Mixed martial arts in Australia explained

Union:International Mixed Martial Arts Federation of Australia[1]
Country:Australia
Match:UFC 243, 57,127, 6 October 2019, Marvel Stadium[2]

Mixed martial arts (MMA) has developed in Australia from a wide cross-section of sporting and martial arts disciplines to become the most popular combat sport in the country.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

History

The influence traditional martial arts, Olympic wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu have shaped MMA in Australia, along with the combat sports of Boxing and Kickboxing/Muay Thai.

Between 1905–1914, Australian's witnessed a prizefighting novelty called "All-in" which started with "jiu jitsu" demonstrations and developed into a no-holds barred fighting phenomenon.[8] One of the most notable participants was Sam McVea, an African-American heavyweight boxing champion who would participate in a highly publicised "all-in" fight in Lismore, Australia, against 'Prof.' Stevenson in 1913.[9]

However, the early hybrid didn't last and during most of the 20th century traditional martial arts schools and striking based gyms existed apart as with Amateur wrestling in Australia.[10] Traditional martial arts in general are well attended and feature in the top ten organised sports for children, for both males and females, in Australia.[11]

In the 1990s the three grappling disciplines of BJJ, amateur wrestling and Catch wrestling provided the base for the modern sport.[12] Mixed Martial Arts, in its recognized and regulated form, came to Australia via the Ultimate Fighting Championship's emergence in 1993, but was predated by Vale tudo in Brasil and Shoot wrestling in Japan. MMA gained an underground following through video and bootleg copies of UFC events in the mid 1990s.

The explosion of BJJ globally, through Gracie BJJ schools, was assisted by the success of Royce Gracie at UFC 1-4, but BJJ was first introduced into Australia by John Will in 1989.[13] Initially dedicated Australian practitioners travelled overseas to gain their belts and returned to start schools. Mixed Martial Arts training and gyms began to evolve.

The long history of boxing and the more recent variant of kickboxing/Muay Thai in Australia provided a large injection of fighters with a striking base. The sport of MMA has been described as the fastest growing sport in the twenty first century.[14]

Sanctioning

States and territories of Australia there are different sanctioning bodies and rules. Sanctioning bodies include: Combat Sports Authority (NSW),[15] Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board (VC) and Combat Sports Commission of Western Australia (WA).[16]

Notable fighters (1990s to present)

Promotions

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Local MMA Promotions

Past

Amateur MMA Organizations

Some may have one or two pro fights but their focus is on AMMY.

Reality television

Media outlets

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IMMAFA. Immafa.org.au.
  2. Web site: Australian Sports Attendance Records - Austadiums. Austadiums.com.
  3. Web site: Mixed Martial Arts goes mainstream: ninemsn launches MMA Kanvas . Mi9.com.au . 2013-02-01 . 2014-02-11.
  4. Web site: Why Mixed Martial Arts has superseded Boxing in Australia . The Roar . 2011-03-02 . 2014-02-11.
  5. Web site: Cage fighting becoming the new 'blood sport' - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) . Abc.net.au . 2014-02-11.
  6. Web site: Robyn Preston . Perth not willing to bring in the bucks through mixed martial arts . Watoday.com.au . 2013-02-20 . 2014-02-11.
  7. Web site: Gangs Drawn to Unregulated Mixed Martial Arts Scene . Theaustralian.com.au . 2014-02-11.
  8. Web site: The Martial Chronicles: Jiu-Jitsu Conquers Australia . Cageside Seats . 2014-02-11.
  9. Web site: The Martial Chronicles: All-In Down Under With Sam McVea . Cageside Seats . 2014-02-11.
  10. Web site: Australian Olympic Committee: Wrestling . Corporate.olympics.com.au . 2014-02-11.
  11. Web site: 1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2012. Abs.gov.au.
  12. Web site: The Fighter. Australianmmaassociation.com.
  13. Web site: BJJ Australia » Will / Machado BJJ Australasia . Bjj.com.au . 2014-02-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140128182620/http://www.bjj.com.au/main//?page_id=41 . 2014-01-28 . dead .
  14. Web site: 'World's Fastest Growing Sport' — Fact or Hype? . Cagepotato.com . 2014-02-11.
  15. Web site: Combat Sports Authority Office of Sport. Combatsports.nsw.gov.au. en. 2017-12-05.
  16. Web site: Combat Sports Commission. Dsr.wa.gov.au. en. 2017-12-05.
  17. News: UFC returns to New Zealand in June for UFC Fight Night 110 in Auckland. 2017-03-05. MMAjunkie. 2017-12-05. en-US.
  18. Web site: UFC 127 Main Card Confirmed For Australia MMAWeekly.com. www.mmaweekly.com. en-US. 2017-12-05.
  19. News: UFC returns to Australia with Alves vs Kampmann. 2011-12-15. The Roar. 2017-12-05. en-US.
  20. News: UFC Gold Coast show set for Dec 15. 2017-12-05. en.
  21. News: Mark Hunt vs. Antonio Silva targeted for UFC's December return to Australia. 2013-09-04. MMAjunkie. 2017-12-05. en-US.
  22. News: UFC Returns to Sydney on Nov. 8 for UFC Fight Night 55. Combat Press. 2017-12-05. en-US.
  23. News: UFC: Hunt to meet Miocic in Adelaide. Richardson. Daniel. 2015-02-17. NZ Herald. 2017-12-05. en-NZ. 1170-0777.
  24. News: Melbourne's Etihad Stadium set to host UFC 193. MMA Fighting. 2017-12-05.
  25. News: UFC returning to Australia for UFC Fight Night 84 in Brisbane on March 19. 2015-11-15. MMAjunkie. 2017-12-05. en-US.
  26. News: Luke Rockhold and 'Jacare' Souza set to rematch at UFC Fight Night 101. 2016-09-12. MMAjunkie. 2017-12-05. en-US.
  27. News: UFC finally returning to Sydney. 2017-12-05. en.
  28. News: Western Australia gets its first UFC event with February pay-per-view card. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2017-10-31. 2017-10-31.
  29. News: UFC announces return to Adelaide for fight night event on December 2. Ben Harvy. 2018-07-08. 2018-07-08. news.com.au.
  30. News: UFC announces 2019 first quarter schedule: ESPN debut Jan. 19 in Brooklyn. mmajunkie.com. Staff. 2018-11-04. 2018-11-04.
  31. Web site: Record crowd expected for Aussie UFC blockbuster. 2019-07-23. dailytelegraph.com.au. Nick Walshaw. 2019-07-23.
  32. Web site: 2022-10-07 . Report: UFC 284 set for Australia return in Perth in February . 2024-10-21 . MMA Junkie . en-US.
  33. Web site: UFC 293 heads to Sydney, Australia as first event of new four-year New South Wales deal. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2023-05-17. 2023-05-17.
  34. Web site: UFC announces multiyear deal for twice-annual events in Perth starting with UFC 305. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun. 2024-03-28. 2024-03-28.
  35. Web site: UFC 312 officially announced for Syndey. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2024-10-16. 2024-10-16.
  36. Web site: Cage Fighting Championship (Australia) Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more. Sherdog.
  37. Web site: Xtreme MMA (Australia) Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more. Sherdog.
  38. News: TUF Smashes finals, Pearson vs. Sotiropoulos targeted for UFC on FX 6 on Dec. 14 in Australia. MMAmania.com. 2017-12-05.
  39. News: Wimp 2 Warrior Invades North America. 2014-03-01. Wombat Sports. 2017-12-05. en-US.
  40. News: 'TUF: Nations' to air Wednesdays on FOX Sports 1, debuts Jan. 15. 2013-12-01. MMAjunkie. 2017-12-05. en-US.

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