Despite some obvious differences -- such as the fact that you're allowed to hit your opponent in MMA competition -- intramural wrestling and mixed martial arts share many similarities. In fact, many MMA champions, like Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture, got their start in wrestling.
Combat Sport
Both wrestling and mixed martial arts are combat sports, meaning that the crux of competition is scoring points by physically forcing your will on an opponent according to the specific rules of the sport. For safety reasons, combat sports always are a contest between two people, although competitions might have the result of a single contest go toward an overall team score. Other combat sports include boxing, pankration and point sparring.
Weight Classes
Between two wrestlers or MMA fighters of equal skill, the larger and stronger fighter is likely to win. For this reason, both wrestling and mixed martial arts divide fighters into weight classes. To be eligible for a fight, both contestants must weigh less than a given amount by a set time prior to the match. If a fighter is over that weight, he forfeits. Competitive athletes in both sports will "cut weight" to reduce how much they weigh in order to get a competitive advantage.
Grappling Focus
Wrestling consists entirely of grappling, with no striking or boxing as part of the sport. Mixed martial arts does permit striking techniques, but its history derives from ground fighting and grappling. In both cases, a fighter must have strong grappling skills in order to be successful. However, the rules and goals of the grappling in both sports are quite different. A wrestler beginning a career in MMA will need to relearn some reflexes.
Sudden Death
The "fall" is an aspect of both wrestling and MMA competition. In both sports, one athlete can end the match and win immediately if he fulfills a specific victory condition. In wrestling, that condition is a pin: holding your opponent on his back for three consecutive seconds. In MMA, it's a submission: putting your opponent in a hold so dangerous that he "taps out," signaling surrender. This aspect makes competition more exciting, since even a player who is hopelessly behind on points still has a chance to win the match.
References
- Andy Brick; Wrestling Coach; Hillsboro, Oregon
- NCAA Wrestling Rules
- MMA Unified Rules
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