The evolution of Mixed Martial Arts

BY MARCEL MARIAK

A combat sport’s journey from obscurity to fame

Combat sports and fight competitions have been part of human cultures for thousands of years. From the ancient martial arts such as Pankration and Wushu, which were created for war; to the more contemporary, competition focused martial arts such as boxing and Muay Thai, almost every identifiable human culture has developed or adopted some sort of unique fighting style.

In recent times, with the evolution of communication and broadcast systems such as radio, television, and the internet, we are able to experience martial arts from all over the world from the comfort of our own homes. While some martial arts such as boxing, freestyle wrestling, and Taekwondo have been well received and recognized by the general public; other fighting disciplines have remained hidden in the shadows.

A glaring example of such a case is the sport of MMA. For the past few decades, while boxers performed for thousands of fans in packed arenas, mixed martial arts competitions in North America were largely held as underground, unsanctioned events. A major factor contributing to the lack of popularity of mixed martial arts was the public’s negative perception of the sport in its infancy.

Delicate beginnings
There is no conclusive origin of the sport of MMA. While members of the combat sports community regularly disagree about its beginnings, the most widely accepted origin of MMA is that it evolved from the Brazilian combat sport of Vale Tudo in the mid-20th century. Vale Tudo gained popularity in Brazil as a no-holds-barred fighting competition. Competitors wore no gloves or shin guards and could strike with any part of the body as well as grapple. The sport gained extreme popularity as martial artists from various disciplines competed against each other to prove their art was superior.

While practitioners of many disciplines found success in Vale Tudo competitions, one martial art was undoubtedly dominant: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). Developed by the Gracie family, BJJ uses technique and leverage instead of brute force; allowing its practitioners to control and defeat a more physically imposing opponent. Quickly, BJJ began to gain a massive following in Brazil. Eventually, the Gracie family decided to travel to the United States to spread their system to the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, while BJJ was loved and welcomed in Brazil, America at the time was living in the age of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Karate Kid movies. The simple truth was that nobody wanted to roll around on the ground and practice submissions. People weren’t interested in a subtle and effective art; they wanted to wear Karate Kid headbands and break boards while screaming like a banshee. As a result, BJJ had a tremendously difficult time picking up speed in America… something had to change.

Behold! The Ultimate Fighting Championship! The Gracies figured that if no-holds-barred fighting worked in Brazil, it would work in America as well. The first ever UFC event was held on November 12^th, 1993. It was a tournament style event where practitioners of all martial arts disciplines could fight for the championship. Of course, Royce Gracie, the BJJ representative, dominated his opponents and won the tournament. More events began to be held, and Jiu Jitsu fighters were consistently winning the tournaments. This success caught the public eye and BJJ in America began to grow.

Rising popularity
While BJJ was entering the mainstream in the United States, the sport of MMA was being pushed into obscurity. While martial artists viewed MMA as an amazing way to learn combat sports and improve their skills, the general public saw only a brutal, gladiatorial event where competitors tried to maim each other for the entertainment of the audience. As a result, while many outstanding individuals by the likes of “Big” John McCarthy, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, and Bas Rutten were helping the sport develop, MMA continued to be a niche market in the late 90s and early 2000s.

It was only in the mid to late 2000s that various big names in the sport of MMA began to break through into the mainstream media, and the general public began to see mixed martial arts as a sport rather than a bloodbath. Influential personalities which helped spread the sport of MMA include Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping, GSP, and most notably, the brash and confident Conor McGregor.

A vision for the future
While MMA has come a long way since its Vale Tudo days in Brazil, there are still issues in the sport’s community that need to be resolved. Problems such as disputes over fighter paycheques, and the legalization of the sport in various states are still preventing the stunning sport of MMA from reaching its true potential as an internationally (or even Olympically) recognized combat sport.