The UFC might be the most dominant name in mixed martial arts, but this huge organization isn't the only player in MMA. There are several other important MMA organizations out there, including a few that predate the beginnings of UFC way back in 1993. Here are a few other organizations sanctioning major MMA bouts throughout the year.
Not surprisingly, one of the first true MMA organizations originated in Japan and nearly ten years prior to UFC. Shooto is an organization that promotes shoot wrestling, a fighting style that incorporates some of the same elements you would find in any MMA fighter's arsenal. Several types of wrestling, as well as Judo and Muay Thai are all part of Shoot. While it isn't wildly popular in North America, there is a USA Shooto Association, which is based in Marina del Rey, California.
Another well known Japanese MMA organization is Pancrase, as this group was founded the same year as UFC albeit a few months earlier. The group is named after what was probably the world's first MMA-type sport, Pankration, which was part of the first Olympic Games, more than 2,000 years ago. Pancrase allows both women and men to fight and among the former King of Pancrase title holders, you will find famous MMA names such as Nate Marquardt, Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock and Bas Rutten. Josh Barnett is the current Openweight champion of Pancrase.
King of the Cage has been around since 1999 and is still going strong. This California-based organization includes 10 men's division as well as a division for women's junior flyweight. Several KOTC competitors were featured on the reality series "Bully Beatdown," which aired on MTV. Among the notable fighters of KOTC was Joe Camacho, who won the Junior Welterweight Championship in 2008. Camacho died recently of a heart attack at the age of 41.
Bellator is a smaller organization with a short history, dating back only to 2008. However, this MMA organization has some solid fighters, and among its champions are fighters such as Pat Curran and Alexander Shlemenko. Tito Ortiz, who has been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, came out of retirement for a Bellator bout in 2013. However, he pulled out of the bout due to injury.
The newest organization to hit MMA is Invicta Fighting Championships, just for the ladies of MMA. Fighters include Lauren Murphy and Cristiane Justino, the latter of which is the No. 2 ranked female fighter in MMA and No. 1 ranked in her weight class. Invicta has had a few setbacks, including losing 11 of their strawweight fighters to the UFC and the exit of co-founder Janet Martin.
Not surprisingly, one of the first true MMA organizations originated in Japan and nearly ten years prior to UFC. Shooto is an organization that promotes shoot wrestling, a fighting style that incorporates some of the same elements you would find in any MMA fighter's arsenal. Several types of wrestling, as well as Judo and Muay Thai are all part of Shoot. While it isn't wildly popular in North America, there is a USA Shooto Association, which is based in Marina del Rey, California.
Another well known Japanese MMA organization is Pancrase, as this group was founded the same year as UFC albeit a few months earlier. The group is named after what was probably the world's first MMA-type sport, Pankration, which was part of the first Olympic Games, more than 2,000 years ago. Pancrase allows both women and men to fight and among the former King of Pancrase title holders, you will find famous MMA names such as Nate Marquardt, Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock and Bas Rutten. Josh Barnett is the current Openweight champion of Pancrase.
King of the Cage has been around since 1999 and is still going strong. This California-based organization includes 10 men's division as well as a division for women's junior flyweight. Several KOTC competitors were featured on the reality series "Bully Beatdown," which aired on MTV. Among the notable fighters of KOTC was Joe Camacho, who won the Junior Welterweight Championship in 2008. Camacho died recently of a heart attack at the age of 41.
Bellator is a smaller organization with a short history, dating back only to 2008. However, this MMA organization has some solid fighters, and among its champions are fighters such as Pat Curran and Alexander Shlemenko. Tito Ortiz, who has been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, came out of retirement for a Bellator bout in 2013. However, he pulled out of the bout due to injury.
The newest organization to hit MMA is Invicta Fighting Championships, just for the ladies of MMA. Fighters include Lauren Murphy and Cristiane Justino, the latter of which is the No. 2 ranked female fighter in MMA and No. 1 ranked in her weight class. Invicta has had a few setbacks, including losing 11 of their strawweight fighters to the UFC and the exit of co-founder Janet Martin.
About the Author:
Rod Bourgoine loves blogging about mixed martial arts advantages. For further information about an MMA gym in San Diego or to find San Diego jiu jitsu classes, visit The Arena MMA website now.
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