A Mma Overview
May 14th, 2009 by admin
MMA or mixed martial arts refers to a fighting competition that combines techniques form many other fighting styles such as boxing, wrestling, kick boxing, and martial arts. MMA fights begin standing up and resemble kick boxing with opponents trading punches and kicks. Almost all MMA fights make their way to the ground and then opponents continue to fight in a manner that resembles wrestling although the object is not to win by pinning your opponent. MMA became popular in the U.S. early 1990’s and the UFC, the biggest U.S. MMA organization was founded in 1993. Originally, MMA competitions were met with great controversy from politicians and concerned citizens because the UFC claimed to be a no-hold-barred competition and proved to be extremely violent with only a few rules. The idea behind the UFC was not a new one and the idea of creating a competition to determine which fighting style was the most effective began in the early 1900’s. MMA type competitions were popular in other countries and after their brutal introduction into the U.S. in 1993, they did not seem like they were going to stick around.
The initial disdain for the violent competition actually caused MMA fights to be banned from 20 states and even Pay Per View stopped televising MMA events. After a few years of shame, the UFC added rues and regulations and actually got sanctioning to become a legal sport. MMA has since become very popular and is loosing some of its brutal stigma. Rules were added to give the sport less violent image and prohibit, biting, eye gouging, fish hooking, hair pulling, foul language, spitting, small joint manipulation, groin strikes, head butts, and kicking the head of an opponent while he is on the mat. Originally, the UFC had no weight classes, which only helped perpetuate the unruly image. The UFC now has weight classes and even screens fighters for drug use prior to entry into the ring.
MMA fights are won by knock out, submission, judge’s decision, or referee stoppage. Time limits were also added so that fights lasting longer than the set amount of rounds would be decided by judges. The referee and fight doctor can also stop a fight if they think that one fighter is not longer able to intelligently defend himself. Fighters must wear mouth guards and special fingerless gloves that protect the knuckles while allowing fighters to grapple.
Even thought the UFC and MMA fights were originally considered barbaric, they have come a long way since then. The UFC is gaining popularity and some PPV MMA fights have even outsold PPV boxing matches. With clear rules and sanctioning, MMA has made a comeback in the U.S. and is set to become the most popular combat sport. MMA already draws millions of fans and more and more fighters are conditioning themselves to be able to compete in the MMA ring. Even though it had a rocky start, MMA in the U.S. is quickly gaining ground and more and more people are accepting it as a legitimate sport.
By: James Liu
About the Author:
The initial disdain for the violent competition actually caused MMA fights to be banned from 20 states and even Pay Per View stopped televising MMA events. After a few years of shame, the UFC added rues and regulations and actually got sanctioning to become a legal sport. MMA has since become very popular and is loosing some of its brutal stigma. Rules were added to give the sport less violent image and prohibit, biting, eye gouging, fish hooking, hair pulling, foul language, spitting, small joint manipulation, groin strikes, head butts, and kicking the head of an opponent while he is on the mat. Originally, the UFC had no weight classes, which only helped perpetuate the unruly image. The UFC now has weight classes and even screens fighters for drug use prior to entry into the ring.
MMA fights are won by knock out, submission, judge’s decision, or referee stoppage. Time limits were also added so that fights lasting longer than the set amount of rounds would be decided by judges. The referee and fight doctor can also stop a fight if they think that one fighter is not longer able to intelligently defend himself. Fighters must wear mouth guards and special fingerless gloves that protect the knuckles while allowing fighters to grapple.
Even thought the UFC and MMA fights were originally considered barbaric, they have come a long way since then. The UFC is gaining popularity and some PPV MMA fights have even outsold PPV boxing matches. With clear rules and sanctioning, MMA has made a comeback in the U.S. and is set to become the most popular combat sport. MMA already draws millions of fans and more and more fighters are conditioning themselves to be able to compete in the MMA ring. Even though it had a rocky start, MMA in the U.S. is quickly gaining ground and more and more people are accepting it as a legitimate sport.
By: James Liu
About the Author:
For more information go to www.budotv.com
Interview With Tito Ortiz
May 14th, 2009 by admin
MMAToday: How are you doing?
TO: Great! I just got back from a month of vacation and I am feeling good.
MMAToday: Have you returned to training since your last fight?
TO: Just started training again lightly about a week ago getting ready to get all the way into it
MMAToday: How much training time do you plan to put in before your next fight?
TO: About 2 full months
MMAToday: What brought you into competing in MMA?
TO: I was in wrestling in high school and college, started as Tank Abbot’s training partner. I started really getting into the UFC when they started having weight classes since I competed at 199 so 205 was a natural fit for me. Just the love of competition. I fought my first fight for free because I was still in college and would lose my scholarship if I was paid.
MMAToday: What training and experience did you have that made you know you would be successful at it?
TO: Just wrestling, growing up with older brothers who used to beat me up a lot, and I started training boxing in my garage in high school
MMAToday: What fighters early in your career did you admire and maybe try to model your training and fighting style after?
TO: Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock and Tank, tried to take lessons from what they had done and been successful at and incorporate it all. Guys like Frank Shamrock knew the whole game and his cardio was awesome. I didn’t try to be like anyone else really but learn from them and take that and add it all up to make the perfect fighter.
MMAToday: Are there any fighters you look up to now?
TO: Not anyone now currently, but I look at people who put it all together like Ali, Bruce Lee 30 years ago. GSP and BJ are great fighters. I can’t respect anyone in my weight class anymore because I get caught up in watching them and being in awe instead of stomping on them, which is what I need to be do doing.
MMAToday: One fight that is noted as making a big difference early in your training and career was against Frank Shamrock, how did that fight affect you?
TO: I trained with Frank after the loss for a couple weeks, got to see what it took to be a top contender. I lost to Frank because of conditioning. Frank helped teach me about heart rate and rest. I learned about recovery times. After only fighting for almost 2 years and training with Frank I was able to go at it with Wanderlei Silva for 5 full rounds at full speed.
MMAToday: How was it the first time you won a UFC Championship? How did you feel afterwards?
TO: When I first won it was amazing but I had another goal and that was to keep the belt. Don’t get me wrong I slept with that belt for the first month after I got it, but I wanted to keep it. I wanted to keep it longer than anyone ever had and break the record for it, and be dominant and I did that.
MMAToday: What fight or fights for you are the most memorable of your career?
TO: There’s a few. First beating Silva for the title and my first fight with Ken. The other two fights with Ken just made it more memorable. I really took it to heart the first time against him, that I was good when I beat Ken and was dominant.
MMAToday: Which fight brought you the most satisfaction and which brought you the most disappointment?
TO: Satisfaction: The first fight with Ken, I came off a knee surgery and ACL injury and was dominant after 6 months being healthy. Second against Vladimir Matyushenko and dominated, that was the best shape I have ever been in.
Disappointment: Losing the title to Randy, that hurt the worst, I wasn’t right for almost two months after. I had to find the motivation to keep going forward.
The second fight with Chuck this past December, I felt I let my fans down and I was in the best shape and brought my “A” game.
MMAToday: This past year was a busy one for you, after a year long layoff, with 4 fights. Are you planning on taking it a little slower this year?
TO: I am trying for 3 fights this year, I like being in the octagon. When I wasn’t there it was about the money and paying bills, now it’s not about the money. I am having fun, and I’m fighting to get my title back. I keep working and getting better and trying to be a better fighter. I would like to fight Chuck, I will fight him 5 or 6 times however many times it takes. I’m confident now that I stood with him, and I’m confident I can fix the mistakes I made. First thing I think of is who I have to fight to get back to the top and be in contention. I will crush anyone in the LHW division. I only lost to the top guys in the game Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock and Chuck Liddell. I still have a bright future ahead and my body feels good. I have no injuries my knee is great and my back is great.
MMAToday: What can we expect from you in 2007?
TO: More movies? My heart is really in fighting right now and I’m in fighting mode. I want to keep going with Punishment Athletic. I’m a business man then a fighter and then actor man but fighter first and foremost now. My next fight is in May against Keith Jardine.
MMAToday: Where do you see yourself in the UFC title picture at Light Heavyweight?
TO: I’m in the top 3. I will fight any of them, I fought Liddell and made some mistakes but that won’t happen again. He has been dominant and done what he has done, so have I and I will do it again.
MMAToday: What motivates you to continue fighting and training after an almost 10 year professional career of fighting?
TO: My fans and the drive to be the best. It’s a mixture of both.
MMAToday: Who are your favorite fighters to watch?
TO: GSP #1. He has a hard work ethic and is very exciting, what he did to Matt Hughes was impressive. Brandon Vera is exciting and hits hard, he’s a good wrestler and has good Jiu-jitsu.
MMAToday: Are there any fighters you want to fight that you haven’t had a chance to yet?
TO: Shogun Rua would be an awesome fight, I’d love to fight him, Wanderlei just lost and Id love to fight him again. Dan Henderson would be great. I’ll fight anyone and make it exciting for the fans. I just want to keep people buying pay per views and keep the fans entertained, me and chuck did it right and broke records for pay per view buys.
MMAToday: You have done a small bit of acting in recent years, is something you are looking to pursue?
TO: I was just on CBS Numbers in a small part last week. , I did a MadTV episode that will be airing in April or May. I have to make the right choices and I want to stay away from the fight movies and go more into action films.
MMAToday: Is there anything you would change in the UFC currently to make it safer rules wise for the fighter? Or any changes you would make?
TO: Everything is good; sometimes the referees need to be a little more knowledgeable in a championship fight. The fight with Liddell, the referee (Mario Yamasaki) was never in a huge fight. Big John knows what its like to be in those fights. He should have let us fight; I’ll take a lot of damage, but don’t stop the fight when I’m getting hit in the arms. Let the fight go if I’m defending those shots, a lot of them were hitting my forearms.
MMAToday: Can you request a referee for a fight?
TO: Athletic Commissions assign the refs, and they changed it to Yamasaki at the weigh-ins.
MMAToday: What do you think of the recent explosion of MMA’s popularity over the last 2 years? Is it beneficial for everyone? The fans, the fighters and the promoters alike?
TO: I think it’s better for the fighters. As it gets bigger guys will be paid more. Making 2 grand a fight is BS, comes down to the fighters. You have to have more respect for yourself and not let them walk all over you. You have to hold out and demand more money. I think I was the first guy to really hold out; I was willing to hold out for what I believed in. But it’s a catch 22, if you sign the contract for making less money everyone bitches that you don’t make enough, but they bitch if you ask for more. We top fighters are making good money, but it’s not about the money anymore for me, I just want to fight, I love to compete.
MMAToday: Any chance you would leave UFC?
TO: I really don’t want to, I started here and I plan on finishing here. I hope they would promote me more. I don’t see going anywhere else but you never know what happens, but my heart sticks with the UFC till they start treating me bad. I and Dana are having good feelings right now though.
MMAToday: Would you consider leaving to fight Silva and Shogun?
TO: I could make that decision but I worked hard to be where I am but I would go if they set it up, I think it just comes down to I’ll fight any of them. I’ll stomp anyone at 205, I’m in the top 3 in the world and I’ll beat Shogun, Henderson and Silva if I get the chance.
MMAToday: How did the TUF appearance change anything for you?
TO: The misconceptions people had of me. I’m two separate people, I have a cocky attitude in the octagon but, but I’m a caring person outside. It was a chance for my fans to see another side of me. You have to have charisma to be successful in the ring. When I’m in the ring I know the angles I need to take like Muhammad Ali and Hulk Hogan, you have to be cocky and brash and that’s how you attract the fans. My team did great and went 9-3; it was nice to know I had even a small part in that.
MMAToday: Would training young fighters be a goal after your fighting career is over?
TO: Maybe not but maybe, maybe do my own TV show, I love training and helping out with guys. I loved training kids when I was in college helping training at the local high school.
MMAToday: Is there anyone currently training with you that we should be on the lookout for?
TO: Not yet, after my fight I’ve had a few guys trying to get a hold of me for training but I’m picky, you need to be a hard worker and have the right attitude to train with us. Like Melvin Guillard, he’s training with us, he’s a hard worker and is rising fast. But we need a HW for Team Punishment, a big like around 6’-3” to 6’-5” around 265 pounds preferably a wrestler. We work hard and there’s no one that trains like we do at Team Punishment.
MMAToday: You have been involved in numerous charities over the years, anyone you are working with now in particular?
TO: Doing motivational speaking at high schools and speaking to the Marines. I’m going to the Armed Forces Day top speak in front of the Marines that just came back from and some that are going out to Iraq on May 19th in Banning, California from 11am -1pm . I’m looking to work with inner city kids and training camps with them, nothing etched in stone yet but I really want to help kids.
By: Brian Robertson
About the Author:
TO: Great! I just got back from a month of vacation and I am feeling good.
MMAToday: Have you returned to training since your last fight?
TO: Just started training again lightly about a week ago getting ready to get all the way into it
MMAToday: How much training time do you plan to put in before your next fight?
TO: About 2 full months
MMAToday: What brought you into competing in MMA?
TO: I was in wrestling in high school and college, started as Tank Abbot’s training partner. I started really getting into the UFC when they started having weight classes since I competed at 199 so 205 was a natural fit for me. Just the love of competition. I fought my first fight for free because I was still in college and would lose my scholarship if I was paid.
MMAToday: What training and experience did you have that made you know you would be successful at it?
TO: Just wrestling, growing up with older brothers who used to beat me up a lot, and I started training boxing in my garage in high school
MMAToday: What fighters early in your career did you admire and maybe try to model your training and fighting style after?
TO: Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock and Tank, tried to take lessons from what they had done and been successful at and incorporate it all. Guys like Frank Shamrock knew the whole game and his cardio was awesome. I didn’t try to be like anyone else really but learn from them and take that and add it all up to make the perfect fighter.
MMAToday: Are there any fighters you look up to now?
TO: Not anyone now currently, but I look at people who put it all together like Ali, Bruce Lee 30 years ago. GSP and BJ are great fighters. I can’t respect anyone in my weight class anymore because I get caught up in watching them and being in awe instead of stomping on them, which is what I need to be do doing.
MMAToday: One fight that is noted as making a big difference early in your training and career was against Frank Shamrock, how did that fight affect you?
TO: I trained with Frank after the loss for a couple weeks, got to see what it took to be a top contender. I lost to Frank because of conditioning. Frank helped teach me about heart rate and rest. I learned about recovery times. After only fighting for almost 2 years and training with Frank I was able to go at it with Wanderlei Silva for 5 full rounds at full speed.
MMAToday: How was it the first time you won a UFC Championship? How did you feel afterwards?
TO: When I first won it was amazing but I had another goal and that was to keep the belt. Don’t get me wrong I slept with that belt for the first month after I got it, but I wanted to keep it. I wanted to keep it longer than anyone ever had and break the record for it, and be dominant and I did that.
MMAToday: What fight or fights for you are the most memorable of your career?
TO: There’s a few. First beating Silva for the title and my first fight with Ken. The other two fights with Ken just made it more memorable. I really took it to heart the first time against him, that I was good when I beat Ken and was dominant.
MMAToday: Which fight brought you the most satisfaction and which brought you the most disappointment?
TO: Satisfaction: The first fight with Ken, I came off a knee surgery and ACL injury and was dominant after 6 months being healthy. Second against Vladimir Matyushenko and dominated, that was the best shape I have ever been in.
Disappointment: Losing the title to Randy, that hurt the worst, I wasn’t right for almost two months after. I had to find the motivation to keep going forward.
The second fight with Chuck this past December, I felt I let my fans down and I was in the best shape and brought my “A” game.
MMAToday: This past year was a busy one for you, after a year long layoff, with 4 fights. Are you planning on taking it a little slower this year?
TO: I am trying for 3 fights this year, I like being in the octagon. When I wasn’t there it was about the money and paying bills, now it’s not about the money. I am having fun, and I’m fighting to get my title back. I keep working and getting better and trying to be a better fighter. I would like to fight Chuck, I will fight him 5 or 6 times however many times it takes. I’m confident now that I stood with him, and I’m confident I can fix the mistakes I made. First thing I think of is who I have to fight to get back to the top and be in contention. I will crush anyone in the LHW division. I only lost to the top guys in the game Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock and Chuck Liddell. I still have a bright future ahead and my body feels good. I have no injuries my knee is great and my back is great.
MMAToday: What can we expect from you in 2007?
TO: More movies? My heart is really in fighting right now and I’m in fighting mode. I want to keep going with Punishment Athletic. I’m a business man then a fighter and then actor man but fighter first and foremost now. My next fight is in May against Keith Jardine.
MMAToday: Where do you see yourself in the UFC title picture at Light Heavyweight?
TO: I’m in the top 3. I will fight any of them, I fought Liddell and made some mistakes but that won’t happen again. He has been dominant and done what he has done, so have I and I will do it again.
MMAToday: What motivates you to continue fighting and training after an almost 10 year professional career of fighting?
TO: My fans and the drive to be the best. It’s a mixture of both.
MMAToday: Who are your favorite fighters to watch?
TO: GSP #1. He has a hard work ethic and is very exciting, what he did to Matt Hughes was impressive. Brandon Vera is exciting and hits hard, he’s a good wrestler and has good Jiu-jitsu.
MMAToday: Are there any fighters you want to fight that you haven’t had a chance to yet?
TO: Shogun Rua would be an awesome fight, I’d love to fight him, Wanderlei just lost and Id love to fight him again. Dan Henderson would be great. I’ll fight anyone and make it exciting for the fans. I just want to keep people buying pay per views and keep the fans entertained, me and chuck did it right and broke records for pay per view buys.
MMAToday: You have done a small bit of acting in recent years, is something you are looking to pursue?
TO: I was just on CBS Numbers in a small part last week. , I did a MadTV episode that will be airing in April or May. I have to make the right choices and I want to stay away from the fight movies and go more into action films.
MMAToday: Is there anything you would change in the UFC currently to make it safer rules wise for the fighter? Or any changes you would make?
TO: Everything is good; sometimes the referees need to be a little more knowledgeable in a championship fight. The fight with Liddell, the referee (Mario Yamasaki) was never in a huge fight. Big John knows what its like to be in those fights. He should have let us fight; I’ll take a lot of damage, but don’t stop the fight when I’m getting hit in the arms. Let the fight go if I’m defending those shots, a lot of them were hitting my forearms.
MMAToday: Can you request a referee for a fight?
TO: Athletic Commissions assign the refs, and they changed it to Yamasaki at the weigh-ins.
MMAToday: What do you think of the recent explosion of MMA’s popularity over the last 2 years? Is it beneficial for everyone? The fans, the fighters and the promoters alike?
TO: I think it’s better for the fighters. As it gets bigger guys will be paid more. Making 2 grand a fight is BS, comes down to the fighters. You have to have more respect for yourself and not let them walk all over you. You have to hold out and demand more money. I think I was the first guy to really hold out; I was willing to hold out for what I believed in. But it’s a catch 22, if you sign the contract for making less money everyone bitches that you don’t make enough, but they bitch if you ask for more. We top fighters are making good money, but it’s not about the money anymore for me, I just want to fight, I love to compete.
MMAToday: Any chance you would leave UFC?
TO: I really don’t want to, I started here and I plan on finishing here. I hope they would promote me more. I don’t see going anywhere else but you never know what happens, but my heart sticks with the UFC till they start treating me bad. I and Dana are having good feelings right now though.
MMAToday: Would you consider leaving to fight Silva and Shogun?
TO: I could make that decision but I worked hard to be where I am but I would go if they set it up, I think it just comes down to I’ll fight any of them. I’ll stomp anyone at 205, I’m in the top 3 in the world and I’ll beat Shogun, Henderson and Silva if I get the chance.
MMAToday: How did the TUF appearance change anything for you?
TO: The misconceptions people had of me. I’m two separate people, I have a cocky attitude in the octagon but, but I’m a caring person outside. It was a chance for my fans to see another side of me. You have to have charisma to be successful in the ring. When I’m in the ring I know the angles I need to take like Muhammad Ali and Hulk Hogan, you have to be cocky and brash and that’s how you attract the fans. My team did great and went 9-3; it was nice to know I had even a small part in that.
MMAToday: Would training young fighters be a goal after your fighting career is over?
TO: Maybe not but maybe, maybe do my own TV show, I love training and helping out with guys. I loved training kids when I was in college helping training at the local high school.
MMAToday: Is there anyone currently training with you that we should be on the lookout for?
TO: Not yet, after my fight I’ve had a few guys trying to get a hold of me for training but I’m picky, you need to be a hard worker and have the right attitude to train with us. Like Melvin Guillard, he’s training with us, he’s a hard worker and is rising fast. But we need a HW for Team Punishment, a big like around 6’-3” to 6’-5” around 265 pounds preferably a wrestler. We work hard and there’s no one that trains like we do at Team Punishment.
MMAToday: You have been involved in numerous charities over the years, anyone you are working with now in particular?
TO: Doing motivational speaking at high schools and speaking to the Marines. I’m going to the Armed Forces Day top speak in front of the Marines that just came back from and some that are going out to Iraq on May 19th in Banning, California from 11am -1pm . I’m looking to work with inner city kids and training camps with them, nothing etched in stone yet but I really want to help kids.
By: Brian Robertson
About the Author:
Brian Robertson is owner and webmaster of http://www.mmastation.com.com
Mma or Mixed Martial Arts as it is Also Called
May 11th, 2009 by admin
There are lots of different types of activities which people engage in to keep fit. One of these activities is that of martial arts. You will find that there are many different versions of martial arts which you can try out. One of these is that of MMA or mixed martial arts as it is also called. In this branch of the martial arts there are also different forms involved.
One of these versions of MMA is called kick boxing. In kick boxing you will find that the contestants are trained to use their feet and hands. The MMA is one of the more interesting martial arts which you can look into. As it is more physical in many ways than the other martial arts you should look into the different options which are available.
As with any type of martial arts you will need to have a qualified teacher show you the intricacies of MMA. When you first decide to learn one of the MMA fighting styles it is important that you take the time that is needed to develop your style of fighting. This is an area that you should be prepared to spend quite a bit of time in.
As the main goal of MMA or that of any martial arts is to learn discipline while you are learning the intricacies of your particular fighting style you need to hone your skills. As you become more proficient in the different forms of martial arts which are needed for your style of MMA you will find that you are capable of defending yourself as well as taking the offensive when the time comes.
Now you will need to understand that even the MMA has competitions where contests from different schools of fighting can see how well they have learned their subject. These competitions are kept in the bounds of good sportsmanship. Just as these competitions foster a sense of learning there are professional grade MMA competitions.
In these tournaments you will be facing a variety of opponents. For the people who prefer to go through with this form of fighting it is very important that you don’t misjudge the strengths or weaknesses of the many contestants. These competitions are one of the many ways that the attention of martial arts fans can be brought to MMA.
With the enthusiasm for MMA growing every day you can be sure that at some point in time this branch of martial arts will be as popular and well known as karate or Kung Fu.
By: Muna wa Wanjiru
About the Author:
One of these versions of MMA is called kick boxing. In kick boxing you will find that the contestants are trained to use their feet and hands. The MMA is one of the more interesting martial arts which you can look into. As it is more physical in many ways than the other martial arts you should look into the different options which are available.
As with any type of martial arts you will need to have a qualified teacher show you the intricacies of MMA. When you first decide to learn one of the MMA fighting styles it is important that you take the time that is needed to develop your style of fighting. This is an area that you should be prepared to spend quite a bit of time in.
As the main goal of MMA or that of any martial arts is to learn discipline while you are learning the intricacies of your particular fighting style you need to hone your skills. As you become more proficient in the different forms of martial arts which are needed for your style of MMA you will find that you are capable of defending yourself as well as taking the offensive when the time comes.
Now you will need to understand that even the MMA has competitions where contests from different schools of fighting can see how well they have learned their subject. These competitions are kept in the bounds of good sportsmanship. Just as these competitions foster a sense of learning there are professional grade MMA competitions.
In these tournaments you will be facing a variety of opponents. For the people who prefer to go through with this form of fighting it is very important that you don’t misjudge the strengths or weaknesses of the many contestants. These competitions are one of the many ways that the attention of martial arts fans can be brought to MMA.
With the enthusiasm for MMA growing every day you can be sure that at some point in time this branch of martial arts will be as popular and well known as karate or Kung Fu.
By: Muna wa Wanjiru
About the Author:
Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Karate for Years. For More Information on MMA, Visit His Site at MMA
What is the best mma fighting style to learn?
April 17th, 2009 by admin
I’m trying to find a gym that will teach mma but i don’t know which is best if there even is a variety. Trying to find a gym or something that will teach u how to take a hit, unlike in karate where they just teach u blocks but once u get hit everything u learned is out the door
By: Matt
About the Author:
By: Matt
About the Author: