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 Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full contact combat sport that allows a wide variety of fighting techniques, from a mixture of martial arts traditions and non-traditions, to be used in competitions. The rules allow the use of striking and grappling techniques, both while standing and on the ground. Such competitions allow martial artists of different backgrounds to compete. The term may also be used, less correctly, to describe hybrid martial arts styles.

Modern mixed martial arts competition emerged in American popular culture in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Initially based on finding the most effective martial arts for real unarmed combat situations, competitors of various arts were pitted against one another with minimal rules for safety.  In the following decade, MMA promoters adopted many additional rules aimed at increasing safety for competitors and to promote mainstream acceptance of the sport.  The name mixed martial arts was coined by one of the developers of these rules, Jeff Blatnick, a former Greco-Roman wrestler and Olympic gold medalist.  Following these changes, the sport has seen increased popularity with pay per view reach rivaling boxing and professional wrestling.

Standup Fighting: Boxing Kickboxing

Wrestling, Grappling, Freestyle, GrecoRoman

MMAFighting.com UFC Rankings - March 2009

Heavyweights

1: Frank Mir

2: Brock Lesnar

3: Randy Couture

4: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

5: Junior Dos Santos

6: Shane Carwin

7: Gabriel Gonzaga

8: Heath Herring

9: Cheick Kongo

10: Cain Velasquez

Notable: 

A. Hardonk, Mike C.

Light Heavyweights

1: Rashad Evans

2: Forrest Griffin

3: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

4: Lyoto Machida

5: Chuck Liddell

6: Dan Henderson

7: Keith Jardine

8: Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

9: Thiago Silva

10: Rich Franklin

Notable: 

L. Cane

Middleweights

1: Anderson Silva

2: Yushin Okami

3: Dan Henderson

4: Nathan Marquardt

5: Demian Maia

6: Thales Leites

7: Chael Sonnen

8: Michael Bisping

9: Alan Belcher

10: Dan Miller

Notable: 

Y. Akiyama

MMAFighting.com MMA Rankings - March 2009

Heavyweights

1: Fedor Emelianenko

2: Frank Mir

3: Andrei Arlovski

4: Brock Lesnar

5: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

6: Randy Couture

7:Josh Barnett

8: Tim Sylvia

9: Junior Dos Santos

10: Shane Carwin

Notable: 

F. Werdum, B. Rothwell

Light Heavyweights

1: Rashad Evans

2: Forrest Griffin

3: Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

4: Lyoto Machida

5: Chuck Liddell

6: Dan Henderson

7: Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

8: Keith Jardine

9: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

10: Thiago Silva

Notable: 

V. Matyushenko, L. Cane

Middleweights

1: Anderson Silva

2: Yushin Okami

3: Robbie Lawler

4: Dan Henderson

5: Nathan Marquardt

6: Demian Maia

7: Gegard Mousasi

8: Thales Leites

9: Chael Sonnen

10: Paulo Filho

Notable: 

J. Santiago, K. Misaki