Pankration Was The Ancient Roman Era’s Equivalent of MMA

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Thousands of years before the UFC was born, there was pankration. A brutal, Olympic-standard sport that saw fighters go up against each other with bloody brawls in front of roaring crowds and commanding emperors. Not much is known about how pankration first came about, but history says that it was created by Theseus, in his attempt to vanquish the Minotaur. Theseus is also often depicted as having cauliflower ears, something that is a common feature amongst MMA fighters. Although the sport originated in Greece, it was Rome that helped to put it on the map.

The Far-Reaching Influences of Ancient Rome

Rome hasn’t just helped to influence MMA, however. It’s also had a profound impact on other entertainment verticals. Roman playwrights, including Plautus and Terence, often serve as inspiration for several modern-day performances. You also have a number of TV shows and movies that are based on Rome, including Those About to Die and Domina. In gaming, you have titles like Rome: Total War.

This game follows three Roman families as they go on a quest to try and seize control of the ancient Roman Empire. Popular slingo games including Slingo Centurion also take inspiration from Ancient Rome, with colossal symbols and the option to accumulate cash prizes across shields. With features that include Caesar’s Free Spins, games like this make a direct reference to Roman Emperors, making the influence of Rome on modern entertainment undeniable, whether it is through TV shows, theatre, games, or mixed martial arts.

Lighter Fighters Often Faced More Powerful Opponents

The sport of Pankration was very different from modern-day MMA. In the UFC, fighters often compete against others who are in the same weight class. This was done to ensure that the fights were fair, and so that people did not end up with a blatant disadvantage when they stepped foot into the arena. Pankration, however, had no weight classes at all, meaning anyone could go up against each other. Just like gladiator fighting, matches took place outdoors in sandy pits, with the sun blazing down. There were no water breaks, no rounds, and only certain moves were prohibited. They included eye-gouging and biting. If a fighter happened to go against these rules in the pit, then they would be beaten with an iron or wooden rod by the person refereeing the match. With MMA being the fastest-growing sport in terms of participation and viewership, the sport’s popularity is undeniable. With that said, it’s interesting to think what MMA would look like if ancient sports like Pankration did not exist.

As pankration was an Olympic sport, fighters fought in the nude, and their bodies were covered in oil. Women were not allowed to participate, and some fighters weren’t athletic at all. It’s been documented that some had pot bellies and were overweight. This was seen as being a desirable build as well, as it helped to keep opponents further away. Theogenes of Thasos was said to be the greatest warrior of the time, winning 1,400 matches. Khabib Nurmagomedov is the modern-day equivalent in the UFC, with a perfect record of 29-0, showing how many fights people had, compared to modern fighters today.