The World’s fastest growing sport.
Mixed martial arts (MMA), is a contact combat sport based on striking and grappling, incorporating techniques from various combat sports and martial arts from around the world to form one complete discipline.
The MMA athlete of today is a well-rounded, multi-dimensional athlete with his or her own needs, focusing on a wide variety of martial arts disciplines as well as strength training, conditioning and nutrition.
Martial arts disciplines include techniques from Thai-boxing, Judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling and Boxing.
In 2014, IMMAF introduced the first world Unified Amateur MMA Rules.
Perhaps two of the most defining elements of the professional and amateur sport are the permission to strike a downed opponent (ground game) and use of a fenced enclosure to protect the athlete and the integrity of the match.
Ground Game
Ground-work is often a combination of wrestling and jiu-jitsu. While on the ground, the fighters will attempt to lure their opponents into a position that will allow them to apply a joint-lock or choke-hold leading to a tap or stoppage by the referee before a significant injury can occur.
An immediate forerunner of MMA was Vale Tudo mixed rules matches, born out of Brazilian jiu jitsu (a wrestling discipline focused on defence on the ground), as practitioners sought to test their techniques against those of other combat sports. The Submission finishes that MMA has adopted originated in BJJ, where they can be obtained by a BJJ practitioner. Strikes on the ground in MMA are restricted in type and in application with respect to safety and less force can be generated here than when standing. Furthermore, unlike in professional MMA or Thai boxing, elbow strikes are not permitted in Amateur MMA.
The Cage
The MMA Octagon / Hexagon (dependent on shape) is unique in combat sports as it eliminates advantages to competitors well versed in the art of cutting off the ring, or the need to reset matches due to stepping out of the field of play. It allows the match to play out with as little interference as possible.
The enclosed MMA Cage creates a neutral arena to best showcase the skills of MMA athletes.
The MMA FOP usually consists of a Hexagon / Octagon shape cage, sitting on top of a platform, raising it from the ground; safety padding and chain linked fence coated with vinyl.
Robust vinyl-coated fences eliminate the chance of athletes tumbling out of the ring as they can from a traditional boxing ring – particularly when applying wrestling take-downs.
Are there some misconceptions to the sport of MMA?
Does MMA have rules?
YES! MMA on both amateur and professional level have unified rules applicable to each level. MMA unified rules were developed based on safety first. Professional competitors since 2001 comply with the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts (USA, under statutory regulation) or a regional variation. Under IMMAF, amateur competitors worldwide compete under the Unified Amateur MMA Rules.
Is MMA dangerous?
MMA is safer than other comparable combat sports according to research statistics. Regulated MMA adheres to a strict set of rules and regulations that governs officiating, medical safety and all aspects of the sport.
Is amateur MMA the same as pro MMA fighting?
Amateur MMA is to professional MMA what Olympic boxing is to professional prize-fighting. Amateur MMA is purist in its focus on the sport, above the trappings of entertainment. NLMMAF is a non profit organisation.
Is MMA violent?
NO. Common with all recognised martial arts and combat sports, MMA is a combination of mixed martial arts, motivated by the competitor’s desire to test their skill set within the variety of martial arts portrayed within the rules of the game.
Competition rules
NLMMAF follows the unified Amateur MMA Rules set out by IMMAF, in an effort to safeguard amateur athletes in their respective MMA disciplines. IMMAF developed a standardized set of rules with a high safety level that are fit for international competition. The rules regulate the technical side of MMA whereas the IMMAF World Championship Protocol contains specifications for the competitions such as operations, selection criteria for judges, detailed tournament structure, weigh-in protocol, specifications for permitted equipment etc. This separation was put in place to ensure a clean-cut and universal set of rules that can easily be adopted by different organizations in different countries easily combined with different sets of protocols.
National differences have been compared and analyzed with the purpose of finding the optimal rule set that will work on a global scale. These rules regulate competition at its highest amateur level.
When it comes to national rules it is up to each member country to decide if and how to adopt the IMMAF rules in their respective countries. A national federation affiliated with the IMMAF can always use their own rule set for national competitions but when competing in the World Championships all contestants will be competing under IMMAF rules.