Mixed Martial Arts—full-contact combat sport
Adopting several techniques from the worlds of martial arts and combat sports, MMA has grown massively in popularity since the turn of the century. You can both buy and sell Mixed Martial Arts tickets on StubHub.
Grappling and striking
Known also as cage fighting, mixed martial arts is a combination of grappling and striking that has become one of the world’s most popular full-contact combat sports. It originated in the early 20th century when Japan staged contests in which fighters engaged in multiple disciplines, and then went on to take various forms across the globe, most notably the 1976 bout between wrestler Antonio Inoki and boxer Muhammad Ali. The first regulated MMA competition in North America, the Tough Guy Contest, made its debut four years later. But the sport only truly took off in the western world when the no holds barred UFC—Ultimate Fighting Championship came onto the scene in the mid-1990s. Royce Gracie, a jiu-jitsu fighter who famously defeated three competitors in five minutes, was credited with kickstarting its success and the competition has only gotten stronger since. The increased exposure on pay-per-view channels has also seen it rival the likes of professional wrestling and boxing, with the 2006 rematch between ex-light-heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and reigning champion Chuck Liddell considered a particular milestone. If you haven’t yet experienced the thrills and spills of the sport, then take a look at the range of Mixed Martial Arts tickets available on StubHub.
From Conor McGregor to Ronda Rousey
The Ultimate Fighting Championship isn’t the only major MMA organization. Russia’s Absolute Championship Berkut, Singapore’s ONE Championship and Tokyo’s Rizin Fighting Federation all have millions of fans across the world and there are new promotions popping up every year, with India’s Kumite 1 League joining the fray in 2018. Whatever the competition, fans can always look forward to seeing a multitude of styles on display ranging from standup disciplines, such as boxing, Muay Thai and karate; clinches, including judo, freestyle wrestling, wushu and sanshou; and ground moves, from the likes of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, sambo and luta livre. Boxing champion Conor McGregor, WWE star Brock Lesnar and Hollywood favourite Ronda Rousey are just a few of the major names who have competed in the world of mixed martial arts. Check out the various Mixed Martial Arts tickets on offer at StubHub.
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