By Neil Davidson
THE CANADIAN PRESS
History
A form of MMA dates back to the 1920s in Brazil via Vale Tudo (Portuguese for "anything goes"). But the first Ultimate Fighting Championship card was held in 1993, the brainchild of American businessman Art Davie and the Gracie family, famous for its Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The goal was to pit martial artists from different disciplines against each other in a caged ring to see who was the best. In the first UFC, the only rules were no biting or eye-gouging -- and the only way a bout could end was if a fighter tapped out or his corner threw in the towel. Royce Gracie, 6-1 and 180 pounds, used his jiu-jitsu to win UFC 1: The Beginning in Denver, needing just four minutes 50 seconds to beat three opponents.
Amidst a backlash against no-holds barred fighting, Zuffa Inc. bought the ailing circuit in 2001 for US$2 million. Billionaire brothers Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta and UFC president Dana White campaigned to open more jurisdictions to mixed martial arts and to apply a unified set of MMA rules. In North America, MMA contests are almost always sanctioned by the same body that regulates boxing. There are drug tests and medical checks. Today a major UFC card can make $2 million in gate revenue alone.
Duration of fights
Normal bouts last three five-minute rounds. A championship fight goes five rounds. There is a one-minute rest period between rounds.
How to win
A fighter can be knocked out or a referee can stop the bout, ruling a technical knockout. A fighter can also submit, either verbally or by "tapping out." If the bout goes the distance, three judges score the fight. A doctor can also stop the bout, because of a cut or other medical issue.
How do judges score fights?
T hey mark on effective striking, effective grappling, Octagon (ring) control, effective aggression and effective defence. The most important categories are effective striking and effective grappling.
Ring
The Octagon is an eight-sided cage with a diameter of 32 feet (9.75 metres) and a fence that stands six feet high (1.83 metres). Othe circuits use variations on the cage or fight in a ring.
Equipment
Fighters wear small gloves, weighing four to six ounces, that protect the knuckles but do not cover the fingers.
Weight Classes
The UFC has five: (lightweight, 145-155 pounds), welterweight (155-170), middleweight (170-185), light-heavyweight (165-205) and heavyweight (205-265). Fighters weigh in the day before the fight. Almost all walk around normally at substantially more than their weight class limit, but can cut 20 pounds or more in the days leading up to their bout.
Injury toll
Do fighters get hurt? Yes, it's a combat sport. But referees are quick to step in, often hurling themselves between fighters to protect a fallen competitor. The use of elbows in the UFC can lead to cuts, but downed opponents are protected from kicks or knees to the head. An American fighter, Sam Vasquez, died after being injured in a non-UFC bout in October. He's believed to be the first MMA fatality.
Disciplines
These days fighters train in a variety of disciplines with wrestling, boxing and jiu-jitsu as the main three.
Pay
An elite fighter like Chuck (The Iceman) Liddell can earn US$500,000 for a fight, plus a cut of the lucrative pay-per-view take. A loser on the undercard may only make $3,000. UFC contracts are not guaranteed.
UFC Reach
Outside the U.S., the UFC has held cards in England, Northern Ireland and Japan. Mexico and Germany are expected to be the next to follow Canada.
Top Canadians
Georges St. Pierre (Montreal), Jason MacDonald (Red Deer, Alta.), Sam Stout (London, Ont.), Patrick Cote (Montreal). Outside the UFC, Denis Kang (Vancouver) and Chris Horodecki (London, Ont.).
Canadian influences
Yves Lavigne (Montreal) is one of the elite MMA referees. Shawn Tompkins (London, Ont.) is a top trainer affiliated with Randy Couture's Las Vegas gym Xtreme Couture. Dean Albrecht (Whistler, B.C.), son of former football guru J.I. Albrecht, is a leading MMA agent.
Other Circuits
EliteXC and Strikeforce operate in the U.S., among others. In Canada, the top circuits are TKO, Maximum Fighting Championship and Hardcore Championship Fighting.
Approved regions in Canada
MMA is sanctioned in different provinces and regions across Canada. Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, B.C., and Nova Scotia routinely hold cards, although in some cases only in certain parts of those provinces. It is not sanctioned in Ontario.
