I am a UFC fan

I am a UFC fan. I think it is the fighting sport of the 21st century. There are three reasons I love it. . .

Better safeties. At first blush, UFC matches may appear more brutal than boxing. While the fighting is more exciting, the record shows greater safety for fighters in the Octagon rather than the Square. The UFC Fighter has five honorable ways out of the Octagon; submitting by tapping, referee stopping, Judges judging, TKO and KO. The boxer has two honorable ways out of the Square; score by Judges and on his back. A UFC match is fifteen minutes of two athletes striking, grappling, wrestling, and submitting. A boxing match is thirty six minutes of two athletes striking each other primarily in the head. A 2006 John Hopkins study concluded, “The lower knockout rates in MMA compared to boxing may help prevent brain injury in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events.” From July 2000 to November 2007 there have been 1,465 boxing related fatalities worldwide. During that same period of time the UFC has exploded as a worldwide sport, what was the number of fatalities? Zero.

Better athletes. Without question boxers are highly trained, highly disciplined athletes. In fact, several UFC champions started as professional boxers. But these same champions also had to train at a professional level in a take-down discipline, a ground discipline, while maintaining their striking discipline. UFC contenders will train in a variety of Martial Arts such as Boxing, Mui Tai Kick-boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Greco-Roman Wrestling, and Wrestling. To compete in the UFC, the fighter must train harder mentally and physically to become a professional level athlete in several fighting styles. Put an ultimate fighter into the ring with a profession boxer he may or may not be trouble. Put the boxer in the Octagon with an ultimate fighter and there is little doubt of the outcome.

Better Fights. The power, passion, and precision of a UFC Fight Night should be experienced instead of pontificated in a blog. But since this is a blog – this can be attested by the millions who regularly see the contests in person and on Pay Per View (PPV). For the past three years UFC Fight Nights have been number 1 or 2 in box office sales in all the major hosting venues, often selling out. In 2006 UFC was crowned King of Pay Per View, grossing more money that year than any promotion in history. UFC PPV revenue beat boxing’s best PPV year by 20 million and drew 100,000 more buys than boxing’s biggest fight that year (Oscar de la Hoya vs. Ricardo Mayorga). Then in 2007 UFC again dominated with eight of the fifteen biggest PPV events of the year to boxing’s four and World Wrestling Entertainment’s three. 2008 is tracking for another record breaking year, demonstrating a consistent and growing fan base.

If you want to check it out for the first time, here are few suggestions. . .

1) Watch it with an experienced fan - Like watching your first football game and not knowing what is going on, it is not much fun. Watch it with an experienced fan who understand the subtleties at each stage of the fight. There are many times in a fight where it may not look like much is happening but the pros are actually maneuvering for position or trying to execute a submission hold, it is more enjoyable if you have someone excited to help you understand what is happening and explain the rules.

2) Watch it with a bunch of experienced fans - Where one is good. . .more is better. The social aspect is half the fun. Lots of fun fans, lots of energy, lots of fun.

3) Have food - Finger foods are best. Be sure to use paper products for easy clean up, the wives will appreciate that. Snacks are a must to choke on while jumping up screaming for your fighter.

See you in the octagon!