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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 the country. 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 ... [...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 organization 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. IMMAF now is in Switzerland (Roveredo via Toveda n. 3) near the Swiss Mixed Martial Arts Federation, which oversaw the transfer in all administrative aspects. In 2023, IMMAF extended its partnership with Brave Combat Federation to expedite the development of the sport at grassroots levels with financial and operational support. After the 2022 Russian invasion ... [...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 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, 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 training in I ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Sotiropoulos
George Sotiropoulos (born 9 July 1977) is an Australian former professional mixed martial artist who most notably fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (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. Background Sotiropoulos grew up in Geelong, Victoria, changing schools multiple times due to occasional physical altercations he got into. Despite the scuffles, Sotiropoulos fared well in his studies and got his associate's diploma in international trade from Victoria University, Melbourne. Subsequently, he graduated with bachelor's degree in banking and finance, and international trade in 2001. 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 Wres ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Elvis Sinosic
Elvis Sinosic (born 13 February 1971) is an Australian retired professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He also competed in the Cage Rage Championships, K-1, and Pancrase. Sinosic is currently a political candidate for the Libertarian Party, contesting Bass Hill Ward on Canterbury Bankstown City Council in the 2024 New South Wales local elections. Biography Sinosic was born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, to Croatian immigrant parents, and now resides in Sydney, New South Wales. He currently owns and runs Kings Academy of Martial Arts (formerly Sinosic Perosh Martial Arts SPMA) as well as UFC Gym Macarthur Square. Elvis ran SPMA with business and training partner Anthony Perosh for 16 years before Elvis and Anthony split the Academy. Sinosic was exposed to a myriad of art forms including: Wrestling, Tae Kwon Do, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Kali, Silat, Muay Thai, Capoeira, Judo, Shootfighting, Kai Shin, and Brazi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dan Kelly (fighter)
Daniel Thomas Kelly (born 31 October 1977) is an Australian former judoka and mixed martial artist. Known for his unconventional style, the four-time judo Olympian formerly competed in the Middleweight (MMA), 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 National Judo Championships, 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 Judo at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 kg, -100 kg event. He was the Judo coach for the Australian team at the 2016 Summer ... [...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 pro ... [...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, Boxing, Wrestling, and 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 veteran ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Callan Potter
Callan Potter (born 6 September 1984) is an Australian retired mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Mixed martial arts career Early career Potter compiled a professional mixed martial arts record of 17–7 by fighting within the Australian regional MMA circuit for over 7 years winning various regional MMA titles before signing for UFC in January 2019. Ultimate Fighting Championship Potter made his UFC debut at lightweight on 9 February 2019 against Jalin Turner at UFC 234. He lost the fight via TKO in round one. Potter then returned to welterweight and faced Maki Pitolo on 5 October 2019 at UFC 243. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Potter then faced Song Kenan on 23 February 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker. He lost the fight via KO in the first round. He was subsequently released from the promotion. On August 7, 2020, Potter announced his retirement from mixed martial a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bec Rawlings
Bec Rawlings (born 11 February 1989) is an Australian mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer, who currently competes in the flyweight division. 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 experience in early 2011. Rawlings made her professional MMA debut on 15 October 2011 at BRACE 12 in Hobart, Tasmania. Rawlings fought at banta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ashkan Mokhtarian
Ashkan Mokhtarian (, 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 against John Moraga on 11 June ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor'', the Latin word for "warrior". Bellator's first event was in 2009, and the promotion held List of Bellator MMA events, 313 "numbered" events. At one point, Bellator was considered the second largest MMA promotion in the United States, and one of the largest combat sports, combat sport promotions in the world. Paramount Global (formerly Viacom (2005–2019), Viacom) purchased majority ownership of Bellator from Rebney in 2011, with Paramount's television networks serving as the promotion's media broadcasters in the United States. On November 20, 2023, after then-broadcast home Showtime (TV network), Showtime announced the discontinuation of its sports division, Bellator MMA was acquired by the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Histor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Arlene Blencowe
Arlene Blencowe (born 11 April 1983) is an Australian 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. 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 against Adrienna Jenkins on 15 May 2015 at Bellator 137. She won the fight via TKO in the first round. In her second fight for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
