MMA Raju

Raju
Company typePrivate
IndustryMixed martial arts promotion
Founded2009
FounderOtt Tõnissaar
Headquarters
Tartu
,
Estonia
Websitemma.ee/en

RAJU is the highest level of Estonian mixed martial arts competition. There are 2 competitions in a year, each holding matches for professional and amateur fighters.

Fighter divisions

Fighters could participate at MMA Raju in one of the three following divisions: amateur (C-class), semi-professional (B-class) and professional (A-class).[1]

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 by 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.

Since RAJU 8, there are two separate events held each time – amateur event during the day (C-class) and main event in the evening with professional fights.[2][3]

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.[4][5]

  • Flyweight (-125 lb, -56.7 kg)
  • Bantamweight (-135 lb, -61.2 kg)
  • Featherweight (-145 lb, -65.8 kg)
  • Lightweight (-155 lb, -70.3 kg)
  • Welterweight (-170 lb, -77.1 kg)
  • Middleweight (-185 lb, -83.9 kg)
  • Light Heavyweight (-205 lb, -93.0 kg)
  • Heavyweight (-265 lb, -120.2 kg)
  • Super Heavyweight (+265 lb, +120.2 kg)

Events

[6]

No. Event Date Venue Location Gate
1 MMA Raju 1 21 February 2009 University of Tartu Sports Hall Tartu, Estonia 200
2 MMA Raju 2 6 June 2009 A. Le Coq Sports Hall Tartu, Estonia 320
3 MMA Raju 3 31 October 2009 Tartu Sport Foundation Sports Hall Tartu, Estonia 500
4 MMA Raju 4 13 February 2010 Tallinn University of Technology Sports Complex Tallinn, Estonia 750
5 MMA Raju 5 29 May 2010 Kalev Sports Hall Tallinn, Estonia 675
6 MMA Raju 6 23 October 2010 A. Le Coq Sports Hall Tartu, Estonia 1050
7 MMA Raju 7 19 February 2011 Tallinn University of Technology Sports Complex Tallinn, Estonia 1100
8 MMA Raju 8 22 October 2011 A. Le Coq Sports Hall Tartu, Estonia 1300
9 MMA Raju 9 14 April 2012 Kalev Sports Hall Tallinn, Estonia 1500
10 MMA Raju X[7] 13 October 2012 A. Le Coq Sports Hall Tartu, Estonia 1900
11 SLT Raju 11 20 April 2013 Saku Suurhall Tallinn, Estonia 2200
12 Olly RAJU 12 19 October 2013 A. Le Coq Sports Hall Tartu, Estonia
13 Raju 13 19 April 2014 Saku Suurhall Tallinn, Estonia
14 RAJU 14 18 October 2014 A. Le Coq Sports Hall Tartu, Estonia
15 MMA RAJU 15[8] 30 March 2024 A. Le Coq Sports Hall Tartu, Estonia
16 MMA RAJU 16[9] 21 September 2024 Kalev Sports Hall Tallinn, Estonia

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-Enka.[10] Before Raju X, over 200 people donated blood.[11]

References

  1. ^ "MMA Raju: rules". Archived from the original on 2 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Raju 8: Võitluskaart". Archived from the original on 23 October 2011.
  3. ^ "Raju 8: päevane amatöörüritus". Archived from the original on 22 October 2011.
  4. ^ "MMA Raju: rules". Archived from the original on 2 July 2011.
  5. ^ "FOTOD: Raju sportlaste vastasseisud Tasku keskuses".
  6. ^ "Raju event list on Sherdog".
  7. ^ "Raju 10 tuleb juubeliürituse vääriline". 17 August 2012.
  8. ^ "BLOGI JA FOTOD | Nokaut 13 sekundiga, kägistused, lukud - kõik MMA RAJU profimatšide võidud jäid Eestisse".
  9. ^ "FOTOD JA TÄISPIKKUSES | Dmitri Ivanov lahkus võitlusspordist väärt võiduga. Astur jätkas uut karjääri puhaste paberitega".
  10. ^ "Verekeskus: Tule Raju sportlastega verd andma".
  11. ^ "GALERII: Genka ja Raju sportlased doonorlust populariseerimas". Archived from the original on 10 October 2012.