Since MMA’s official debut on US soil on Nevmber 12th, 1993 in a little known event called “The Ultimate Fighting Championship”, the sport has season more rises and crashes than the stock market!
Though little known at the time UFC 1 “The Beginning” would be a landmark event in the history of the sport we know today as MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). The organization brought together many different styles of combat, from all parts of the globe, to show which would reign supreme.
Looking back the idea was ingenious but much had to be done to make the sport acceptable and appealing to the public, and everyday sports fan. The rules stood out as the biggest problem. There were no gloves, no rules, anything went and usually and did. Teeth were flying, blood was spilling, and refs looked like hospital workers in a hurricane.
This ultimately blackballed the sport for many years. The sport was dying and it’s only life support was the internet. Fans would voice their opinions and feelings in forums, and websites. The demand was still there but regulation was needed, and fast.
A great sign of life came from overseas when a now defunct organization known as PRIDE Fighting Championships made it’s historical debut. On October 11th, 1997 in Tokyo Japan, PRIDE Fighting came out with a BANG when they highlighted their fight card with many elite fighters of the time, and a main event for the ages between Rickson Gracie and Nobuhiko Takada. The fight ended with Rickson Gracie winning by armbar and culminated another GREAT night in MMA history!
Today we see the fruits of many years of promoting by organizations, fighters, and fans from all across the world. Many in the public don’t see the years of agony, and fighting not only inside the ring/cage, but outside the ring as well. To overlook such a great accomplishment is to ignore the fighting spirit that pervades the sport to this day. The same fighting spirit that led samurais to victory, and nations to liberation.
The sport of MMA is here to stay, and if you don’t like it then you must be ready to take on that samurai spirit.
