History of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a combat sport that blends techniques from striking and grappling disciplines such as boxing, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Muay Thai, judo, and others. Although the modern form began in the 1990s, its history reaches back thousands of years.

1. Ancient Foundations (Pankration & Other Early Combative Sports)

Pankration (Ancient Greece, 648 BCE)

Considered the earliest form of MMA.

Included punches, kicks, throws, joint locks, and chokes.

Introduced at the Ancient Olympic Games in 648 BCE.

Known for minimal rules—no biting or eye gouging.

Other Ancient Traditions

Roman gladiatorial combat blended multiple weapons and hand-to-hand techniques.

Shuai Jiao in China mixed wrestling with strikes.

Kalaripayattu in India also combined striking and grappling.

These early systems were not identical to modern MMA, but they showed the human interest in combining fighting styles.

2. Early Modern Hybrids (1800s–1900s)

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, hybrid combat contests appeared around the world:

Catch Wrestling & Vale Tudo

Catch-as-catch-can wrestling in the UK/US included submissions.

In Brazil, Vale Tudo (“anything goes”) matches emerged in the 1920s–1940s.

These events often pitted boxers, wrestlers, and jiu-jitsu fighters against one another.

The Gracie Influence

Carlos and Helio Gracie developed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).

The Gracie Challenge (1930s–1990s) showcased BJJ against other styles.

This spirit of “style vs. style” would become the basis for modern MMA.

3. Evolution Toward a Global Sport (1960s–1980s)

Bruce Lee

In the 1960s–70s, Bruce Lee promoted the idea of using “no-style” fighting (Jeet Kune Do).

He believed fighters should use what works from all martial arts—a philosophy that influenced MMA decades later.

Shooto (Japan, 1985)

Founded by Satoru Sayama (Tiger Mask).

Considered one of the first organized MMA promotions.

Mixed striking, grappling, and submissions under unified rules.

Pancrase (Japan, 1993)

Established full-contact hybrid fighting with open-hand strikes, grappling, and submissions.

Produced legendary fighters like Bas Rutten and Ken Shamrock.

These organizations laid the technical foundation for MMA before it became mainstream in the U.S.

4. Birth of Modern MMA: The UFC (1993)

UFC 1 — November 12, 1993 (Denver, Colorado)

Designed as a “style vs. style” tournament. Minimal rules, no weight classes, no gloves. The objective was to determine which martial art was most effective.

Royce Gracie

A smaller Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter who defeated much larger opponents. His wins showed the effectiveness of grappling and submissions. This changed martial arts forever—every fighter now had to cross-train. This event is widely recognized as the birth of modern MMA.

5. Regulation and Rule Changes (1990s–2000s)

Early UFC events were often criticized as “human cockfighting.” To survive, MMA needed rules.

Unified Rules of MMA (2000–2001)

Weight classes

Round systems

Bans on headbutts, groin strikes, eye gouging, etc.

Mandatory gloves

Standardized judging and scoring

These rules allowed MMA to gain athletic commission approval across the U.S. and worldwide.

6. Global Expansion (2000s–2010s)

Rise of Organizations

Pride FC (Japan): Known for soccer kicks, huge stadium shows, and legendary fighters (Fedor Emelianenko, Wanderlei Silva).

UFC growth after Zuffa LLC purchased it in 2001.

Strikeforce: Developed elite fighters like Ronda Rousey and Daniel Cormier.

Bellator MMA (founded 2008): Tournament-based early format.

UFC Boom

The Ultimate Fighter reality show (2005) exploded MMA’s popularity.

UFC became a billion-dollar brand. By the late 2010s, UFC was the global leader in MMA.

Women’s MMA

Strikeforce showcased fighters like Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey. UFC created women’s divisions beginning in 2013. Ronda Rousey became the first female superstar of MMA.

7. Modern MMA (2015–Present)

Global Promotions

Today, many organizations operate worldwide:

• UFC (USA)
• Bellator (USA)
• ONE Championship (Asia)
• PFL (Professional Fighters League) (USA)
• RIZIN (Japan)
• KSW (Poland)

Evolution of the Fighter

Modern MMA fighters are fully integrated athletes who train across disciplines:

Striking (boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai)

Grappling (BJJ, wrestling, judo)

Conditioning and sports science

No longer “style vs. style”—today’s fighters blend everything seamlessly.

Superstars of the Modern Era

• Conor McGregor
• Jon Jones
• Khabib Nurmagomedov
• Michael ‘Venom’ Page (MVP)
• Amanda Nunes
• Israel Adesanya
• Valentina Shevchenko
• Georges St-Pierre (retired but iconic)