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Mixed Martial Arts In Australia
Mixed martial arts (MMA) has developed in Australia from a wide cross-section of sporting and martial arts disciplines to become the most popular combat sport in Australia. History The influence traditional martial arts, Olympic wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu have shaped MMA in Australia, along with the combat sports of Boxing and Kickboxing/Muay Thai. Between 1905-1914, Australian's witnessed a prizefighting novelty called "All-in" which started with "jiu jitsu" demonstrations and developed into a no-holds barred fighting phenomenon. One of the most notable participants was Sam McVea, an African-American heavyweight boxing champion who would participate in a highly publicised "all-in" fight in Lismore, Australia, against 'Prof.' Stevenson in 1913. However, the early hybrid didn't last and during most of the 20th century traditional martial arts schools and striking based gyms existed apart as with Amateur wrestling in Australia. Traditional martial arts in general are well at ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
International Mixed Martial Arts Federation
The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) was founded on 29 February 2012 as the international governing body for amateur Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Registered as a non-profit organisation under Swedish law, IMMAF serves as a democratic hub for national MMA federations and supports the growth of regulation and sport safety globally by aiding countries in the formation of federations where none exist. IMMAF launched with support of market leader, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The UFC is among promotions sanctioned by federations under the IMMAF umbrella in countries that include Brazil and Sweden. After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine the IMMAF suspended the memberships of the Russian MMA Union and the Federation of Hand-to-Hand Fighting & MMA of Belarus. It barred the Russian and Belarusian federations from participating in all IMMAF Championships, and banned the organisation of IMMAF events in Russia and Belarus. Amateur vs. professional level ath ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Will (fighter)
John Will (born ) is a notable martial artist from Australia. Will won the ''Best Exponent Award'' in the first World Silat Championships held in Jakarta in 1981. Will also completed his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Rigan Machado and Jean Jacques Machado in 1998, making him one of the first twelve foreign nationals to have earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Martial artist Will's background includes training in amateur wrestling, Goju Kai Karate and Taekwondo, training with Benny Urquidez, Gene LeBell, Pete Cunningham, Rorion Gracie and Rickson Gracie and the Machado brothers and teaching Shootfighting. During a trip to India, Will trained in the art of Vajra Mushti under the Jyesthimalla clan in Gujarat, India. Will is also credited with publishing a rare first-hand account of the ancient Indian martial art in western media. Will is noted for taking several overseas martial arts training trips each year, and has been doing so since 1975; including trai ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jake Matthews (fighter)
Jake Aaron Matthews (born 19 August 1994) is an Australian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship's Welterweight division. Background Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Matthews played Australian football for nine years in his youth, representing Northern Knights for a season. To keep fit in the offseason, began training in mixed martial arts out of a shed in the backyard of his parents' house, sparring with his younger brother and being coached by his father. Mixed martial arts career Early career Matthews made his professional mixed martial arts debut at the age of 18 in September 2012 competing for regional promotions in the Greater Melbourne area where he compiled a record of 7–0 prior to joining the UFC. The Ultimate Fighter: Nations In December 2013, it was announced that Matthews would be a cast member on '' The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia'', representing Australia at welterweight. Matthews went on to l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Sotiropoulos
George Sotiropoulos (born 9 July 1977) is an Australian born retired mixed martial artist of Greek descent who previously fought in the UFC in their Lightweight division. He is well known for appearing as a fighter on the TV show '' The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra'', fighting on Team Serra and as the coach for Team Australia on The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes. Mixed martial arts career Background Sotiropoulos began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 1997 at the age of 19, and was promoted to black belt in 2004. In 2003 and 2007, he represented Australia in the Submission Wrestling World Championships. Sotiropoulos has also competed in amateur boxing, and in 2004, won a Victorian State Amateur Boxing Championship. Prior to his MMA career in the UFC, Sotiropoulos trained with veteran UFC and PRIDE fighter Enson Inoue. The two met during a winning bout Sotiropoulos had with Sergio Lourenço in Guam. He has remained affiliated with Enson Inoue's Purebred gyms ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elvis Sinosic
Elvis Sinosic (born 13 February 1971) is a retired Australian professional mixed martial artist and unsuccessful Political Candidate for United Australia in Blaxland. Sinosic is perhaps best known for his seven-fight stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he ultimately accumulated a 1-6 record, and fought for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Sinosic also competed in the Cage Rage Championships, K-1, and Pancrase. Biography Sinosic was born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, to Croatian immigrant parents, and now resides in Sydney, New South Wales. He currently runs Sinosic Perosh Martial Arts SPMA with business and training partner Anthony Perosh. Having trained in various arts for over 40 years dating back to his early twenties, Sinosic was exposed to a myriad of art forms including: Wrestling, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Kali, Silat, Muay Thai, Capoeira, Kickboxing, Judo, Shootfighting, Jiu-Jitsu. Elvis worked on the Fox Sports A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dan Kelly (fighter)
Daniel Thomas Kelly (born 31 October 1977 in Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian former judoka and mixed martial artist. Known for his unconventional style, the four-time judo Olympian formerly competed in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) between 2014 and 2018. Background and judo career Kelly began competing in judo when he was 7 and competed at his first Australian Championships when he was 13. He made the junior national team in 1994 where he competed at the Junior World Championships and went on to make the senior national team two years later. Kelly has been Australian Champion on nine occasions. Kelly is the only Judo competitor to have been selected to fight for Australia in four different Olympic games. He most recently competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the -100 kg event. He was the Judo coach for the Australian team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Japan Olympics. Mixed martial arts career Early career Kelly ma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Damien Brown (fighter)
Damien Brown (born 25 December 1984) is an Australian mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. A professional since 2010, he has also competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Rizin FF, BRACE, and Cage Warriors. Background Brown was born in Albury, New South Wales, Australia. He is a full-time prison officer and a veteran of the Australian Army, serving as an infantry soldier, who was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007. He credits MMA training helping him to recover his post-traumatic stress and depression from his active service in the war zone. He would like to be the role model for the war veterans who suffer from PTSD, showing them the hopes and using the cage as the platform to advocate greater support for war veterans which they much deserved. Brown started Zen Do Kai martial arts training when he was a kid. After return from military service from Afghanistan with some injuries, Brown joined a local Kickboxing school as part of the rehab progr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chris Haseman
Chris Haseman (born 2 June 1969 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australian mixed martial artist. Haseman is currently signed with Fighting Network RINGS and is a longtime veteran of the promotion (1995–2012). Regarded as a pioneer of MMA in Australia he competed in Australia's first MMA show along with events such as the UFC and the World Fighting Alliance. Biography Fighting Network RINGS Coming from a background in karate, amateur wrestling and Japanese jujutsu, Haseman was signed up by RINGS as the head of their Australian branch. He had his debut in mixed martial arts outside the promotion, however, fighting vale tudo exponent Murilo Bustamante in Martial Arts Reality Superfighting. Although he lost by strikes in little more than a minute, his next bouts were more successful; taking part in Australia's Caged Combat 1 tournament, Haseman submitted two consecutive opponents by taking them down and ramming his chin into their eye sockets, and it took another vale tudo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bec Rawlings
Rebecca Anne Rawlings (born 11 February 1989) is an Australian mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer, who currently competes in the flyweight division. She was ranked as a contender strawweight (106-115 lb) fighter according to the Unified Women's Mixed Martial Arts Rankings. Background Rawlings was raised in Tasmania, and frequently played sports such as basketball, gymnastics and athletics during her pre-teens. As a teenager, however, Rawlings experienced rapid weight gain and suffered from a lack of motivation before turning to the sport of mixed martial arts as a way to battle her issues in 2010. This is where she met Australian professional MMA fighter Dan Hyatt, and decided that she wanted to become an MMA fighter. Mixed martial arts career Australian competition Known for her aggressive fighting style, Rawlings began her mixed martial arts journey in Launceston, Tasmania in 2010 before relocating to Brisbane, Australia to further her opportunities and exper ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ashkan Mokhtarian
Ashkan Mokhtarian ( fa, اشکان مختاریان, born 18 September 1985 Tehran, Iran), is an Iranian-born Australian mixed martial artist formerly competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Mokhtarian's parents fled Iran during the Iran–Iraq War in 1985 and came to Australia as refugees. When Mokhtarian and his younger brother Suman were young, their parents divorced. Ashkan got involved with drugs and alcohol during his teenage years and decided to become a professional MMA fighter after watching the sport on TV. Ashkan and Suman Mokhtarian are founders of the Australian Top Team located in Wentworthville, NSW although there is no affiliation or association with the American Top Team. Mixed martial arts career Early career Mokhtarian began training in BJJ and later in kickboxing. He won the Australia Eternal Bantamweight Title in April 2016. Ultimate Fighting Championship Mokhtarian signed with UFC in March 2017. He made his promotional debut ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) is an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 and based in Santa Monica, California, owned and operated as a subsidiary of television and media conglomerate Paramount Global. It is the second largest in the United States and one of the largest combat sports, combat sport promotions in the world. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor'', the Latin word for "warrior". Bellator's first event was held in 2009, and the promotion had since held over 200 "numbered" events as of December 2019. The promotion features talents such as Vadim Nemkov, Kyoji Horiguchi, Yoel Romero, Yaroslav Amosov, Patrício Pitbull, Cris Cyborg, A. J. McKee, Michael Page, Douglas Lima, Usman Nurmagomedov, Gegard Mousasi, and Sergio Pettis. Fighters such as Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler, Ben Askren, Anthony Johnson (fighter), Anthony Johnson, Rory MacDonald (fighter), Rory MacDonald, and Fedo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arlene Blencowe
Arlene Blencowe (born 11 April 1983) is a mixed martial artist and boxer, currently competing in the Women's Featherweight division of Bellator MMA, where she is the first Australian female fighter in the promotion's history. As of June 28, 2022, she is #5 in the Bellator Women's pound-for-pound Rankings and #2 in the Bellator Women's Featherweight Rankings. Boxing career Blencowe began her boxing career in 2012 in her native Australia. She has world championships in World Boxing Federation and Women’s International Boxing Association. She has a current record of 4 wins and 4 losses. Mixed martial arts career Early career Blencowe began her professional MMA career a year after she began boxing in April 2013. Fighting exclusively in her native Australia, she amassed a record of 5 wins and 4 losses over the first year and a half of her career. Bellator MMA On 27 October 2014 it was announced that Blencowe had signed with Bellator MMA. Blencowe made her Bellator debut ag ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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