What does MMA stand for? In sports, MMA means Mixed Martial Arts, a full contact combat sport in which fighters may strike with fists, feet, knees and elbows and also wrestle and use submission holds. The "mixed" part is the point: athletes combine skills from boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, judo, jiu jitsu and other styles.
The same letters also turn up at the bank, where MMA can mean a money market account, and in a few science and medical labels. A quick look at the surroundings, gym or bank, settles it. Gym schedules and fight cards point to the sport, while a bank statement points to the account.
Quick facts
Stands for
Mixed Martial ArtsOther meanings
Money market account, methyl methacrylateType
InitialismHow to say it
M M AUsed in
Sports news, gyms, fight cards, bank statementsRelated terms
Martial arts, grappling, striking
What does MMA stand for in the ring?
| Letter | Word | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| M | Mixed | Several fighting styles used together |
| M | Martial | Related to fighting or combat |
| A | Arts | Trained skills and techniques |
Fights take place in a fenced cage or a roped ring, divided into timed rounds. A bout may finish with a knockout, a stoppage called by the referee, a tap out when one athlete is caught in a hold or the judges' scorecards after the final round. Fighters wear small open fingered gloves so they can grab and grapple as well as punch.
Skills that make up the sport
Coaches usually describe MMA as three phases, and complete fighters train for all of them.
- Striking: punches, kicks, knees and elbows, drawn from boxing, kickboxing and similar styles.
- Wrestling: takedowns, keeping a fighter against the fence and stopping takedowns.
- Ground fighting: control on the mat and submission holds such as chokes and joint locks, much of it from jiu jitsu and judo.
Gym class schedule: "Tuesday 6 p.m.: MMA fundamentals, all levels. Bring a mouthguard." This is a beginner class that mixes basic striking and grappling, usually with light contact or none.
Many people train for fitness and self defense and never compete. Safety rules, weight classes and medical checks apply to those who do.
Other meanings of MMA by field
Outside sports, the letters have a few settled meanings. Rank them by where you are reading.
| Field | Stands for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Banking | Money market account | "Interest earned, MMA ending in 4471" |
| Chemistry and industry | Methyl methacrylate | A liquid used to make clear acrylic plastics |
| Medicine and lab tests | Methylmalonic acid | A lab value a doctor may order in a blood or urine test |
A money market account is a deposit account offered by many banks and credit unions. If you see MMA on a statement, that is the meaning. For the medical sense, ask the doctor who ordered the test what the number means.
Saying and writing MMA
You say it as three letters, "M M A," and print it in capitals without dots. Since the opening sound is "em," choose an over a: "an MMA fighter," "an MMA gym."
Sample sentences:
- "She switched from boxing to MMA in college."
- "The MMA card has five fights tonight."
- "Our gym offers kids' martial arts but not MMA."
- "I moved my savings into an MMA at the credit union."
A person who competes is an MMA fighter. You may also hear the term mixed martial artist.
MMA vs other combat sports
People sometimes mix up MMA with sports that use only one set of skills.
- Boxing allows punches only, with larger gloves and no grappling.
- Kickboxing adds kicks but does not allow wrestling on the ground.
- Wrestling and judo focus on throws and holds without strikes.
- MMA allows all of these within one set of rules.
Some large professional promotions have their own initials, and you can find one of them on the brand name acronyms page. More sports shorthand lives on the famous acronyms page.
Quick tips for reading MMA
- On a sports site, a flyer at a gym or a fight poster, read it as mixed martial arts.
- On a bank or credit union statement, read it as money market account.
- On a lab report or a safety data sheet, look for the full chemical or medical name nearby.
- If you are unsure, the first use in a well written document should be spelled out.
Letter by letter speech makes MMA an initialism; the page on acronym vs abbreviation has the details. Related sports letters include RPE, a way of rating how hard a workout feels.
Questions people ask
What does MMA stand for in sports?
Mixed martial arts, a combat sport that allows striking and grappling. Fighters blend styles such as boxing, wrestling and jiu jitsu.
What does MMA mean on a bank statement?
It usually means money market account, a kind of deposit account. Ask your bank if you are not sure which account the letters refer to.
Is MMA the same as cage fighting?
Cage fighting is an informal nickname, because many events use a fenced cage. The proper name of the sport is mixed martial arts.
How do you pronounce MMA?
Each letter is spoken: "em em ay." Nobody says it as one word.
Is MMA a good workout for beginners?
Many gyms offer beginner classes that focus on technique and fitness with little or no hard contact. Talk with a coach about your goals, and check with a doctor first if you have health concerns.