Recently, Mixed Martial Arts, or Mma, has established itself in the forefront of sports. So why aren't broadcasters embracing it like boxing or the others? Why don't you catch Mma news alongside the latest home run count update, or the results from the Nascar race? Some may say it's because until recently Mma hasn't been developed into a viable mass media product.
Mixed Martial Arts has had a bad reputation since its inception and the very first Ufc type events. The first match ups in the Ufc were poor. Pitting a sumo wrestler against a black belt in karate doesn't exactly make sense. While the sumo wrestler is big, there is no way he can defend against someone trained in striking. These preliminary fights were marketed as more of a freak show than actual sport. Still to this day, media outlets recall these terrible images from the sports distant past.
Sport News
Currently, Mixed Martial Arts is on par with boxing, baseball, or other sports as far as viewing audience. 200 million population paid to watch the Ufc on Pay Per View in 2006. Smaller local events like Xtreme Total Combat still prove to garner big crowds.
The sport is safer than most population think too. There have only been two deaths from Mixed Martial arts to date, and those were in smaller unsanctioned events. With the onset of permissible sanctioning, Mixed Martial Arts will only become safer and more competitive. Sanctioning will also bring an end to the "backyard blood baths" that bring such a negative image to the sport.
Mixed Martial Artists are some of the most extremely conditioned and well trained athletes in existence. The stamina needed to last an whole five rounds is incredible. Astonishing is very demanding, and so are the assorted throws and ground maneuvers valuable to win a fight. Most athletes train 6 days a week for between 3-5 hours a day. Because of the uncertainty of what could happen inside the cage, fighters need to train for all scenarios.
The dark days of Mma have ended, and with the new emphasis on permissible match ups, marketing, and athlete conditioning, this sports deserves the attentiveness of the mainstream media. It demands recognition comparable to the other big sports, and with time it should get it.
Mma, Cagefighting, Combat - These Sports Should Be Embraced by Mass Media
No comments:
Post a Comment