Before you write this post off and jump to a conclusion, I ask you to read this in its entirety and then feel free to comment, as I'm sure many will disagree with me.
The UFC is without question controversial. But if you take the time to educate yourself yourself about what changes have been made to it, while you may not wish to watch, maybe you will have a newfound respect for those who lay it all on the line to compete in the octagon
What is the UFC?
The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) is the premier promotion company of mixed martial arts. It includes multiple different weight classes and both a men's and women's division.
The UFC has changed a lot from its brutal "No holds barred" debut in 1993. The original intent of the UFC was to see which martial arts discipline was most effective in a fight.
There are many skills represented in the UFC today including:
- Boxing
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Wrestling
- Karate
- Kung Fu
- Kickboxing
- Muay Thai
- Judo
Brutal Beginning
The start of the UFC was absolutely brutal. The only rules were - "No Biting, and No Eye-gouging."
This led to senator John McCain say that he viewed the UFC as "Human Cockfighting" and urged and urged each individual state to ban the fights.
While he is not an avid fan, McCain has changed his views on the UFC with the rules that have been implemented and has watched a few of the fights himself while rooting for his favorite fighter Jon Jones. UFC has grown on one-time enemy McCain.
McCain's "Human Cockfighting" synopsis led to new rules being put in place for the safety of the combatants Full UFC Rules Here
A few UFC rules that were implemented (cited from wikipedia UFC)
- UFC 3 – The referee was officially given the authority to stop a fight in case of a fighter being unable to defend himself
- UFC 15 – Limits on permissible striking areas were introduced. Headbutts, elbow strikes to the back of the neck and head and small joint manipulation became illegal.
- UFC 28 – The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board sanctions its first UFC event, using the newly developed Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. Major changes to the UFC's rules included barring knee strikes to the head of a downed opponent, elbow strikes to the spine and neck and punches to the back of the neck and head. Limits on permissible ring attire, stringent medical requirements, and regulatory oversight were also introduced. A new weight class system was also introduced.[152] This new set of rules is currently the de facto standard for MMA events held in the U.S. and is still in use by the UFC.
Led by UFC commissioner Jeff Blatnick and referee John McCarthy, the UFC continued to work with state athletic commissions.[32] Blatnick, McCarthy, and matchmaker Joe Silva created a manual of policies, procedures, codes of conduct and rules to help in getting the UFC sanctioned by the athletic commissions, many of which exist to this day.[32] Blatnick and McCarthy traveled around the country, educating regulators and changing perceptions about a sport that was thought to be bloodthirsty and inhumane.[32] By April 2000, their movement had clearly made an impact.[32] California was set to become the first state in the U.S. to sign off on a set of codified rules that governed MMA.[32] Soon after, New Jersey adopted the language.[32] - Wikipedia
The Octagon
All fights take place inside the iconic octagon.
As per the official UFC website The Octagon:
"The 750 square foot Octagon measures 30 feet across and 6 feet high, and was created with both safety and fairness in mind. Its walls and padded surfaces protect fighters from falling out (or getting thrown out). The wide angles prevent fighters from getting stuck in a corner with no way out. Since boxing is fought in a square ring and wrestling in a circle, the Octagon avoids giving any one martial arts discipline the advantage. While a fight is in progress, only the two fighters and one referee are allowed inside the Octagon. Between rounds, both gates are opened to allow the cornermen and cutmen to enter the area."
Apparel & Protection
Mouthpieces:
- All fighters are required to wear mouthpieces at all times
- The round cannot begin without the mouthpiece in place
- If the mouthpiece is dislodged during competition the referee calls a timeout and allows the fighter to reinsert the mouthpiece
Protective Equipment
- Male fighters are required to wear a groin protector approved by the Commissioner
- Female mixed martial artists shall wear a chest protector subject to approval of the Commissioner
Gloves
- Gloves mus be worn and weigh least 4 ounces and are approved by the Commissioner
- Gloves should be supplied by the promoter and approved by the Commission
- No fighter is allowed to supply their own
Apparel
- Fighters may choose the following apparel - board shorts, biking shorts, kick-boxing shorts or other shorts approved by the Commission
- Gi's or shirts are prohibited during competition except that female contestant's musts wear shirts approved by the Commission
- Shoes and any type of padding on the feet are prohibited during competition
How do you win?
The thre main ways to win in the UFC are by Knockout, Submission, and Judges decision
Knockout
"A knock out occurs when a fighter is knocked down and either unconscious, disoriented or unable to intelligently defend himself"
Submission
A fighter gets their opponent to submit by using a choke hold or joint lock
Choke hold - Pressure is applied to the neck in an attempt to cut off blood flow to the brain. The goal is to get his opponent to tap out or lose consciousness
Joint lock - A fighter brings his opponent's joint to its maximum range of motion, causing extreme pain. The opponent will tap out to avoid any serious consequences.
Judges Decision
Judges score each round and for those interested the scoring can be found here - Judging Fights
All this leads up to UFC fight 202 Nate Diaz Vs. Conor McGregor on 8/20/2016
This is a rematch between the two with Nate Diaz having won by submission
The first fight can be viewed HERE
Usually there is a lot of respect between fighters, but this is not one of those fights
This is a fight between two of the greatest trash talkers of all time
Both fighters know how to sell a fight and the press conference leading up to the fight saw water bottles being thrown at one another and verbal barbs being exchange
Skip to the 10 min mark and watch some real heated entertainment
The Fighters
Conor "Notorious" McGregor
Larger than life Irishman known for his calculated and surgically precise verbal attacks along with his powerful punching and kicking. His ego could fill two rooms.
Nate Diaz
The lack of a nickname should be telling of this Stockton, California native. He is a no nonsense man who tells it like it is. Not as big an ego like Mcgegor, but Nate knows how to talk and back it up. Diaz is a long southpaw and is best known for his striking, in particular, his boxing skills.
Here is the promo for the fight
I am clearly excited for this fight and am going to watch with a few friends
Is the UFC a bloody sport? Sometimes. Is it Brutal? Sometimes. Is it entertaining? Absolutely
I liken it to the big hits in football and hockey that get the crowd so excited. One could argue that the UFC is even safer (although the potential for injury is very real) than sports like hockey, football and boxing. You are never blindsided in this sport and concussions and deaths are incredibly rare. If you compare it to the CTE that is being seen in football, I would actually rather my son learn this art for safety rather than football. The new rules and safety precautions have evolved this sport from its brutal beginnings
McGregor vs Diaz is only one of many fights on the card
Each one of these matchups could be talked about in length
I hope you took the time to read this entire article before you decided to comment. While you may not wish to watch the fight, hopefully you either have a new respect for the fighters (I did not even touch on the training and weight cutting that goes into each fight) or a knowledge of how the sport has evolved. I understand the sport is not for everyone. My father is one who completely disagrees with me, so I can completely understand why there are those that wish the UFC were outlawed. I do think that people should be able to do what they want with their bodies if they are consenting adults and if this is a way they wish to express and challenge themselves, I don't think it is our right to prevent them from doing so
For those interested in watching, the easiest way to watch is to either buy the Pay Per View, or visit a local bar showing the event. A list of bars showing the event are able to be searched by zip code HERE
Who Will Bring Home The Championship Belt?
I'd love to hear your thoughts, predictions, whether or not you will be watching, and if your perception has changed about the UFC
I try to write about a wide range of topics, so if this wasn't your cup of tea, please still follow for the quick tips and innovative ideas / heartfelt posts that I make
I'd love to hear your thoughts, predictions, whether or not you will be watching, and if your perception has changed about the UFC
I try to write about a wide range of topics, so if this wasn't your cup of tea, please still follow for the quick tips and innovative ideas / heartfelt posts that I make