violent culture. Dana White, the president of the UFC, claims that political intrigue is to blame. The Culinary Union, with headquarters in New York City, is apparently furious that some UFC co-owners operate non-union casinos. White claims that unions are pressuring politicians to prevent UFC from coming to New York.
Conclusion
MMA is expanding faster than any other sport on the globe. Combat sports and martial arts like boxing, karate, kickboxing, tae kwon do, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, Muay Thai, and judo are all included in mixed martial arts.