After reading my colleague Brandon MacLeod's comments on the topic of a mixed-martial arts event in an opinion piece in last week's Nouvelle, I thought I'd try to bring another view to the cage. I did not attend the event, but I did attend the first King of the Cage in Cold Lake in October.
The writer concluded last week that he doesn't need MMA fighting – and the blood that comes with it – in his life, but that he doesn't mind if others choose to pursue it. Fair enough.
Some observations from the first event: MMA supporters seem to come in all shapes in sizes – men, women, big or small. The crowd that night was enthusiastic and appreciative of the talent and strength of the individuals entering the ring and showed respect to all the fighters whether they won or lost. The fighters themselves showed great sportsmanship and respect for one another, both before the bout and after the beatings in the ring ceased. The athletes showed passion and commitment for their sport of choice and clearly have spent a lot of time dedicated to their craft.
Last week's column makes 10 references to drinking or alcohol, giving the impression that it's just a big booze fest. At the event I attended in October, nothing out of the ordinary stood out that one wouldn't see at a bar, just people gathered to enjoy the show and enjoying a beverage. At December's event, a fight in the stands broke out between two women and security dealt with it promptly – but that's an anomaly unlikely to repeat itself.
MMA matches can be brutal, sure, but the participants are willing, which makes all the difference. If it were the days of the Roman Empire and people were unwillingly thrown to the lions, a call for a ban would be justified. In Canada we enjoy living in a free country – and with that comes accepting some things some people would prefer not to see.
Boxing goes back a long way, at least to the 1700's in England, where it was a popular way to settle disputes, place bets, and be entertained. MMA is a new form of fighting the fighters who participate prefer. Based on the large crowds attending the events, MMA is likely here to stay.
