Since Dricus du Plessis made history by claiming the UFC middleweight title in 2024, mixed martial arts (MMA) has experienced a surge in popularity in South Africa.
According to reports since being signed by the UFC in 2021 Du Plessis' fights have attracted huge interest in the country, with his fight against Israel Adesanya last year attracting a whopping 307,619 viewers.
However, while some fans have quickly grasped the rules and technical moves used by fighters inside the octagon, newcomers often find it challenging to understand the sport.
With the sport making significant headway in the country, IOL Sport breaks down the sport and provides you with everything you need to know.
So, what is MMA?
According to the UFC "(MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques and skills from a mixture of other combat sports to be used in competition. The rules allow the usage of both striking and grappling techniques while standing and on the ground".
What is an Octagon?
The octagon is an eight-sided cage where all the fighting takes place. It is the equivalent of what is called the ring in the sport of boxing and wrestling.
The unified rules of MMA
Most fights are three rounds, with each lasting a total of five minutes, however, in major title fights, rounds are usually five rounds with the two extra rounds often referred to as the "championship rounds".
For example, Du Plessis' recent victory against American fighter Sean Strickland went the full five rounds.
Ways of winning
There are various ways a fighter can emerge victorious in MMA.
Knockout (KO):
A fighter is knocked unconscious due to strikes or impact.
Technical Knockout (TKO):
The referee stops the contest due to strikes or impact.
Judges' Decision
When a fight isn't concluded by submission, knockout (KO), or technical knockout (TKO), judges submit their scorecards to determine the winner by decision, similar to the process in boxing.
Du Plessis's victory was decided by the judges after he was unable to submit, knockout or get a technical knockout against Strickland.
Submission
Physical or verbal tap out by one of dozens of methods of submission. This is how Du Plessis beat Nigerian-born Adesanya in Australia last year to retain his belt.
Does anything go in MMA?
While most things are accepted in the sport, however, some things are not allowed and could result in a fighter being disqualified. These are all the things that are prohibited inside the octagon:
-Butting with head
-Eye gouging
-Biting or spitting at an opponent
-Hair pulling
-Strikes to the spine or back of the head
-Throat strikes of any kind/or grabbing the trachea
-Attacking an opponent who is under the care of a referee
-attacking an opponent during a break
-use of an abusive language
-Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh.
IOL Sport