MMA or mixed martial arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling skills, both standing and on the mat, from a selection of other combat sports. In the early 1900s, numerous mixed-style competitions were held throughout Europe, the Pacific Rim, and Japan. The combat sport of vale tudo, originating in Brazil in the 1920s, was brought to the United States by the Gracie family in 1993 with the founding of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The more dangerous vale tudo style bouts of the early UFC had been made safer. adding rules, leading to the popular regulated form of MMA seen today. Initially approved as a competition with the goal of finding the best martial arts for unarmed combat situations, competitors were pitted against each other with minimal rules. Subsequently, fighters combined numerous martial arts into their style while promoters invented additional rules aimed at increasing safety for competitors and promoting general acceptance of the sport. The term became famous when the website newfullcontact.com, then a major sports coverage website, hosted and republished the article. Following these fluctuations, the sport has seen growing popularity with a pay-per-view business that rivals professional boxing and wrestling. The best MMA fighter of all time is considered by specialists, competitors and fans to be Fedor Emelianenko or Anderson Silva. UFC commentator Joe Rogan responded to fans' question: "Joe, is Fedor the greatest of all time? It's him or Anderson, and honestly I could see the argument going one way or the other. Both guys they had truly magical moments competing against some of the best in the world."HistoryAncient HistoryDuring the classical Greek era there existed a...... middle of paper......rm is generally attributed to Howard Rosenberg.RegulationsIn March 1997 , the IAC (Iowa Athletic Commission) has officially approved Battlecade Extreme Fighting under an improved form of its existing rules for Shoot fighting. These rules created 3, five-minute rounds, a one-minute break, and required fighting gloves and weight classes for the first time. Prohibited blows were listed as head butting, groin blows, eye gouging, biting, hair pulling, kidney blows, hitting an opponent with an elbow while the opponent is on the mat, and hitting the back of the head with the fist closed. Grabbing the ring or cage for any purpose was defined as a foul. Although there are slight differences between these and the final Unified Rules, particularly regarding elbow strikes, the Iowa rules allowed MMA sponsors to legitimately conduct essentially modern events, anywhere in the state..