Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA, and wrestling do have some surface differences, most notably the fact that MMA fighters are allowed to punch and kick their opponents. However, the similarities between the two far outstrip the differences. Historically, the grappling art most common in MMA -- jujutsu -- was originally called "Japanese wrestling" in the west.
Combat Sports
Both wrestling and mixed martial arts are combat sports. Neither use a ball, racquet, net or goal. Play involves one athlete scoring points by using physical force on another. In MMA, that force uses just grappling and striking. For wrestlers, the rules allow only grappling techniques.
Individual Sports
With the exception of staged "tag team" and "battle royal" matches in scripted professional wrestling, both wrestling and MMA competition happen between two opponents contesting against each other only. During a match, either athlete has only himself to credit or blame for his level of success. One notable difference in play is that a wrestler's ultimate performance scores points toward an overall team total. MMA competition affects only the individual athlete directly, although the reputation from that match might help or harm his coach and gym.
Grappling Elements
Grappling in MMA follows different rules and conventions than wrestling, but both arts share some basic techniques. Because lying on your back is actually advantageous to a mixed martial arts fighter, most of these common moves are takedowns and defenses against takedowns. Some commonly used examples include double- and single-leg takedowns, fireman's throw, sprawl and crossface defense.
Weight Classes
Between two fighters of similar skill, in both MMA and wrestling, the larger fighter will win. For this reason, both sports separate athletes by weight to encourage safety and fair play. Different fight conferences set different limits for weight classes - which generally go up in increments around 5 to 10 percent of body weight. If a fighter weighs over the limit for his class during "weigh-in", typically 12 to 24 hours before the contest, he is disqualified from play.
Falls
One element that adds drama to both wrestling and MMA is the possibility of a "fall" - an event that ends the match immediately and awards victory to one fighter, even if he was trailing by points at the time. In wrestling, a fall is a pin: holding an opponent on his back for three consecutive seconds. In MMA, either a submission hold or knockout can constitute a fall. Both sports also provide rules for a technical fall, a situation where a true fall hasn't happened, but the match is clearly too one-sided to continue.
References
- Ringside by Gus: Rules of MMA
- NCAA Wrestling Rules
- Andy Brick; Wrestling Coach; Hillsboro, Oregon
- Dave Coffman; Martial Arts Instructor; Hillsboro, Oregon
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