Vortexsportan independent magazine about the culture and media of combat sports

An independent magazine about the culture and media of combat sports. This is not the website of Vortex Sport, a promotion or a federation; we do not hold events, do not sell tickets and do not write about betting.

Events

Events

Combat sports competitions vary enormously: from an Olympic tournament to an amateur show at a local gym. They have different organisers, rules, goals and ways of being shown. In this section we explain the kinds of events, how fight day works and how to check for yourself that an announcement is genuine. We do not hold or announce events ourselves.

A genuine event can always be found on its organiser's channels. If an announcement exists only in advertising, that is a reason to be cautious.

— From the editors

How this section works: we explain how events are organised, but we do not publish their calendar, announcements, fight cards or results. There are no ticket sales links here and no assessments of specific organisers.

Kinds of events

Four types of competition that most combat sports news is about.

Olympic competitions

Tournaments on the Olympic Games programme. The rules and qualification are set by the international federations and the Olympic Movement; the format is strictly regulated.

History

Federation championships

National and international championships held by sports federations. The federation's rules apply, and results are published in official records.

Professional shows

Events staged by private organisers and promotions. They are geared towards spectators and broadcasting, and the rules and oversight depend on where they take place.

Amateur competitions

Competitions for beginners and amateurs, often with modified rules and protective equipment. The main goal is experience and the safety of the competitors.

How fight day works

An event begins long before the first bell. The weigh-in usually takes place the day before or on the day of competition: each competitor must make the limit of their weight class. This is part of the rules that keeps a bout evenly matched and safe.

Before stepping into the ring or onto the mat, competitors undergo a medical check. The ringside physician confirms whether each athlete is fit to compete and stays close to the field of play throughout the evening.

The order of bouts is called the fight card. It is drawn up in advance but can change — for example, if a competitor is withdrawn on medical grounds. If the event is broadcast, a broadcast crew works alongside: director, camera operators, commentators and graphics. For the viewer at home, an event is also a story that this crew puts together.

How to verify an event announcement

  • Find out who the organiser is and look for their official website or official pages
  • Check the venue: the place and date should match in the organiser's and the venue's announcements
  • Look for confirmation in an official source, not just in advertising or reposts
  • Buy tickets only from the organiser or from sellers the organiser has officially named
  • If an announcement appears in only one unverified source, treat it as unconfirmed
  • People and roles

    The roles at a combat sports event and how to read broadcast credits and press releases.

  • Archived address: event page (in Russian)

    What used to be at the archived event page address and how to check whether an event really exists.

  • History

    A timeline from the Marquess of Queensberry rules of 1867 to the Olympic debut of karate in Tokyo.

Sources

  • International Olympic Committee — history of the sports
  • Encyclopaedic sources on the history of boxing and combat sports
  • Association of Boxing Commissions — Unified Rules of MMA
  • Encyclopaedic sources on the history of sambo

Historical information is based on open official and encyclopaedic sources. Sporting rules, weight classes and competition regulations change — check them on the official websites of federations and organisers.