MMA's rise to legitimacy and the thanks it owes UFC

What once was, and still is, perceived to be a modern day gladiator sport is on its way up the mountain to what could be called the pinnacle of legitimacy. Recently the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation IMMAF was formed with the goal and intent on "growing the sport globally and standardizing it". Long term goal and what would be possibly the final step towards legitimacy is the Olympics. That's right, the actual Olympics! As a long time supporter and fan of MMA, I can only imagine the day when you see Anderson Silva, George St. Pierre, and Rashad Evans standing on the podiums representing their countries and receiving both a Gold medal and true world wide recognition. There is an enormous amount of hoops to jump through to get there but the possibilities are definitely there.

           One major facet would be to standardize the sport worldwide, which includes well trained judges. For many years MMA has used judges from the boxing commission that, although trained, have shown extreme inconsistencies and flaws in scoring. Part of standardizing the sport globally will have to include, judges trained just for MMA fighting. Also governing bodies need to be set in place in more countries around the world, right now in many of the countries the UFC visits for fights, such as Brazil, there are no governing bodies for MMA so the UFC has to bring its own judges, referees, and hold it's own weigh-ins. Much change will come and it will take a lot of time to find the best way to standardize such a young sport globally.

            The sport itself will also have to continue it's push to show the world it isn't the gruesome, "human dogfighting" display it has been purported to be. This is where thanks to the UFC needs to be given. And if one day there is MMA in the Olympics credit will have to be given to Dana White and the UFC also. Although individual schools of fighting have been holding tournaments worldwide for many years and some underground "no holds barred" tournaments have existed, it wasn't until the UFC put MMA into the homes of Americans that it really took off. In 1993, the UFC held it's first tournament (later renamed UFC 1: the beginning). There were no weight classes and the fighters fought until there was a victor. Rules were extremely limited. Since then the sport has grown into a true art. Weight classes had to be introduced as fighters became more rounded in all schools of fighting, many rules and drug tests have been incorporated for fighter safety. The introduction of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV in 2005, which continues now on FX, was one of the biggest hurdles and greatest accomplishments of UFC president Dana White's career. This put MMA in the homes of every American and introduced them to the fighters as real people with families and lives. Over the course of the show, White has reigned in the violent outbursts and has worked hard to show the world that MMA fighters aren't brutes with no brains or hearts. As sports channels such as ESPN start to accept this sport as legitimate and safe, its popularity will only continue on the rapid path it has been on. According to the BBC over 80% of professional boxers will have brain damage. This is do to the constant padded blows to the head, which don't occur during MMA. As this fact enters the minds of Americans, MMA will enter their hearts. A safer and more pure sport with less long term injuries than Baseball, Football, or Boxing.

            The soon to be biggest sport in the world. The most pure form of competition. The Olympics are on the horizon and without the UFC none of this would be possible. Thank you UFC and job well done.

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