“Did you see the big fight this weekend?” The question used to be about boxing matches, when the giants of the fight world were Mike Tyson and Roy Jones. Now fans are leaving the sweet science in droves for the combat sport of the future: mixed martial arts (MMA).

MMA has drawn millions on cable and network television, as well as out-performed professional wrestling and boxing on pay-per-view. Fans are attracted to the sport, but unlike boxing (where strategy and technique are limited to using both your left and right hands), an MMA fight can be surprisingly complicated.

The MMA Encyclopedia puts the fighters, the facts, and the fundamentals of the world's fastest growing sport at your fingertips as the definitive reference guide to mixed martial arts. The encyclopedia will break the MMA language barrier for those who don't know a wristlock from a wristwatch, while at the same time offering perspective and analysis that will entertain the hardcore fan who already has the basics down pat. With three appendices that detail the results of every MMA fight in history, this the ultimate reference book for the ultimate sport.

Jonathan Snowden's profile page

Kendall Shields' profile page

Peter Lockley's profile page

Jonathan Snowden quit his job as a lawyer after September 11, 2001, to join the United States Army. He trained in Brazilian jiu jitsu and the Army Combatives Program and fell in love with the UFC. He is a former radio DJ and television producer who worked for the White House Communications Agency in Washington, D.C. He currently works for the Department of Defense and is a Contributing Editor for UGO.com and the author of Total MMA (ECW Press, 2008). Kendall Shields lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he teaches English at Saint Mary’s University and judo at the Dalhousie University Judo Club. This is his first book.

“An incredible resource for any fan. In stores on Tuesday, the book is a treasure trove of MMA stories, people and history. From A (David ‘Tank’ Abbott) to Z (Zuffa), all the major players are included with records and recaps of past UFC, Pride and other major events.” — Chicago Sun-Times

“The MMA Encyclopedia is the latest offering from Jonathan Snowden, author of Total MMA, one of the best and most complete accounts of where this sport came from ever written … This is the kind of book that you’ll go back to time-and-again.” — The Province

“[The MMA Encyclopedia is] one of the more exhaustive references you’ll find on the sport of mixed martial arts … I highly recommend the book. Snowden’s first book, Total MMA, was one of the better MMA books I’ve ever read, and this one may be even better.” — Houston Chronicle

“A must-read … puts the fighters, the facts and the fundamentals of the world’s fastest-growing sports at the fingertips of fans of all pages.” — Post and Courier

“A monolith of MMA goodness in softcover format. If you were to fly with it, you might need to check it … Highlighting fighters, organizations, trainers, TV networks and more; it would be hard to imagine any major influence — or minor for that matter — in the history of major MMA not being in here.” — Bleacher Report