The Ultimate Fighting Championship and Mixed Martial

Arts

By: Donald Tabor

The UFC and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

UFC: The League

MMA: A contact sport that allows for a wide range of fighting techniques including striking, kicking and grappling Different cultures = different techniques and

styles

The UFC Today

Live events hosted internationally 600 fighters in the UFC

Male and female Massive media presence

Various streams Global market reach

Increasingly popular Competitors and fan base

Social Perception

Barbaric in nature Organized street fighting

“Human Dog-Fighting”- Boston Globe Promotes violence Competitors viewed as role models

Impacts on youth, morals, values

Dangerous Sport

“A sport that involves activity that itself creates a significant risk of loss of, or serious impairment to, some basic capacity for human function” – J.S Russel

Thesis Statement

The ongoing operations of MMA under the governing body of the UFC are in good spirit and promote healthy competition amongst participants.

Argument #1

Dangerous Sport and Historical Development:

Ancient Greece Greco-Roman era Olympia and Delphi: The Pythian Festival (every 4 years)

Wrestling, Boxing, Pankration (wrestling & boxing)

Presence of dangerous sport in modern Olympic Games (Boxing, wrestling, judo, extreme sports) Growth of MMA in viewership and participation

Argument #2

Self affirmation through dangerous sport:

“Confronting and pressing beyond certain apparent limits of personal, and indeed human, physical and psychological capacities in ways not afforded by other normally available human activity” – J.S Russel

Argument #3

Intent to harm:

Victory is only achieved in an agreed upon circumstance NOT malicious intent.

Consent Rules & illegal maneuvers Intent to harm in other sports

NFL “Hit List”

Counter Arguments

“Fight club” tie back to rules and regulations, legal consent and understanding

Betting parallel it to football, extreme sports, professional nature, big business, etc.

Questions?