Mixed martial arts competition for children

Rules on mixed martial arts competition for children vary. In most U.S. states, there is no central organization in charge of children competing in mixed martial arts also known as Pankration (MMA).{{cite news |title=Even kids getting into mixed martial arts |url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23828211/ |publisher=NBC Sports |first=Mike |last=Gullet |date=March 27, 2008 |access-date=January 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327145406/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/23828211/ |archive-date=March 27, 2013 |url-status=dead }} In some states it is a misdemeanor to hold these competitions. California is the only state with official rules, regulations and recognized bouts for children.Sherdog News (September 11, 2014). "California becomes first state to adopt Youth Pankration Rules Regulations. C.J. TuttleWeekly Reading Corp (May 5, 2008). "Teen Throwdown". Gale Cengage Learning. Retrieved 2009-11-18. The non-profit United States Fight League{{cite web|url=http://www.fightleague.org|title=United States Fight League|work=fightleague.org|access-date=12 January 2017}} is the delegated organization to oversee and administer the rules and regulations for the sport.Capradio (August 14, 2015) California Kids Prepare for Steel Cage matches. Bob Mofitt

Kids MMA, once regulated in the state of Missouri is now banned by legislation championed by MMA promoter Jesse Finney as part of HB 1388, a comprehensive bill shifting amateur competition oversight from amateur sanctioning groups to the state athletic commission. There was no allegations of injuries or misconduct associated by the ban so it appears that prohibition of youth MMA was part of the mechanism that removed amateur sanctioning groups.{{cite web | url=https://fox2now.com/2018/07/10/missouri-approves-measure-preventing-minors-from-entering-mma-competitions/ | title=Missouri approves measure preventing minors from entering MMA competitions | date=10 July 2018 }}

To ensure the children's safety in fights, California put slight but substantial differences into the rules. At other places, many are discussing that teaching boxing to children{{cite web|url=http://www.smartfitnessexpert.com/boxing-classes-for-kids.html|title=Boxing Classes for Kids - Is it a good idea?|date=11 December 2015|work=smartfitnessexpert.com|access-date=12 January 2017}} can be beneficial for their overall well-being. Most present day youth MMA competitions occur in California, Florida, Texas, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Famous former youth MMA fighters

Several United States Fight League youth fighters have been accepted to the UFC and One Fighting Championships.

UFC

Brian Ortega
Joseph Morales
Cody Bollinger
Jacob Rosales
Kay Hansen
Raul Rosas Jr.
Clayton Carpenter

One Championships

Bellator

World Championships for Youth

The first World MMA championships for youth occurred in August 2019 in Rome, Italy. 26 nations and 253 youth fighters participated, with the United States beating out Ukraine and Russia for the first place national team. Due to the COVID epidemic, no world championships was held in 2020. 2021 saw 331 athletes from 23 nations compete at the IMMAF youth Worlds in Sofia, Bulgaria with Ukraine, Russia and USA placing as the top teams. The 2022 World Championships had 479 athletes from 42 nations with Ukraine, United States and Tajikistan placing as top teams.

Since its inception many media sources have covered the sport to include:

Capradio{{cite web|url=http://www.capradio.org/55257|title=California Kids Prepare For Steel Cage Matches|first=Bob|last=Moffitt|work=capradio.org|access-date=12 January 2017}}
National Geographic{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/07/pictures-kids-mixed-martial-arts-sports/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714121421/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/07/pictures-kids-mixed-martial-arts-sports/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 14, 2016|title=Photos Show Controversial World of Kids' Mixed Martial Arts Fighting|date=14 July 2016|work=nationalgeographic.com|access-date=12 January 2017}}
Sherdog{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/California-Becomes-First-State-to-Adopt-Youth-Pankration-Rules-Regulations-73639|title=California Becomes First State to Adopt Youth Pankration Rules, Regulations|work=sherdog.com|access-date=12 January 2017}}
Galileo (Germany){{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRuHap9oxNg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/sRuHap9oxNg |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=Cage Fighting Kids - Galileo - ProSieben|last=Galileo|date=25 September 2015|access-date=12 January 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Yahoo Sports{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/the-turnstile/a-glimpse-inside-the-colorful--controversial-world-of-youth-mma-084259730.html|title=Inside the colorful, controversial world of youth MMA|work=yahoo.com|date=2 September 2015 |access-date=12 January 2017}}
Vice Sports{{cite web|url=https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/the-struggle-for-legality-regulation-and-safety-in-youth-mma|title=The Struggle for Legality, Regulation, and Safety in Youth MMA - VICE Sports|work=vice.com|access-date=12 January 2017}}
Time Magazine{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3591210/fight-league-kids/|title=Meet America's Young Fight League Kids|first=Olivier|last=Laurent|magazine=Time|date=28 January 2015 |access-date=12 January 2017}}
Inside MMA{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjFgdLhk324&x-yt-ts=1422579428&x-yt-cl=85114404 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/gjFgdLhk324 |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=A Look at the World of Sanctioned Kids Pankration in California|last=AXS TV Fights|date=30 January 2015|access-date=12 January 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
USA Today{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/2014/11/11/18885041/|title=First state-approved kids MMA fights in U.S. held|work=usatoday.com|access-date=12 January 2017}}
Sunday Night (Australia){{cite web|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/features/a/23769885/would-you-let-your-kids-do-this/#page1|title=Would you let your kids do this?|work=yahoo.com|access-date=12 January 2017}}
The Doctors{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy1MDIc5L10 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/Xy1MDIc5L10 |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|title=Cage-Fighting Kids? -- The Doctors|last=The Doctors|date=9 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2017|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}
Fox and Friends{{cite web|url=http://video.foxnews.com/v/2822520532001/kid-fight-club-how-young-is-too-young/?playlist_id=930909787001#sp=show-clips|title=Kid fight club: How young is too young?|date=9 November 2013|work=foxnews.com|access-date=12 January 2017}}

Rule differences

= Safety =

Children competitors generally wear more padding than adults in an effort to make the sport less brutal and decrease the chances of injuries. In adult MMA the only visible protection is the open-fingered gloves. Children must wear *headgear (*California requirement), shin guards, and the open-fingered gloves. In addition, children are not allowed to strike the head or perform other potentially dangerous techniques. The United States Fight League uses a unique point-based scoring system which promotes technique over brutality in youth contests.{{cite news |title=Missouri Legislators want to ban "cage fighting" for kids |url=http://www.newstribune.com/articles/2008/04/04/politics_and_elections/news/271news11cage.txt/ |publisher=News Tribune |first=Marcus |last=Kabel |date=April 4, 2008 |access-date=November 22, 2009}}{{dead link|date=January 2013}} The rule differences are in place to protect the children and yet still allow them to participate in the same venue as adults.

References

Category:Mixed martial arts