MMA Raju
Encyclopedia
MMA Raju is the highest level of Estonian mixed martial arts
league. There are 3 competitions in a year. The last competition, Raju 8 was held in Tartu on the 22nd of October 2011.
In all three classes, the following actions are considered fouls: headbutts, biting, grabbing hair, inserting fingers into orifices or wounds, attacks to the groin, small joint manipulation, attacks to the back of the head and spine, attacking and grabbing the throat, clawing and pinching, grabbing the collar-bone, direct attacks to joints, 12-to-6 elbow strikes, kicks and knees to the head of a grounded opponent, intentionally throwing the opponent onto the head or neck, throwing the opponent out of the cage, spitting at the opponent, grabbing the fence, swearing.
For semi-professionals (B-class) the following additional actions are forbidden: elbow and forearm strikes to the head, kicking a grounded opponent in the head.
For amateurs (C-class) the following additional actions are forbidden: elbow and forearm strikes, knees to the head, striking a grounded opponent to the head, kicking a grounded opponent, kidney strikes, throws with only a head-hold, leglocks that twist the knee, submissions that twist the spine.
There are two separate events held each time - amateur event during the day (C-class) and main event in the evening with professional fights.
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Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
league. There are 3 competitions in a year. The last competition, Raju 8 was held in Tartu on the 22nd of October 2011.
Fighter divisions
Fighters can participate at MMA Raju in one of the three following divisions: amateur (C-class), semi-professional (B-class) and professional (A-class).In all three classes, the following actions are considered fouls: headbutts, biting, grabbing hair, inserting fingers into orifices or wounds, attacks to the groin, small joint manipulation, attacks to the back of the head and spine, attacking and grabbing the throat, clawing and pinching, grabbing the collar-bone, direct attacks to joints, 12-to-6 elbow strikes, kicks and knees to the head of a grounded opponent, intentionally throwing the opponent onto the head or neck, throwing the opponent out of the cage, spitting at the opponent, grabbing the fence, swearing.
For semi-professionals (B-class) the following additional actions are forbidden: elbow and forearm strikes to the head, kicking a grounded opponent in the head.
For amateurs (C-class) the following additional actions are forbidden: elbow and forearm strikes, knees to the head, striking a grounded opponent to the head, kicking a grounded opponent, kidney strikes, throws with only a head-hold, leglocks that twist the knee, submissions that twist the spine.
There are two separate events held each time - amateur event during the day (C-class) and main event in the evening with professional fights.
Weight classes
Prior to Raju 8, weigh-ins took place on the day of the competition. At Raju 8, weigh-ins for the evening event took place one day before the event.- Flyweight (-125lb, -56.7kg)
- Bantamweight (-135lb, -61.2kg)
- Featherweight (-145lb, -65.8kg)
- Lightweight (-155lb, -70.3kg)
- Welterweight (-170lb, -77.1kg)
- Middleweight (-185lb, -83.9kg)
- Light Heavyweight (-205lb, -93kg)
- Heavyweight (-265lb, -120.2kg)
- Super Heavyweight (+265lb, +120.2kg)
Events
| No. | Event | Date | Venue | Location | Gate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MMA Raju 1 | February 21, 2009 | University of Tartu Sports Center | Tartu Tartu Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the... , Estonia Estonia Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies... |
200 |
| 2 | MMA Raju 2 | June 6, 2009 | A. Le Coq Sports Hall | Tartu, Estonia | 320 |
| 3 | MMA Raju 3 | October 31, 2009 | Tartu Sport Foundation Sports Hall | Tartu, Estonia | 500 |
| 4 | MMA Raju 4 | February 13, 2010 | Tallinn University of Technology Sports Complex | Tallinn Tallinn Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list... , Estonia |
750 |
| 5 | MMA Raju 5 | May 29, 2010 | Kalevi Sports Hall | Tallinn, Estonia | 675 |
| 6 | MMA Raju 6 | October 23, 2010 | A. Le Coq Sports Hall | Tartu, Estonia | 1050 |
| 7 | MMA Raju 7 | February 19, 2011 | Tallinn University of Technology Sports Complex | Tallinn, Estonia | 1100 |
| 8 | MMA Raju 8 | October 22, 2011 | A. Le Coq Sports Hall | Tartu, Estonia | 1300 |
Social responsibility
Before MMA Raju 7, the organizers established a charity program called "Donate blood with Raju fighters". In this program, mixed martial artists themselves and fans of the league donate blood together during one day, which occurs roughly one month before the event. For Raju 7, roughly 40 people donated blood. Before Raju 8, 85 people donated their blood, including Estonian rapper G-EnkaG-Enka
Henry Kõrvits , better known by his stagename G-Enka is an Estonian rapper and record producer.G-Enka started rapping in 1996 along with Revo and DJ Paul Oja, who was G-Enka's schoolmate. Together they started a band called Toe Tag. Their first album The Real Kuhnja Homophobes was released next year...
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