The History of MMA: From Ancient Pankration to the UFC and Thailand

Mixed Martial Arts is the fastest growing combat sport in the world — but its roots stretch back thousands of years to ancient Greece, through the fighting pits of Brazil, and into the modern global phenomenon that has transformed martial arts forever.

The concept of combining striking and grappling in combat is as old as human civilization itself. The earliest recorded form of MMA was Pankration — an ancient Greek combat sport that combined wrestling and striking with almost no rules. Pankration was introduced to the Olympic Games in 648 BC and was considered one of the most prestigious athletic competitions in the ancient world.

The word Pankration comes from the Greek words pan (all) and kratos (strength or power) — literally meaning “all powers.” Competitors could strike, throw, choke, and apply joint locks. The only prohibited techniques were eye gouging and biting. Matches continued until one competitor submitted, was knocked unconscious, or conceded defeat.

Fast forward to 19th and early 20th century Brazil, where a similar concept emerged in the form of Vale Tudo — Portuguese for “anything goes.” Vale Tudo matches were held in circus tents and public venues across Brazil, pitting fighters from different martial arts disciplines against each other with minimal rules. It was in this environment that the Gracie family began testing and refining Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu against all comers — laying the groundwork for modern MMA.

The event that truly launched modern MMA was the first Ultimate Fighting Championship, held on November 12, 1993 in Denver, Colorado. The tournament was conceived by Rorion Gracie and businessman Art Davie as a platform to answer the age-old question: which martial art is most effective in a real fight?

Eight fighters representing different martial arts disciplines — boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, Savate, Sumo, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — competed in a single-night tournament with minimal rules. No rounds. No judges. Victory by submission, knockout, or the opponent’s corner throwing in the towel.

The Gracie family sent Royce Gracie — a lean, unimposing 26-year-old — to represent BJJ. What happened next shocked the martial arts world. Royce submitted three opponents in one night, defeating fighters who outweighed him significantly, using ground fighting and submission techniques that most viewers had never seen before.

Royce went on to win UFC 1, UFC 2, and UFC 4 — defeating 11 opponents across three tournaments. His dominance proved beyond doubt that ground fighting and submission grappling were essential skills for any complete fighter. The age of the single-discipline martial artist was over.

The early UFCs were raw and unregulated — and attracted significant controversy. Senator John McCain famously called it “human cockfighting” and lobbied to have it banned from cable television. By the late 1990s, MMA had been removed from pay-per-view in the United States and the UFC was struggling financially.

The turning point came in 2001 when Dana White and the Fertitta brothers purchased the UFC for $2 million. They worked with athletic commissions to develop a proper regulatory framework — introducing weight classes, rounds, a unified set of rules, and mandatory safety equipment. MMA was transformed from a spectacle into a legitimate sport.

The real breakthrough came with The Ultimate Fighter reality TV show in 2005, which introduced MMA to a mainstream American audience. The finale between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar — widely considered one of the greatest fights in MMA history — aired live on Spike TV and attracted massive viewership, launching MMA into the mainstream.

Modern MMA requires proficiency across multiple combat ranges and disciplines. The most successful MMA fighters are well-rounded athletes who can fight effectively on their feet, in the clinch, and on the ground.

At Mastery Martial Arts we teach all three grappling disciplines — BJJ, Judo, and MMA — giving our students the most complete martial arts foundation available in one gym in Phutthamonthon, Bangkok.

Today MMA is a global sport with professional organizations on every continent. Here are the major promotions:

Thailand has long been the world capital of Muay Thai — but over the past two decades, MMA has taken root and grown into a serious competitive scene. The country’s deep martial arts culture, combined with the growing influence of BJJ and wrestling, has produced a new generation of Thai MMA fighters capable of competing on the world stage.

Organizations like TAMMA (Thai Amateur MMA Association) and international bodies like GAMMA have provided Thai athletes with competitive platforms. ONE Championship — headquartered in Singapore — has featured Thai fighters prominently and brought world-class MMA to Asian audiences.

Perhaps the most remarkable example of Thailand’s MMA potential is Coach Amp (Kanjutha Phattaraboonsorn) — a Mastery Martial Arts coach who is not only a BJJ Black Belt but also a GAMMA World MMA Champion (2024 and 2025), SEA Games 2025 Gold Medalist, and World Games 2022 Champion. Her achievements prove that Thai fighters can compete and win at the absolute highest levels of international MMA.