Mixed martial arts in Mexico

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Mixed martial arts in Mexico
CountryMexico
Governing bodyFederación de Artes Marciales Mixtas Equidad y Juego Limpio (FAMMEJL)[1]
National team(s)Mexico

Mixed martial arts in Mexico has become very popular in the 2000s, being one of the fastest growing sports in that country.

History[edit]

Traditional martial arts, from national ones such as lucha tarahumara (Tarahumara wrestling)[2] to those from other places such as judo, have shaped MMA in Mexico, along with other combat sports such as boxing and taekwondo, in which the country has stood out considerably.[3][4]

In November 2014, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) would hold its first event on Mexican soil with UFC 180 at the Mexico City Arena.[5] Tickets were sold out in just 8 hours, which is a record for the venue.[6][7]

Organizations[edit]

The major MMA organizations in Mexico are LUX Fight League,[8] Ultimate Warrior Challenge[9] and Budo Sento Championship.[10]

At the amateur level, The Federation of Mixed Martial Arts Equity and Fair Play, or Federación de Artes Marciales Mixtas Equidad y Juego Limpio, is the main governing body for the sport of MMA and the promotion of the sport in Mexico,[1] supported and recognized by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF). Its current president is Ubaldo Marroquin.[11]

Television[edit]

The UFC is the most widely watched organization, and its events are broadcast live on Fox Sports at cable television; and also for the UFC Fight Pass streaming service.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Federación de Artes Marciales Mixtas Equidad y Juego Limpio". famm.com.mx.
  2. ^ "El ritual de la lucha cuerpo a cuerpo". El Economista. 2010-11-24. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  3. ^ "Historia de nuestro boxeo". www.elsiglodedurango.com.mx (in Spanish). 2018-01-14. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  4. ^ "Moon Dai-won: father of Mexican taekwondo". Korea Times. 2013-07-19. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  5. ^ Staff (2014-04-29). "Viva Mexico – The UFC and TUF head South". ufc.com. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  6. ^ "UFC 180 draws reported 21,000 fans, sets Mexico City Arena gate record". MMAjunkie.com. 2014-11-16.
  7. ^ Kevin Iole. "UFC 180 in Mexico City needs just eight hours to sell all 21,000 tickets". Sports Yahoo. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  8. ^ "Las artes marciales mixtas de LUX Fight League latinoamericana llegan a Ubeat". The Daily Television. 2023-03-17. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  9. ^ "Ultimate Warrior Challenge". Tapology. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  10. ^ Alcantará, Faustino (2023-06-11). "¿Cómo surgió Budo Sento Championship? Iván Macías explica la idea que cambió las MMA en México". El Heraldo Deportes. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  11. ^ "National Federations - IMMAF".
  12. ^ Guirado, Heliana (2023-05-03). "¿Dónde ver la UFC en vivo, TV y streaming en México?". Fansided. Retrieved 2024-02-02.