Fighting The Foog Fight

Barbaric is an adjective that is use to describe a person who is uncivilizied, crude, and unrestrained. The act of being barbaric is also associated with the sport of mixed martial arts. Mixed Martial Arts began as Vale Todu, which is a purtugal word for all is allowed. Vale Tudo was a television show that aired in Brazil and was hosted by Helio Gracie, a man that is credited as the father of brazilian jiu jitsu. On the show fighters of different disiples of fighting were pitted against each other to see which martial art was the best. In the United Stated mixed martial arts started as no hold barred fighting. Fighters were literally put in a cage with no gloves, no padding, and no rules except the last man standing wins. In these fights combatants were able to poke, strike, bite, or grab any part of the body they wanted to in order to get a win. The same Gracie family that was involved with vale tudo decided to bring true mixed matial arts to America. They presented and premoted the first Ultimate Fighting Championship(UFC) event in 1993. The premise of the first few UFC events was to see which fighting disiple was the best. The early UFC had more rule than a typical no holds barred match, but had many things some would still consider barbaric. Fighter still had no gloves, no weight classes, and no rounds. Fighters were even able to pull hair, headbut, and hit opponents in the groin area. This brutality eventually lead to the government banning the UFC in many most states and the loss of its pay per view licence. Since then, the UFC has been working with various commission

,has been purchased by a different company, regained its pay per view licence, changed its rules and has been sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commision. With all of the changes the UFC has made I all state commissions

should sanction the ufc and other mixed martial art events.

Mixed Martial Arts(MMA) in America and in other countries around the world have come a long way since its no holds barred beginnings. Nevada and New Jersey are states which have sanctioned MMA. New Jersey's mandatory rule set has become the standard set of rules for almost all MMA organization, including the UFC. With these rules combatants have to wear 6 oz gloves, approved shorts, take drug test, pass a physical, and submit their fighting history and experience. These rules also require 5 minute rounds, qualified corner men, wieght class, appoved judges and prohibit the use of joint manipulation, grion strikes, any strikes/pokes with less than four fingers, strikes to the back of the head, headbutting and kicking/kneeing a downed opponent. None of these rules would have been implemented

if not for the New Jersey State Athletic Commision. If law makers approve and state commissions

sanction MMA then they will be able to set their own rule set of adopt the safe set of rules created by New Jersey.

As of right now Fighting in the UFC is safer that fighting in a boxing match. Whenever you get knocked out in a regulated mixed martial art event the match is over. When you get knocked out in a boxing match you have a chance to get up and fight some more. The more punches you take to the head after being knocked out the more likely you are to have concousion. There has never been a death in a regulated in a regulated MMA match. On the flip side of that boxing has had over 600 deaths in the United States and over 1,300 deaths recorded worldwide. On top of that no man has ever been seriously injuried in a sanctioned MMA match. There have been broken bones, strained/ripped muscles, and various other aches and pains but, no more than in any other contact sport.

Most fighters in the United States are not able to make a decent living in MMA. The UFC is the premire MMA organization in the united states and at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 2 the average fighter payout was $4714.00. This total is not even counting the percentage the corner and that trainers take and most fighters only have 4 to 5 matches a year so you can imagine how low the average fighters pay is. Now think about the smaller shows that lesser know organizations put on. There total gate is not even half of what the UFC makes so most of their fighters don't even make half of what the average UFC fighter makes. If State Commisions were to sanction events bigger venues would allow MMA events and bigger venues mean more money for the companies and fighters. California recently lifted its ban on MMA and the California State Athletic commission