The Sun
FASCINATION with medieval history runs deep worldwide – but very few would want to go as far as to re-enact the bloody wars that plagued the era.
Yet inspired brutal battles that took place in the Middle Ages, a competition has emerged that sees fighters wield axes and swords in a bloodthirsty sport that makes the UFC look like child’s play.
From one v one fights to terrifying “mass battles”, competitors can strike any part of their rival’s body – making for gory scenes as if straight from a History book as the “deathmatch mode” sees fights last until only one person is left standing.
Historical Medieval Battles, also known as “Buhurt”, is a full contact fighting sport, where brutes can arm themselves with steel blunt weapons based on those from the Middle Ages.
But these are not staged battle re-enactments and are instead true fights refereed by specially trained “knight marshals” with combat experience.
Fighters – who are allowed to hit and wrestle their enemies – must be suited up in 30kg of armour, mainly made from steel to mimic the aesthetics of their historical counterparts.
Footage from “mass battles” shows wannabe warlords ruthlessly whacking their opponents with hardcore weapons after running towards each other – as if fighting in a proper war.
The savage sport emerged in the late 19th century when the first large-scale battles with the use of steel arms were held in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
