What is MMA?

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has evolved into a global sport, where fighters from all corners of the world test their skills in spectacular arenas. Athletes combine techniques from various martial arts such as boxing, kickboxing, grappling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to be effective both standing and on the ground. With professional competitions like the UFC and millions of fans following the events, MMA has become synonymous with ultimate versatility and physical fitness in the martial arts world.

MMA is a complete sport that places great emphasis on a proper warm-up to improve your fitness.

The effectiveness of MMA largely comes from realistic sparring, where you learn to use all techniques while adhering to certain rules to enhance safety.

MMA athletes train in a variety of disciplines to become all-around fighters. Modern training methods include techniques from boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The goal is to be effective both standing and on the ground, and to switch quickly between different fighting styles.

Various styles in the ring

• Stand-up: This focuses on standing fights using techniques from boxing and kickboxing.
• Ground and Pound: The fighter takes the opponent to the ground and attacks with punches and elbows.
• Submission-focused: By using holds and chokes from disciplines like BJJ, the fighter tries to make the opponent submit.

Is MMA healthy?

MMA can indeed be considered a healthy sport, as it significantly improves your conditioning, reflexes, strength, and flexibility. However, since it is a contact sport, there are risks of injury. These risks are minimized during training through proper warm-ups, controlled sparring with restrictive rules, and the use of protective gear. In competitions, the risks are naturally higher because athletes give their full effort, and protection is limited to MMA gloves.

Is MMA legal in the Netherlands?

Yes, MMA is legal in the Netherlands. Due to extensive regulations, it is a legal sport for both amateurs and professionals to practice. MMA fights, commonly known as "cage fights," are also legal. There is even a comprehensive set of rules established by the Dutch Combat Sports Authority.

Although MMA initially had few rules, there are now strict regulations to ensure the safety of the fighters. Prohibited techniques include:

• Headbutting
• Striking the spine or groin
• Eye gouging
• Biting
• Kicking the head of a seated or grounded opponent

These rules ensure that MMA has become a regulated and professional sport. Generally, intervention occurs quickly once it is clear that the opponent can no longer defend themselves.

The Evolution of Mixed Martial Arts Through the Centuries

Pankration

The roots of this sport go back thousands of years. It's a fascinating journey from the sand arenas of ancient Greece to the illuminated octagons of today.

Pankration

The story begins in 648 BC during the Olympic Games in ancient Greece. Here, Pankration was introduced—a combat sport that combined the brutality of boxing with the techniques of wrestling. Virtually all techniques were allowed, except biting and eye-gouging. Pankration, which means "all power," was considered the ultimate test of strength and skill. It was not only a sport but also an essential part of military training, where soldiers were taught effective combat techniques for the battlefield.

Bartitsu: A Victorian Experiment

In late 19th-century England, Edward William Barton-Wright developed Bartitsu, a hybrid martial art that combined jiujitsu, savate (French kickboxing), boxing, and stick fighting. This unique mix was intended as an effective self-defense system for the gentlemen of the time. Bartitsu even found its way into literature when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle mentioned it in his Sherlock Holmes stories, making it the first mixed martial art in the West.

Sambo

At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia saw the rise of Sambo, a martial art developed for the Red Army. It combined elements of wrestling and judo and was aimed at effective self-defense. This combat sport is still very popular in Russia and neighboring regions like Dagestan, where Khabib Nurmagomedov hails from.

The Gracies and Vale Tudo

In Brazil, the concept of mixed fights took off with Vale Tudo, which means "anything goes." These no-holds-barred fights became popular in the 1920s and 1930s, mainly thanks to the Gracie family. They used these matches to promote their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), repeatedly proving how effective their style was against larger and stronger opponents from other disciplines.

Pancrase

The 1980s and '90s saw the rise of organizations like Shooto and Pancrase in Japan. Shooto, founded by Satoru Sayama, was a professional martial art that combined elements of amateur wrestling and other combat styles. Pancrase was inspired by ancient Pankration and organized matches with minimal rules. Legendary fighters like Bas Rutten and Ken Shamrock made their names here, laying the foundation for their later successes.

From the 1990s Onward: Pride FC and UFC

In 1993, the martial arts landscape changed forever with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the United States. The first UFC events were raw and unpredictable but quickly attracted a large audience. Around the same time, Pride Fighting Championships was established in Japan. Pride FC became known for its spectacular events and high-profile fighters like Fedor Emelianenko, Wanderlei Silva, and Mirko Cro Cop. Later, Pride was merged with the UFC, making the UFC the largest martial arts organization in the world.

In 1993, an event was organized in Denver, Colorado, that would turn the martial arts world upside down: the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC 1). The idea behind this tournament was simple yet revolutionary: to pit fighters from different martial arts disciplines against each other to determine which style was most effective in a real fight situation.

The Gracie family, pioneers of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), were the driving force behind this event. Their goal was to demonstrate the effectiveness of BJJ to a global audience. By applying almost no rules and having no weight classes, they created a platform where technique could stand up against brute force.

Central to UFC 1 was Royce Gracie, a relatively small and slender fighter compared to his opponents. Despite the physical advantages of others, Royce managed to triumph time and again with his superior mastery of BJJ techniques. He defeated larger and stronger opponents by taking them to the ground and submitting them with moves such as chokes and armlocks.

The impression that UFC 1 made was enormous. Spectators were astonished that a smaller fighter could dominate over larger fighters from disciplines like boxing, kickboxing, and sumo wrestling. The event showed that ground fighting and submission techniques are crucial in a fight—something that was underestimated in many traditional martial arts.

UFC 1 marked the beginning of a new era in the martial arts world. The success of Royce Gracie inspired countless fighters to delve into multiple disciplines and led to the development of modern Mixed Martial Arts.

Renzo Gracie became prominent in the MMA scene during the 1990s.

He trained intensively in BJJ from a young age, learning the art primarily from Carlos and Roll Gracie. His victory over Oleg Taktarov showcased his ability to defeat experienced opponents with technical precision. The fight against Kazushi Sakuraba, although a loss, demonstrated his indomitable spirit and dedication to sportsmanship.

But Renzo's influence extended beyond his own fights. He moved to New York and opened an academy there, where he trained countless fighters who later achieved great success themselves, such as Matt Serra and Georges St-Pierre. Through his teaching and mentorship, he spread the principles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu worldwide and integrated them into modern MMA training methods.

The film above is a wonderful documentary about his MMA period.

For the Netherlands, Bas Rutten must certainly be mentioned in this context.

Bas Rutten, born on February 24, 1965, in Tilburg, the Netherlands, started as a kickboxer and quickly became a prominent figure in the Dutch martial arts scene. With his background in taekwondo and karate, he developed a powerful and explosive kickboxing style.

In the 1990s, Rutten moved to Japan to participate in Pancrase, where he put Dutch kickboxing on the international map with his impressive victories and signature liver shots.

After losing several times by submissions, Rutten began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). By mastering these ground techniques, he transformed himself into a complete fighter who could handle both standing and ground combat.

His training first led to winning the title 'King of Pancrase' and then the UFC Heavyweight Championship in 1999. Rutten's success story inspired many fighters and proved the importance of versatility and continuous development in martial arts. After his active career, he remained an influential figure as a trainer and commentator and continues to be an icon in the MMA world.

Be sure to watch the tribute from MMA On Point above!

MMA is now more popular than ever. While fighters in the past often excelled in a single discipline, we are now witnessing a new generation of athletes who are trained multi-disciplinarily from the very beginning. These well-rounded fighters master both standing techniques and ground fighting, making them flexible and unpredictable in the ring.

Organizations like ONE Championship in Asia and Cage Warriors in Europe provide platforms where local talent can shine and gain worldwide recognition. This results in a rich mix of fighting styles and cultural influences, making the sport more dynamic and diverse. Fans around the world follow not only the UFC but also regional competitions, turning MMA into a truly global sport.