Martial Arts History
What Happens When A Fighter Gets Knocked Out?
In combat sports such as boxing or MMA, knockouts are fairly common, and are often applauded by appreciative fans. And while you may know that a knockout results in a loss of consciousness, you may be wondering more about the details regarding a fighter getting knocked out. So what exactly happens when a fighter gets knocked out? In short, when a fighter gets knocked out, a part of the brain known as the Reticular Activating System is disrupted, as this part of the brain is susceptible to rotational forces. The Reticular Activating System is responsible for maintaining one’s consciousness, and…
Do UFC Fighters Get To Keep Their Belts?
Every time a UFC fighter wins a championship fight, we see them get a belt wrapped around their waist inside the Octagon. However, there has been speculation surrounding whether or not fighters actually get to keep this belt, or if they simply hold on to one belt after each defense never getting a new one. So in this post, I’m going to explain exactly how the belt system works in the UFC. Do UFC fighters get to keep their championship belts? In short, yes, former UFC champions get to keep their old belts. With the original UFC belt, fighters competed…
How Long Do UFC Fighters Train For A Fight?
As you probably know, fighters tend to have a set period of time that is reserved for serious preparation before an upcoming fight, typically known as their “training camp”. This camp usually starts when the fight contract is signed, as the fighter then knows who their opponent will be. But how long does a UFC fighter’s training camp usually last? How long do UFC fighters train before a fight? UFC fighters typically train seriously for about 8 to 12 weeks before a scheduled fight, as this is usually when the fight agreement is signed. However, a fighter’s camp can be…
Why Do Boxers and MMA Fighters Wear Gloves?
With the rising popularity of MMA, there are many people becoming new fans of the sport. You may be one of them yourself, and probably have some questions about MMA competition. While watching fights, you may wonder why MMA fighters don’t just fight bare-fisted, instead of wearing gloves. Well in this post I will answer just that: Why do MMA fighters wear gloves? MMA fighters and Boxers wear gloves during competition primarily to protect their hands, and prevent cuts on the face. The bones of the hands are very fragile, and can easily break when throwing hard punches, even with…
What is a Traditional Martial Art?
If you’ve been involved in martial arts in some way since the inception of the UFC, then you’ve probably heard the argument of mixed martial arts versus traditional martial arts. But you may also wonder, what exactly is a traditional martial art? Is there really any criteria that defines a martial art as traditional? In this post, I am going to address the most popular martial arts that are widely regarded as traditional, and what aspects of them decide whether they are traditional or not. In short, a traditional martial art is any form of combat that teaches much more…
The 5 Most Famous UFC Referees
In any type of combat sport (or any sport) the referees play a big role. They are the officiator, and the outcome of a match could potentially lie in their final decision. In the UFC, the referees are under much more pressure. A decision made a few seconds to late or too early, can quickly lead to an angry mob of fans calling for the referee to be fired. Perhaps not enough respect is shown to the colloquial “third man inside the Octagon”. And for that reason, this one goes out to the referees. Today, I’m going to be ranking…
Why Do UFC Fighters Touch Gloves?
Touching gloves is a pretty well-known tradition in both boxing and MMA. In MMA, it is also commonly done by the fighters once the fight starts, despite the fact that they usually do it right before, when the ref is giving instructions. So why do UFC fighters touch gloves? UFC fighters touch gloves as a sign of respect and sportsmanship. For most fighters, a glove touch is also a way to communicate that any part of the buildup to the fight was simply said in jest, and that there is mutual respect between them at the end of the day.…
Why Do UFC Fighters Keep Punching After A Knockdown?
To the average person, MMA seems like a brutal, uncivilized, and unnecessary sport. In particular, there are a few parts of MMA that make it seem more brutal than it needs to be. One of those things is ground fighting. In other words, that the fight continues even if your opponent is on the ground, knocked out. So why is this part of the sport? Why do fighters keep punching after a knockdown? In short, UFC fighters keep punching after their opponent is knocked down because they cannot know if their opponent is knocked out or not in the heat…
What Are The Basic Rules Of UFC?
As a spectator on the outside looking in, MMA looks a lot like a street fight, with no rules or limitations. And yet, this is far from the truth. Since the beginning, the UFC has always had rules, despite how unregulated the sport may seem. In this post, I’m going to cover the basic and most important rules that all MMA fighters must follow. What are the basic rules of the UFC? Here’s a list of the most important rules/fouls according to the Unified Rules of MMA. Committing one of these will result in a warning, point deduction, or disqualification:…
Why Do UFC Fighters Get Frisked?
So if you’ve ever seen a UFC fighter walkout to the cage, you’ll notice that something happens right before they walk in. They get frisked/patted down by the referee. As a newer fan, you may be left questioning the reason behind this. So why do UFC fighters get frisked? In short, UFC fighters get frisked by the referee to ensure that the fighter does not have any foreign objects or illegal weapons that are hidden on their person. During this time, the ref will also check the fighter’s nails for length, and ensure that they have their mouthpiece and groin…