MMA Raju


RAJU is the highest level of Estonian mixed martial arts league. There are 2 competitions in a year. Their most recent competition, Raju X, was held in Tartu A. Le Coq Sports Hall on 13 October 2012.

Fighter divisions

Fighters can participate at MMA Raju in one of the three following divisions: amateur, semi-professional and professional.
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 onto the head or neck, throwing the opponent out of the cage, spitting at the opponent, grabbing the fence, swearing.
For semi-professionals the following additional actions are forbidden: elbow and forearm strikes to the head, kicking a grounded opponent in the head.
For amateurs 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.
There are two separate events held each time - amateur event during the day and main event in the evening with professional fights.

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.
No.EventDateVenueLocationGate
1MMA Raju 121 February 2009University of Tartu Sports CenterTartu, Estonia200
2MMA Raju 26 June 2009A. Le Coq Sports HallTartu, Estonia320
3MMA Raju 331 October 2009Tartu Sport Foundation Sports HallTartu, Estonia500
4MMA Raju 413 February 2010Tallinn University of Technology Sports ComplexTallinn, Estonia750
5MMA Raju 529 May 2010Kalevi Sports HallTallinn, Estonia675
6MMA Raju 623 October 2010A. Le Coq Sports HallTartu, Estonia1050
7MMA Raju 719 February 2011Tallinn University of Technology Sports ComplexTallinn, Estonia1100
8MMA Raju 822 October 2011A. Le Coq Sports HallTartu, Estonia1300
9MMA Raju 914 April 2012Kalevi Sports HallTallinn, Estonia1500
10MMA Raju X13 October 2012A. Le Coq Sports HallTartu, Estonia1900
11SLT Raju 1120 April 2013Saku SuurhallTallinn, Estonia2200

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. Before Raju X, over 200 people donated blood.