Wrestling vs MMA is a popular topic within the martial art community with many people wondering what are the main differences between these two styles.
MMA embraces the concept of freestyle combat where fighters strike on the feet, wrestle, and fight on the ground while wrestling focuses only on takedowns and control. Thus, MMA is more violent, dangerous, and in line with the concept of real-life combat.
This is just a brief comparison so be sure to read this article to learn more about how these two combat systems differ from one another, which one is better for self-defense, and other information.
What is MMA?
MMA is a popular combat sport and a hybrid mix of striking and grappling. As its name indicates, MMA combines multiple disciplines into one style. It allows fighters to strike on the feet, wrestle to take each other down and fight on the ground using punches, chokes, holds, and joint locks.
As a result, each MMA athlete must have all-around skills to cover all the aspects of the game. To achieve this, they usually train in multiple disciplines at once which usually includes at least 2 of the following four martial arts:
- Muay Thai (striking; clinch)
- Boxing (punches and footwork)
- Jiu-Jitsu (ground fighting)
- Wrestling (takedowns and clinch)
Although the concept of freestyle combat has been around since ancient times, the sport took off in the early 90s with the birth of the UFC promotion. It reached the mainstream rise in the late 2000s and is considered the fastest-rising combat product in the world.
What is Wrestling?
Wrestling is one of the oldest forms of combat with its origins going all the way back to ancient times. Over the centuries, many styles and variations have emerged in different regions of the world — but the most popular are the following two Olympic styles:
- Freestyle wrestling — allows the manipulation of joints both above and below the waist.
- Greco-Roman wrestling — only allows grabbing above the waist
Modern wrestling is a grappling-based combat sport. Thus, the main objective is to take the opponent down using various techniques and win the match by scoring more points. Whether it’s Greco-Roman or freestyle, the competition format and objectives are the same.
Due to the nature of the sport, wrestlers are known for their exceptional athleticism and are among the most capable athletes out of all sports.
Wrestling vs MMA — What Are The Differences?
The main difference is the concept as wrestling focuses only on grappling (primarily takedowns) while MMA is a hybrid mix of striking, grappling, and ground fighting. Here is a detailed look into how these two combat sports differ from one another:
Concept and Techniques
Wrestling focuses entirely on grappling and there is no striking. Each wrestling match begins on the feet and the main goal is to manipulate opponents’ weight to throw them off balance take them down and pin their shoulders to the mat. Wrestlers win points for the following techniques:
MMA resembles legal street fighting. Each match begins on the feet and fighters are allowed to strike each other using punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. They can also use takedowns, trips, and throws to advance to the ground. Once there, the rules enable them to finish the match with submissions or strikes.
Rules of competition
Wrestling rules differ between the styles. For this article, let’s use freestyle Olympic rules as an example.
- Match duration: two periods (rounds) with each one being 3 minutes long. there is a 30-second break between the periods.
- Points: Takedowns (1–5 points), reversal (1 point), Exposure (2–3 points)
- Match area: open mats that are nine-metre in diameter
- Gear: wrestling singlets and shoes
- Ways to win: victory by points or disqualification.
MMA rules are similar and the majority of promotions adopt the official Unified Rules of MMA:
- Match duration: regular matches are 5 rounds while championship bouts are 5 rounds. Each round is 5 minutes long and there is a 1-minute break between.
- Match area: most promotions use steel cage that comes in different shapes and sizes. The most popular is the UFC octagon.
- Gear: 4 oz open-fingered gloves, shorts (sports bra), mouth guard, groin guard.
- Ways to win: knockout, submission, disqualification, or doctor stoppage.
Wrestling or MMA For Self-Defense?
MMA is better for self-defense or any type of combat an individual may encounter in real life. Unlike wrestling, MMA is a versatile system that as a concept resembles fighting in the real world to a high degree. Here are some of the key reasons why it is better:
MMA covers more scenarios
While wrestling focuses only on takedowns, MMA offers an all-around approach. It trains individuals to use all limbs to deliver hard and quick punches, kicks, knees, and elbows at all ranges including the clinch.
This is crucial as most self-defense situations include intense grabbing and pulling which you can use to your advantage. It also teaches the same takedown techniques you can use to throw the attacker on the ground where you can submit them using chokes and joint locks.
There are no rules in the streets and this form of fighting is fraught with danger, and the more skills you have, the higher chances you have to escape unharmed.
Wrestling doesn’t include striking
Wrestling takedowns work well in real life but the absence of striking limits your abilities in self-defense situations. Most fights begin with one person throwing a punch or more in your way so knowing how to block or counter these attacks is essential. There would be situations where you won’t have time or space to dive for a takedown.
Wrestling vs MMA — Who Would Win In a Fight?
Assuming athletes from both disciplines share a similar level of skill, MMA fighters have better chances of winning in a pure wrestling vs MMA fight. They have more techniques at their disposal to defend or neutralize wrestling attacks. Though wrestlers have the skills to win, their chances are lower.
MMA resembles chaotic street fighting to a large degree. Most importantly, its athletes regularly train how to defend against the wrestling takedowns. Apart from defending, they also learn how to counter these moves using striking attacks or submissions.
In theory, wrestlers first need to find a way to close the distance without damage. This might be tricky because they don’t know how to keep their guard up, or block/evade strikes before securing a hold. Even if they get a clinch, they never train to deal with knees to the stomach or elbows and punches to the face.
Even if they do get a takedown, things are not over. MMA fighters can use submission techniques off their back to either create space to get back to their feet or finish the fight.
The outcome is also based on many other factors such as the environment, clothing, and many others. But overall, MMA rules are more in line with the violent nature of street fighting. Thus, giving them better chances of beating wrestlers is a rational conclusion.
Who Are The Best Wrestlers in MMA/UFC?
In MMA/UFC history, there have been many great fighters and champions with a strong wrestling background. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Henry Cejudo – is An Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling. As a former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion, Cejudo’s explosive takedowns and strong wrestling base, combined with his evolving striking skills, made him a formidable and well-rounded competitor in the UFC, ultimately earning him the status of a two-division champion.
- Khabib Nurmagomedov – is renowned for his elite wrestling skills. The former UFC lightweight champion’s relentless grappling style and ground control earned him a reputation as one of the most dominant fighters in the sport.
- Daniel Cormier — is a former Olympic wrestler who transitioned into MMA and became a two-division UFC champion (light heavyweight and heavyweight). Known for his relentless pressure and wrestling prowess, Cormier’s ability to control opponents on the ground played a crucial role in his successful career.
- Randy Couture — is a UFC Hall of Famer and a former two-division champion (heavyweight and light heavyweight). His Olympic-level wrestling enabled him to dictate the pace of fights and secure numerous victories.
- Brock Lesnar – is a former NCAA Division I national champion in wrestling. In the UFC, he became the heavyweight champion, showcasing his exceptional wrestling ability and athleticism, which allowed him to impose his will on opponents and achieve success in the octagon.
Why Wrestling is So Dominant in MMA?
Wrestling has produced the most UFC champions according to statistics. It is considered the best martial art for MMA for the following reasons:
Control and Positioning
Wrestlers excel at controlling the position of a fight, dictating where it takes place. Their ability to secure takedowns and maintain top control can be crucial in scoring points, avoiding strikes, and neutralizing opponents’ offensive capabilities.
Ground Control
Wrestlers often have a strong ground game, emphasizing control and avoiding submissions. This ability allows them to keep the fight in advantageous positions, deliver ground-and-pound, and wear down opponents.
Conditioning and Work Ethics
Wrestling training is notoriously rigorous and demanding, instilling a high level of physical conditioning and mental toughness in wrestlers. MMA fighters with a wrestling background often bring exceptional endurance and work ethic to the cage.
Established Talent Pool
Wrestling has been a popular base for many fighters entering MMA, contributing to a large talent pool of successful wrestlers in the sport. This has led to a tradition of successful wrestlers transitioning into MMA and setting a high standard for others to follow.
While wrestling dominance in MMA is notable, it’s important to recognize that the sport’s landscape is evolving, and fighters are increasingly well-rounded with skills in striking, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and other disciplines. As MMA continues to grow, a diverse skill set becomes increasingly crucial for success in the cage.
MMA vs Wrestling — Which One is Harder?
On one side, MMA is more dangerous and harder on your body because the injury rates are much higher. On the other, wrestling might be harder to succeed in as the talent pool is much deeper. Here is a general overview:
More dangerous — MMA
With an injury rate of 28.3 injuries per 1000 exposures, MMA is far more dangerous than wrestling. The reason is obvious as cage fighting involves full-contact striking with small 4oz gloves. Thus, lacerations, concussions, and bone fractures are quite common.
Wrestling is hard on your body too, but not as much. The practice includes hard falls and putting the body in awkward positions which can result in an accidental injury. But in general, wrestling is much safer.
Harder to succeed in — Wrestling
There are many national and international wrestling competitions and the talent pool is deep. The ultimate goal of every athlete is to win the Olympic gold medal, which is hard. There are millions of wrestlers worldwide, much more than other combat sports athletes.
MMA is nowhere near as popular and as accessible as wrestling. It is easier to succeed because there are many world championship organizations. The dream of every athlete is to win the UFC title, which is a bit more realistic than winning an Olympic gold.
For instance, Henry Cejudo said that winning the Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling was much harder than winning the UFC title.
Final Thoughts — Which One is Better?
Wrestling vs MMA and which one is better is based on many individual factors.
If someone is interested in mastering one specific martial art with a focus on takedowns and ground control, wrestling is an ideal option. It is very popular among kids because wrestling is safe and integrated into educational programs in many countries.
MMA is more versatile and dangerous. It is a better option for individuals looking to develop all-around skills and improve self-defense abilities. It trains you for all the physical and mental aspects of real combat, and it also offers a promising career.
