The Guide to
Mixed Martial Arts
Enoc Perez
The Guide to
Mixed Martial Arts First Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 UFC: Its Growth and Accomplishments . . . . . . . . 8 MMA Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Rules and Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Training like the Pros . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Memorable Fighters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts
First Steps I
n 648 B.C.E., the Greeks introduced the sport of pankration into the Olympic Games. The word pankration is a combination of two Greek words, pan, meaning “all,” and kratos, meaning “powers.” This is an accurate depiction of the sport itself, as it was a potent mixture of Hellenic boxing and wrestling. The sport only truly had two rules: no biting and no eye gouging, though even these techniques were allowed by the Spartans. The bouts could end only when one competitor was knocked unconscious, or submitted to his opponent by raising his hand. Often times, these matches would last for hours, and sometimes ended with the death of one, or even both competitors. The sport became the most popular event in the Olympic Games, and across the Hellenic world. The matches took place in an arena, or “ring” which was a square approximately 12 to 14 feet across, which the Greeks hoped would encourage close-quarter combat. The matches also featured a referee armed with a rod or switch he used to enforce the rules, which were often broken by opponents that were overmatched. Common techniques included punches, joint locks, choke holds, elbow and knee strikes, and kicks. Kicks to the legs, groin and stomach were quite commonly used. Standing strikes such as these were common, though the overwhelming majority of pankration bouts were settled on the ground, where submission holds and strikes were both accepted practices. Pankratiasts were renowned for their grappling skills, and would employ a variety of grappling techniques, such as takedowns, chokes and joint locks, often to great effect. Strangulation was the most common cause of death in pankration matches.
Ancient Greek Heroes
TWO ATHLETES COMPETING IN THE PANKRATION. PANATHENAIC AMPHORA, MADE IN ATHENS IN 332-331 BC, DURING THE ARCHONSHIP OF NIKETES. FROM CAPUA.
648 B.C.E. The Greeks introduced the sport of pankration into the Olympic Games.
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Ancient Greek pankratiasts became heroes, and the subject of numerous myths and legends. These include the legends of Arrichion, Dioxxipus, Polydamos and even Hercules was believed to be a pankratiast. Alexander the Great sought out pankratiasts as soldiers because of their legendary skills at unarmed combat. When he invaded India in 326 B.C.E., he had a great number of pankratiasts serving with him. This is believed to be the beginning of Asian martial arts, as most Asian martial arts trace their history to India at around this time. Pankration is the first recorded form of what would later come to be known as mixed martial arts, and is the closest any society has come to allowing a truly no-holds-barred unarmed combat sport. Following the decline of pankration in Greece, which coincided with the rise of the Roman Empire, mixed martial arts fell by the wayside in favor of other combat sports. Sports such as wrestling and boxing became the dominant forms of combat sport in the West, while traditional martial arts swelled in popularity in Asia.
326 B.C.E. Alexander the Great sought out pankratiasts as soldiers because of their legendary skills.
Pioneers in the sport 1 George Gracie immigrated to Brazil from Scotland, and settled in the Para province of northeastern Brazil. 2 His family grew and flourished, and in the early 1900s, a Japanese man named Mitsuyo Maeda immigrated to the same area. 3 The Japanese government had plans to establish a colony in the area, and Maeda was a representative of the Japanese government. He quickly became close friends with Gastão Gracie, a political figure in the area, and grandson of George Gracie. 4 Gastão used his power and influence to assist Maeda and his agenda of establishing a Japanese colony. 5 In addition to Maeda’s political prowess and skills, he was also famous in Japan for another reason: Maeda had been a renowned champion of the Japanese martial art of judo. 6 Maeda, or Count Koma, as he was known in Japan, offered to teach Gastão’s son the art of Judo. Maeda trained Gustão’s son, Carlos, in judo from the time Carlos was 15 until he was 21, when Maeda returned to Japan. 7. With Maeda gone, Carlos began to teach his brothers, Helio, Jorge, Osvaldo and Gastão, Jr. the art as Maeda taught it to him. FROM TOP TO BOTTOM 1 MAEDA PRACTICING NO-GI WRESTLING 2 MITSUYO MAEDA POSING 3 WRESELING IN ANCIENT GREECE.
Feb 1801 George Gracie immigrated to Brazil from Scotland
Early 1900s Mitsuyo Maeda, champion of the Japanese martial art of judo, immigrated to the same area.
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts MMA FIGHTERS PRACTICING INSIDE THE OCTAGON. ILLUSTRATING A HEAD LOCK.
BRAZIL: MMA’S CRADLE
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he Gracie brothers were not bound by the tradition that Japanese practitioners of the art so rigidly upheld, rather the brothers began to adapt the art to suit themselves, and to make it more practical. It was in 1925 that Carlos took his brother Helio, who was 11 years younger than Carlos, to Rio de Janeiro, where they opened a jiu-jitsu academy. As Carlos and brother Helio continued to advance and perfect their art in their new academy, Carlos concocted a brilliant marketing scheme to draw attention to the fledgling academy. He issued what is now famously known as the “Gracie Challenge.” As he explained, “I had to do something to shock the people.” He began the “Gracie Challenge” by taking out an advertisement in several Rio newspapers. The advertisement, which included a picture of the slight Carlos Gracie, information on the academy, and stated “If you want a broken arm, or rib, contact Carlos Gracie at this number.” This effectively began the revival of professional mixed martial arts in the Western world, as Carlos, and later his younger brother Helio, followed by the sons of both men, would take on all comers in vale-tudo matches. These matches closely resembled the pankration matches of Ancient Greece, and were participated in by representatives of area karate schools, professional boxers, capoeira champions, and various others that sought to prove that they were better than the Gracies.
Mar 1925 Carlos and his brother Helio, opened a jiu-jitsu academy.
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As word of these matches spread through Rio de Janeiro, the public craved these matches. As a result, these matches began to be held in Brazil’s large soccer stadiums, and attracted record crowds. The first of these professional fights was between Brazilian Lightweight Boxing Champion, Antonio Portugal and Carlos’ younger, smaller, and much frailer brother Helio. Helio won the match in less than 30 seconds, effectively elevating himself to the status of Brazilian hero. At the time, Brazil had no international sports heroes, and Helio filled that void for the Brazilians. As word of these matches spread to Japan, the great martial arts champions of Japan sought to participate in this new form of competition against the Gracies, who the Japanese thought were defiling their traditional arts. Japanese champions flocked to Rio de Janeiro to do battle with Helio Gracie, who was always out weighed by his opponents, often by more than 100 pounds. He defeated many great Japanese fighters, and in a trip to the United States, Helio defeated the World Freestyle Wrestling Champion, American super heavyweight Fred Ebert. Onehundred-thirty-five pound Helio continued to defend the Gracie name and their martial art, often against opponents weighing as much as 300 pounds, from 1935 until 1951, fighting over 1000 fights, until Carlos’ son, Carlson, and later Helio’s sons Rolls, Rickson and Rorion took over the roll of family champion in upholding the “Gracie Challenge.”
Sept 1926 Helio won the match in less than 30 seconds, effectively elevating himself to the status of hero.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM 1. HELIO GRACIE, STUDENT OF CARLOS GRACIE SR., STUDENT OF MITSUYO MAEDA 2. MAEDASTUDENTSBRAZIL 3. TWO MEN PRACTICING JUDO MOVES
The “Gracie Challenge”
Jan 1975 Rickson and Rorion took over the roll of family champion in upholding the “Gracie Challenge.”
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The new combat sport of vale-tudo fighting became immensely popular, quickly rising to become the second most popular sport, in terms of ticket sales, in Brazil behind soccer.
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T his is a status that the sport still enjoys today. Leagues and organizations were soon formed and events began to be held regularly all over Brazil.
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T he fights featured practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai kickboxing, luta livre wrestling, boxing and various other styles.
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s these events, and as a result, Brazilian A jiu-jitsu, grew in popularity in Brazil, the Gracies branched out to the United States.
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L ike his father and uncle before him, he issued the infamous “Gracie Challenge” in his new home, but added a new twist.
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orion offered $100,000 to anyone who R could defeat him, or one of his brothers, in a vale-tudo match. These matches again brought Brazilian jiu-jitsu much popularity.
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s Rorion realized the potential this style A of fighting offered to spread his family’s art, he sought to create an organization that would promote this sort of fighting in the United States.
Apr 1985 Shooto, often credited as the first mixed martial arts organization, forms in Japan.
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts
UFC: Its Growth and Accomplishments A
fter years of hard work, and promoting his family’s art and his idea for an American vale-tudo league, Rorion Gracie met Art Davie, a salesmen who had first become interested in this style of fighting during a trip he took to Thailand where he witnessed an underground mixed martial arts event. Davie utilized his connections in the television industry to set up a meeting for himself and Rorion Gracie with Bob Meyrowitz, who was president of Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG), a corporation that specialized in putting on live pay-per-view sporting events. Together, the three men established the “Ultimate Fighting Championship,” which held its first event in 1993. The first “Ultimate Fighting Championship” (or UFC as it is more commonly known) event sold 86,000 pay-per-view buys, and by the third event, the buy rate was up to 300,000 pay-per-view buys per show. This secured a place for the sport of mixed martial arts in the United States, but this place was not a reputable one. The Ultimate Fighting Championship had introduced a form of fighting which it dubbed “no-holds-barred,” or NHB fighting. The first six Ultimate Fighting Championships had very few rules. In fact, there were no weight classes, no time limits or rounds, and no mandatory safety equipment. The only rules were that fighters could not eye gouge, bite, or fish hook, and fights could only end with a referee’s stoppage, knock out, or submission, which could be signified verbally, or by a “tap out,” where the fighter must tap the mat, or his opponent three times with his hand or foot to signify that he submits.
DANA WHITE PRESIDENT OF THE UFC
The Octagon The event took place in an octagonal cage, dubbed “The Octagon.” The format of the event was that of a one night tournament, where competitors would fight several bouts in one night, in a single elimination style tournament until a champion was named. The lack of weight classes became an obvious problem from the outset, when 415 pound Hawaiian sumo wrestler was allowed to fight 216 pound Dutch kick boxer Gerard Gordeau. This scene was later repeated in the third UFC event, when 6-foot-8inch tall, 600 pound sumo wrestler from New Jersey, Emmanuel Yarborough, was allowed to fight 5-foot-11-inch tall, 200 pound karate fighter from Illinois, Keith Hackney. Another problem that quickly became obvious was the lack of time limits, and judges. By UFC IV, most of the competitors had caught on to Royce Gracie’s success, and had begun to
Sept 1986 Pancrase, a Japanese promotion, debuts in Tokyo.
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Aug 1989 Rorion, came to the United States Gracie jiu-jitsu in California
learn grappling techniques. As a result, the fights became longer and longer. It reached a point where the fights were running over the allotted pay-per-view time slot, and the UFC was losing fans, as they viewed the long periods of ground fighting as boring. SEG realized that it had to do something, so in 1995, at UFC V in Charlotte, North Carolina, the UFC instituted a 30 minute time limit, but did not have judges. Thus, when the much anticipated Royce Gracie-Ken Shamrock rematch ran over the 30 minute time limit, it was ruled a draw. The fans were outraged. This resulted in the use of judges beginning with UFC VI to decide the outcome of fights that outlasted the time limit.
First Struggles •
T he format of the event was that of a one night tournament, where competitors would fight several bouts in one night, in a single elimination style tournament until a champion was named.
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T he lack of weight classes became an obvious problem from the outset, when 415 pound Hawaiian sumo wrestler was allowed to fight 216 pound Dutch kick boxer Gerard Gordeau.
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T his scene was later repeated in the third UFC event, when 6-foot-8inch tall, 600 pound sumo wrestler from New Jersey, Emmanuel Yarborough, was allowed to fight 5-foot-11-inch tall, 200 pound karate fighter from Illinois, Keith Hackney.
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nother problem that quickly became obvious A was the lack of time limits, and judges. By UFC IV, most of the competitors had caught on to Royce Gracie’s success, and had begun to learn grappling techniques. As a result, the fights became longer and longer.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM 1. BROCK LESNAR AND OVEREEM FOR UFC 100 2. THE OCTAGON USE FOR UFC FIGHTS 3. UFC BELT,, GIVEN AND RETAINED ONLY BY THE BEST FIGHTERS IN EACH WEIGHT CLASS.
Nov 1993 Rorion Gracie with Bob Meyrowitz established the “Ultimate Fighting Championship.”
Nov 1993 UFC’s third event, the buy rate was up to 300,000 pay-per-view buys per show.
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts UFC’s Upraise
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he sport of Mixed Martial Arts has grown over the last decade by leaps and bounds, establishing itself as a real sport and then as one of the top sports in the world. The UFC has been at the forefront of this era and truly has been the ambassador for the sport. But it is the last few years that have become some of the most significant changes to date. It started in March of 2007, when the Fertitta’s bought the Pride Fighting Championships. This brought upon a wave of some of the most recognized Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight fighters today as well as others. By acquiring their competition, the UFC made another move toward cornering the market. Of course over time, The Ultimate Fighter has played a role and continued to through the years. From season one it has produced notable fighters in the UFC and other promotions. UFC 100 proved to be a signature moment, headlining two title fights and a stacked card of great fights. This card truly established GSP’s dominance, Henderson’s right hand, and Lesnar’s credibility in the sport. Later, UFC 129 would also prove to be a similar event with the largest audience ever for the UFC. In 2010, one of the most exciting business moves took place. Long time sister promotion, World Extreme Cagefighting finally merged with the UFC. Not only did this bring on a slew of great, marketable fighters, but also brought upon two brand new and exciting weight classes. The merger created a new wave of challengers for the Lightweight belt, and gives a lower weight option for fighters who want to drop down more, such as Kenny Florian. By merging the WEC and UFC, fans became eager to see the potential match-ups at Lightweight, and the generally exciting fights the lower weight classes bring. Fans also pondered what would be included in the newest installment of the UFC Undisputed video game. As if it wasn’t already monopolizing the sport market, in 2011, the UFC made one of the most surprising purchases to date. Zuffa announced that they had bought Strikeforce, arguably their biggest competitor. Immediately fans wanted to know about a possible merger, fighters crossing over, cross-promotion fights, as well as the state of women’s MMA. Since then, Strikeforce has continued as it has, minus some UFC promos in the ring and on their PPV. Fighters such as Jason Miller and Jake Shields have already crossed over, and Nick Diaz will be fighting in the UFC in October. Now that Dan Henderson’s contract with SF is up, we may very well see him back in the Octagon at Light Heavyweight. Since then, the promotional side of the UFC has begun to capture the eyes of fans and those of people who do not know what the UFC or MMA is. Many companies have sponsored and promoted fights, and the fighters themselves. K-Swiss has made numerous commercials using UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and his business partner, former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber. Jon Jones and Arianny Celeste have had their moments with one of the UFC’s biggest sponsors, BudLight. UnderArmour, ESPN, and Gatorade Canada has had UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre star in many commercials as well. A TV viewer may not be on channels watching ESPN, but they most certainly know about the US Marines. The Marines have
TIEQUAN VS JASON REINHARDT AT UFC 104
become very involved, and the UFC has returned the favor to the Armed Forces.See Fighters MMA has become such a phenomenon, other athletes from other sports have become interested in the sport. James Toney has crossed over to the MMA world, as well as many former NFL players. Chad Ochocinco has verbally expressed his interest, even if it is just talk, in the sport as well. Shaquille O’neal has been involved with MMA for quite some time, and many Wrestling stars have sought to join the MMA ranks. Brock Lesnar has done so with vigor, but guys like Batista will probably have to wait.
John McCain aginst MMA As the UFC gained popularity, it became a pertinent political topic, as Arizona Senator John McCain launched a campaign against the UFC. As a result, in 1997, pay-per-view carriers dropped the Ultimate Fighting Championship events from their line-ups. This was partially SEG’s fault, as they had marketed the UFC as a blood sport, by drawing attention to the negatives that surrounded the event. SEG’s marketing of the event boasted that it was a “no rules,” or “no-holds-barred” fighting event, where anything could happen, even death. This was a successful marketing scheme in the beginning, as it drew attention to the sport from curiosity seekers, but it later backfired politically. As the political uproar began, and Sen. McCain became an outspoken champion of the abolition of the sport, states began to outlaw mixed martial arts competition. This forced the UFC to move its events from state to state, until the pay-per-view providers dropped the events from their services. In the words of UFC ring announcer, Bruce Buffer, this caused the UFC to “basically go underground.” The Ultimate Fighting Championship remained a fringe oddity, without pay-per-view coverage, and banned from all but a handful of states for several years, until the franchise was purchased by Zuffa, LLC. Zuffa, a Las Vegas based media and casino management company owned by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, took over the UFC franchise with the intention of returning it to its former popularity, and eventually gaining the sport mainstream acceptance. The Fertittas and Zuffa president Dana White sought to turn the UFC into a
Feb 1995 At UFC V in Charlotte, North Carolina, the UFC instituted a 30 minute time limit.
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Mar 1997 Pay-per-view carriers dropped the Ultimate Fighting Championship events from their line-ups.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM 1. DANA WHITE AT UFC 114 2. EDGAR RASUA PUNCHING HENDERSON CLAYTON 3. SEN. JOHN MCCAIN
“good, clean sport with actual rules,” which would allow the sport to eventually become sanctioned. This would be a huge step for the UFC, as “sanctioning provides a legitimization for the sport,” according to Bruce Buffer.
John McCain to brand it: “human cockfighting” Today, the UFC’s pay-per-view buy rates are rising quickly, as are ticket sales at their live gates. Fighters now spend five to six years fighting in smaller events, building their resumes to compete in the big show. Fans continue to flock to the sport looking for the excitement and intensity of the purest form of one-onone competition on the planet today. Mixed martial arts is also currently the fastest growing sport in the United States, as mixed martial arts events and training centers spring up all over the country, and the money the sport is making continues to grow at a nearly exponential rate.
Mar 1997 Sen. McCain became an outspoken for the abolition of the sport.
May 1997 Announcer Bruce Buffer and referee Big John McCarthy appear on the show Friends.
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts
MMA Techniques
Intro to MMA
I
DEMONSTRATIONS OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES USED IN MMA TOP: ARM LOCK BOTTOM: TAKEDOWN
Oct 1997 Pride Fighting Championships, which would become Japan’s largest MMA organization.
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n the early years, Mixed Martial Arts includes a variety of traditional styles – from sumo wrestling to kickboxing. In time, the less effective techniques were dropped. By the time the UFC was launched, three martial arts styles stood out for their effectiveness in competition: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, amateur wrestling, and shoot wrestling. You may have seen top level MMA fighters using fancy and complicated strikes, but do you need to learn the same techniques to stand a chance in a street fight? In this self defense video, I (Matt) will show you the basic elbow strike, that when used properly, is DEVASTATING to an attacker on the street. After feeling a couple of these on his head and face he will quickly change his mind about wanting a piece of you. In fact, he will probably be looking to do one thing, and one thing only...RUN! That’s if he is still standing of course. Elbow strikes are more effective than punches because that area of your body is a lot tougher than your hands. Even Mike Tyson broke his hand in a street fight. That is why it isn’t a good idea to throw your fists. Knuckles are weak, and the bones in your hands break easily. One way to throw an elbow is very similar to how you throw a punch. Turn your body into the shot, but instead of throwing your fists, you turn your elbow horizontally. Aim for the face, but the chest or neck is a good target too. These elbow strikes work especially well when you are fighting at close range as your opponent won’t have any time to see it coming. An important factor to keep in mind is distance. If you are too far away and try to throw an elbow strike then you will probably miss, and also leave yourself open for a kidney punch or kick. You’ve seen the top MMA fighters use the Muay Thai clinch with DEVASTATING effect, but is it possible for you to use the same techniques in a street fight? In this self defense video, Oz and I (Matt) will teach you how to utilise the Muay Thai clinch for self defense, which has to be one of the most effective street fighting techniques to remove any threat quickly and leave your attacker wondering what the hell just happened! If you have ever seen Oz fight then you will know that he has a great Muay Thai clinch, and as he has showed time and time again, it is a great tool to have in your arsenal should a situation ever escalate out of control. Once you get it right then it puts any attacker in a really BAD situation, and he will soon be wishing that he stayed at home.
Oct 1999 UFC switches to five-minute rounds and a boxing-style 10-point system for judging.
Most effective techniques 1 Stand-Up Striking All bouts begin with the fighters standing up opposing each other in an Octagon cage ring. Fighters must have at least some knowledge of stand-up technique which includes boxing and various forms of kickboxing. Muay Thai, or “Thai boxing,” is a popular discipline for its use of knees and elbows. However, effective striking in MMA must be modified from its pure roots to accommodate the very real possibility of grappling and take-downs. 2 Wrestling Wrestling enables fighters to dictate where and how the fight takes place. Fighters use wrestling to drop their opponent to the mat, keep their opponent on the mat, and resist their opponents’ efforts at take-downs. Greco-Roman and collegiate freestyle wrestling are popular background disciplines. Wrestling is generally considered the most important style for successful competition. Mixed martial artists with strong wrestling backgrounds are commonly found among the most successful fighters. Judo is also prized for its effective throws and ability to bring an opponent to the mat. 3 Grappling When a fight goes to the mat a strong background in a submission grappling style is often necessary to apply or defend against submission holds. Common submissions used in competition include various chokes, armlocks, and leglocks. The successful MMA fighter must be able to defend against submission holds and gain a dominant mat position where he can apply them to his opponent.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: 1. KICK PRACTICED IN MUAY THAI 2. WRESELING TAKEDOWN MOVE 3. JUDO TECHNIQUE TO THOW YOUR OPONENT 4 UFC FIGHTERS APPLYING DIFFERNT TECHNIQUES INSIDE THE OCTAGON
Sept 2000 UFC holds its first unified-rules event two months later.
Jan 2001 The franchise UFC was purchased by Zuffa, LLC.
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts Other Techniques Jui-Jitsu thwow Judo might be effective in the Olympics, but do you need a gold medal to perform an effective takedown in a street fight situation? In this self defense video, I (Matt) will introduce you to the Osoto Gari takedown, which is an excellent self defense throw that you can use on any attacker who is threatening the safety of you or a loved one. When you find yourself in this situation, then you want to use every tool that you have to quickly remove the THREAT. The Osoto Gari is a takedown from Japan that is great for the beginners, and one of the best you can use in a street fight situation. It works very nicely in conjunction with an earlier technique that I showed you...the basic punch defense followed by an elbow smash. Once you have completed this move then all you have to do is sweep your attackers back leg to send him crashing to the ground. The GREAT thing about all of this is SIMPLICITY. The more complicated you make a takedown, the more chance of something going wrong. In a fight situation you want to end things as quickly as possible and not be left hanging around. The Osoto Gari allows you to do this perfectly. It is very easy to start practicing this move with a partner right away. Because of it’s simple nature, it will not be long before you get good at it. After the sweep it sets you up in the PERFECT position to end the fight quickly. You are now in a prime place to drop hammer fists and punches, leaving your attacker with no time to respond.
The Triangle Choke The TRUTH of the matter is that almost all fights end up on the ground. If you are not PREPARED to take control in this situation then you will find it very hard to end a fight on the street. In this self defense video, Oz and I (Matt) will teach you a simple way to apply the triangle choke on an attacker. This is street fighting jiu-jitsu at its finest, and if you get it right your opponent will experience complete SHOCK and AWE! He will be left stunned as you quickly show him who’s boss and end the fight. If you have watched an MMA fight in recent years, then you will have seen lot’s of fighters end fights from bottom position with the triangle choke. It is an excellent technique for you to learn, especially if you find yourself fighting a much bigger guy who can take you down easily and assume top position. When somebody is on top, you don’t want to allow
LIVO WRIGHT APPLYING A FLYING TRIANGLE TO CHRIS MEIGUER AT UFC 86
Jan 2001 Dana White turns the UFC into a “good, clean sport with actual rules”
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Jun 2001 World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) debuts.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM 1. TWO WOMEN PRECTICING JUDO TAKEDOWNS 2. DEMONSTRATION OF A STRIKE TO THE CHIN 3. GUY IN RED DOING A BACK-GRIPPED TAKE ODWN 4. ANDERSON SILVA (RIGHT) KICK TO THE FACE OF LEONARDO GARCIA
them too much time to get comfortable and start raining down nasty blows. Time is of the essence, and the quicker you can gain control of the fight the better.
elbow strikes to the face, neck, head and chest.
Face Smash to Elbow Strikes
Sometimes things turn ugly, and an attacker manages to take you down and get on top of you. If you don’t know what to do then you are in TROUBLE. Regardless of if you want them to or not, most fights go to the ground, and it is the people who know how to finish fights on the ground from any position that come away as the winner. If somebody takes you down during a fight then it is a good idea to secure the guard so that you have more control over the situation. This is a great place to ATTACK from despite being on your back, and if you play your cards right then you can end the fight in a matter of seconds. Sometimes if an attacker is landing some good shots and you are really feeling them, then you should change from the normal guard to a scissor guard. This will automatically put your knees in a position to block shots that your opponent is throwing. This is also your chance to pounce, as you can find the opportunity to gain CONTROL of his arms. A great move here is to grab his wrist and then with your other arm grab behind his elbow. Let you legs drop flat to the ground, and as your opponent postures up to land a punch this is the PERFECT time to scissor your legs and sweep him over. You can then gain the top position and end the fight!
You might not want to hurt another human being, but sometimes you are left with no choice... If an attacker becomes aggressive towards you, your family or your friends, then they leave you with no choice but to get physical! In this self defense video, I am going to show you the very effective elbow strikes from face smash technique. This self defense technique takes NO PRISIONERS, and can quickly leave an attacker on the floor wondering what just hit him. The key to all of this is to not get carried away. Do what you need to do to protect yourself and the people around you by removing the threat, but there is no need to carry on dishing out punishment once the attacker is on the floor. Smart people will use this as an opportunity to make a swift exit. The great thing about this elbow strike technique is the ELEMENT OF SUPRISE. Your starting position is very defensive, with your hands out in front of you letting the attacker know you don’t want any trouble. Unluckily for him this defensive position can very quickly become offensive by pushing with the palm of your hands in a thrusting motion. This will knock anybody who isn’t expecting it off balance, which in turn sets you up perfectly to unleash a few well timed
Poun Defense Sweep
Sept 2001 UFC 33 is the first fight card in the company’s new deal with pay-per-view.
Jan 2005 The reality series The Ultimate Fighter debuts on Spike.
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts
Rules and Regulations W
hen the organization started, one of the main attractions was to see which types of fighters would reign supreme in a fight with essentially no rules (with a few exceptions, such as no eye gouging or biting). Fighters with different backgrounds—such as wrestling, Muay Thai, boxing, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu—competed against each other. Although the participants willingly entered the competition knowing the rules (or lack thereof ) and the risks, most state governments were reluctant to allow the fights. Essentially, the government was protecting the fighters from themselves, similar to how the government steps in to prevent people from eating, drinking, or smoking certain substances. Of course, this frustrated some fighters who did not understand what business the government had in interfering with their lives. As former UFC fighter Kevin Randleman said, “If the public wants it, how can the politicians deny it? . . . They can be out the next election cycle. They need to listen to the people.” The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s rules and regulations were created by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board. The “Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts” that New Jersey established has been adopted in other states that regulate mixed martial arts, including Nevada, Louisiana, and California. In Nevada, where most for the UFC event are held the rules, standards, conducts regulations are upheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. If a fighter cannot continue, the fight is ended as a technical knockout. Technical knockouts can be classified into three categories: Referee stoppage: (the referee determines a fighter cannot “intelligently defend” himself; if warnings to the fighter to improve his position or defense go unanswered—generally, two warnings are given, about 5 seconds apart) Doctor stoppage (a ringside doctor due to injury or impending injury, as when blood flows into the eyes and blinds a fighter) Corner stoppage (a fighter’s own cornerman signals defeat for their own fighter) Judges’ Decision: Depending on scoring, a match may end as: unanimous decision (all three judges score a win for one fighter) Split decision (two judges score a win for one fighter with the third for the other) Majority decision (two judges score a win for one fighter with one for a draw) Unanimous draw (all three judges score a draw) Majority draw (two judges score a draw) Split draw (the total points for each fighter is equal) A fight can also end in a technical decision, disqualification, forfeit, technical draw, or no contest. The latter two outcomes have no winners.
Apr 2005 Live finale of The Ultimate Fighter’s first season draws 2.6 million viewers on Spike.
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REFEREE STOPING A FIGHT AFTER A FIGHTER HAS BEEN KNOCKED OUT
Mar 2006 Strikeforce makes its MMA debut, the first sanctioned MMA card in California.
2 Basic Rules • UFC Time Limits and Rounds The UFC has stated that all fights with in the octagon will be 3 round at 5 minutes a round for all non title fights and 5 rounds at 5 minutes a round fro all championship fights. • UFC Judging The ten-point must system is in effect for all UFC fights; three judges score each round and the winner of each receives ten points, the loser nine points or less. If the round is even, both fighters receive ten points. In New Jersey, the fewest points a fighter can receive is 7, and in other states by custom no fighter receives less than 8.
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• UFC Octagon Attire Previous UFC shows allowed fighters to come into the octagon with whatever they want like boxing gloves, Judo or Jujitsu Gi’s or wrestling shoes. Now the UFC does not allow fight wear other than approved fight shorts. Fighters are not allowed to wear long spandex shorts or tight wrestling suits. All fight clothing and sponsorship must be approved by the UFC. For instance no UFC fighter is allowed to wear Affliction clothing to the ring or any unapproved sponsors that portray a negative or contradictive message. UFC fighters must use approved light gloves, which include at least 1 inch of padding around the knuckles, (110 to 170 g / 4 to 6 ounces) that allow fingers to grab.
4 FROM TOP TO BOTTOM 1. REFEREE ABOUT TO STOP A FIGHT AFTER A FIGHTER HAS TAPPED OUT 2. LOGO FOR THE NEVADA STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION 3. STEPHAN BONNAR PLANS ON APPEALING HIS TKO BY DOCTOR’S STOPPAGE, LOSS AT UFC110
Apr 2006 The International Fight League (IFL) debuts with a team event.
Jul 2006 Pride loses its contract with Japan’s largest TV network
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts •
UFC weight classes
There are five divisions in the UFC for weight classes that the organization currently uses which include: Lightweight: 146 to 155 lb (67 to 70 kg) Welterweight: 156 to 170 lb (71 to 77 kg) Middleweight: 171 to 185 lb (78 to 84 kg) Light Heavyweight: 186 to 205 lb (85 to 93 kg) Heavyweight: 206 to 265 lb (94 to 120 kg) In addition there is four other weight classes that the UFC can used for their fight that they do not currently use which include: Flyweight (under 125 lb, 57 kg) Bantamweight (126 to 135 lb, 61 kg) Featherweight (136 to 145 lb, 66 kg) Super Heavyweight (above 265 lb, 120 kg)
KICK TO THE GROIN FROM ALAN BELCHER DURING THEIR FIGHT AT UFC 100
MMA Fight Rules Gone are the days of no holds barred fighting, as the UFC has instituted a number of rules that fighters must follow. Should a fighter fail to follow these rules they will be deducted a point or be disqualified from the match. Theses rules and faults include: • Butting with the head. • Eye gouging of any kind. • Biting. • Hair pulling. • Fish hooking. • Groin attacks of any kind. • Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent. (see Gouging) • Small joint manipulation. • Striking to the spine or the back of the head. (see Rabbit punch) • Striking downward using the point of the elbow. (see Elbow (strike)) • Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea. • Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh. • • • • • • • •
Grabbing the clavicle. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent. Stomping a grounded opponent. Kicking to the kidney with the heel. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck. (see piledriver) T hrowing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
Dec 2006 UFC 66, featuring Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz, draws 1.05 million pay-per-view buys.
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Dec 2006 UFC buys WEC and World Fighting Alliance (WFA) in separate deals.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM, CLOCKWISE: 1. BILL WORFOLK GOUGES JOE SCAROLA’S EYE 2. UFC’S APPROVED GLOVES 3. REFEREE CLARKE CHOLISH STOPPING A FIGHT AFTER A TKO 4. ERICK SILVA LANDS A STRIKE TO CARLO PRATER’S HEAD AT THE UFC 142 5. DANNY CASTILLO ILLIGAL PUNCH TO SHAMAR BAILEY
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S pitting at an opponent. Engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent. Holding the ropes or the fence. Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area. an opponent on or during the break. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee. Attacking an opponent after the bell (horn) has sounded the end of a round. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury. Interference by the corner. Throwing in the towel during competition.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s rules and regulations were created by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board. The “Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts” that New Jersey established has been adopted in other states that regulate mixed martial arts, including Nevada, Louisiana, and California. In Nevada, where most for the UFC event are held the rules, standards, conducts regulations are upheld by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Feb 2007 EliteXC debuts in Southaven, Miss., with Renzo Gracie defeating Frank Shamrock.
Mar 2007 IFL Battleground debuts on MyNetworkTV.
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts
Training like the Pros M
MA fighters must be highly conditioned, tough minded, and willing to endure a lot of pain as they go through challenging mixed martial arts workouts. Mixed martial arts workouts include extensive training in various forms of martial arts such as, Kung Fu , Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, Muay Thai kickboxing, boxing, and karate. It takes a great deal of physical endurance, many months of hard training and conditioning, and the mental ability to fight through pain barriers to become a successful mixed martial arts fighter. The sport in its present form was developed in 1993 as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Taking it to the Next Level
ROPE JUMMPING IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO STRENGHTEN CARDIO (TOP) ALISTER OVEREEM LIFTING WEIGHTS (BOTTOM)
Mar 2007 Failing to get a new TV deal in Japan, Pride is sold to Zuffa.
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The commercial success of cable TV programs featuring the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), which focuses on lighter weight classes (and was recently placed under the UFC banner), generated interest by conventional television channels in broadcasting the sport. The initial conventional TV interest was in 2008 as indicated by an article entitled “Foray into Mixed Martial Arts gives CBS optimism” by Michael Hiestand, of USA Today. Mixed martial arts fighting is now giving boxing and professional wresting a real run for their money as it has gained a large following of dedicated rabid fans. As a popular sport with TV money pouring in top ranked mixed martial arts fighters are now able to make serious money as professional athletes. The money has attracted all sorts of athletes to MMA, including college wrestlers and boxers, fighters from the military, various individual martial arts experts from Japan, Brazil, England, Germany, and other nations, and strong young males who think they are tough guys fit enough to take on MMA competition. Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Must be Highly Trained and Conditioned, before entering the cage for competition the MMA fighter must endure months of mixed martial arts workouts. Fighters need strength to be able to explode at any moment as well as the conditioning ability to last during five-minute rounds. As a normal MMA fight consists of three five-minute rounds, in order to be successful the fighters must be in superb condition. A championship match consists of 5 five-minute rounds, which places a tremendous premium on physical condition. MMA conditioning is a huge factor in the fighter’s ability to fight. Raw strength is also quite important. The newest league of MMA superstars have all shown that there is a new generation of athlete coming out. These ‘super athletes’ take their workouts to extreme, push their bodies to maximum of endurance, and sometimes further in their efforts, and in their quest to become MMA legends.
Aug 2007 McCain tells NPR: “They have cleaned up the sport.. they’ve made significant progress”
Sample Workout
So, when you are starting out in your MMA careers you should not overlook the importance of a good MMA cardio workout. In fact, you should probably consider that before you even look into your technical skills. That said, cardio is not what many people expect when they get into the sport. Most athletes consider cardio the ability to jog mile after mile, or to do hundreds of reps at almost no weight. They think of it as low impact, long duration workouts. That is something of a fallacy though, because when you workout in that fashion, you may increase your long-run endurance, but you end up neglecting your ability to sustain bursts of energy for long periods. It may be counter-intuitive, but you want to feel the burn in your muscles. You want to get that build up of lactic acid in your muscles, and then push through it and continue. Increasing your anaerobic endurance increases your aerobic endurance, where the inverse is not true. Just because you can jog twenty-five kilometers doesn’t mean that you can sustain maximum effort for five minutes.
Workout #1 — two days per week Day 1: Clean and Press: 15 sets x 2 reps Curl Grip Chin: 15 x 2 Medium Grip Bench Press: 10 x 1 Deadlift: 20 x1 Abdominal Work Day 2: Dips: 12 sets x 3 reps Clean and Front Squat: 20 x 2 Bent Rows: 12 x 2 Barbell Curl and Press: 6 x 4 Abdominal Work
Workout #2 — performed every workout Clean and Press: 20 sets x 1 rep Bench Press: 8 x 2 Barbell Curls: 6 x 3 Chin: 15 x 2 Squat: 20 x 1 Abdominal Work
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: 1. BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU TRAINNING 2. ALEX JUARE DOING SQUATS 3. STRIKE PRACTICING INSIDE THE OCTAGON 4. CAIN VELAZQUES TRAINNING
Oct 2007 Spike and UFC extend partnership through 2011, with seasons 9-12 of The Ultimate Fighter
Feb2008 IFL holds bouts in Las Vegas on HDNet. The deal with MyNetworkTV has expired.
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts GEORGE ST PIERRE AT THE GYM TRINNING THE TAKEDOWN STRIKING
Preparing for a fight Different fighters concentrate on different aspects of their game, striking, grappling, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, but if there is one thing that is proven time and time again is that anyone that gets into MMA cannot neglect their cardio workouts. How many fights have you seen where a competitor dominated a round, or even two rounds, but then became so gassed that they lost all ability to defend themselves, push the positions, and thus, lose the match. All of the current champions have phenomenal cardio, they can fight through five rounds with no problems, and they constantly prove that they have what it takes to be champions. So, when you are starting out in your MMA careers you should not overlook the importance of a good MMA cardio workout. In fact, you should probably consider that before you even look into your technical skills. That said, cardio is not what many people expect when they get into the sport. Most athletes consider cardio the ability to jog mile after mile, or to do hundreds of reps at almost no weight. They think of it as low impact, long duration workouts. That is something of a fallacy though, because when you workout in that fashion, you may increase your long-run endurance, but you end up neglecting your ability to sustain bursts of energy for long periods. It may be counter-intuitive, but you want to feel the burn in your muscles. You want to get that build up of lactic acid in your muscles, and then push through it and continue. Increasing your anaerobic endurance increases
your aerobic endurance, where the inverse is not true. Just because you can jog twenty-five kilometers doesn’t mean that you can sustain maximum effort for five minutes. Oh yes, I know that pushing maximum effort to your limits every time is going to hurt, and you think it’s going to push yourself to the brink of injury, but you don’t have to push maximum effort, you just want to avoid the trap of pushing minimal effort. So how do you avoid that trap? Simple, you push near maximum effort, use a small number of reps per set, but take very short rest periods per set before you kick things into the next set. This way you are getting a still getting a lot of reps, but you push your body’s routine and limits to accommodate the greater weight, and thus build that intense high-strength endurance that helps you sustain maximum effort for longer periods of time. As your body starts to get used to these exercises, you will find that you should take shorter rest periods between sets, and then eventually increase your weight limits with the workouts. Generally, once you get down to about 20 second rest periods; look at increasing your weight limits. Don’t forget, your rest periods don’t have to be you standing there, gasping for air as your body is sore. Use that time and work muscles that didn’t get hit during your reps, perform the exercises with no weights, but it will keep your hard up, and keep you pumped up so that you can get right back into the workout when your rest period is over.
Mar 2008 Debut for a new Japanese promotion, Dream, owned by K-1 Hero’s parent, FEG.
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Mar 2008 Black Entertainment Television debuts Iron Ring. Floyd Mayweather Jr. as “team owners.”
ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE KICKS IS THE “SIDE-KICK” AS DEMOSTRATED IN THIS PICTURE (TOP) FEDOR EMELIANENKO HITTING A BAG (BOTTOM)
Fedor Emelianenko Workout Routine Fedor is one of the newer generations of UFC fighters with an emphasis on overall conditioning that tones his entire body. Coined ‘super athletes’ by Rogan when talking about Johnny ‘Bones’ Jones, this new generation of fighters pushes the physical envelope of their training to tone their bodies to the extreme.
Apr 2008 Strikeforce on NBC, a 52-week series of highlights and profiles, debuts.
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n Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, Fedor does weight O training from 8-9:30 am.
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e follows this with breakfast, hits the gym to do wresH tling and he follows that with hard sparring sessions from noon to 2 pm. He spoke with Askmen.com and noted that “the noon workouts on Monday, Wednesday, Friday are the hardest because I’m going in against multiple training partners and fighting each one.
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fter his massive sparring workout he does three rounds A of jiu-jitsu, eats dinner so he can give his body gets a chance to relax, and then returns to the gym so he can finish his day out with cardio and striking workouts.
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is workout on Tuesday and Thursday is very similar, but H he trades out his sparring for additional wrestling and jiujitsu practice so he can work on his technique.
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e said, “You need good training partners and a strong H desire to always get better. Know what your strengths are, but also keep in mind what your weaknesses are; always work on your weaknesses.”
Feb 2009 The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights is the tenth installment of the UFC.
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts
Memorable Fighters What determines an all time great fighter?
I
GEORGE ST PIERRE CURRENT CHAMPION OF THE WALTERWEIGHT DIVISION
Jun 2009 UFC to Tampa for the very firs time with the event UFC Fight Night
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s it merely status and name recognition, or do we actually consider success against quality opposition? Throughout the short history of MMA, fans have been blessed with a multitude of talent that fit the all-time bill. As with all rankings, it’s impossible to include every great fighter on the list. This doesn’t mean that their contributions to the sport are any less appreciated. Regardless of whether it’s in a ring or cage, any fighter that steps up in a combative situation to put it all on the line and shed blood deserves the respect of every spectator. Seeing as this listing only includes the sanctioned era of the sport, legendary pioneers like Royce Gracie don’t make the cut for these particular rankings. You’ll notice that some UFC Hall of Famers are also absent. The formula for these rankings combine a minimal of performance, name recognition and wins over quality opposition. The time has come to pay homage to the fighters that helped shape the history of the sport. Including men and women, here are the MMA all-time rankings. Mixed Martial Arts is one of the most popular types of fighting styles in the whole world. A lot of professional competitors affiliate themselves with this kind of fighting way. To learn more about this, it is important to know some of the various techniques and styles used in this fighting. One must also learn the various strategies needed to control the fight. This kind of fighting existed centuries ago. It is said that early in Greek history, techniques in freestyle fighting were already practiced by Greek fighters. They called this pankration. This became a part of the Olympic games. Later on, the Romans were influenced and had their own version which is more violent. Through the years, different people around the globe appreciated this way of fighting. Various versions of MMA fighting emerged from different parts of the world. Since then, wrestling also became popular around the world. One of the most remarkable progressions of this kind of combat arts was when it first started in the United States. It was called the Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC which matched different people around the globe. When the International Sport Combat Federation or ISCF was created, it made the Ultimate Fighting Championship a legal worldwide sport. They also made a lot of modifications to the rules. These rules are made for the sake of the fighters well being. Mixed martial arts is a type of combating arts that requires full body contact during competition. There are no weapons needed
Oct 2009 UFC 100: 15 years of MMA
or used during the bouts. All the fighters have to do to win the battle is to use the tactics and styles they know best. It is actually a freestyle way of fighting. It is a type of sport wherein professional fighters from different categories are welcome to join and use any techniques they know. Some of the fighting art techniques that are often seen in these fights are the ways of Sumo, Boxing, Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu, Muai Thai, Karate, Judo, Wrestling, and more. Most of the fighters from these categories know other styles in fighting. They are not always exclusively using the techniques from just one style. There are many disciplines wherein a fighter can choose to train himself. The techniques of karate, boxing, kickboxing, Muai Thai, and the like are examples of the stand up ways. The clinch holding is more on clinching an opponent to prevent him from going away to release a strike. The ground ways are more of grappling, takedowns, and joint locks.
MMA fighters of the future Even though that there are rules governing the fight, those limitations are made in a sense that they protect the fighter from acquiring a more serious injury. It was also made to prevent the progression of damage. The limitations that were created were made without taking away the true essence of freestyle fighting. They may vary at times, but the common prohibited rules are hitting the groin, striking the eye, spinal lock, and small joint manipulation. There are also other special techniques that can be used as wise techniques in mixed martial arts. The sprawl and brawl technique is used by a stand up fighter to avoid the taking down attack of a ground fighter. The ground and pound technique which uses throws and takedowns to bring an opponent down, is used by a ground fighter to have his ground style technique more dominating. The submission grappling is used to lock the opponent down to make him submit. To go well with sparring, a mixed martial arts practitioner must be in good physical condition, good mind, good shape, and be in good health. It is also important for a fighter to know a variety of techniques to be able to become more flexible. It is an advantage on the fighter’s side if he has skills in many different disciplines and he knows how to counteract his opponents other strikes or techniques. These are just some of the many ingredients that make a great MMA fighter. Go here to get more information on martial arts training and to see some amazing new unique martial arts supplies. The following fighters have put in years of dedication and hard work to attain a legendary status that will leave their names forever etched in MMA history.
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM 1. FEDOR EMIELIANANKO HE DOMMINATED THE HEVIWEIGHT DIVISION FOR 20 YEARS 2. CHUCK LIDDELL MADE IT INTO THE HALL OF FAME FOR HIS SUCCESSFUL VICTORIES IN THE LIGHT HEVIEWEIGHT DIVISION 3. ANDERSON SILVA CURRENT CHAMPION AND UNDEFETED FOR 6 YEARS IN THE LIGHT HEVIWHEIGHT DIVISION
Nov 2009 MMA is now sactioned in 41 states of the U.S.
Jan 2010 MMA fighters teach Marines skills for combat. About a dozen fighters and coaches involved.
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The Guide to Mixed Martial Arts 1
B.J. PENN AFTER A MATCH IN 2010 SUCCESSFULLY RETAINNING HIS BELT AT UFC 85
Top Fighters 1 Fedor Emelianenko Heavyweight (Over 205 Pounds)
People can say what they want, but it’s hard to discount the legacy of Fedor Emelianenko. He is without a doubt one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. Despite brandishing an assassin-like demeanor and a decade of perfection, Emelianenko has always been a class act and role model for future fighters.
2 Chuck Liddell Light Heavyweight (205-pound limit)
Along with Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell is considered one of the pioneers of the modern day UFC. His looping right hand instilled fear in every fighter it came across.. As UFC champion, Liddell put forth four successful defenses before falling to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in May 2007. On July 10, 2009, “The Iceman” was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
3 Anderson Silva Middleweight (185-pound limit)
When it’s all said and done, Anderson Silva could go down as the greatest fighter of all time. As UFC middleweight champion, he has broken a plethora of records including most consecutive title defenses (8), most successful title defenses (8), most consecutive wins (13) and longest title reign. Records are one thing, but Silva’s incredibly well-rounded striking abilities allows him to conduct his own symphony of destruction.
4 Georges St-Pierre Welterweight (170-pound limit)
Currently the face of the UFC, Georges St-Pierre is listed beside Anderson Silva as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. In the sport’s history, there has never been a more complete fighter than St-Pierre. His professional résumé is pretty much unrivaled, having bested a plethora of legends and pound-forpound opposition.
Jun 2010 The biggest legend Emelianenko, tapped out to Brazilian jiujitsu ace Werdum in 69 seconds.
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Dec 2011 FOX Sports Media Group officially kicks off the UFC on FUEL TV
5 B.J. Penn Lightweight (155-pound limit)
B.J. Penn’s legacy outshines most in the sport. There is rarely so much talent embedded into one individual. When motivated, Penn has proven to be nearly unstoppable. He holds UFC records for most successful lightweight title defenses (3) and most lightweight wins (10).
6 Jose Aldo Featherweight (145-pound limit)
One of the top three pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Jose Aldo is easily the most dominant featherweight of all time. While most fear his striking, the scariest part of Aldo’s game is the unknown. Who knew he had a great double leg takedown, which was constantly demonstrated in his UFC 129.
7 Dominick Cruz Bantamweight (135-pound limit)
It’s safe to say Dominick Cruz doesn’t need the entrance song “Remember My Name” by Maino anymore. There won’t be anyone forgetting his name for a long time after his exciting unanimous decision win over Urijah Faber in July. As Cruz continues to add to his legacy as the greatest bantamweight of all time, he’s already inked in the history books as the first bantamweight champion in UFC history.
8 Megumi Fujii Women’s (Open Weight)
Megumi Fujii was dominating women’s MMA way before the mainstream arrival of Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos. The submission phenom went undefeated in the sport for over six years, before losing a controversial split decision to Zoila Gurgel in the Bellator 115-pound women’s championship.
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Conclusion
MEFUMI FUIJI (LEFT) WENT UNDEFEATED FOR SIX YEARS, MAKING HER THE TOP WOMEN CONTENDER JOSE ALFREDO (RIGHT) ONE OF THE THREE POUNDFOR-POUND FIGHTERS IN HE WORLD
Dec 2011 Stephen Espinoza announced a new agreement to continue mma events on the network showtime.
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T he sport changes too quickly and is too unpredictable for anyone to be perfect. While none of the fighters on this list are perfect, they are the best this young sport has given us.
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S ome fighters rely on being sharp and fast giving small little jabs. Some are extremly strong who just rely on one massive punch to KO people.
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ut I have to say, a good fighter adapts to his/her surroundings B and uses that against its opponent.
Jan 2012 A new breed of well-rounded fighters versed in numerous styles of combat has begun.
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