Mixed Martial Arts or, in Portuguese, Mixed Martial Arts is a type of official fight in which the athletes that confront each other can use strikes from more than one martial art. In general, it is quite common for each athlete to have their specialty in a specific modality. The clashes allow the dispute to take place standing or on the ground, using specific techniques of judo, karate, jiu-jtsu, muay-thai, boxing, kickboxing and wrestling.
The origin of this sport, as we know it, is Brazilian. Its beginnings were in the 30s, when jiu-jitsu, through Hélio Gracie, was trying to establish itself in the country as an efficient martial art. In this context, clashes were promoted between fighters of other martial arts against specialists in jiu-jitsu. Unlike the fights that are currently observed, at that time there were no rules delimiting the confrontations, which put the fighters' lives at risk. However, the Gracie strategy yielded the expected results: after winning countless matches, jiu-jitsu gained popularity.
The first organization of an MMA tournament took place in the United States, at the instigation of Rórion Grace (son of Hélio Grace). It is the UFC – Ultimate Fight Championship, which began in 1993, and which today moves around 1.5 billion dollars. This championship was a lever for the emergence of other championships that became as important as the UFC, such as Strike Force. Strike Force also presented an extremely important innovation for the MMA universe: fights are also organized between female fighters, which does not happen in the UFC.
The fights are made up of three rounds, of three minutes each. The exception is a belt decision, consisting of five rounds, of three minutes each. Male categories are generally divided into:
- Light: up to 70kg;
- Medium medium: up to 77kg;
- Medium: up to 84kg;
- Medium heavy: up to 93kg;
- Heavy: up to 120kg.
With regard to women's disputes, they occur only in two categories:
- Welterweight: up to 61kg;
- Medium: up to 66kg.
Brazil still has outstanding athletes. Examples are Vitor Belfort, Anderson Silva and Lioto Machida. Belfort, a jiu-jitsu specialist with excellent karate knowledge, has been nine times champion of the UFC, three-time champion of the Cage Rage (championship in London) and five-time champion of the Japanese tournament Pride Anderson Silva, black belt in jiu-jitsu, judo, black praijed in muay-thai, in addition to being a yellow cord in regional capoeira, he is the current champion of the Cage Rage in the welterweight category and of the UFC, in the category average. In addition, he set the record for the most consecutive victories in the UFC; record for most consecutive victories for title defense, in the same competition; and three times winner of the fight of the night, also in the UFC. Lyoto Machida is a black belt in jiu-jitsu and shotokan karate, and has been champion of the light heavyweight division.
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Doctoral Student in Integration of Latin America at the University of São Paulo - USP
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/educacao-fisica/mma-mixed-martial-arts.htm