Mixed Martial Arts rapidly gaining popularity

By Louis O'Brien
Collegian Reporter
September 27, 2006

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a sport that combines boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu (a form of grappling similar to Judo); it is also one of the nation’s fastest growing sports.

On Oct. 10, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will once again air as a free live event on cable’s Spike TV. The UFC, a form of MMA, will feature a main event of former Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz battling former heavyweight champion Ken Shamrock. Many may remember Shamrock as a professional wrestler in the WWF, but he has always been loyal to his original sport of MMA. This event will mark the third and final match of a feud between the two fighters.

The UFC is not the only MMA organization in the United States, but it is certainly the best known. It also has rapidly grown to compete with boxing as our country’s number-one combat sport. According to MMAReport.com, Pay Per View numbers from four UFC events this year have equaled or surpassed all of boxing’s Pay Per View events this year. For example, at UFC 60 there were 600,000 buys at $39.95. This event beat all of HBO’s live boxing events, except for the De La Hoya /Mayorga fight, which had 925,000 buys. The second most buys for a boxing PPV was Vargas vs. Mosley I with 420,000 buys. UFC also charges $10 less per event, and includes at least five fights over the three hour telecast. Boxing typically has three fights on its main Pay Per View card.

While mixed martial artists are not getting paid as much as the biggest boxers, the recent increase in interest is certainly a sign that MMA is getting more and more popular. This will eventually lead to a bigger payday for the fighters, and more mainstream respect throughout the sports community.

This upcoming fight has a torrid back story. Previously, Tito Ortiz defended his Light Heavyweight championship (186-205 pounds) in 2002 against Shamrock when Shamrock’s corner threw in the towel at the end of round three. The fight was Ortiz’s fifth successful title defense. Since then, the feud boiled over when Ortiz and Shamrock both coached on UFC’s reality show The Ultimate Fighter 3, during the spring of this year. Following the end of the reality show, the two fought again at UFC 61, where the 30-year-old Ortiz stopped the 41-year-old Shamrock in just 78 seconds. Many thought the referee stopped the fight prematurely, so the UFC has decided to offer the final chapter of their feud on free TV.

Despite its popularity, many people view the UFC and MMA strictly as a no-holds-barred, blood sport. This is not the case, as it is a highly regulated sport with many rules which protect the fighters sometimes more than in boxing. The fighters have the option to tap out when in danger, and there is no standing eight count, as in boxing. If a fighter gets knocked down and shows no signs of defending himself, the referee can also immediately stop the fight. This prevents multiple power shots to the head that may cause brain damage and even death in rare circumstances. In fact, there have already been four deaths in just the first three months of 2006, according to the Journal of Combative Sport. Meanwhile, there has never been any reported form of long-term brain damage on any deaths in regulated MMA competition.

Mixed martial art fighters currently make many sacrifices to fight in regulated competition. Only the top fighters can fight and train full time since MMA promoting is a new business. Even under card fighters, making their UFC debut, only make up to $5,000 per fight. So look out for the UFC and other MMA organizations on FOX Sports Net and Spike TV, and help this amazing sport grow.

obrienl1@lasalle.edu