Mixed martial arts is a contact sport that gained popularity worldwide. It is the idea of incorporating different fighting techniques including grappling and striking. In 1993, mixed martial arts tournaments emerged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) allowing martial artists from different fighting styles to compete.

MMA techniques fall between several categories but in the early 1990s, three styles stood out in the UFC competition:

    •    Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
    ⁃    Some called it as the "King of Grappling" as this form of martial art focuses on grappling. It promotes the principle that a timid person can defend himself or defeat against a stronger attacker using support and proper techniques.

    ⁃    Famous UFC Fighters that took up BJJ:
          ⁃    Royce Gracie 
              - a pioneer and legend of the sport, he made his name in UFC as he defeated stronger and powerful kick boxers and wrestlers.
          ⁃    Chuck Liddell             - the most famous UFC fighter of all times as he holds the record for most victories.
          ⁃    Georges St. Pierre
             - current UFC welterweight division champion.
          ⁃    Randy Couture
             - one of the most beloved UFC fighters and holds UFC titles in different weight classes

    •    Submission Wrestling
    ⁃    It is a grappling martial art that focuses on clinch and ground fighting. Because of its better defense and ground assault, It has become a favorite training ground for mixed martial arts fighters.

    ⁃    Famous UFC Fighters that took up Amateur Wrestling:
         ⁃    Brock Edward Lesnar
             - accomplished amateur wrestler and started his career in mixed martial arts and joined UFC in 2007.
         ⁃    Matt Lindland
             - a Olympic wrestler, Lindland started in mixed martial arts with Randy Couture and others at Team Quest.
         ⁃    Sean Keith Sherk
            - he began his MMA career in 2001 with the UFC.

    •    Amateur Wrestling
    ⁃      The most predominant form of wrestling that is practiced worldwide. It has two international different styles: Greco-Roman and Freestyle. In Greco-Roman, wrestlers are permitted to hold and attack above the waist while Freestyle use arm drags, bear hugs and headlocks.

    ⁃    Famous UFC Fighters that took up Amateur Wrestling:
        ⁃    Tyson Griffin
           - a standout wrestler, he began his professional career in 2004 and currently fights in the Lightweight division with UFC
        ⁃    Urijah Faber
          - made his professional career in 2003 and was ranked number 1 and currently ranked number 3 featherweight fighter in the world.

Thailand, an Asian country that is seemly more popularly famous these days as one of the world's excellent tourist destinations with vivid and breathtaking sights and intriguing ancient society that was preserved throughout centuries. Thais great zeal on their culture reflects more on their contact sport known as Muay Thai where it took its name from the ancient sport Muay Boran. Muay Thai originated from the Sanskrit word mavya and Thai word Tai. Locally known as the Art of Eight Limbs, it includes the hands through punches, kicks through the feet and legs and the body through hits. A Muay Thai challenger is recognized as nak muay and foreigners as nak muay farang.

From its ancestry, Muay Boran, an ancient Thai barehanded combat technique which uses the bare hands and body movements as self protection, Muay Boran was originally used by the soldier in Siam in absence of combat weapons. Afterwards on, Muay Boran yet became a part of entertainment. Bare fist played in front of visitors where muay is normally a fun fare feature during festivals and temple parties where the ruler is also amused. Muay was also used to train royal guards to protect the herald ruler and the country.

Through the years muay boran was being formed and used by Thai purist. It was before formed by King Chulalongkorn or Rama V who has developed personal passion on the art and discipline. It was during his reign as ruler that the art and discipline became multi-functional as a form of physical practice and personal development, recreation and bodily fitness. Sooner, a new ruler by the name of Rama VII created Muay Thai to be a codified which sets rules and was institutionalized. Before, Muay Thai is an extreme sport where tie binding was used in combat, it was soon eradicated as once death events came as a result during the battle took place inside a ring. Along with this incident, cotton covelettes wrapped over the feet and ankle and gloves were advisable.

Now, Muay Thai is Thailand's national sport. Muay Thai is keenly sweeping the earth over as more Westerners go to Thailand to examine and learn the discipline. Muay Thai from its ancestry Muay Boran became a launching pad albeit a de facto martial art training of Muay Thai. As Muay Thai is obtaining momentum in the global field of mixed martial arts, Muay Thai is now organized with Western ideas.