The Clash of Titans-Stake Powers Armored MMA’s Explosive Debut

As a fan of fighting sports, whether boxing, MMA, judo, or anything else, you may be wondering whether there can ever be more to this branch. With wrestling being a sport thousands of years in the making and promotions like UFC changing the whole landscape of combat sports, there may be reason to believe that this is it, that nothing else will ever appear and disrupt the market. Well, if you think so, you are very wrong, because Armored MMA, or AMMA, is here! And what is this, exactly, and should you care about it? Well, it is only armor clad knights duking it out with swords and other medieval weaponry in a ring. No big deal…

Fans of combat and fighting, rejoice! Medieval cage fighting championship is here, and sponsored by a heavyweight of sports promotions and betting, the one and only Stake! Being no stranger to strong deals and partnerships, the platform knows what has potential, which is why Armored MMA is its latest endeavor. The 2025 USA Tour is underway as knights are coming to Nashville, San Antonio, Winston Salem, and Chicago in the next weeks and months. Sounds interesting? Keep reading to learn more about this incredible new sport and visit Stake.com for the best odds and predictions. 

What is Armored MMA? 

Sure, it all seems pretty clear from the simple explanation, but there is much more to it than two men in armor fighting with ancient weapons. It is a winning formula and an instant fan favorite, enough to fill out any area. However, it is also a serious promotion that cares deeply about everything, from safety and fun elements to organization and combat sports as a whole. Sometimes referred to as medieval MMA or buhurt style fighting, it is an increasingly popular combat sport that combines medieval armor and weapons with mixed martial arts in a hybrid competition. 

In these events, fighters don full metal armor, complete with helmets, brigandines, apuldrons, greaves, everything else, and wield blunted steel weapons. They have a wide variety of choices, from standards like swords and axes to maces, spears, and shields. The fighting is done in modern day cages or rings, akin to boxing or MMA events. Victories can come through knockouts, either technical or otherwise, or scoring points. It is an intense spectacle for all the senses, as the fighters physically clash with real steel. Safety rules are strict as there is no thrusting or choking, while downed fighters have a brief window of 10 to 15 seconds to recover before being counted out by the referee.

While it may sound completely new and modern, the sport traces its roots to full contact Historical Medieval Battles (HMB), or buhurt, which first aired in Russia during the middle of the 1990s. It developed through institutions like M-1 Global and continues globally with the International Medieval Combat Federation. Participants use historically accurate steel armor and blunted reproductions of weapons to compete in individual and large scale team battles. AMMA promotion is the latest, and its explosive debut run continues, now with Stake as the official sponsor that will put it on the map. 

AMMA currently has light heavyweight, super welterweight, middleweight, featherweight, cruiserweight, heavyweight, and titanweight categories. There are champions and official rankings, which are still not filled out as the whole organization is in its early stages. The unique event is touring the USA in 2025, and the upcoming schedule will see them visit San Antonio, Nashville, Chicago, and North Carolina. Portland, Canton, Houston, and Bloomington events are finished and have been amazing to witness. 

Each night of action features 10 epic battles where skill, strength, and medieval warfare are on full display. The knights have customized armor, each with their insignia and decoration, that makes them feel like heroes of old coming to face each other for the ultimate glory. It is only a matter of time before something as ingenious and promising as this takes over the world of combat sports. We will soon start seeing modern knights enjoy glory and promote chivalry like in the olden days! 

Stake’s Notable Partnerships and Sponsorships

This is hardly the platform’s first such endeavor. They are the leaders in it and have been doing it since their early days. Stake is now famous around the world not just as a top online casino and sportsbook, but also as a company and platform that has strong contracts and deals with some of the best athletes, teams, leagues, and organizations. From classic sports to igaming, they have managed to partner up and/or sponsor many times, with AMMA only being the latest such deal. So, who have they worked with in the past, and what are some of their best moves?

To keep in line with the topic of the article, Stake has a very lucrative and valuable deal with UFC. Ultimate Fighting Championship, as the most popular and dominant promotion of MMA, has a betting platform displayed in the octagon. It is the official betting partner in some regions, like Brazil, and a very important partner that promotes MMA betting. Furthermore, fighters have personal sponsorships with them, too, mainly Israel Adesanya, Max Halloway, Alex Pereira, Alexa Grasso, Alexandre Pantoja, Merab Dvalishvili, and others. 

Another lucrative deal comes in the form of their Formula 1 sponsorships with the Sauber F1 Team. Drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto are the current roster of the Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, as it is officially called. It combines the names of the betting platform, as well as the online streaming service Kick, the sister platform of Stake. The cars sport green and black livery design of Kick and have the Stake logo prominently displayed in the front. Hulkenberg and Bortoleto have been gaining some traction as of late, as the team is getting better and better.

Premier League football team Everton FC is another huge deal and one of the biggest sponsorships the platform has done so far. As the front of shirt main partner, it is the highest value sponsorship in the history of the club. Watford FC also had a deal during their stint in the Premier League, even during their relegation to the Championship. Individually, Sergio Aguero, the Argentine, Atletico Madrid, and Manchester City legend, is the official brand ambassador and football analyst with Stake. 

And still, this is hardly everything. One of their biggest deals is not even sports related, but oriented towards betting and streaming. Music superstar Drake has been a brand partner since 2022. He hosts exclusive streams on Kick where he streams gambling sessions on Stake and gives away millions of dollars in prize money and gifts to the viewers. Frankie Dettori, the legendary jockey, is signed as a global brand ambassador. Team Vitality, a Counter Strike igaming team, is another new international partner.

Misconceptions, Facts, and Trivia about Medieval Warfare 

• Misconception: Medieval swords were heavy and unwieldy
• Fact: Most medieval swords weighed between 2.5 and 4 pounds (1.1 to 1.8 kg). They were balanced for quick movements, especially longswords used in the 14th and 15th centuries. Even large two handers like the zweihänder were surprisingly agile in trained hands.
• Trivia: The Battle of Bannockburn (1314) proved the power of terrain and spears
• Scottish forces under Robert the Bruce used marshy ground and dense schiltron formations (tight spear circles) to defeat heavily armored English knights. They demonstrated that disciplined infantry could overcome cavalry under the right conditions.
• Fact: War hammers were designed to defeat armor
• By the late Middle Ages, as plate armor improved, blunt weapons like war hammers and becs de corbin (raven’s beak) became popular. These tools could dent, crush, or pierce armor without needing to cut through it and inflict significant damage.
• Misconception: The medieval battlefield was full of reckless one on one duels
• Fact: Personal duels were rare in real combat. Battles relied on unit cohesion, flanking, morale, and terrain. Most fighting occurred in formations or chaotic clashes, not choreographed sword fights. What you see in the movies never happened. 
• Trivia: The longbow’s deadliest use was not just its power, but the volume of fire
• At Agincourt (1415), English longbowmen loosed thousands of arrows in minutes, disrupting French charges and forcing them into muddy, narrow ground. They were then easily slaughtered.
• Fact: Firearms existed in the late medieval period
• Gunpowder weapons appeared in Europe by the 14th century. The Battle of Castillon (1453) saw the English defeated by French forces heavily using cannon. It marked one of the first battles decisively won with gunpowder.
• Misconception: Only knights fought in armor
• Fact: While knights had the best and most expensive armor, wealthier infantry and even professional mercenaries like the Landsknechts or Swiss pikemen also wore armor. By the 15th century, a full or partial plate was not uncommon among elite foot soldiers.
• Trivia: The Byzantine “Greek fire” was a medieval flamethrower
• Used as early as the 7th century and throughout the Middle Ages, this incendiary weapon could burn even on water. It was famously used in naval battles, such as during sieges of Constantinople, to devastate enemy fleets en masse.
• Fact: Medieval combat manuals taught grappling and wrestling
• Fighting was not just about weapons, but hand to hand, too. Manuals like Fiore dei Liberi’s “Fior di Battaglia” (c. 1409) included wrestling (called abrazzare), disarming, and armored grappling, often involving half swording or pommel strikes.
• Misconception: Castles were invulnerable fortresses
• Fact: Castles could be breached in weeks or even days with proper siege tactics. Kenilworth Castle (1266) endured a 6 month siege, but others fell faster due to treachery, starvation, sickness, or advanced siege engines like trebuchets.

Medieval Combat FAQs

1. What weapons were commonly used in medieval combat?

Medieval warriors used a wide range of weapons, including swords, spears, axes, maces, flails, and bows. Knights favored longswords and lances, while foot soldiers might use polearms like halberds or billhooks.

2. Did knights fight in full plate armor?

Yes, by the late Middle Ages (14th and 15th centuries), knights often wore full suits of plate armor. Despite popular belief, it was not excessively heavy, typically 45 to 60 lbs, and was well distributed to allow mobility and combat efficiency.

3. How effective were swords compared to other weapons?

Swords were versatile and prestigious, but not always the most effective on the battlefield. Weapons like polearms, war hammers, or maces were better against armored opponents. Swords and daggers were often secondary weapons.

4. What was melee combat like during a battle?

Melee combat was chaotic, loud, and brutal. Fighters relied on formations and teamwork, especially infantry. Battles involved not just slashing and stabbing but also grappling, disarming, overpowering in groups, and using shields defensively and offensively.

5. Were medieval battles as bloody as movies show?

Yes and no. While battles could be brutal, many combatants were captured for ransom rather than killed, especially the nobles. Of course, sadly, peasant levies and common soldiers often faced higher mortality.

6. How did archers and crossbowmen fit into medieval armies?

They played vital roles in suppressing and covering fire. English longbowmen were feared for their rate of fire and battlefield impact. Crossbows were powerful and easy to use, making them effective even for less trained soldiers.

7. Did medieval armies use strategy, or was it just a brawl?

Strategy was crucial. Commanders used terrain, formations, ambushes, and feints. Famous battles like Hastings and Crécy were won through tactical planning, not brute force and clashing armies alone.

8. What was a knight’s combat training like?

Training began in childhood and focused on riding, swordsmanship, wrestling, and mock combat. Knights also trained in martial arts like Fior di Battaglia (Italian) or the German Fechtbuch traditions.

9. Did women ever participate in medieval combat?

Yes, though rarely in formal armies. Some women defended castles, led troops (Joan of Arc), or joined crusades. Noblewomen at court, alongside their brothers and cousins, could be trained in basic self defense and weapon use.

10. What role did siege warfare play in medieval combat?

Siege warfare was a major part of medieval conflict. Armies used battering rams, catapults, trebuchets, and siege towers to breach fortifications. Defenders responded with fire, rocks, boiling oil, javelins, arrows, and counter mining.