Mixed martial arts: more common every day

It seems like every two months we are hearing great news about the great sport of mixed martial arts that is becoming more and more common. Only in the last few years can I recall the news of EliteXC (now StrikeForce) to CBS, the toy deal for the UFC, at least 2 MMA movies on the big screen and the Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell deal and 185 lb. champion, Anderson Silva to be the official MMA representation for Bud Light. You can even point to the lead role of Randy Couture in Scorpion King 2.

All of this coverage is great for the sport, but sometimes I feel selfish and I don’t want the sport to grow too big or have too many fans. I want to keep it all to myself with the current hardcore niche fan base. But overall, it is best for the continued growth of the sport, which will benefit all fans in the long run. And while this might mean having to listen to the rookie who has been following the sport since Brock Lesnar’s first fight, speak all his knowledge on his new Affliction jersey. It means hearing all the pranksters at work talk about how Kimbo Slice is the greatest fighter of all time.

However, one of the best results of the recent explosive growth of MMA is that the focus has been refocused on martial arts, training, discipline and fitness. At a time when many of us are not exercising enough and staying active, I can’t believe how many new sign-ups I’ve seen at the Jiu-Jitsu school I train at. Nothing is better than ending the day rolling and the stress relief that comes with it.

But in the end we can accept these terms for the growth and advancement of our beloved sport. Who can blame someone who wants to start following the sport, even if it was after a Kimbo fight? And the more money he gets into the sport, the better, even though a promoter like Don King’s visions on the sport make fans shudder. So if you haven’t seen a fight yet, give it a try and get on board!