Mixed Martial Arts Zone

Question: Would you support mixed martial arts as an olympic event?

(Posted by: Rocky on 2010-02-19 12:12:09)

Http:/ / sportsillustrated.cnn.com/ 2010/ mma/ 02/ 19/ ufc.olympics.ap/ index.html?eref=sihp

Posted by: Shihan J on 2010-02-19, 13:05:24

That article is a load of bull, of course the ufc president is for supporting it for the olympics it is another marketing ploy, they used the same one for karate back in the 70's and 80's there are several reasons why it will not be in the olympics for a real long time if ever, The sport must be practiced by men in at least 75 countries and four continents, and by women in at least 40 countries and three continents. The sport in question must have a governing International Federation in order for the IOC to offically recognize them as a sport. i wouldn't hold your breath on this becoming an olympics sport any time soon, besides the rules they would add to it, it would not be the same. look what the olympics did to tkd and because of that you have every tkd place advertising they are a national coach for the olympics, it has become so watered down that it is difficult to find a good tkd dojang now edit, it still doenst meet the other criteria, and the wording may be a bit off, those 75 countries need to all be in the same governing International Federation, to be recognized, besides as much as i hate mma i wouldnt want to see what the olympics destroy its integrity like it did tkd

Posted by: aLioop10 on 2010-02-19, 12:21:17

Yes, mixed martial artists work very hard and train just like any other athletes, they also deserve to have the spotlight on them and shed some light on the sport as we do not hear of it very much as of right now

Posted by: BobJr's Final return on 2010-02-19, 12:26:07

Of course, it would be amazing to watch this become worldly sport were every nation puts a fighter to prove their the best. But would be hard to see because I feel its almost impossible to pick on fighter to be the very best in the world.

Posted by: Jake V on 2010-02-19, 12:28:19

Oh, definitely it has to be one the most physically demanding sports out there.

Posted by: Pig on a stack of money on 2010-02-19, 12:53:45

I suppose, but is there any point with the UFC?

Posted by: callsignfuzzy on 2010-02-19, 13:29:53

"The sport must be practiced by men in at least 75 countries and four continents, and by women in at least 40 countries and three continents. " It's already filled these requirements. Certainly with the men; if not with the women, they're close to it. I like the idea of MMA in the Olympics, but it can't happen in its current form. 3X5 minute rounds with knees and elbows to the head, and 4oz. gloves, would take too much out of the fighters, even the winners. Chael Sonnen has a huge cut on his head, and isn't even allowed to spar for a month, for example, and he won his match. I think a modified format similar to D- or C-level Shooto, or the early Pancrase matches in Japan, would be more appropriate. Have a single 4-5 minute round per fight, use bigger gloves and shin pads, no knees or elbows to the head, maybe wear headgear and have a point system. But there's no way you could have the stuff you see in the UFC, WEC, Dream, Strikeforce, Sengoku, or Affliction in the Olympics. There's too much potential for injury to make a tournament format a practical one.

Posted by: Regulas on 2010-02-19, 14:03:34

Yeah great Idea man. If only they had evolved the already existing, Martial Arts in the Olympics so that it was a branch of it own, or maybe they have. As long as its organized. Yeah man that sounds cool.

Posted by: OPRFhuskie60302 on 2010-02-20, 17:17:58

Pankration was a demonstration sport in Athens '04 and did not go anywhere. My overall impression is that with boxing, wrestling, judo, and tkd as Olympic sports, I doubt if there is any interest in MMA. I would rather see jiujitsu, both with and without the gi, try to make it in Olympics. MMA never makes it in because of the connotation in the US with macho violence. A guy who thinks he's the pope, like Juan Antonio Sammrach, would not like MMA in the Olympics. IIRC karate and sombo were demonstration sports and never went anywhere either.