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Violent sports have no legal justification, such as self defense, defense of another, defense of property, etcetera. The way that a person can commit assault and battery in MMA and not get into trouble is that the person has a license of some kind. Alaska has a wrestling and boxing commission. If you abide by its rules, then you have a license to legally hurt people that enter the ring or mat or whatever. This is what is known as a "sanctioned" event, as in violence is sanctioned in this instance by the state of Alaska. The law of assaults is partially suspended. Theoretically, two bad enemies could sign up for a Friday night boxing match just so they could legally come to blows.
Of course, your license only extends to the rules of the sport. The police may look the other way for little dust ups at weigh ins, but might not look kindly on a stabbing or an eye gouging. This may work differently in different states.