Rules of EngagementMixed Martial Arts has quickly become popular since the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993, although it has been around for much longer. This is a full contact sport that permits grappling and striking on the ground or on foot. If you have never seen a UFC fight, I highly recommend it. It is really cool that fighters from different disciplines are allowed to enter the fights. ~~ The initial purpose of MMA was to find the best unarmed combat techniques by putting fighters together from different disciplines. There was minimal concern for safety and the fighters we known to be pretty brutal. Modern MMA has more rules for protection of the fighters. I have only been to one UFC fight to see my friend fight. It is different when you go to watch someone that you know. It is kinda scary actually because they are beating the crap out of each other. He did knock out the other guy so he won but it was nerve wracking up to that point. They only wear these little leather gloves on their hands. They don't wear the head things like in boxing. His mom went to watch too and I thought I had it rough, she really had a hard time watching him get hit like that. The fighters definately do earn the respect that they get from fans and fellow fighters though. It takes a determined person to make it big in the UFC. My friend goes to extremes to make weight and isn't really unhappy doing it. He is living his dream and wouldn't want to be doing anything else. Surprisingly, it is illegal to hold the UFC fights in PA, so he goes to OH to do most of his fighting. That really is dedication. | 
