Sunday, October 6, 2024

The biggest misunderstandings: Are MMA fights just bloody beating orgies?

Martial arts usually means: full contact. This is no different with mixed martial arts. However, there are many prejudices surrounding the sport, which is booming in Germany. ntv is clearing up some of these together with an MMA professional. Anyone who watches mixed martial arts likes violence and wants to see blood in a wild brawl. That’s a very stereotypical view of the sport that doesn’t apply if you’re into MMA. Rules, tactics and ultimately skills in several martial arts play a crucial role. RTL+ will show the MMA event Oktagon 62 from Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt on October 12th from 4:30 p.m., in which Christian Eckerlin and Christian Jungwirth will contest the main fight. There are also eleven more fights, an opening ceremony and a half-time show (can be seen with a premium monthly subscription from 8.99 euros). Time to clear up some prejudices. A fight without rules? Niko Samsonidze studied social work and has been a professional MMA fighter for several years. (Photo: Oktagon) The assumption that two fighters are let loose on each other in a cage without any rules is wrong. In MMA there are actually a lot of rules. The rules already apply to the requirements for a fight. This applies to weight classes, groin guards, mouth guards and gloves weighing between four and six ounces (1 oz = approx. 28 grams). Punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes are allowed, but here too there is a framework. “There is a set of rules that aims to avoid damage to health,” explains Berlin MMA fighter Niko Samsonidze in an interview with ntv/RTL. “That’s why, for example, blows to the back of the head are forbidden because they can have long-lasting consequences.” The back of the head should be protected by a 5 centimeter wide forbidden hit zone that extends over the top of the head along the spine. In addition, no headbutts, low blows, blows to the throat or stabs in the eye of the opponent are allowed. Scratching, biting, pinching, or attacking the finger or toe joints is also prohibited. If such an action is intentional, it can result in points being deducted or disqualification. If the fight moves to the ground, the rules become stricter for knee strikes, among other things. If a fighter is in the three-point stance, i.e. three of the four limbs touch the ground, he is not allowed to attack with knee strikes to the head. Grabbing your opponent’s gloves is prohibited. Reaching into the cage fence – for example to get upright – is prohibited! Samsonidze, who will face Daniel Torres at the historic MMA event in Frankfurt, explains that even etiquette in the cage plays a role. “According to the rules, insults and disrespectful behavior are not permitted and these will also be warned or sanctioned.” Wild brawl without a plan? The image of two gladiators in an arena is often drawn as a parallel to mixed martial arts. Contrary to this image, cage fights are not about life and death. Even if the rhetoric in the run-up to many arguments may go in this direction. “If you take a closer look at the whole thing, you can see how much technology, how much training and how much tactics are behind it,” says Samsonidze. Every fighter has a plan because MMA is made up of all martial arts and many of the athletes have their origins in one or more disciplines. “Where do I have strengths, where does my opponent have weaknesses? That’s what you prepare for in training. The more you deal with the subject, the more you realize how complex the sport is,” said the featherweight fighter from Berlin.Wer lying on the ground is inferior? The fight continues on the ground: a fighter can also land hits and apply submission holds from the ground. (Photo: Oktagon) In MMA fights, the situation regularly arises in which one of the fighters ends up on the ground, lies on his back and defends himself against his opponent, who attacks him with punches. The position does not have to mean that one fighter is automatically inferior. “You are not defenseless when you are on the ground. There are also many ways to win the fight when you are down,” says Samsonidze, who himself has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Since many fighters have strengths in wrestling or BJJ, they want the action to move to the ground. Sometimes there are fighters who fall to the ground noticeably easily after a hit in order to lure the opponent into this position. Submission holds are usually the goal of a ground fighter in order to end the fight. Always a bloody battle – always dangerous? It is not uncommon for blood to flow in MMA fights, and injuries also happen. After all, it is a martial arts such as boxing, wrestling, judo or jiu-jitsu. “Long-term, serious injuries are a rarity,” says Samsonidze. “And of course there’s a black eye or a cut. But those are more superficial injuries.” MMA is a full contact sport. This is also shown by the before and after pictures of Dominic Schober after his defeat in Oberhausen. But many injuries are only superficial. (Photo: Oktagon) The referee is supposed to protect the fighters from serious injuries. He observes the body language and also the eyes of a fighter. If one of the fighters shows signs of no longer being able to defend themselves intelligently, the fight is over. The referee lifts and sometimes throws himself between the opponents and thus ends the fight. Intelligent defense means: A battered fighter protects himself from the opponent’s attacks, defends himself and tries to get out of the position he is currently in. Ultimately, MMA is also less dangerous than boxing, where the athlete gets a ten second count after a knockdown. No matter how dazed a boxer is, whether he has a concussion, he has the opportunity to continue fighting as long as he can get his guard up. In addition, many blows go to the head, whereas in MMA the entire body – with the exception of the forbidden zones already mentioned – is the target. There is also a ring doctor who also examines the fighters in certain situations. For example, at the referee’s announcement or during the break, the doctor checks what effects a cut has. If it is too deep or very close to the eye, then the fight can also be stopped here. Are MMA fighters all brutal thugs? “This is of course a prejudice that needs to be refuted. If you look at the different fighters who have trained and studied, they do not correspond to the stereotype of 100 kilo muscle guys with tattoos.” There is also not a very clear career path as an MMA professional. Due to the rather low salaries, many are dependent on marketing themselves, looking for sponsors or working a job. “That of course makes the journey a lot harder and harder,” says Samsonidze, who studied and worked as a social worker. As a result, everyone has a different background – “that of course makes the guys more diverse and exciting.” When it comes to violent confrontations on the street, professional martial artists are cautious. “I can’t speak for everyone, but the majority of fighters avoid getting into conflict situations.” On the one hand, of course, because you are aware of your abilities. On the other hand, because you don’t want to hurt yourself. “It’s also a question of ego. A martial artist doesn’t have to prove himself in a fight like this. In addition, it’s a kind of policy in many teams and gyms not to get involved in any fights.”

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Gowi Zerd
Gowi Zerd
Gowi Zerd is a dedicated sports news reporter known for his in-depth coverage of various sports events. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Gowi provides insightful analysis and up-to-date reports on both local and international sports.

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