Are MMA And UFC The Same? Quick Guide

In today’s world, probably the two most important terms in martial arts are mixed martial arts (MMA) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). These two terms are often mistakenly thought of as the same sport. People don't know whether they are the same or different. So people are often using UFC to refer to MMA and use the word MMA to refer to UFC. But why is there confusion between the two words? And are these two terms different or the same? Let's explore them separately and decide whether they are the same or different.

Table of content

1. What Is UFC? 2. What Is MMA? 3. MMA vs. UFC: Are They Different? 4. MMA vs. UFC: How Are They Different? 5. Last Words

1. What Is UFC?

The UFC, or Ultimate Fighting Championship, is a martial arts organization that allows players from various parts of the world to participate and compete against others in professional MMA matches. In all countries, there is an organization for every sport individually or collectively, that conducts matches and tournaments. This organization can work at the national and international levels.
For example, the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation) is an organization that conducts tournaments and matches relevant to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a martial art.
Just like IBJJF, UFC is also an organization that holds and announces various tournaments. UFC is not a martial art but an organization. It has no distinct moves and techniques, just like all martial arts have.

2. What Is MMA?

MMA or Mixed Martial Arts is a martial art that combines moves and techniques from various other martial arts. It includes martial arts such as Judo, Karate, Boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and many other martial arts. It combines elements of many martial arts into a single martial art referred to as MMA.
MMA is not an organization and does not hold or announce tournaments. It is just a martial art with its own techniques and moves.

3. MMA vs. UFC: Are They Different?

Yes! MMA and UFC are entirely different. There are a lot of organizations that conduct MMA matches, but not all of these organizations can be referred to as MMA. The same is the case with UFC. UFC is an organization, and MMA is a martial art.

4. MMA vs. UFC: How Are They Different?

The following are the differences between the two most commonly used terms.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)	Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
It is a martial art.	It is a martial arts organization.
It has its own techniques and moves.	It does not have its own techniques and movies.
It does not have a particular rule set other than the moves.	It is based on a particular set of rules that the fighters playing in the UFC have to follow.
It does not conduct matches on its own since it is just a martial art.	It conducts matches and tournaments for players across the world.
For example, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art like MMA.	For example, IBJJF is a sports organization like UFC.

5. Last Words

MMA and UFC are entirely different things. The only thing that is the same between the two is the moves and techniques because both are focused on one martial art. Despite this, UFC has categorized the MMA movies and techniques into two categories: illegal or banned, and legal movies. But in MMA, all moves are legal that anyone can play.