I think I figured out a way for MMA to work in the olympics.

2 years prior to games -- countries send fighters to compete in regional games.

Each weight class has 7 slots to distribute, with the host nation getting the 8th. The maximum a country can have is two representitives per weight class.

Here are how the slots are given out:

Pacific: 1

Pan-American: 1

Commonwealth: 1

World Games: 1

Asian: 1

European: 1

All-Africa: 1

(may possibly need to be 16 to be fully representitive)

Spaces are given to the countries rather than the athletes. Countries may hold tourniments to determine who goes to the olympics or simply may appoint fighters.

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Prior to the olympics, the first round of the tourniment will take place. This will reduce the number of fighters in each class down from 8 to 4. This will be a special tourniment billed as a "final qualification".

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On the first two days of the olympics, the next round of the tourniment will take place. this will determine who will be in the gold medal match and who will be in the bronze medal match.

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on the second to last day of the olympics, the bronze medal matches will take place for each weight class.

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On the last day of the olympics, the gold medal matches will take place.

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I am thinking that they would use TUF-like rules, or maybe have 3x3 minute rounds to allow the athletes to fight more often.

I don't know how diverse the field is for MMA, I am expecting all the podiums to be any combination of Japan, USA and Brazil.

I do not understand why MMA cannot have a weekend tourniment like all the individual disciplines. I just find it strange that my friend can head to Korea on friday and be crowned runner up in his TKD tourniment on the monday when MMA fighters take months to recover.