Welcome class, have a seat.  I hope your mind is clear and ready to learn because I will be needing your undivided attention.

Good class on Monday.  Some of you had questions, and others had things to add.  I applaud both.  First I'll address the questions, then I'll get into some more "common knowledge" information.

Question 1: What is a Superman Punch?

A:  A superman punch or cobra punch is a technique used in Muay Thai and mixed martial arts fighting. The technique involves bringing the rear leg forward to feign a kick, then snapping the leg back while throwing a cross, resulting in greater power behind the punch.

(That is the end result there.  Youtube it.  You shant be disappointed.)

Question 2: What is a "Flying" Knee?

A:  A flying knee (sometimes called a jumping knee) is a knee strike very similar to a front knee, except that it is performed in stand-up fighting by jumping, and often by rushing towards the opponent. A more reckless application of the flying knee strike can be applied by rotating the body so that the side of the knee strikes the opponent, used more as an offensive pushing attack rather than a concussive KO attack. Generally, flying knee strikes can be effectively applied when the opponent is off-balanced, recovering from previous strikes, or as a counter to a strike by the opponent.

Now, onto the main class topic:  MMA "Common Knowledge Part 1"

I will give you questions, and then answer them, so when you hear or are engaged in conversation and these questions come up, you won't sound like Peachy.

Question: Why don't all of these guys join together and make one huge, awesome league?

A:  Money. Fighters are worth more to certain companies due to their regions, and with all the new startup organizations with big money it will never happen

Question: Who are the biggest names that I need to know?

A: Legends- Kazushi Sakuraba, Mark Coleman, Frank Shamrock, Ken Shamrock, Matt Hughes, Randy Couture, Marco Ruas. More recent stars - Georges St. Pierre, BJ Penn, Anderson Silva, Paulo Filho, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Fedor, Andrei Arlovski.  There are too many names for all to be listed.

Also, if you want to know what past stuff you should look out for, Hyped78 made some blog posts on top fighters, top knockouts and top submissions (his personal opinions, of course):

www.fannation.com/blogs/post/118615
www.fannation.com/blogs/post/137675
www.fannation.com/blogs/post/127835

In addition you have to keep in mind that there are opinions on who is great and who is not, between companies and even years apart- for example, a fighter such as Dan Severn or Ken Shamrock in my mind would not last a round with today's fighters.  Example: you put Severn in a catch-weight fight with even Diego Sanchez and he is going to be beaten 99 of 100 times- put him in the ring with Rampage and he is going to be mauled. If GSP fights in UFC 1-9, no one sees round 3.

Question: Where can I find the best fights on TV for free?

A: Easy, You Tube and UFC unleashed- one thing I did is visit your local pawn shops- you can pick up VHS tapes of a lot of the time (I JUST got UFC 10 for 2 bucks) - what I normally do is pick a fighter and watch a bunch of his stuff. Lot of CLIP JOBS on there- but you can dig and get the good stuff normally.  Also, Versus and HDNet hold fight cards, and sometimes Spike for the UFC.

Question: What are the weight classes?

A: Lightweight: 146 to 155 lb (67 to 70 kg)

Welterweight: 156 to 170 lb (71 to 77 kg)

Middleweight: 171 to 185 lb (78 to 84 kg)

Light Heavyweight: 186 to 205 lb (85 to 93 kg)

Heavyweight: 206 to 265 lb (94 to 120 kg)

In addition, there are four other weight classes specified in the Unified Rules which the UFC does not currently utilize: Flyweight (under 125 lb, 57 kg), Bantamweight (126 to 135 lb, 61 kg), Featherweight (136 to 145 lb, 66 kg), and Super Heavyweight ( above 265 lb, 120 kg). The Bantamweight and Featherweight classes are used in another promotion owned by Zuffa, LLC, World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC)

Personally, I don't think MMA needs all the weight classes- they cut weight the same but the frames are not so different between them- The Middleweight class for example is 3-4 separate Belts in Boxing, and I think WAY too confusing- I would like to see a Super Heavyweight one Day in MMA- but we might only see that in the WEC.

Q: What promotions are there, and how are they different?

A: UFC - Uses a cage.
Unified rules: Elbows allowed, no knees or kicks to downed opponents) 3 five minute rounds. 5 five minute rounds for a title fight.
TV deal: Live events and various television shows on Spike TV(The Ultimate Fighter). Pay Per View (PPV) pretty much every month as well.

PRIDE - Is dead, used a ring
Japan does not use a commission, promotions use their own rules
PRIDE rules: No elbows allowed, knees-stomps-and soccer kicks allowed to downed opponents) 2 rounds, first round was 10min, 2nd round was 5min.
TV deal: Mixed and matched show on FSN.

Elite/XC -  Uses a cage, promoted by Gary Shaw who also promotes boxing and
uses unified rules just like the UFC.
TV deal: Live events on Showtime and CBS.

DREAM - Is formally K1 Hero's, uses a ring.
Pretty much ran exactly like Pride was.
TV deal: Live events on HDNet (early mornings being from Japan), also rebroadcasted later that night.

WEC - Is also owned by Zuffa, who owns the UFC and uses a cage. Use Unified rules as well.
TV deal: Live events and various television shows on Versus.

Affliction - Yes it's a clothing company that used to sponsor fighters, but now they started their own MMA promotion.
Use a ring and unified rules
TV deal: Pay Per View, and recently signed on with HDNet.

Strikeforce - Uses a ring. A west coast regional show that also signs top quality fighters for headliners.
Uses unified rules.
TV deal: pre recorded events on NBC late night Saturdays...may run some live events. Live Events on HDNet and has streamed on YahooSports in the past.

Other domestic promotions you may hear about: Adrenaline on HDNet, King of the Cage on PPV, Sportfight on HDNet.

Other foreign promotions you may hear about: Shooto, Pancrase, World Victory Road's Sengoku, Cage Rage.

Well, students, I'll be cutting "Common Knowledge Part 1" here.  Part 2 will address more in depth questions on ears, fun facts, camps, etc.  Class will be Friday.  Don't be late.  Again, any questions or comments are welcome.  Good day.