Mixed martial arts vs Pankration
Mixed martial arts and Pankration side by side, from the facts recorded for each art.
| Mixed martial arts | Pankration | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of origin | — | Ancient Greece |
| Type | combat sport | martial arts |
| Notable practitioners here | 2071 | 2 |
| Top countries of practitioners | United States, Brazil and Japan | Thasos and Russia |
| Equipment and weapons | glove, mouthguard, breeches and helmet | — |
| Weight classes | Yes | — |
Mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport based on striking and grappling, incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
From the Wikipedia article Mixed martial arts (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Pankration
Pankration (; Ancient Greek: παγκράτιον [paŋkráti.on]) was an unarmed combat sport introduced into the Greek Olympic Games in 648 BC. The athletes used boxing and wrestling techniques but also others, such as kicking, holds, joint locks, and chokes on the ground, making it similar to modern mixed martial arts. The term comes from the Ancient Greek word παγκράτιον (pankrátion), meaning "all of power" (from παν- (pan-) 'all-' and κράτος (krátos) 'strength, might, power').
From the Wikipedia article Pankration (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Facts from Wikidata (CC0): Q114466, Q201252. Practitioner counts are the people with a profile on this site. Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.