MMA Rules

Marjorie Dunn February 9, 2022

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and one of the most dynamic and entertaining full-contact combat sports. Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a sport in which competitors from any martial art, including boxing, karate, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and judo, battle under rules that allow for kicking, punching, and grappling techniques on both the ground and in the air.

In professional events, it is generally fought in a cage, a combat arena contained by metal fencing, a classic boxing ring, or a plain matting area in amateur tournaments.

Such fighting has been going on for a long time and can be traced back to ancient Greece, when a combat sport called Pankration was prominent, which comprised a variety of grappling and striking tactics. Similar combat forms have existed throughout history, but none had ever received global notice until the United States’ Ultimate Fighting Championship debuted in 1993.

It was a TV hit, pitting competitors from various martial arts disciplines against one another, and it helped to popularise MMA throughout the world. The UFC is now the largest MMA promotion globally, with fight nights all around the world and a market capitalization of several billion dollars.

There is no one regulating organization for MMA, and no universal set of regulations, therefore many of the hundreds of various federations, promoters, and associations throughout the world may have somewhat varied interpretations of the rules.

However, a group of state commissioners from throughout the United States collaborated to produce the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, which have now been accepted by combat companies worldwide, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Even if a promotion does not conform to them, they will almost definitely employ a close variant.

MMA’s main goal

The goal of the sport is to use striking, throwing, and grappling tactics to defeat your opponent. Although athletes in the early years of MMA, particularly in the UFC, tended to specialize in one martial art and be purely strikers and grapplers, most fighters today recognize the importance of cross-training to succeed in the sport.

Fighters will frequently have a foundation style, such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Still, they will additionally train in wrestling, Thai boxing, and western boxing to give them a well-rounded fighting approach. Being effective in modern MMA and regularly winning battles requires such a blend of styles in which you take the qualities of each.

Players and their gear

Two individuals compete in MMA in a cage or a ring. Although it is commonly viewed as an adult-only activity, an increasing number of children are training in MMA and competing in contests. Because MMA is a potentially dangerous sport, contests are rarely full contact. Strikes to the face are prohibited, as are any joint locks that might be harmful to grow bones. The following weight classifications apply in adult competition:

  • Over 265 pound super heavyweight
  • Heavyweights weighing between 205 and 265 pounds are considered heavyweights.
  • Around 185 to 205 pounds (light-heavyweight)
  • Around 170 to 185-pound middleweight
  • Around 155 to 170 pounds welterweight
  • Around 145 to 155 pounds, lightweight
  • Featherweight is defined as a person who weighs between 135 and 145 pounds.
  • Over 125 to 135-pound women’s bantamweight
  • Around 125 to 135-pound bantamweight
  • 115 lb. to 125 lb. flyweight
  • Strawweights of up to 115 pounds is possible.
  • In MMA, the ring/cage must be between 20 and 32 square feet in size.

Because mixed martial arts is the ultimate one-on-one fighting sport, there is no other equipment utilized but MMA gloves, which are lightweight cushioned gloves that allow for finger flexibility while also protecting the hands when punching.

Scoring

Scoring is done in mixed martial arts fights in the same manner, it does in many other combat sports like boxing. Three judges sit around the ring and score each round, awarding ten points to the winner and nine points to the loser. If there is a clear winner in a round, the loser may only earn 8 points.

If the match lasts the entire time, the judges’ scorecards are tallied together, and the winner is revealed. The game is considered a draw if the judges’ scorecards show that both players have the same score.