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UFC is a niche sport. Although most of the fans will think twice before admitting the same, this is the truth.
While it has a global footprint, the number of people that know about Mixed Martial Arts are less when compared to other mainstream sports.
And due to this lack of knowledge, there are some weird questions about MMA and UFC all over the internet. Some of these questions are legitimate, and do make sense, but at the same time, there are some ridiculous questions as well.
We will be trying to address a mix of these two categories on this list, as we try to answer some of the most asked questions about UFC and MMA.
#5 What is the difference between UFC and MMA?
For regular followers of the sport, this might sound like a funny question. But the truth is - a lot of people ask this particular question on the Internet.
If you are someone who belongs to this list, then look no further for the answer.
MMA or Mixed Martial Arts is a sport. In simple words, it is a combat sport like boxing and wrestling. MMA was developed over the years by combining multiple Martial Arts including the above mentioned boxing and wrestling.
UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championship on the other hand, is a promotion or a company which organises MMA fights. Like UFC, there are many other promotions out there that hold MMA fights. Some of them are Bellator MMA, ONE Championship, RIZIN, and Brave Combat Federation.
Though there are many promotions, UFC is the most popular one, and it has a huge global footprint as well. Also, one reason why UFC and MMA are synonymous these days is because of the role UFC played in pushing MMA as a sport.
The concept of MMA was born out of the first UFC event where multiple martial arts were pitted up against each other. This idea evolved over the years, and currently stands as the MMA we see today.
#4 How can I become a UFC Fighter?
Becoming a UFC fighter is easier said than done. Whoever stumbles upon an interesting UFC fight might dream about being a fighter in the promotion. This is because of the basic instincts we have as human beings.
From our early days, fighting has been in our genes. But due to evolution and our settlement into a civilized society, the hand to hand combat turned into a sporting phenomenon rather than for survival. But our urge and love for fighting are still embedded. And this is one of the reasons why UFC is so successful today.
Coming back to the question, there are lots of fighters trying to break into the company. Some of them succeed while others end their career in smaller promotions. If you are someone who has a passionate dream about fighting in the UFC, then you should first start training in Mixed Martial Arts.
There are many gyms out there that give MMA training these days, and once you are confident about your skill, you can get some experience by competing in state level or national level amateur fights. If you end up getting a good record, and if you try hard, promotions might offer you professional fights which form the first step towards getting into the UFC.
However, as said earlier, getting into the UFC is easier said than done. It requires plenty of hard work, talent, a good professional record, and the ability to market yourself.
#3 How much do UFC fighters make?
It’s hard to give an accurate answer to this question. The amount a UFC fighter makes depends on many factors such as the popularity of the fighter, the event he or she is fighting on, and the bonuses, among others.
While the likes of Conor McGregor might make millions of dollars with a single fight, there are fighters that make only a few thousand dollars.
A few years back, the fighters used to make a huge chunk of their income through sponsorship deals which they brought into the cage. However, this changed when UFC signed an exclusive deal with Reebok, restricting fighters from wearing other sponsor logos inside the cage.
Over the years, there have been a lot of issues regarding fighter pay in the UFC, as many feel that they are underpaid. So in short, fighter salaries is a sensitive topic, and it’s hard to pin point an amount a fighter makes regularly.
#2 What moves are illegal in UFC fights?
Though UFC might look barbaric on the surface, it follows a certain rule set. Many moves which are considered to be dangerous, are banned in the promotion.
Biting, eye gouging, fish hooking, pulling of hair, intentional grabbing of competition gear, head butts, fence grabbing, stomp kicks, kicks & knees to the head of a grounded opponent, and fence grabbing are some of the moves that belong to the banned list.
Though illegal, some fighters still use eye poking and fence grabbing on certain occasions to get an upper hand despite the possibility of getting penalised. Then again, the illegal moves vary from promotion to promotion. Certain moves illegal in the UFC are allowed in other promotions such as ONE Championship.
Also, the rule set will change based on whether a fight is professional or amateur.
#1 Is UFC real?
The legitimacy of UFC is something that gets questioned every now and then. And this is mainly because of the similarities it has with professional wrestling. Professional wrestling, as we all know, is scripted, and the results are predetermined by the promoters or the scriptwriters.
But in UFC, it is a different story. Just like a boxing match, the UFC fights are also a sporting competition rather than a theatre art which is scripted.
Due to the strict rules and the proper training the fighters get, deadly injuries in the UFC are minimised. Even after all these, there have been many instances of fighters breaking bones and getting some deep cuts inside the cage.
In short, just like any other sport out there, UFC is also real, and if you have any doubts regarding this, you can try fighting someone who has trained in MMA, and see how it goes.
What do you think of the list, and what are the other questions you have about MMA and UFC? Let us know in the comments below.
