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. RTL will show the MMA event Oktagon 78 in Cologne’s Lanxess Arena on October 18th at 10:45 p.m. in which Christian Eckerlin and Alina Dalaslan will fight the main fights. Time to clear up the prejudices
MMA: Beating without rules?
The fact that in MMA 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 class, groin guard, mouth guard and gloves. Punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes are allowed, but here too there is a framework.
Hits on the back of the head are prohibited. This area should be protected by a five 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 joints of the fingers or toes is also prohibited. If such an action appears to be intentional, it can result in points being deducted or disqualification.
Saturday, 5:15 p.m.: OKTAGON 78: “Round Zero” from Cologne live RTL+*
Saturday, 10:45 p.m.: OKTAGON 78: with Eckerlin, Vosgröne, Dalaslan from Cologne, among others, live on RTL and on RTL+*
If the fight moves to the ground, the rules become stricter, including knee strikes. Once a fighter has his forearm on the ground, knee strikes or kicks to the head are prohibited. Grabbing your opponent’s gloves or the cage fence is also prohibited! There is even cage etiquette. Insults and disrespectful behavior can be sanctioned by the referee with a point deduction.
Whoever is on the ground is inferior?
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. Since many fighters have strengths in wrestling or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, they want the action to move to the ground. There, submission holds are usually the goal of a ground fighter in order to end the fight.
MMA 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 rather rare. 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.
Video: Vosgröne suddenly hangs on Raab’s leg
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 broken off here.
MMA fighters are all brutal thugs?
Many fighters don’t fit the stereotype of 100-pound 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.
When it comes to violent confrontations on the street, professional martial artists are cautious. The majority of fighters avoid getting into conflict situations. On the one hand, of course, because they are aware of their abilities. On the other hand, because you don’t want to hurt yourself. This is a question of ego. A martial artist doesn’t have to prove himself in such a fight. In many teams and gyms it is a kind of policy not to get involved in any fights.