Pittsburgh: The steel cities tie to Mixed Martial Arts is more deeply rooted than one might think.

 

 Teaming up in 1933, Art Rooney and Barney McGinley’s would be one of the most well-known attractions in Pittsburgh during the golden age of boxing in the 1950s. (Pittsburgh MMA)

By Dustin Schlagel

 

 PITTSBURGH (April. 14, 2024) – In the sports community, Pittsburgh is widely regarded as a “sports city”.  With 16 total championships split between three major sports (Hockey, Football, and Baseball) Pittsburgh has been synonymous with winning since the 1970’s.

 

However, many may not know that long before Pittsburgh was brandishing black and yellow and winning world championships left and right, key figures were doing their part in laying the foundation for the Mixed Martial Arts scene in the city.

 

The History of MMA in Pittsburgh

 

One of the main contributors to Pittsburgh’s historic sports scene starts with Art Rooney. Rooney, who founded the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1933, found success as his time as the primary owner of the team, winning four NFL championships across his 55-year span as chairman. However, while Rooney was making strides in the world of football, he was also doing his part in growing the city’s boxing scene.

 

In the late 1930’s, the former Olympic level boxer Rooney would team up with fighter and promoter Barney McGinley to form the Rooney-McGinley Boxing Club. The club would find major success in the city, even going on to produce one of the city’s biggest boxing matches between Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles in 1951. The World Heavyweight title fight at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh drew a crowd of just over 28,000, an enormous figure even in today’s standings.

 

Even before Art Rooney was doing his part in selling out boxing events, the concept of Jiu-Jiitsu was being presented to the Steel City. In 1927, The Allegheny County Budo-Kai dojo was founded in South Hills, Pittsburgh. Budo-kai, a dojo that specializes in everything from Jiu-Jitsu to Karate, is not just one of the first MMA dojos founded in Pittsburgh, but the entirety of North America. The storied Budo-Kai is still up and running today and remains a historic piece of Pittsburgh’s martial arts scene almost 100 years later.

 

 

The boom of MMA

 

In the past twenty years, MMA as a combat sport has reached staggering heights in popularity. With massive companies like the UFC and Bellator putting on televised fight cards weekly, the sport has grown to a point that many longtime fans never thought it would reach.  What used to be known as a blood sport is now known be many globally as one of the fastest-growing sports today.

This is especially the case for the city of Pittsburgh. With boxing formally being one of the city's most beloved pastimes, the world of martial arts has smoothly transitioned to establishing a strong connection to Mixed Martial Arts in competition. Many gyms and dojos across the city have taken the opportunity to officially introduce the fighting style of MMA, including nationally known programs such as Stout PGH. Stout is a direct affiliate of Renzo Gracie, a former UFC and PRIDE fighter and a member of the legendary Gracie family. Together, Gracie and Stout have managed to bring more notoriety to the Pittsburgh fight scene.

 

Watch Here: Team Renzo Gracie training at Stout PGH

 

“I would watch videos of street fighting and boxing on the internet,” said Joao Martinez, a Pittsburgh native and professional fighter. “I had the desire to try a martial art but never got around to it. When I was 20 years old, I wanted to get back into martial arts, and that’s where I found Stout PGH and all my great teammates.”

 

 

The future of MMA in Pittsburgh

 

The love for MMA across Pittsburgh and the growing interest for the sport on a global level makes for an exciting future for fans across the Steel City. With big companies like UFC leading the helm, it has opened opportunities for Pittsburgh to open its own fight promotions. One of the most popular promotions to grow from the boom of MMA is 247 Fighting, also known as 247 Fighting Championships.

 

247 FC has become not only one of the most well-known cage fighting promotions in the city but also all along the east coast. Putting on monthly cage fighting cards titled “Brawl in the Burgh”, the promotion has attracted not only fans from all over the country but competitors as well. 247 FC has even piqued the interest of student-athletes looking to compete.

 

“The MMA scene in Pittsburgh is amazing”, said James Lledo, Lockhaven University wrestler and undefeated professional fighter. “All the guys at 247 FC want to do something special and it’s not hard to see that. Pittsburgh is on the come-up for MMA”.

 

In the past century, Pittsburgh has become known as one of the most prestigious sports cities of all time. On any given day, you’ll likely see a Pittsburgh native spend their day watching whatever sport may be in season, whether it be Football, Baseball, or Hockey. However, with the historic MMA scene growing in the city every day, combat fighting could reach that level of popularity much sooner than expected.