HOUSEOFBOXING

If you’re like a lot of boxing fans, you also appreciate the nuances of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and periodically check out matches since they often contain boxing nuances and strategies.But unlike boxing, MMA has its own set of rules that govern victory in the octagon (the “ring” for those boxing fans who haven’t fully embraced the differences between the two disciplines).Sure, there’s the knockout which is called as soon as a contender becomes unconscious due to strikes. Since MMA allows ground fighting, fights are stopped to prevent further injury to unconscious fighters and this is known as a Technical Knockout (TKO).Also within this category (TKO) is referee stoppage when a fighter becomes dominant to the point where the opponent is unable to intelligently defend himself from attacks or when a fighter appears to have developed significant injuries in the referee’s view, such as a broken bone, that would prevent competitive fighting to continue.But in addition to these “knock outs” that are very akin to boxing, there is a way to achieve victory that is pure MMA and that is the submission or “tap out.” This usually occurs when one fighter has the other in a form of total domination such as a choke hold or guillotine and the opponent literally “taps” the fighter’s body or floor before losing consciousness (a fighter can also “verbally tap” should his hands be caught in the submission).But, should the match go the distance, the following six criteria are used when scoring a fight (in the order listed as priority):

1. the effort made to finish the fight via KO or submission
2. damage given to the opponent
3. standing combinations and ground control
4. takedowns and takedown defense
5. aggressiveness
6. weight (in the case that the weight difference is 22 or more pounds)

There you are a quick overview to help understand MMA and appreciate some of its likenesses to (and differences from) boxing.

Filed under: MMA