Do hardcore fans want MMA to be a sport or a sanctioned street fight?
I write articles about sports from a medical perspective. I have been described as "a passionate fan that just happens to be a doctor". I like this description and find it to be reasonably accurate. I am not trying to preach to anyone or act as some sort of 'moral authority'. I am not the 'all knowing' definitive voice of anything. I aspire to use my training/knowledge, professional (and personal) experience and humor to offer a fresh perspective.
Do the hardcore fans want MMA to be a sport or sanctioned street fight? I ask this question in all sincerity. Just read the comment sections or forums on the most popular MMA websites. They are full of the hardcore faithful equating the 'purity' of MMA and a street fight. It is commonly done with zeal, ferocity and often times vulgarity mixed with personal attacks.
A 'sport' has rules that protect the athletes from unnecessary serious injury and promote the integrity of competition. Street fights intend to injure, maim and disfigure your enemy by any and I do mean any means necessary (personal experience).
Growing up in Houston, Texas and without a silver spoon in my mouth, I'm far from a 'bad man' but it's been a minute since anyone has handed me my ass. 'Stealing' a dude, biting, blows to the nuts, eye gouging, stomps, your homeboy jumping in and producing a weapon are tried and true techniques in the world of street fighting. Not much money is made (except what you can take out of the pockets of your vanquished foes), very few sponsorship deals exist, particularly brief 'careers' are the norm and people lose their lives and family members in 'real' (not that youtube crap) street fights. I didn't have to become a board-certified orthopedic surgeon to offer this perspective. I know this all from personal experience.
Also mixed-martial arts has its basis in just that...martial arts. Though I am a black belt in nothing, I respect the art. Central to the fundamentals of seemingly all of the martial arts are the concepts of honor and respect (please read or re-read the Bushido or the Book of five rings). Anyone whom argues that a rule or 'technique' in MMA doesn't need to honorable or respectful of your opponent has lost me.
Believe me, I love (not like) to see the blood pouring more than most but I do not subscribe to the 'mo blood' is 'mo better' mentality. The blend of Intelligence, speed, power, agility and grace during combat is poetry in motion for me.
Also, acting an ass to 'sell' the fight should not carry over from boxing and professional wrestling to MMA. A tremendous skill set will sell far more ppv's in the long run than talking about your opponent like a dog.
If the hardcore fan wants to regularly view street fighting, God bless him. Truly I have no quarrel with that. It exist in an underground culture and on most any corner where the boys are 'gettin' money' but not cable, network or pay-per-view tv.
What do hardcore fans truly want to see?... a sport with a future. Where the elite athletes with tremendous skills make good money and enjoy long careers in an environment with multiple promotional companies that produce financially successful, exciting, competitive shows. And adequate structure/rules to entice sponsors and advertisers to invest their hard earned money...or a street fight.
I want to see a professional sport. Which means I would actually like to see a bit more thought into the rules. Like foot stomps, I know you wrote about how dangerous foot stomps are before. I agree and they should not be allowed.
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