ARMOURED MMA is the bizarre promotion where rivals dress up as knights and battle in the cage with SWORDS.
The UFC was described as “human cockfighting” when it first launched in 1996 with little rules to the brutality.
INSTAGRAM @armoredmma/@snappingfiredragonArmoured MMA has fighters dressed as knights battling it out with swords[/caption]
INSTAGRAM @armoredmma/@snappingfiredragonAmazing pictures show the knights fighting in the cage[/caption]
INSTAGRAM @armoredmma/@snappingfiredragonBouts can be won on points or by stoppage[/caption]
But in the two decades since, the sport has been reformed to the point where it is one of the most profitable in the world.
Although it has not stopped others from putting weird and wacky spins on the now mainstream sport.
In Russia, there have been handicap matches, intergender bouts and even groups teaming up to fight.
But now a new concept has seen the new school of extraordinary MMA mix with the medieval old school.
Up step Armoured MMA.
Crazy footage revealed competitors entering the cage in full knight armour holding swords and shields.
And they can even use the weapons as a point of attack while calling on traditional MMA moves such as punches, kicks and knees.
Bouts can be won via stoppage or on the scorecards, with points even earned for disarmouring your opponent.
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It is a first of its kind in America but amazingly Medieval MMA was brought to Europe way before.
But instead of a cage, bouts would take place in a ring – although competitors would still be decked out in full knight armour.
Russia’s M-1 Global – formerly big players on the European MMA circuit – once had their own Medieval division.
They would use the bouts as interval entertainment between their more orthodox headliners.
But it became so popular among supporters that knight fights warranted their own events.
Swords – which are blunted – weigh up to 2kg, the shield around 1kg and the helmet up to 3 kg with the total weight of armour up to 20kg.
The idea originated from Historical Medieval Battles, a sport devised in Russia in the late 1990s where competitors would reenact wars of the past.
But the full-contact concept was taken to the ring with M-1 Global and now the cage with Armoured MMA.
Armoured MMA’s next show is scheduled for August 24 in Nashville. Tickets are priced from $44-$125.
INSTAGRAM @armoredmma/@snappingfiredragonMMA strikes are used in the cage[/caption]
INSTAGRAM @armoredmma/@snappingfiredragonRivals embrace after an Armoured MMA bout[/caption]