Skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing and breakdancing: four sports celebrated their Olympic debut at the last games in Paris. Although it has been announced for years, MMA is still waiting for its premiere on this stage. The next chance will come in 2028 in Los Angeles – enough time to make all fans of this martial arts very happy.
The history of MMA goes back to ancient times
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contrary to popular belief, MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is not actually a modern martial arts discipline. In fact, the history of this martial art goes back to ancient times. According to legend, the forerunner of MMA, called Pankration, was invented by the mythical Theseus when he fought the Minotaur in this way – a combination of several fighting styles without weapons. The martial art quickly established itself among the Greek people, so that it was an integral part of the Ancient Olympic Games The first documented premiere was at the 33rd Games in 648 BC, while it disappeared from the scene in 393 AD when the Games were completely banned by the Roman Emperor Theodosius.
Revolution through the emergence of UFC
At the beginning of the 1990s, this ancient martial art experienced a real revolution. This was brought about by the founding of the UFC organization, which set itself the goal of marketing the sport globally and at the same time professionalizing it. After various controversies and turbulences in the early years, the first major television contract with the US broadcaster Fox Sports was signed in 1997. This was followed by several other lucrative deals that turned the organization into a billion-dollar business.
Recent statistics indicate huge growth in all corners of the world. As of January last year, the organization had almost 600 fighters under contract worldwide, while each event attracts millions of viewers on average – the highest being UFC 229 with 2.4 million pay-per-views. Thanks to the latest TV deal with ESPN, UFC’s market share of the global MMA market reached 90%, while the entire organization is estimated to be worth around $7 billion.
Another strong proof of the ever increasing popularity is the number of UFC Betting Providerswhich is constantly growing. Providers of this type offer customers not only standard pre-match bets, but also live options, streams and numerous other attractive ways to be in the middle of the action. All of this is the result of close cooperation with the UFC, as the organization wants to reach as many people as possible.
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So what speaks against the Olympic premiere?
Given current trends, the Olympic premiere of MMA seems only logical. But this is far from just analysis and predictions on paper. The International Olympic Committee has strict rules that determine which sports can be part of the Olympics.
At this point, it is important to mention that the IOC favors amateur sport – which theoretically rules out MMA or UFC from the start. However, the organization’s board has agreed to adapt the rules to at least keep this door open.
Other reasons that speak against an Olympic premiere of MMA at this time include:
● UFC must be recognized by the IOC as the sole international organization
● Concept of fights or not enough recovery time for the fighters
● Stricter doping controls, most of which do not comply with IOC standards
● The sport must be legal in every country
Conclusion: Should we expect MMA in Los Angeles?
Despite its popularity around the world, MMA is unlikely to make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles. At this point, it is still far from meeting IOC standards, which – by all appearances – is unlikely to change in the near future. But that does not mean that the Olympic door will remain closed forever for this popular combat sport.
Climbing Olympics 2024 athletes
MMA’s Olympic Dreams: A Long-Awaited Debut?
The 2024 Paris Olympics saw the debut of four new sports: skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, and breakdancing. However, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) remains on the sidelines, awaiting its Olympic premiere. With the next opportunity arising in 2028 in Los Angeles, the question lingers: what is holding MMA back from taking the Olympic stage?
The Ancient Roots of MMA
Contrary to popular belief, MMA is not a modern martial arts discipline. Its history dates back to ancient times, with the forerunner, Pankration, emerging in Greece. This martial art, which combined various fighting styles without weapons, was an integral part of the Ancient Olympic Games. Its first documented appearance was at the 33rd Games in 648 BC, and it remained a staple until the Games were banned in 393 AD.
The UFC Revolution
The ancient martial art experienced a revolution in the 1990s with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) organization. The UFC’s goal was to globalize and professionalize the sport, overcoming early controversies and signing a major television contract with Fox Sports in 1997. This led to a series of lucrative deals, transforming the organization into a billion-dollar business. Today, the UFC has almost 600 fighters under contract worldwide, with each event attracting millions of viewers on average. The organization’s market share of the global MMA market has reached 90%, with an estimated worth of around $7 billion.
The Growing Popularity of MMA
The popularity of MMA continues to grow, with the number of UFC betting providers constantly increasing. These providers offer customers a range of services, including standard pre-match bets, live options, streams, and more. This growth is a result of the UFC’s close cooperation with these providers, aiming to reach a broader audience.
Obstacles to MMA’s Olympic Debut
Despite its growing popularity, MMA still faces obstacles in its quest for Olympic recognition. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) favors amateur sports, which theoretically rules out MMA or UFC from the start. However, the IOC has agreed to adapt its rules, keeping the door open for MMA’s inclusion.
According to GAMMA President Alexander Engelhardt, MMA must still overcome several hurdles, including the recognition of the sport by the IOC [[1]]. UFC legend Daniel Cormier explains that the movement to make MMA an Olympic sport may be doomed to fail due to the sports’ professional nature [[2]]. Furthermore, MMA’s inclusion in the Olympic Games would require a more structured and regulated format, which might be challenging to implement.
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite these challenges, MMA has made significant progress. The sport has already made its debut in the 2023 African Games, marking an important step towards Olympic recognition [[3]]. This milestone demonstrates that MMA is on the right path, and with continued efforts, it may finally take its place in the Olympic Games.
MMA’s Olympic dreams are not far-fetched, but they do face significant obstacles. As the sport continues to grow in popularity and recognition, the likelihood of its inclusion in the Olympic Games increases. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, MMA enthusiasts can only hope that their sport will finally take its rightful place on the Olympic stage.
Breakdancing #Olympics 2024 Team USA
MMA’s Olympic Dreams: A Long-Awaited Debut?
Skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, and breakdancing made their Olympic debut at the last games in Paris, leaving many to wonder when MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) will finally take the Olympic stage. With the next opportunity coming in 2028 in Los Angeles, fans of this martial art are hopeful that their sport will finally be recognized.
The Ancient Roots of MMA
Contrary to popular belief, MMA is not a modern martial arts discipline. In fact, the history of this martial art goes back to ancient times. According to legend, the forerunner of MMA, called Pankration, was invented by the mythical Theseus when he fought the Minotaur in this way – a combination of several fighting styles without weapons. The martial art quickly established itself among the Greek people, becoming an integral part of the Ancient Olympic Games. The first documented premiere was at the 33rd Games in 648 BC, while it disappeared from the scene in 393 AD when the Games were completely banned by the Roman Emperor Theodosius [[2]].
The UFC Revolution
At the beginning of the 1990s, this ancient martial art experienced a real revolution. This was brought about by the founding of the UFC organization, which set itself the goal of marketing the sport globally and at the same time professionalizing it. After various controversies and turbulences in the early years, the first major television contract with the US broadcaster Fox Sports was signed in 1997. This was followed by several other lucrative deals that turned the organization into a billion-dollar business [[3]].
The Growing Popularity of MMA
Recent statistics indicate huge growth in all corners of the world. As of January last year, the organization had almost 600 fighters under contract worldwide, while each event attracts millions of viewers on average – the highest being UFC 229 with 2.4 million pay-per-views. Thanks to the latest TV deal with ESPN, UFC’s market share of the global MMA market reached 90%, while the entire organization is estimated to be worth around $7 billion [[1]].
Obstacles to MMA’s Olympic Debut
Despite its growing popularity, there are still obstacles that stand in the way of MMA’s Olympic debut. One of the main concerns is the safety of the athletes, as MMA is a high-risk sport that involves full-contact fighting. Additionally, there are concerns about the regulation of the sport, as MMA is still not universally recognized as an Olympic sport.
**A Glimmer of
