The death Tuesday of Rondel Clark, an amateur mixed martial arts fighter who was hospitalized after his bout Saturday in Plymouth, has prompted local scrutiny of a niche sport that remains unfamiliar to many fans of the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, and Bruins. Here’s a quick primer on MMA.
What is MMA, and what are the rules?
Mixed martial arts is a combat sport regulated by state athletic commissions, much like boxing, kickboxing, and other competitions. The fights are generally scheduled as three-round bouts, with each round lasting five minutes. Championship fights are usually five rounds. Fighters try to knock out their opponents with hard punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, known as “significant strikes,” or by locking opponents in submission holds such as chokes and forcing them to quit by tapping the canvass or the aggressor with a free hand. This is known as “tapping out.” If neither fighter is knocked out or submitted, judges choose the winner based on detailed scoring criteria.
Is anything off-limits?
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Yes. Mixed martial arts competitions are heavily regulated. Fighters need medical clearance before they’re allowed to compete, and on-site doctors are present on fight night. Fighters are also tested for performance-enhancing drugs and other banned substances. The bouts themselves, despite their reputation for brutality, are not free-for-alls. For safety reasons, such tactics as head-butts, groin-strikes, eye pokes, and striking an opponent in the back of the head are banned.
Is MMA the same as the Ultimate Fighting Championship?
Yes. Different companies, or “promotions” in industry parlance, stage MMA events across the US and beyond. The UFC is the sport’s dominant promotion in the United States and also plays to large international crowds. Last year, the company was sold for $4 billion to an investor group led by the talent agency WME-IMG.
Was Rondel Clark a UFC fighter?
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No. He was fighting on the amateur portion of an event staged by Cage Titans, a regional MMA promotion, on Saturday night at Plymouth Memorial Hall. State officials said Thursday that the medical examiner had conducted an autopsy but the cause of death is still undetermined, pending further testing.
When did MMA start? Who are the stars?
The sport has existed in one form or another for centuries, but the version familiar to most contemporary fans began to gain traction in the 1990s. Conor McGregor, a flamboyant Irish champion signed to the UFC, is by far the sport’s biggest crossover star. He’s slated to step into a boxing ring Aug. 26 against boxer Floyd Mayweather, in what analysts expect to be the top-grossing prizefight of all time.
Is MMA legal in all 50 states?
Yes. New York became the last state to legalize MMA in 2016. The sport has had vocal critics, including US Senator John McCain, who compared MMA to “human cockfighting” before telling NPR in 2007 that the sport had “made significant progress.”
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.