Muhammad Ali Inspired MMA With Inoki Fight

When you think of mixed martial arts, you may not immediately picture Muhammad Ali. However, Muhammad Ali inspired MMA through a groundbreaking and bizarre match in 1976 that still echoes today. In one of the strangest yet most influential moments of his career, the legendary boxer stepped into the ring with Japanese pro wrestler Antonio Inoki—an encounter that helped shape what would eventually become the sport of MMA. The Bizarre Bout That Changed Combat Sports On June 26, 1976, Ali entered the ring at Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan arena. Just weeks after defending his heavyweight title, he accepted an unusual challenge: a match against Antonio Inoki, promoted as “The Martial Arts