“You’re kidding, right?” That’s the usual response when someone finds out I’m a passionate Mixed Martial Arts fan, particularly a UFC fan.
Next comes the question: “What on earth do you enjoy about watching two people beat the crap out of each other?”...followed closely by a smirk, and an “Ahhhhh...” as they imply it must be because of the half-naked, buff men that compete.
While I’ll admit it’s not the worst part of watching a fight, it’s certainly not why I watch.
I got hooked accidentally. While flicking channels on TV one night, Art stopped on an episode of The Ultimate Fighter (season three, Ortiz vs. Shamrock). I groaned and begged him to keep flicking, but he wanted to watch. By the end of the show I was secretly checking to see when the next episode would air. TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) definitely has the edge of any reality show, with explosive personality clashes and high drama, but that wasn’t what drew me in. It was the incredible dedication, discipline and heart of some of the fighters that captivated me. The realization of a fight as being the ultimate sport – raw and honest and primal. No balls, no bats, no props – just one human versus another - and the result of each man’s commitment to himself and his game...mental, physical and emotional conditioning and strategy. A human chess game. For every move, a counter move. For every mistake, an opponent capitalizing.
The more I watched, the more it drew me in. I loved watching jiu-jitsu legend Royce Gracie defeat men almost twice his size, by technical prowess and sheer heart. Then there was the infamous battle of Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin in the TUF1 finale, a mesmerizing example of the human spirit willing itself on, long after the physical body should have tossed in the towel.
Whereas once a fighter could be a master of one discipline and use that to win, nowadays it seems to be in the top tier, an athlete needs to be highly skilled in all areas: Muay Thai, jiu jitsu, wrestling, boxing – and incredibly well-conditioned and strong to boot. The level of athleticism just keeps getting more impressive.
The idea of fighters as meatheads is one that comes up often, but it couldn’t be further from the truth – these guys are smart, disciplined competitors - and the class and sportsmanship shown in most cases could teach a thing or two to most other sports.
It’s not for everyone, but for those that love and understand the sport, there’s nothing else like it.
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