How to Get Your Girlfriend or Wife to Enjoy MMA

At one time, Boxing was the manliest of sports. The sweet science was a true test of wills, a test of who is the better man. The fastest growing sport in America today has taking the place of boxing. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has taken the reigns from boxing as America's predominant sport of manliness. Both a physical and a mental battle of two men, MMA is enjoyed by men across the United States, Japan, Brazil, and England.

After I got married, I really wanted my wife to join me on the couch and enjoy the fights with me. She had never seriously watched it. It was a guy thing. After some conversation about it, she was interested in the part where we get to spend time together and having conversation. She just didn't like that she didn't know anything to talk about. Now things have changed and she enjoys the fights almost as much as I do. It's still a work in progress and I am trying to get her to enjoy it more, but here is what I did to get her to enjoy a good fight.

I had to educate her on the basic rules. Mixed martial arts seems like chaos to someone that doesn't know what's going on. It's even more difficult when they just see two men lying on the ground. Two sweaty men on top of each other are not appealing to everyone, but much more is going on. Take the time to locate some clips on the internet to show her. The two men lying on the ground are trying to win and she needs to know how they are trying to accomplish this. There is the basic way that everyone knows which is a win by knockout. A good example of a fight being dominated by one fighter with the other fighter coming back with a knockout to win is Rory Markham vs. Brodie Farber at UFC: Silva vs. Irvin.

Another common way of victory that many don't understand is the submission. The two guys on the ground are usually trying to find a way to submit each other. There are three common submissions used in almost every single event. The first is an armbar. This is best exemplified in the Dustin Hazelett vs. Josh Burkman fight at The Ultimate Fighter Finale 7. Burkman was cruising through the round when Hazelett threw on an amazing armbar which when the fight in a matter of seconds. The single most common submission is a choke. There are so many of these you can find online that a specific fight need not be mentioned. The final submission you should educate her with is a kimura. Very often this move is done to control on opponent and doesn't lead to victory, but sets up other moves. However, the best example of this being used for victory is Matt Hughes vs. Joe Riggs at UFC 56.

The final way of victory is by decision. The last thing a fighter wants is to leave it in the hands of the judges. Many times it's very clear as to the winner is going to be. One fighter controlled the other guy through all three rounds. However, there are times when it is very close and the decision could go either way. Rampage Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin at UFC 86 is a perfect example of a close fight that needed a decision. After watching the fight you can explain to your wife or girlfriend what the judges are looking for and why the decision was what it was.

There are other articles like this, but I've never seen one mention the main thing that won my wife over. Watching The Ultimate Fighter television program hooked my wife. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) is a reality-based program where 16 fighters share one house and fight in a tournament over the course of a couple weeks. Rivalries and friendships are formed. My wife loved the aspect of getting to know the fighters outside the ring. Seeing their wives, girlfriends, parents, and children can make a real connection with someone unknowledgeable of the sport. Now when she sees someone she knows in the octagon about to take on an opponent, she has someone to cheer for. On the other hand, you also learn who to hate and want to see get defeated. Either way, it can really hook in the average television viewer. So, good luck reaching out to your wife or girlfriend. This can pay off in more time together, better communication, and a lot of fun. Most of all, guys, just remember to be patient. Nobody learns all this stuff overnight.