Why is MMA so appealing?

One martial art that is developing very rapidly in Vietnam with great potential is MMA (Mixed Martial Arts).

A PERFECT HARMONY

Mixed martial arts – as its name suggests – is a synthesis and culmination of various unarmed combat techniques. Watching MMA fighters compete, one can easily see the powerful kicks of taekwondo, the diverse punches of boxing, the sweeping kicks and knee or elbow strikes of Muay Thai, the takedowns of judo, and even the submission holds of ju-jitsu… MMA has virtually no limits on martial arts skills, as long as they are highly effective in real combat. By eliminating the limitations of the rules of many other combat sports, MMA has a unique appeal, allowing not only fighters to showcase their skills but also spectators to experience explosive emotions from the unexpected moves and developments.

MMA is developing rapidly in Vietnam.

PHOTO: VMMA

The more "lenient" rules of MMA do not mean fighters are allowed to fight in a "jungle style," but rather that the spirit of martial arts is still fully preserved, such as prohibiting eye gouging, groin strikes, back of the neck strikes, and kicks when the opponent is on the ground. The fierce nature of MMA, along with the provocations before matches, is only to create more appeal, not to encourage hatred and resentment.

MMA is highly entertaining. Watching how professional MMA organizations like UFC, ONE Championship, Bellator, or LION Championship (Vietnam) conduct their "fight nights" (evening events), you can see the vibrant atmosphere of these top-tier professional boxing events that have a history spanning centuries. From the sound and lighting to the impressive athlete introductions, the promotion, media coverage, and live commentary of the fights, MMA events are incredibly captivating.

MMA and abundant human resources.

MMA entered Vietnam about a decade ago, quietly and spontaneously. It gradually built a community of martial arts enthusiasts and those anticipating something new. However, it wasn't until the establishment of the Vietnam MMA Federation (VMMAF) in 2020 that the MMA training and competition movement truly became more organized and structured.

MMA was introduced to Vietnam and was warmly received.

MMA fights are very exciting.

MMA doesn't have its own separate training system from the "junior" level like many other martial arts; instead, it's a "common ground" attracting fighters from different martial arts to experience, test their skills, and then commit. Because of this, in a country with a strong martial arts tradition, especially with hundreds of martial arts disciplines that have existed and thrived like Vietnam, this is a very abundant source of human resources for MMA. All the top names in Vietnamese MMA at arenas like the Lion Championship – the first professional MMA tournament held since 2022 – or GMA (Vietnamese Martial Arts) all rose through the ranks from disciplines such as traditional martial arts, ju-jitsu, wushu (sanda), or muay.

The image of Vietnamese-born fighters achieving initial success in arenas like UFC and ONE Championship is a great encouragement for fighters in the country. And the biggest dream of most MMA fighters who have chosen to pursue this career is not just to compete in more domestic competitions, but also to prove themselves on the international stage, especially in the UFC – the world's top professional league for over three decades.

The inclusion of MMA in the 2026 Asian Games (ASIAD 20), as well as many other major events such as the 2025 Asian Youth Games , the 2026 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, and the 33rd SEA Games later this year, has opened up tremendous opportunities for MMA in Vietnam to have more investment and development opportunities, with the support of local state management agencies for sports and physical education.

The immense potential in Vietnam, as well as the strong global trend of MMA development, are all clear indicators that Vietnamese MMA practitioners can confidently aim for the advancement of this martial art in the near future!

"MMA GIRL " CAUSES A SENSATION ONLINE

Recently, the story of an "MMA girl" who responded appropriately to bullying by a tattooed young man has inspired young people to practice martial arts in general and MMA in particular. As the girl herself stated, practicing martial arts is for health and self-defense, not for aggression or bullying others, demonstrating the positive impact of the MMA spirit.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tai-sao-mma-lai-hap-dan-185250827235923033.htm