Mixed martial arts has a perception problem in the United States. From the guy who runs CBS saying it was a mistake to sign a deal with EliteXC to athletic commission officials saying there's more drug use in MMA than in boxing to negative stories in the Washington Post and Associated Press, a lot of casual American sports fans are left with the impression that the sport is savage and dangerous.But the reality is that MMA in the United States is far more advanced than MMA in other countries in terms of taking the health of fighters seriously. Take this from Dave Meltzer's piece about this weekend's Dream.3 show:
Japanese MMA is still a completely different animal than the UFC, because the former has no governmental regulation. There is no steroid testing. Many of the matches are made at the last minute, and in one case, a fighter, Melvin Manhoef, was in the ring just two weeks after taking a knockout in a kickboxing match, something that would never be allowed in a major U.S. commission state.There's a certain segment of the population, and especially of the sports media, who begin with the premise that MMA is a despicable pseudo-sport that has no place on the American sports landscape. But people who are willing to keep an open mind about MMA see that the American version of the sport shows a dedication to the safety of its participants that makes U.S. sanctioning bodies, and the UFC, worldwide leaders.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. It's sad, I don't think a lot of people will fully embrace MMA. I'll never understand why.
Posted at 12:44PM on May 12th 2008 by Oh No Romo
2. Seems like there's been an anti-MMA agenda since UFC began. Those who are unwilling to learn more about the sport continue to think it's like the old vale tudo style fights. I really think the only way we can get it changed is if we get a grassroots movement infiltrating the politics of this. It's a good thing we have intelligent spokespeople for this sport.
One thing I find interesting is that advocates for the sport don't directly address the brutality. I see a lot of the interviews where the question of brutality is raised and only until the advocates get cornered do they admit it's brutal. We should just get straight to the attack. This sport can get brutal, like it or not. I think it's about time we got out of our shells and debated them first. The number of states beginning to sanction MMA are facts. Throw those numbers in their faces.
The great thing is we have numbers and statistics that make our sport look better than many other sports out there.
Posted at 1:14AM on May 13th 2008 by Talkbets
3. It is very odd that we live in a world dominated by news of brutality. Turn on the tv and see some poor dude who was shot to death because he looked at some other guys girlfriend. Pick up a news paper and read that a family of five was murdered in their home. Go to any hospital and witness first hand the truma of human brutality upon another.
M.M.A. is not brutal, its educational. It is another form of the old vice. A show for the croud. Now, the Romans - they put on a brutal show. One in which the loser did not walk out alive. If the M.M.A. is brutal, what do you call the fights in a hocky game?
Those guys beat the ship out of each other and no one seems to care. There are little kids at those games and impressions are formed early. At the M.M.A.,there are refs, coaches and rules. It is very orginized with a large degree of safty in place for the athlets. All those who say M.M.A. is a brutal sport has no knowledge of the sport. They only see some guy with blood all over his face and think thats so horrible. "It's barbaric" ... NO!...sending a young man off to fight a war that has no value and have body bag after body bag sent home to grieving parents... THAT'S brutal!
The sport of M.M.A. is good for most men and some women. It is honest and clean cut. Maybe? But at the very least, it's a warm fuzzy feeling surrounded by popcorn and cold beer, an occasional laugh and a few
"awe wow, that's gotta hurt" inspiring human moments of good entertainment.
FOREEVER, the very best of the best... SHAMROCK
Posted at 8:32AM on May 13th 2008 by Daniel
4. There are many factors to blame here, but I think one that bears scrutiny is the "sour grapes" attitude of the over-traditionalist martial artists--and the many more people who, while never engaging in martial arts, secretly buy into the same mythologies. Yes, skill is the ultimate determinant, but there are no botta segreta, no magic moves, and certainly no mystic chi force that spindly little bullied-boy can tap into to suddenly become the Karate Kid. What MMA has shown is that, just like any other sport, athletic activity, or endeavor of the human body, it's still a synthesis where "skill" boils down to applying power in the most effective way. And so, yes, strength, conditioning, speed play factors, as do the mental toughness to train maniacally and gut it out in a bout. Those who don't have those qualities--but like to continually FANTASIZE that they do, "somewhere, deep down," will always label things like MMA (or football, or any of a number of other activities) "merely" barbarism. Debate them, yes: when and where there are people listening who are sitting the fence and need to be properly informed. But most the people against whom we directly debate are set in their fantasy attitudes and will never get it themselves.
Posted at 10:17AM on May 13th 2008 by Bo