Is MMA And UFC The Same Thing?

A lot of people seem to use the terms MMA and UFC interchangeably. For some, this can cause a small amount of confusion. So, the question that we want to answer on this article is; are they the same thing? Can MMA and UFC be used as interchangeable terms when discussion sport?

The answer is, NO. They are not the same thing. MMA is the name of the sport, while UFC is one of the many promoters for the sport, albeit one of the top promoters. This means that people that competing in the UFC are practicing MMA, but the UFC is not the only place where this sport is played.

Of course, this doesn’t tell you everything that you need to know. We want to answer this question in a little bit depth for you.

That way, you will have a solid idea about the difference between MMA and UFC, and the areas where they overlap. Hopefully, this will make you a little bit more well-versed in the world of this fairly new sport (in comparison to other sporting events)

Is MMA and UFC the Same Thing?

MMA and UFC are different…sort of. While MMA can exist without the UFC, the UFC cannot exist without MMA. Let us explain what we mean.

Mixed Martial Arts, or MMA for short, is the name of the sport.

Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC for short, is the name of one of the many promoters and competitions for that sport.

Basically, MMA is the sport that UFC promotes. However, MMA can operate outside of the remits of the UFC. Perhaps the best way to think of it is like Football and the NFL. The NFL is merely one of many leagues for Football in the United States, albeit one of the most popular of leagues.

We know that a lot of people will use the term ‘UFC’ as a ‘catch-all’ phrase for MMA, but it really isn’t the case. If somebody competes in Bellator, for instance, they are still practicing the sport of MMA, but they are not related to UFC in the slightest. They probably wouldn’t be too happy if you called them a UFC fighter!

Did UFC Invent MMA?

No. However, it is likely that the term ‘MMA’ was first used in relation to the UFC. During the first ever UFC event, the commentary team referred to the sport as Mixed Martial Arts. Before that, the sport didn’t really have a name beyond ‘cage fighting’. In fact, the sport was pretty much just people using a variety of fighting styles in competition, and a lot of this was carried out in fairgrounds around the country. It was never really seen as a serious sport.

UFC certainly did its part in bringing the sport of MMA to the fore. This is a sport that has been practiced for centuries, though. It is believed that the first modern MMA bouts took place in the 1920 and the sport gradually evolved from there. It certainly didn’t gain the popularity that it had until 1993 when the UFC ran their very first event, though.

While the UFC did not invent MMA, it is safe to say that the sport would not have gained the popularity that it enjoys today without the UFC heavily promoting it.

The one area where it could be reasonably argued that the UFC ‘invented’ the sport is the fact that there wasn’t really any defined rules until this company decided to really push the sport. As a result, they had a hand in writing the rules that are used in competitions around the world. This means that the sport that we know and love today is due to the work that the UFC put into the sport.

Can You Compete in MMA Without the UFC?

UFC is the level that MMA fighters aspire to be competing at, much in the same way that ice-hockey players will dream of competing in the NHL.Of course, you can play ice-hockey without playing in the NHL.

So, yes. You can practice MMA without being associated with the UFC at all. In fact, there are several smaller MMA promotions scattered around the world. You do not even have to be a member of one of these promotions. There are more than enough classes where the sport can be practiced.

You do have to remember that in certain locations, you cannot properly compete in MMA unless the event is sanctioned. This is to, basically, ensure that the fighters are capable of fighting in the match and that the rules are followed. However, even then, you do not have to be part of a promotion. You just have to be a member of a gym that offers sanctioned fights.

What Does it Take to Compete in the UFC?

Only a small fraction of the people that have ever competed in MMA will have the opportunity to fight in the UFC. You have to remember that this is the premier competition for the sport. Only the very best in the world can compete here, and only a few dozen people are ever going to be promoted by the UFC at any one time.

Oddly enough, UFC does provide a path for amateurs to join the league. Unlike other sports, you do not have to hope and pray that you are lucky enough to be scouted. The UFC does offer regular smaller events where people can show off their skills in the hope of being signed to the promotion.

That being said, the competition is still going to be stiff. Unless you are at the absolute peak of fitness and know several different martial arts, then you stand no chance of competing in the UFC. Thankfully, this does not preclude you from competing in MMA. You just have to play the sport at the lower end of things.

Are There MMA Promotions That Aren’t the UFC?

There are a variety of MMA promotions scattered throughout the world. Many of these will use the same rules that the MMA follows. This is the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. This means that many of the worldwide MMA promotions you see will vary very little outside of the fighters that they promote, and the amount of entertainment they try to inject into their shows.

In the United States, the second top MMA promotion is Bellator. This company, formed in 2008, is very similar to the UFC in the way they promote the sport. In fact, many of the fighters for Bellator are ex-MMA fighters. The main difference between the two is that Bellator will often have shorter rounds. Fighters will also be competing in an oval ring, as opposed to an octagonal ring.

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Final Thoughts

While MMA and UFC are closely linked, and it is fair to say that MMA wouldn’t have the popularity that enjoys without the UFC, they are distinct from one another. MMA is a sport, and UFC is one of several competitions that promotes that sport. This means that people that practice MMA are not necessarily UFC fighters. That is something that is only reserved for the absolute best fighters in the world.