Why is MMA Continuing to Grow in Popularity?

Why is MMA continuing to grow in Popularity?

The sport of mixed martial arts has seen a rapid increase in popularity over the last couple of years and has now reached the point where it's begun to permeate the mainstream media. MMA is now appearing on national sports websites, terrestrial television and in newspapers more than ever before. But what are the reasons for MMA's growing fanbase and mainstream exposure?

My Style is the Best

People have enjoyed watching human combat for centuries, ranging from the Pankration of ancient Greece and the gladiator bouts of Rome to bare-knuckle fighting and modern-day boxing. MMA carries on this tradition. Part of the appeal of MMA, especially with regards to the older events, is the pitting of various fighting systems against each other. In the original UFC events there'd be a kick-boxer versus a grappler or a wrestler versus a judo expert - which made for some unique and entertaining contests. Combatants, as well as fans, were able to see precisely which techniques yielded the best results in a live bout, and it was utterly enthralling. Although the contemporary MMA fighter is usually versed in the key disciplines of boxing, muay-thai, wrestling and jiu-jitsu, there are still standout athletes such as karate expert Lyoto Machida, who has brought an original and awkward style to the sport with great success. Fighters have adapted their styles alongside the sport, but as it's still in its infancy, there are still years of potential for genuine surprises (such as Machida) to occur. Thus, as fans bear witness to the sport's evolution, they really feel part of something extraordinary.

Out with The Old

MMA's relative youth also gives it crossover appeal to fans of other sports such as boxing and professional wrestling. Many boxing fans either have become, or are becoming, dissatisfied with the sport due to protected fighters, multiple sanctioning bodies and a lack of star athletes. For western audiences, there are only two main organisations to take note of: UFC and Strikeforce, whilst Japan is home to Dream and Sengoku. Therefore, rankings and true champions are much clearer, as is the possibility of super-fights between the top fighters of each division. Besides the business and bureaucratic factors, the excitement of a boxing match usually pales in comparison to an MMA bout, simply due to the near-infinite ways an MMA bout can change course and can be won or lost.

As for professional wrestling, fans turning to MMA can watch genuine physical battles and see huge upsets occur rather than be subjected to scripted matches and predetermined outcomes. There is, however, crossover appeal with organisations like the WWE, something that's been confirmed by the success of former professional wrestlers Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley in MMA.

Human Cock-fighting?

The sport is inherently violent but then so are many contact sports: boxing, thai-boxing and wrestling are all concerned with incapacitating opponents, but because they are long-established they don't suffer the same prejudice as MMA. Of course, MMA matches can be extremely violent and bloody affairs. If someone were to watch Brazilian fighter Wanderlei Silva legitimately stamping on a downed opponent's face in Japan's (now defunct) Pride FC, then you could forgive them for being shocked or disgusted. Thankfully, this unsportsmanlike and dangerous technique is no longer allowed. Although MMA has partially evolved from vale tudo fighting ('anything goes') it was necessary for it to be toned down somewhat both for the athlete's safety and for audience appeal. The sport has been continually regulated throughout its existence and the introduction of gloves, weight classes and a unified rule-set has helped bolster MMA's reputation and image. Consequently, MMA is relatively safe, with only one recorded fatality in over a decade of events which, although tragic, is a small number when compared to those which have occurred in boxing where the head is the primary target. Admittedly, there are MMA fans who don't appreciate the skills and athleticism displayed and only wish to see mindless violence. But, it should be considered that these types of people show up in many sports - from riot-inciting football hooligans to bloodthirsty hardcore wrestling fanatics.

Onward and Upward

MMA is expanding worldwide at a rapid rate. The sport is now licensed in the majority of states in the USA, whilst many other countries are also accepting MMA onto their shores. England, Ireland, Canada and Germany have all hosted UFC events over recent years, and the organisation has recently announced plans for an event in Australia. This expansion also mirrors the number of MMA-specific gyms opening up worldwide, giving interested athletes a proper place to train as well as generating further interest in the sport.

MMA is also receiving more mainstream press coverage than ever, with stars such as Chuck Liddell appearing on the cover of Men's FitnessMagazine, fighters appearing in MMA-related films and, perhaps most surprisingly, an MMA-themed episode of The Simpsons being aired in late '09. Other nodes of expansion come in the form of terrestrial television channels such as Spike in the US and Five in the UK, that are committed to showing UFC-related transmissions. This should spark further interest for those who were unwilling to pay for PPV events or watch poor quality footage of bouts on the internet. Finally, with the release of UFC 2009: Undisputed, MMA has been introduced to the video-game audience and market, one that has already proved to be a decent business opportunity for other companies to pursue.

Given MMA's appeal to fans of combat sports, the controversy it generates and the professional way it's promoted and marketed, it's no surprise popularity in the sport continues to grow and long may it continue to do so.