The Road to Greatness: The 5-Stage Tournament Structure

This is not just another tournament—this is a battlefield designed to separate true warriors from the rest. The MMA Institute Tournament is built on a rigorous elimination process, ensuring only the most skilled and well-rounded fighters make it to the final stages.

Stage 1 & 2: The Trials of Combat (Public Elimination Rounds)

Before stepping into the final tournament, every fighter must prove themselves in two essential combat disciplines:

• Kumite (Karate Point Fighting) – A precision-based striking contest where competitors must secure 3-5 clean points to claim victory. Fighters must demonstrate speed, accuracy, and tactical execution to advance.

• Warrior Cage Grappling (New Jersey Wrestling Format) – A wrestling-based trial that tests a competitor’s ability to control, dominate, and submit their opponent. This stage ensures that only those with superior grappling skills move forward.

Passing one is not enough—fighters must survive both. The elimination rounds will be held in large venues, such as convention centers, pushing competitors to their limits in back-to-back tests of skill and endurance. Those who can’t handle the challenge will be cut from the tournament.

Stages 3-5: The Final Tournament

Only after surviving both elimination trials will a fighter earn their place among the final 250 competitors. These remaining warriors will battle through three intense stages, where true versatility in combat is required to win.

For gyms that are part of the Gym Portal, the advantage is undeniable. Instead of fighting through the elimination rounds, their fighters skip straight to the final 250, giving them a massive strategic edge in the tournament. However, this advantage does not guarantee victory—once inside the final tournament, every fighter must prove they belong among the best.