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What is UFC, what is MMA and what are the rules?

Martin Day kicks Jaime Alvarez in their flyweight bout during Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series at the TUF Gym on August 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada - Zuffa LLC
Martin Day kicks Jaime Alvarez in their flyweight bout during Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series at the TUF Gym on August 15, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada - Zuffa LLC

The Ultimate Fighting Championship, also known as UFC, has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the US and in the last few years increasingly caught the attention of fight fans in the UK, too.

But what is it, how was it formed and what are the rules?

Here's our guide on what you need to know.

What is UFC?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is a mixed-martial arts promotion in which a series of fights take place around the world, also known as fight nights. It calls itself the "premier organisation in MMA".

Mixed martial arts, of course, is nothing new dating back more than 5,000 years.

But UFC brings together some of the world's best mixed martial artists, fighting each other at different weights with a main event taking place once a month. There are more than 40 events each year.

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When was it formed?

UFC was started in the US in 1993 and was sanctioned by Nevada Athletic Commission in 2001. 

What are the different weights?

  • Strawweight  up to 115 pounds

  • Flyweight  over 115 pounds to 125

  • Bantamweight  over 125 to 135 pounds

  • Women's Bantamweight  over 125 to 135 pounds

  • Featherweight  over 135 to 145 pounds

  • Lightweight  over 145 to 155 pounds

  • Welterweight  over 155 to 170 pounds

  • Middleweight  over 170 to 185 pounds

  • Light Heavyweight over 185 to 205 pounds

  • Heavyweight  over 205 to 265 pounds

Who are the best known fighters?

Have you heard of Conor McGregor? Well, if not you probably will have done in the next few weeks.

Otherwise, Anderson Silva is considered one of the greats in the sport's history, along with Georges St-Pierre. 

Ronda Rousey is also well known, along with Holly Holm who defeated Rousey at UFC 193.

Ronda Rousey is knocked out by Holly Holm in 2015 - Credit:  AFP/Getty Images
Ronda Rousey is knocked out by Holly Holm in 2015 Credit: AFP/Getty Images

What are the rules?

Here is a breakdown of the main rules. You can find the full rules and regs here on the UFC website.

  1. Mixed martial arts contests and exhibitions may be held in a ring or in a fenced area

  2. Bandages shall be evenly distributed across the hand and fighters must wear a mouthguard

  3. Male mixed martial artists shall wear a groin protector; female mixed martial artists shall wear a chest protector

  4. All contestants shall wear glove which are at least 4 ounces and gloves should generally next exceed 6 ounces

  5. Each championship mixed martial arts contest is to be for 5 rounds, each round no more than 5 minutes duration, with a rest period of 1 minute between each round.

  6. All bouts will be evaluated and scored by 3 judges who shall evaluate the contest from different location around the ring/fighting area. The referee may not be one of the 3 judges.

  7. Judges shall evaluate mixed martial arts techniques, such as effective striking, effective grappling, control of the ring/fighting area, effective aggressiveness and defense. Each round will be scored on a 10-point system

  8. There are 31 different types of foul - including spitting, hair pulling, kicking the head of a grounded opponent. The referee can DQ a fighter if there are a series of fouls.

How can someone win?

Here are the different types of victory:

  • Submission by 1) Physical Tap Out 2) Verbal Tap Out

  • Knockout by: 1) when Referee stops the contest (TKO) 2) when an injury as a result of a legal maneuver is sever enough to terminate a bout (TKO) 3) when contestant being rendered unconscious due strikes or kicks (KO)

  • Decision via the scorecards, including: 1) Unanimous Decision - When all three judges score the contest for the same contestant 2) Split Decision - When two judges score the contest for one contestant and one judge scores for the opponent 3) Majority Decision - When two judges score the contest for the same contestant and one judge scores a draw

  • Draws, including: 1) Unanimous Draw - When all three judges score the contest a draw 2) Majority Draw - When two judges score the contest a draw 3) Split Draw - When all three judges score differently

  • Disqulification

  • Forfeit Technical Draw

  • Technical Decision

  • No Decision