The Silliest Fight in History and the Birth of MMA

Ever watched pro wrestling, and asked yourself “Could those moves work in a real fight?” If we are talking about spectacular finishers like the Canadian Destroyer, One Winged Angel, or the F5, the answer is probably not. If we are talking about holds rooted in catch wrestling, then not only is it a wholehearted yes, but there is a history to their use in legitimate mixed martial arts bouts. In fact, professional wrestling has a long history in the foundations of MMA as a sport. That history starts with one of the most celebrated personalities in combat sports, Muhammad Ali in what many call the first mixed martial arts match. You heard of Thrilla in Manila and Rumble in the Jungle, Muhammad Ali’s greatest matches, then how come you haven’t heard about this? Today we’ll discover how early “hookers”, “shooters” and their Japanese students helped spark the revolutionary modern sport of Mixed Martial Arts with an important contribution from Muhammad Ali, and modern Pro-Wrestling and MMA figures.

Author: Yehia Amin
Editor: Daven Hiskey
Host: Simon Whistler
Producer: Samuel Avila