A competitr sits as he waits before fighting in an MMA (mixed martial arts) arena at the Knights of the Cage, a gala of a medieval armored combat or buhurt, in Onet-le-Chateau, southwestern France, on June 20, 2026. Fighters in armor with shields and swords, or axes, have taken part in about twenty fights in an MMA cage in Aveyron. It was overwhelmingly men who fought in individual "behourd profight" clashes, presented as the modern version of "what was the equivalent of MMA of the Middle Ages" by the town hall of Onet-le-Chateau. French, Polish, and British fighters participated in this event at the Salle d'Armes Ecole Ancienne (SAEA), a club specializing in buhurt. "The word 'buhurt' comes from Old French; it was a recreational activity for men in the Middle Ages... It's the intersection of history and combat sports," explains Clement Carsac, president of SAEA Aveyron. Before the fights, participants must be weighed because, as in boxing, there are weight categories in buhurt profight. They then put on their armor and helmets, which can weigh up to six kilos. The outfit is rather expensive: "A complete set costs between 3,000 and 4,000 euros," according to Clement Carsac. (Photo by Valentine CHAPUIS / AFP via Getty Images)