Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Competitions

By Michele L. Carlson, M.A.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), is a very popular full contact sport competition of strength, agility, and physical/mental toughness.  Fighters have to be strong, quick, decisive, and cunning in order to act and adapt to their opponent’s attacks and defensive moves. Fighters are skilled in an assortment of martial arts, including; judo, Taekwondo, kickboxing, boxing, jujitsu, judo, and karate.  MMA has a large fan base, and action-filled fights.  Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combat sport that allows for numerous types of martial arts to be used, including standing and ground striking and grappling techniques. The rules of competition may seem minimal in comparison to other full contract sports, but the health of competitors’ is monitored by referees, judges, and each competitor’s support.

A fighter must be able to attack, sustain and deflect their opponent’s attacks in order to gain the upper hand. A fight can be won numerous ways; by knock-out (when one opponent brings the other to unconsciousness by a legal strike), submission (when on taps out or verbally admits defeat), technical knock out (TKO), or judge’s decision (based on scoring), or a fight ends with no winner through a technical decision, disqualification, forfeit, technical draw, or no contest.

MMA is a sport for the bold that aren’t afraid to give or take a hit. In fact, one aspect one fighter likes about this sport is that “it requires you to hit or kick someone in the face”.  Which conversely means it requires a fighter to take or block a hit or kick to the face. This sport is fast moving, adrenaline pumping, and the martial arts used in competition hail back to times of war where strength, timing, and know-how were key to survival, conquering enemies, and defending loved ones.

Positive Aspects of MMA

While an aggressive sport, MMA helps teach many things including; discipline, confidence, physical fitness, the ability to react and respond quickly, determination, stamina, self-control, perseverance, flexibility, and improving physical strength. MMA requires dedication due to the amount of time and effort needed to adequately prepare for competition. MMA fighters do not have to be the youngest or the biggest in order to be champions. Fighters need to have; strength, courage, unfettered determination, stamina, a strong martial art skill set from which to choose moves from, and the heart to be willing to give and take such beatings in order to prove who is the best fighter. To have competed in an MMA fight is to say you are strong, physically and mentally tough, knowledgeable in numerous combative styles, disciplined, and able to anticipate, read, and effectively react to the attacks of others. In other words, an MMA fighter is someone who is not to be messed with.

History

Modern MMA began its popularity in the United States in 1993 with UFC’s (Ultimate Fighting Championship) first competition held in Denver, CO, and had already been popular in Japan since 1989 through Shooto. Its early competition heralds from Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia held in the Middle Ages.  An early form of MMA was utilized in Ancient Greek Olympic competitions.  Today MMA competitions are held internationally in S.E. Asia and the USA.

A Popular American Subculture

On a national level, MMA is watched throughout the United States, with great champions such as Randy Couture, Chuck Lydell, and Anderson Silva to name a few. UFC champions like Randy Couture, and Anderson Silva prove that champion fighters do not have be in their 20s in order to be the best.  

The MMA fans are numerous and from varied backgrounds. MMA fights are televised on pay-per-view cable for a premium price due to their popularity. Many fans have MMA Fight parties, where they get together with friends to watch the competitions and critique the fighter’s moves. Numerous bars have UFC Fight nights and other MMA fights televised, and so many fans come that there is standing room only. MMA is a sport that brings people together that are interested in watching the triumph and defeat that are hand in hand with hand to hand combat sports. While UFC and the like are on a national televised level, MMA competitions are held locally throughout the United States.  

What’s it like to fight MMA?

I interviewed Army SSG Cohen, a Colorado MMA fighter. He grew up involved insports and weightlifting. He began ju jitsu at a local gym, after a practice he decided to learn numerous aspects of mixed martial arts and pursued participating in local MMA competitions. (He'd learned basic combative training through the Army.) He says that a dedicated person can learn, compete, and triumph in MMA.  He has competed in four fights, with two wins by TKO and decision, and two losses by submission and decision. For him it is the self challenge, and head-on competition which makes the sport satisfying.    

When I asked him what aspects of MMA assisted other aspects of his life he responded,

“The physical fitness and the mental toughness you get out of it. You have to be dedicated and disciplined to be involved in this type of sport. You need to have some drive when you have to lose five pounds in a day in order make a weigh-in, which I am notorious for.”

What about MMA makes it fun?

“Just the fact that there are so many ways to win and it is based upon me only to succeed. Along with that, all of the events you get to attend make it fun as well.”

SSG Cohen continues to fight in MMA competitions. His goal is to one day fight MMA in Japan.

To Learn More about MMA

It is easy to learn more about MMA by watching a fight, reading an MMA magazine, or becoming involved at a local martial arts center. Martial arts classes can train you to be your best, and competition can test your training. A win of a fight can help boost your confidence, and a loss can shed light on areas that need improvement.  Many people who are involved in martial arts are also MMA fans. I have found that the MMA fans I spoke to are open and willing to share their enthusiasm and understanding of MMA with me.  

A quick internet search for a list of nearby martial art businesses in your area is an easy first step in finding out more.  It is best to visit a few places and speak in person to the professionals at each one about your MMA goals and ask for their suggestions. For more information on competitions’ and champion listings, visit, www.mixedmartialarts.com. 

Just because I believe in non-violent conflict resolution does not mean that I don’t believe in contact sport competition. I believe that martial arts teach many valuable lessons within a controlled environment where the competition has rules,  and competitors can test and improve their strengths, agility, and knowledge to gain personal satisfaction and public recognition for their success in their efforts. From what I have seen of MMA fighting, a good fight is one where, as is in many sports, a healthy respect for each competitor exists, and each competitor utilizes  their skills and strengths according to the rules to see how who conquers in the end.  The fights are exciting to watch since there is no knowing which competitor will win, and the state of who is winning can change quickly and numerous times.  It is rare that a champion fighter makes it to the top of competition without ever having sustained a single blow.  I encourage you to watch a fight, see the bonding of fans, and experience an American subculture.