MMA Cage Fighting

Cage fighting is one of the most physically demanding and downright dangerous sports in the world and it's popularity is exploding. MMA fighters must utilize the most effective techniques from a variety of martial arts to dominate their opponent. While MMA cagefighting is no longer billed as "no holds barred" the submission and choke holds used are frightening to even watch for the uninitiated.

Mixed Martial Arts cage fighting is a unique competitive sport where two adults fight in a padded chain link cage in a style similar to street fighting. Cage fighting has relatively few rules and can be a ruthless sport. Unlike boxing, Judo or kickboxing, cage fighting has only three main rules that state; “No gouging of the eyes, no fish hook to the mouth and no fingers in orifices”. Recent additions to the rules include rules regarding elbow striking.

Cage fighters use a combination of kick boxing and wrestling techniques to strike or choke their opponent into submission or render them unable to fight. MMA is a full-contact unarmed contest various techniques from the traditional range of disciplines, which include Thai boxing, submission wrestling, Ju Jujitsu, Judo and others. While mixed martial arts fighters spend a lot of time perfecting their martial arts skills, a MMA fight often more closely resembles a street brawl than a sport.

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Cage Fights Unleased: Volume 2_ DVD

Depending on the organization holding the fight there are rules that determine the dimensions and shape of the cage or ring. For a Ultimate Fighter Championship fight the diameter of the cage is 32 feet and the cage is on a 4 foot raised platform. Typically the contestants must carry a current NFAC Fighters License or they are unable to compete more often than every 28 days. Authorized physicians must be present at each tournament and be prepared to determine a fighters ability to continue to fight. If the ring-side physician determines that the participant is not physically fit to continue the fight, he or she is not allowed to continue. Cage fighting tournaments should have at least two registered EMTs or paramedics to provide emergency first aid and trauma equipment as well as an ambulance. In most cases a nearby hospital is notified about the fight well in advance.

MMA fighters are only allowed following items in their corner:

• Adrenaline – 1:1000 solution Usage: Applied topically to staunch blood flow from cuts
• Petroleum jelly
Usage: Put on cuts and areas of impact to make the skin more elastic and slippery, thus making the skin less likely to tear • Bottled water, bottle to be made of plastic
• Water spray bottle
• Sponge
• Ice bag
• Pair of round-tipped surgical scissors
• Metal plate to reduce swelling

Usage: Traditionally kept on ice and is pressed on bruises and cuts to reduce swelling and stop bleeding. • Towel
Referees use only three commands. These commands are; “Stop” to stop a contestant from fighting, “Fight” to start the fight or to resume it and “Action” to order a contestant to remind fighters to stop stalling.