Mainstream MMA - Going Primetime
Where Does Mixed Martial Arts Come From?
Is MMA really a brutal, former underground sport that’s suddenly burst into popularity? I don’t think so… This is a complex contest of elite athletes that’s been around for centuries. The only things that have changed are the rules, the equipment, and our perceptions about this sort of competition. We suddenly see ourselves as above this sort of contest now that we have computers, machines, and technology to work for us.
Unless you’ve been following the mixed martial arts world for several years, chances are you don’t understand where this sport came from or how far it’s come in recent years. Thanks to the hit reality show The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC® has finally brought the sport of MMA into prime time, and the fans love it.
Through no small amount of effort, Dana White and the UFC® have established unified rules with numerous state athletic/boxing commissions across the United States, and even in several countries abroad. They bought out their biggest international competitor Pride Fighting Championships (PrideFC), and continue to steamroll other combat-related sports such as boxing and kickboxing.
New venues for mixed martial arts continue to appear throughout the US and the world, but instead of acting as real competition to the major fight leagues, they serve as the “minor leagues” where fighters can prove themselves before stepping it up into the major leagues.
One of the biggest problems for mixed martial arts in the past was the general consensus that it’s brutal, dangerous, and uncivilized. This actually turns out to be quite an uneducated view. As education about the sport gains momentum, people are realizing that this is not just a bunch of bullies punching and kicking the crap out of each other under “street rules.” These are highly trained, elite athletes who must think before they act. They play a full-contact game of chess with their skilled opponents that goes far beyond just punching and kicking.
To understand this view, one first must be clear on a few facts. For starters, the sport is much safer than most people believe. Because of the previous “no holds barred” nomenclature, some people still think about eye gouging, groin strikes, and bare-knuckle brawling. None of these things are allowed in any legal MMA events in this country.
It’s certainly fair to say that the sport is not safe when compared to picking flowers, but when you compare it to similar sports such as boxing, kickboxing, or even American football, you might be amazed at how safe it really is.
Fighters in MMA events are under extremely close scrutiny by the referee at all times. Because the fight is never paused for knockdowns (the only pauses are in the case of a injuries that need to be checked by a doctor, or fouls that usually come from illegal strikes), there is actually less chance of brain trauma. Likewise MMA gloves that have much less padding than boxing gloves also reduce the amount of head shots a person can take and thus reduce the overall chance for serious, long-term brain injury. There are many other reasons why the sport is safer, including the fact that fights often enough by submission, but the real proof is in the statistics.
Because it is a sanctioned sport in many states in the US, it is governed by athletic commissions or boxing commissions. These agencies have very strict medical rules and require extensive medical tests on fighters require the fight agencies to keep medical records for their fighters. Upon review of these records and comparison to similar boxing records, one can easily see the difference.
The chances of being killed or severely injured in a boxing match are far greater. These facts continue to sway more athletic commissions to accept the unified rule system and thus allow mixed martial arts competition in their states. In the past, the safety excuse was often employed to protect the current sports offered (mainly boxing). But as promotion money and fan interest in boxing quickly dries up, the states are suddenly swayed toward allowing MMA competition.
One can argue that this is still a barbaric contest that civilized people need not participate in. Alas, many of us are born competitive individuals. There is no clearer way to compete than a fair, one-on-one fight using an established set of rules, with trained judges, and a referee to ensure absolute safety and adherence to the agreed upon rules. Such a contest eliminates excuses and locks the competitors into a struggle that engages their skills, strength, speed, and intellects.
Let’s face it, it’s going to be a long time before we strip out the violent tendencies we were born with and have harbored since we started walking on two legs. Allowing willing competitors to fight in a controlled environment under strict rules its certainly a big improvement over wars or the old-fashioned fights to the death.
Some will still insist on comparing it to human cock-fighting, but the reality is that each contestant is a willing participant. Most martial artists train to avoid fights or to escape dangerous situations, but MMA fighters are athletes who train to compete against other individuals. They utilize their bodies and their talents in the manner they choose, and most of them love the sport. I’m not sure how one can argue against that.
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