MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is an extreme combat sport promoted by UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). MMA assimilates at least half a dozen well-recognized traditional martial arts namely Boxing, Brazilian JiuJitsu, Muay Thai, Judo, Karate, and Wrestling. MMA has a historical connection to Japan as it was started in 1985 by a Shooto organization founded by Satoru Sayama. The combat sport was derived from shoot wrestling. The ancient Greek mixed martial art named Pankration was similar to MMA.
Difference between MMA and UFC:
MMA is the sport and UFC is the name of the organization that regulates and promotes MMA. The Ultimate Fighting Championship is an American Mixed Martial Arts Promotion Company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. As of 2011, it is the largest MMA Promotion Company in the world. It is owned and operated by Zuffa Sports company specializing in mixed martial arts. Founded by Station Casinos executives Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo in January 2001 in Las Vegas, Nevada, UFC became a sensational regulatory organization.
The UFC organization arranges MMA fighting that applies a variety of martial arts styles and disciplines. In MMA, extreme techniques and skills taken from other popular martial arts are applied to the extent of maximum force. That’s why the fight is called the Ultimate Fight. And UFC, being a company, works as an organizer and promoter for MMA. The UFC showcases the best international fighters across the world.
Difference between MMA and Boxing:
UFC has nothing to do with Boxing. The UFC is concerned with MMA. But Boxing is just a part of MMA. An MMA fighter is required to learn boxing, but a boxer does not need to learn all other martial arts MMA incorporates. MMA is a full-contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills from more than half a dozen martial arts.
In MMA fighting, the rules allow the usage of both striking and grappling techniques while standing and on the ground. Boxing, on the other hand, is a standup style that only allows hand striking. Compared to MMA, boxing is a much simpler style of combat sport. Because it has less variation. For instance, MMA fighters can strike with all limbs and fight on the ground, while boxing includes only the standup fight and hand strikes. MMA allows for a wide range of strikes. Strikes are allowed in MMA fighting using elbows, knees, kicks, and spinning backfists. Yet these are illegal in boxing.
A boxer can not hit his opponent with the back of his hand, forearm, or elbow. Moreover, MMA fights are more intense than boxing. In terms of popularity, Boxing still reigns as the title of the most popular combat sport in the world. Compared to any other combat sportsmen, the boxers get paid astronomically. But of course, MMA is always gaining momentum to be a popular combat sport worldwide nowadays.
MMA and Boxing are two different martial arts as mentioned above. In respect of injury, both martial arts have a long-term impact on health. Researchers found boxers are more likely to suffer more injuries than MMA fighters. UFC produces events worldwide that showcase 12 weight divisions. Of them, eight men and four women. It abides by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. As of 2022, 600 events took place under the name of the UFC ( Ultimate Fighting Championship) organizer.