The purpose of the study has been to identify the motivational factors prompting the South African MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fan to attend events and how these factors are influencing their spending patterns and media consumption. With the growing popularity of Africa’s biggest MMA promoter and the production values and size of events, EFC (Extreme Fighting Championship) is taking the African market to a global level. To understand the South African MMA fan, marketers should differentiate strategies to meet these various customers’ satisfaction needs and demands. Media plays a big role in the growing of the sport, and Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and television broadcasts all contribute to fans gaining access to the MMA sport. The following motivational factors were used to measure the MMA fan: Aesthetic quality, Sports interest, Drama/Eustress, Socialising, Vicarious achievement, Fighter interest, Adoration/Hero, Violence, Escape, National Pride and Economic Factors. Participants who attended the local amateur MMA fights in the south of Johannesburg were requested to complete the online web questionnaire to establish the motivational factors of South African MMA fans. Aesthetic quality, Sports interest and Drama/Eustress were ranked as the highest motivators. There were some gender differences where females indicated that they were more interested in the Drama factor and the males in the Sports interest factor. It was clear from the results that most male fans were drawn to MMA by word-ofmouth, clubs or events. The female fans used the internet and television as their media consumption of MMA. Although the study was limited to a local MMA event, insights into the motivation of the South African MMA fan were discovered as well as how media is consumed differently by different genders. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The purpose of the study has been to identify the motivational factors prompting the South African MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fan to attend events and how these factors are influencing their spending patterns and media consumption. With the growing popularity of Africa’s biggest MMA promoter and the production values and size of events, EFC (Extreme Fighting Championship) is taking the African market to a global level. To understand the South African MMA fan, marketers should differentiate strategies to meet these various customers’ satisfaction needs and demands. Media plays a big role in the growing of the sport, and Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and television broadcasts all contribute to fans gaining access to the MMA sport. The following motivational factors were used to measure the MMA fan: Aesthetic quality, Sports interest, Drama/Eustress, Socialising, Vicarious achievement, Fighter interest, Adoration/Hero, Violence, Escape, National Pride and Economic Factors. Participants who attended the local amateur MMA fights in the south of Johannesburg were requested to complete the online web questionnaire to establish the motivational factors of South African MMA fans. Aesthetic quality, Sports interest and Drama/Eustress were ranked as the highest motivators. There were some gender differences where females indicated that they were more interested in the Drama factor and the males in the Sports interest factor. It was clear from the results that most male fans were drawn to MMA by word-ofmouth, clubs or events. The female fans used the internet and television as their media consumption of MMA. Although the study was limited to a local MMA event, insights into the motivation of the South African MMA fan were discovered as well as how media is consumed differently by different genders. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

No description available.

Background: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is an enigma that has become synonymous with combat sports over the past few decades. Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a combat sport that is growing in popularity world-wide. The objective of this study is to determine the factors associated with head trauma among MMA athletes. Methods: Logistic regression analyses using SPSS 20 was employed to model putative covariates against the dichotomous outcomes of unconsciousness (for the full dataset) and diagnosed concussion (for the enriched subset of fighters who were rendered unconscious). Results: Increasing age, black or African-American ethnicity, shorter rest periods between fights, increasing numbers of significant clinch strikes landed, significant distance body strikes landed and power strikes landed to the body at distance are all factors associated with being diagnosed with a concussion among the fighters rendered unconscious. Conclusion: If bolstered by confirming laboratory and clinical evidence, policies should be developed for implementation by MMA governing bodies to help reduce incidences of head trauma and concussion, built around fighters’ demographic and behavioural characteristics. In particular, enforcing a mandatory rest period between fights and placing an upper limit on fighters’ age are ideas worth exploring.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-06T17:07:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 resumo Rodrigo Batalha.pdf: 124696 bytes, checksum: 43256abd6110a66d342ab174fc3f660b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Introduction: Among the sports of combat (MEC) in the present, one has stood out by mixing techniques from other martial arts. This kind of sport is given the name of mixed martial arts (MMA). The large training load and the danger that the sport provides, can generate significant psychological changes in these athletes. It is important that arise further research on the psychological aspects of MMA athletes. Objectives: To investigate the mood and motivation of professional and amateur mixed martial arts athletes in training; and, through systematic review, analyze (a) the scientific production in the Sports Science on mixed martial arts and, (b) the scientific production of Psychology of Sport related to mixed martial arts. Method: This dissertation consists of studies of systematic and empirical reviews. The study included 46 athletes of mixed martial arts aged between 18 and 36 years. The instruments used were the Questionário de caracterização geral de atletas de MMA, Brunel Mood Scale and the Sport Motivation Scale. Data were collected in gyms with the athletes always at the beginning and end of the training, with a total of one to three training sessions. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 through the normality tests Shapiro-Wilk and in accordance with the proposed distribution, the Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. The significance level of p <0.05 was adopted. Systematic reviews followed the Prisma Protocol and searches occurred in SciELO, ScienceDirect and Web of Science databases. Results: It was found that the amateur and professional athletes are characterized by high school, they have another job besides being an athlete and most professionals compete in national or international events. The athletes showed the mood profile similar to the "iceberg profile". The training increased the fatigue of athletes as well as the fact that sponsored atletes changed their vigour. Athletes with scheduled fight showed changes in tension and anger of the athletes before and after training. Athletes with worse quality of sleep had altered levels of depression, vigour and fatigue. MMA athletes had high intrinsic motivation, average levels of extrinsic motivation and low amotivation. The identified regulation was higher in professional athletes. The amotivation was higher in athletes who reported having regular health. Conclusions: The athletes presented mood profile similar to the "iceberg". The training decreased the fatigue of athletes as well as the fact that sponsered athletes had an increase in vigour. The fact that athletes with scheduled fight had an increase in tension and anger before and after training. Athletes with worse sleep quality got worse in the levels of depression, vigour and fatigue. In motivation, MMA athletes are characterized to have a high level of intrinsic motivation, especially internal motivation for stimulating experiences, low amotivation and medium levels of extrinsic motivation, especially the identified regulation. / Introdução: Dentre as modalidades esportivas de combate (MEC) existentes na atualidade, uma vem se destacando por misturar técnicas de outras lutas. A esse tipo de esporte dá-se o nome de artes marciais misturadas ou mixed martial arts (MMA). A grande carga de treinamento e o perigo que a modalidade proporciona, pode gerar alterações psicológicas importantes nesses atletas. É importante que surjam novas investigações sobre os aspectos psicológicos de atletas de MMA. Objetivos: Investigar o humor e a motivação de atletas profissionais e amadores de mixed martial arts em treinamento; e, através de revisões sistemáticas, analisar (a) a produção científica nas Ciências da Esporte sobre mixed martial arts e, (b) a produção científica da Psicologia do Esporte relacionada ao mixed martial arts. Método: Esta dissertação é composta por estudos de revisão sistemática e empíricos. Participaram do estudo 46 atletas de mixed martial arts com idades entre 18 e 36 anos. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Questionário de caracterização geral de atletas de MMA, Escala de humor de Brunel e a Escala de Motivação Esportiva. Os dados foram coletados nas academias junto aos atletas sempre ao início e ao final dos treinos, com o total de um a três sessões de treinamento. Os dados foram tratados pelo programa estatístico SPSS versão 20.0, através dos testes de normalidade Shapiro-Wilk e de acordo com a distribuição apresentada, foram utilizados os testes Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis. Foi adotado o nível de significância p< 0,05. As revisões sistemáticas seguiram o Protocolo Prisma e as buscas ocorreram nas bases de dados Scielo, ScienceDirect e Web of Science. Resultados: Verificou-se que os atletas amadores e profissionais se caracterizam por ter Ensino Médio, possuírem outra profissão além de ser atleta e a maioria dos profissionais competem em eventos nacionais ou internacionais. Os atletas apresentaram o perfil de humor semelhante ao de iceberg . Os treinamentos aumentaram a fadiga dos atletas, bem como o fato de possuir patrocínio alterou o vigor. Atletas com luta marcada apresentam alteração na tensão e raiva dos atletas antes e depois do treinamento. Atletas com pior qualidade do sono apresentam alterações nos níveis de depressão, vigor e fadiga. Atletas de MMA possuem elevada motivação intrínseca, níveis médios de motivação extrínseca e baixa amotivação. A regulação identificada foi maior nos atletas profissionais. A amotivação foi maior nos atletas que relatam ter saúde regular. Conclusões: Os atletas apresentam perfil de humor semelhante ao de iceberg . Os treinamentos diminuíram a fadiga dos atletas, bem como o fato de possuir patrocínio foi um fator de aumento do vigor. O fato de os atletas estarem com luta marcada, aumentou a tensão e raiva dos atletas antes e depois do treinamento. Atletas com pior qualidade do sono apresentam piora nos níveis de depressão, vigor e fadiga. Na motivação, os atletas de MMA se caracterizam por possuir um elevado nível de motivação intrínseca, com destaque para a motivação interna para experiências estimulantes, baixa amotivação e níveis médios de motivação extrínseca, com destaque para a regulação identificada.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-08-01T12:44:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Sebastião Carlos Ferreira de Almeida - 2016.pdf: 4708359 bytes, checksum: 8a4a7bc6bc4f5612fdcd3cb5150fa0c8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-08-01T12:46:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Sebastião Carlos Ferreira de Almeida - 2016.pdf: 4708359 bytes, checksum: 8a4a7bc6bc4f5612fdcd3cb5150fa0c8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-01T12:46:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Sebastião Carlos Ferreira de Almeida - 2016.pdf: 4708359 bytes, checksum: 8a4a7bc6bc4f5612fdcd3cb5150fa0c8 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-10 / The following study consists in a sociological analysis about the production of manhood styles in the universe of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), from an ethnographic research made with a group of physical fight practitioners in the city named Goiânia-GO. Thus, it points out to the relevance of consumption and the interference of the market in the construction of some symbolic repertoire about manhood seen as essentials and/or primordials, discussing how the subjects seize and embody such an imaginary thing amidst stress, ambivalences and disputes. The document is organized into five chapters. In the first, I talk about the questionable utilization of physical fights and martial arts as an invented tradition, as an orientalist play, in the configuration of imaginary communities. In the second, I talk about the appearance of MMA coming from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), giving focus to historical and sociological aspects that takes part in the symbolic economy in which establishes some manly speeches that are important for involved agents with the dynamic of manhoods in question. The third chapter brings thoughts about implied codes to the expression of manhoods in the universe of fighters where it was realized the field research, emphasizing the usage of signs associated to the genre relations with the production of relevant styles of the habitus of fighters. I develop discussions about the acceptance of the speech of order and the discipline of the contributors in the fourth chapter, in order to determine how interactions with women and other manhoods go through the influence of conservative opinion; and how much this dynamic is responsible for the creation of conflicts in this universe. The fifth chapter talks about the biographies of iconic fighters in several levels of the field topology embodied by fighters and referees that take part of the cultural goods market around MMA and UFC. So I posit that the fight that brought the thoughts about manhoods in this study highlights the stress around the sexuality, of questions related to family and to work; and before it means a sportivization, it indicates an intense civilizing process, as it allows the fruition an uncontrolled control of the emotions and makes evident tools of social control. The respect and affection of traditional institutes like family and heterosexuality, like the possibility of social ascension through MMA, require from the fighters a self-sacrifice that reinstalls in the contemporaneous scenario the perspective of the individual discipline as a resource to the success. This process allow us to imply that dynamics and rhetoric of market (re)products styles of manhoods seen as “non corruptible” by the present day, such elements being appropriate by interested agents in the symbolic capital that is inherent in the form of disputes for hegemony. Keywords: Mixed Martial Arts, manhoods; uncontrolled control; imaginary communities; market of symbolic goods. / O presente estudo consiste em uma análise sociológica da produção de estilos de masculinidades no universo do Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), a partir de uma pesquisa de caráter etnográfico realizada junto a um grupo de praticantes de lutas corporais na cidade de Goiânia-GO. Aponta, assim, para a pertinência do consumo e para a interferência do mercado na construção de certo repertório simbólico sobre masculinidades tidas como essenciais e/ou primordiais, discutindo como os sujeitos apropriam-se e corporificam tal imaginário em meio a tensões, ambivalências e disputas. O texto está organizado em cinco capítulos. No primeiro, discorro sobre a problemática das lutas corporais e das artes marciais enquanto tradição inventada utilizada, enquanto peça orientalista, na conformação de comunidades imaginadas. No segundo, abordo o surgimento do MMA a partir do Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), focando aspectos históricos e sociológicos que participam da economia simbólica dentro da qual se instalam discursos e retóricas viris importantes para agentes envolvidos com a dinâmica da masculinidade em questão. O terceiro capítulo traz reflexões a respeito de códigos implícitos à expressão de masculinidades no universo de lutadores onde foi realizada a pesquisa de campo, realçando o manejo de signos associados às relações de gênero com a produção de estilos relevadores de habitus de lutadores. Desenvolvo discussões sobre uma apropriação do discurso da ordem e da disciplina por parte dos colaboradores no quarto capítulo, no sentido de apontar como interações com mulheres e outras masculinidades sofrem a influência de disposições conservadoras; e o quanto tal dinâmica é responsável pela produção de conflitos nesse universo. O quinto capítulo aborda a questão das biografias de lutadores emblemáticos em diversos níveis da topologia do campo constituído por lutadores e mediadores que participam do mercado de bens culturais em torno do MMA e do UFC. Postulo que a luta de que se lançou mão para as reflexões sobre masculinidades nesse estudo realça a tensão em torno da sexualidade, de questões relacionadas à família e ao trabalho; e antes de significar uma desportivização, indica um acirramento do processo civilizatório, na medida em que permite a fruição de um descontrole controlado das emoções e evidencia ferramentas de controle social. A valorização de instituições tradicionais como a família e a heterossexualidade, bem como a possibilidade de ascensão social através do MMA, exigem de lutadores um auto sacrifício que reinstala no cenário contemporâneo a perspectiva da ascese individual como recurso para o sucesso. Este processo permite inferir que dinâmicas e retóricas de mercado (re)produzem estilos de masculinidades tidos como “não corrompidos” pela modernidade, sendo tais elementos apropriados por agentes interessados no capital simbólico que lhes é inerente sob a forma de disputas por hegemonia. Palavras-chave: Mixed Martial Arts; masculinidades; descontrole controlado; comunidades imaginadas; mercado de bens simbólicos.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work / Robert Schaeffer / The sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) was once referred to as a No Holds Barred (NHB) fighting contest, but is now known as cage, extreme, or ultimate fighting. Showcasing athletes from a variety of martial arts backgrounds, a referee stoppage, knockout, or submission is the only way to win. Pushing their minds and bodies to the limits, fighters often engage in hand-to-hand combat inside of a ring or cage in front of a crowd, for anywhere from three to twenty-five minutes. How does one become an MMA fighter? Through a rigorous and complex process of socialization that will be referred to in this work as the ‘spartanization’ process. A mixed methodological approach, primarily qualitative in nature, was used to reveal the rigorous and complex nature of this process. This study’s data collection began with six site visits taking place over the course of six months. Utilizing a convenience sampling method, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 male and 14 female fighters. The interview schedule addressed fighters’ involvement in the spartanization process, their experiences in the gym as well as the cage, and their perceptions as fighters. Male and female participants described the spartanization process and ascribed meaning to it in similar ways. Their motivations for becoming MMA fighters are explained using theories of identity and alienation. Findings demonstrate that the sport of MMA and process of becoming a fighter are both highly gendered. One was neither found to be more nor less gendered than the other, but according to this study’s findings women are more likely to feel the effects of gender at the organizational level than they are a the level of training. Not sure what MMA is? Never heard of the UFC before? Do not worry, the histories of both are provided. By reading this work you will also learn more about the athletes participating in this sport, and discover whether or not you have what it takes to be the next ‘ultimate fighter.’

Athletes competing in the unarmed combat sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) are at an increased risk for long-term neurological consequences due to repetitive head trauma. Mass differentials as well as reported differences in fight styles between Lightweight and Heavyweight fighters in MMA may affect head impact kinematics creating different levels of head injury risk. Factors that influence the risk for head injury include the frequency, magnitude and interval of head impacts. The purpose of this study was to compare differences in frequency, frequency distribution of impact magnitudes, and time interval between head impacts per match between Lightweight and Heavyweight fighters in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Head impacts of 60 fighters were documented from 15 Lightweight and 15 Heavyweight MMA fight videos. Impact type, frequency, and interval were recorded for each fighter, followed by the reconstruction of 345 exemplar impacts in the laboratory using a Hybrid III headform and finite element modeling to determine impact magnitudes. Next, head impacts (punches, kicks, knees and elbows) from fight videos were visually estimated to determine their corresponding magnitude range and establish the frequency distribution of impact magnitudes. The study revealed no significant differences in overall impact frequency and interval between Lightweight and Heavyweight fighters. The frequency distribution of different impact magnitudes was significantly different, with Lightweights sustaining significantly more Very Low, and High magnitude impacts. Overall, both Lightweight and Heavyweight MMA fighters sustain similar impact characteristics as other high-risk athletes including professional boxers and football players. Understanding the different factors that create brain trauma allows for the monitoring, identification, and protection of higher-risk athletes within these two weight classes.

We aim to develop knowledge of how new technology, in this case social media, can contribute to how sports fans interact with their idols. Therefore our framing of a question is to present how fans experience their contact with mixed martial arts (MMA) &amp; ultimate fighting championship (UFC) through social media platforms. To specify our study, we also have a supplement question with in which way sports fans uses social media.We have chosen to conduct a qualitative study consisting of interviews and data observations of websites, related to the organization UFC, to approach our main question. We have interviewed nine randomly selected people with one common interest - MMA/UFC. With an implant of theories, consisting of social media, fandom and lurking, on the result of the interview and website data, we try to come closer to a conclusion for our intention with this thesis.Our conclusion is that the interviewed fans express that through the usage of social media, they feel like they have come closer to UFC. They have developed a deeper knowledge about the sport, the members and other fans that shares the same interest. Most of our respondents have a lurking attitude towards the social media usage, which means that they are more like observers and soak in the information and media material. They are active in the searching of material related to UFC, but they are not active in the way of contributing with comments, discussions or material.

abstract: Masculinity has been increasingly recognized as a critical and relatively unexplored area of inquiry in anthropological gender studies. This project seeks to expand anthropological research on masculinity to contemporary American society. Using the case study of a male-centered popular new sport, Mixed Martial Arts (also known as cagefighting) this project integrates theories of embodiment and feminist perspectives to explore how masculinity and masculine hegemony are shaped, contested, and perpetuated in the United States. Using a multi-level framework this project explores: 1) How is masculinity experienced and expressed by Mixed Martial Arts fighters as a form of self-identity? How do their bodies play a role in constructing masculinity? 2) What are the pervasive forms of masculinity associated with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)? Are they truly representative of the sport? 3) Can these pervasive forms of masculinity be seen as hegemonic? How would hegemony operate in relation to individual experience? Using multiple methods to capture multiple points of view was critical to thoroughly examining the complex notion of masculinity. This study employed participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, surveys, photo elicitation, and media content analysis, as each presented particular benefits and allowed for the development a more well-rounded understanding of masculinity within the realm of MMA. This study also situates the rise of MMA and its representations of masculinity within the greater perspective of contemporary American society. By doing so reveals how ideologies of prescribed masculinity do not arise out of a vacuum but in relation to particular economic, social and political contexts. An emphasis of this study was to examine the daily lives of MMA fighters to understand how their participation in what may be regarded as a hypermasculine activity affects their own perceptions of masculinity. In looking at how masculinity is embodied, the gaps and often contradictions between representation and individual experiences are revealed. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to contribute to a better understanding of masculinity as both an embodied and relational construct. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Anthropology 2011