RAJU is the highest level of Estonian mixed martial arts competition. There are 2 competitions in a year, each holding matches for professional and amateur fighters.
Fighters could participate at MMA Raju in one of the three following divisions: amateur (C-class), semi-professional (B-class) and professional (A-class).[1]
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 by the head or neck, throwing the opponent out of the cage, spitting at the opponent, grabbing the fence, swearing.
For semi-professionals (B-class) the following additional actions are forbidden: elbow and forearm strikes to the head, kicking a grounded opponent in the head.
For amateurs (C-class) 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.
Since RAJU 8, there are two separate events held each time – amateur event during the day (C-class) and main event in the evening with professional fights.[2][3]
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.[4][5]
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.[10] Before Raju X, over 200 people donated blood.[11]
