Mixed martial arts, or MMA, combines striking and grappling in a single sport, and its roots reach back thousands of years to ancient Greek pankration, which was added to the Olympic Games in 648 BC. The modern sport grew from Brazilian vale tudo contests and the Gracie family’s development of Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the 20th century, and it burst onto the world stage with UFC 1 in Denver in 1993, which Royce Gracie won. Early events had few rules, which drew criticism, but the adoption of the Unified Rules of MMA, first by New Jersey regulators in 2001, helped turn it into a regulated sport. Zuffa’s purchase of the UFC in 2001, The Ultimate Fighter reality show in 2005 and the first women’s UFC bout in 2013 fueled its growth into a global sport.
Ancient roots
Combat sports that blended striking and grappling existed in many cultures. The best known is pankration, an ancient Greek sport that combined boxing and wrestling techniques and was added to the Olympic Games in 648 BC. Pankration allowed a wide range of strikes and holds, with only a few restrictions. Other traditions around the world, from various forms of wrestling to martial arts that mixed strikes and throws, shaped the idea of combat sports that test a fighter’s complete skills.
Vale tudo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu
In Brazil during the 20th century, contests called vale tudo, a Portuguese phrase meaning anything goes, pitted fighters from different styles against one another with minimal rules. The Gracie family played a central role, developing and promoting Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a grappling art that emphasizes leverage, positioning and submissions. Members of the family took part in and organized challenge matches to show the effectiveness of their style against other martial arts. These events laid important groundwork for modern MMA.
Key milestones in MMA history
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 648 BC | Pankration added to the ancient Olympic Games |
| 1920s onward | Vale tudo contests in Brazil; the Gracie family develops Brazilian jiu-jitsu |
| 1993 | UFC 1 held in Denver; Royce Gracie wins |
| 1997 | Pride Fighting Championships launches in Japan |
| 2000 to 2001 | Unified Rules of MMA adopted, first by New Jersey regulators |
| 2001 | Zuffa buys the UFC |
| 2005 | The Ultimate Fighter reality show boosts popularity |
| 2013 | First women’s bout in the UFC |
| 2016 | The UFC is sold to a group led by WME-IMG (later Endeavor); New York legalizes professional MMA |
The early UFC
UFC 1 took place in Denver in November 1993. It was organized as a tournament to find out which martial art was most effective, bringing together fighters from styles such as boxing, karate, wrestling, sumo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Royce Gracie, a relatively small Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter, won the tournament by taking opponents to the ground and submitting them, which surprised many viewers and highlighted the importance of grappling. Early UFC events had very few rules and no weight classes, and they were marketed as brutal spectacles. This approach drew heavy criticism from politicians and the public, and the sport was banned or restricted in many places and lost access to many cable pay-per-view platforms in the late 1990s.
Regulation and the Unified Rules
To survive, MMA needed to become a regulated sport. Promoters and state athletic commissions worked to introduce rules, weight classes, rounds, gloves and medical requirements. The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board helped establish what became known as the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts around 2000 and 2001, and other commissions later adopted similar rules. These rules banned techniques such as headbutts, groin strikes and certain strikes to downed opponents, and introduced judging criteria and fouls. Regulation helped MMA gain acceptance as a legitimate sport.
Rulebook note: MMA rules vary between promotions and regulatory bodies, and they are updated over time. Check the current rules of the relevant athletic commission or organization.
Pride, Zuffa and the rise of the UFC
In Japan, Pride Fighting Championships launched in 1997 and became one of the most popular MMA organizations in the world, featuring large events and many top fighters. In the United States, brothers Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White formed Zuffa, which bought the UFC in 2001. Zuffa invested in the sport, worked with regulators and eventually regained wider television access. The UFC later purchased Pride’s assets in 2007. In 2016, the UFC was sold to a group led by WME-IMG, which later became Endeavor.
The Ultimate Fighter and mainstream growth
In 2005, the UFC launched The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television show where aspiring fighters lived and trained together while competing for a UFC contract. The show brought MMA to a much larger audience and helped create new stars. Its first season finale is widely credited with boosting the sport’s popularity. From there, MMA grew rapidly through television deals, pay-per-view events and international expansion.
The evolution of fighting styles
Early MMA events often matched specialists from single disciplines, such as a pure striker against a pure grappler. As the sport matured, fighters realized that they needed skills in every area to succeed. Wrestlers learned to strike and defend submissions, strikers learned takedown defense and ground skills, and jiu-jitsu practitioners developed better striking and wrestling. Over time, this led to the modern mixed martial artist who trains in several disciplines and can fight effectively standing, in the clinch and on the ground. Training camps and gyms dedicated specifically to MMA became common, helping fighters blend techniques into a coherent style.
Women’s MMA
Women competed in MMA in various organizations before joining the UFC, including Strikeforce and Invicta Fighting Championships. The first women’s bout in the UFC took place in 2013, and women’s divisions have since become an important part of the sport, producing some of its biggest stars and events.
MMA today
Today, MMA is practiced and followed worldwide. Major promotions include the UFC, Bellator, ONE Championship and the Professional Fighters League, along with many regional organizations. Fighters now train in multiple disciplines, typically combining striking arts such as boxing, Muay Thai and kickboxing with grappling arts such as wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Amateur MMA and recreational training have also grown, making the sport accessible to people who never plan to compete.
How to learn more about MMA history
- Watch historic events such as early UFC and Pride cards.
- Read histories from reputable sports journalists and organizations.
- Learn about the martial arts that shaped MMA, such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling.
- Follow rule changes through athletic commission resources.
Common misconceptions
- That MMA has no rules. Modern MMA is regulated with detailed rules and weight classes.
- That MMA began in 1993. The modern sport did, but mixed combat sports are ancient.
- That one style is best. Modern fighters blend multiple disciplines.
Frequently asked questions
When did MMA start?
The modern sport began with the first UFC in 1993, building on older traditions such as pankration and vale tudo.
What is pankration?
An ancient Greek combat sport that combined boxing and wrestling and was part of the ancient Olympic Games.
What are the Unified Rules of MMA?
A set of rules adopted by athletic commissions, starting with New Jersey around 2001, that standardized fouls, rounds, weight classes and judging.
