It seems that everywhere I look, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is in the news.
The high-impact and polarising sport, which began in 1993 as a competition between elite martial arts athletes of different disciplines in Denver, Colorado, has come up against a brick-wall barrier in my home state of Victoria, Australia.
The competition has rapidly risen in popularity in the last 10 years and the UFC itself has evolved to become a competition between multi-disciplinary martial and combat artists, instead of just pitching one method against another.
As a result, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Brazilian Jiujitsu are now popular self-defence and fitness classes, not only with men, but with women and children also.
I live in Melbourne and as such, I live and breath sport all year round. I work in a building a stone’s throw from my chosen place of worship, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
I, like many Victorians, paid for and thoroughly enjoyed the most recent pay-per-view Main Event, UFC168 on Foxtel.
As a 27-year-old woman, I very much enjoyed seeing women placed on an equivalent level to men.
They fight three round bouts for a non-title match and five rounds in a title. Each round does not last longer than five minutes. The match is commentated with the same amount of passion and the crowd cheers with the same intensity. It is electric.
The women are held up to the same standard, and have no concessions in rules, other than slightly different weight divisions and classifications.
They, like all combatants that step into the cage known as The Octagon, must follow all regulations outlined in the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.
The airing of Rousey versus Tate next to Weidman versus Silva – Anderson Silva being widely regarded as the best MMA competitor of all time – would be comparable to a state women’s football league grand final being aired as the precursor to the AFL grand final.
This co-Main Event bout was approved by Dana White, a man who stated two years ago women will never fight in the UFC…
So it would seem the UFC has matured at a faster rate than our own state government, almost as the term ‘UFC’ rose from near obscurity into popular vernacular.
A ban on any sport in Melbourne is detrimental to one of its main tourist attractions and denies our very nature as a community of sport enthusiasts.
Our state government under Premier Denis Napthine has maintained a 2008 ban on any fights held in a cage. Sports and Recreation Minister James Merlino has supported the continued ban, and negotiations between the state government and UFC promoters have broken down.
Despite the many benefits of the UFC coming to Melbourne, an estimated 40-50 million dollars benefit being the most pertinent, the opposition has been staunch.
I have had difficulty understanding their stance, so have tried to reverse my view.
The UFC promotes ‘no-holds-barred’ style of combat which is ferocious, fast-paced and often very bloody.
In reality the regulations and medical requirements are strict and enforced effectively. However, this mode of fighting has negative connotations with careless violence, a trend that is being heavily promoted against in town, denoted by the popularity of the ‘Step Back. THINK’ campaign.
In a society where kids get king-hit and die during a night out, it is easy to see why a government at any level will not openly state, “Sure, cage fighting, sweet! Let’s get on it.”
Any link to seemingly unregulated violence would obviously be the wrong PR choice for a government already struggling to gain popular support by the voting majority.
The outspoken few who vehemently oppose the UFC worry about the possibility of a snowball effect on society’s psyche.
Will my child try to take-down another in the street in the hope of breaking their arm in a Judo armbar? This thinking is akin to Helen Lovejoy (Reverand Lovejoy’s wife in the television series, The Simpsons) remonstrating, “Won’t somebody please think of the children?!”
In reality, the most likely effect further acceptance of the UFC will have in Victoria is more people enrolling in self-defence and fitness classes, and is no more dangerous to the collective psyche than boxing, karate or taekwondo.
The answer that I can provide to those who feel squeamish at the thought of a bloody fights is, don’t watch.
The abolishment of this cage ban is not going to force you to view these bouts, however, it will give Victorian fans the opportunity to see the sport at its highest level.
There have been serious injuries in the UFC, extensive hard wear and tear on the body will do that. MMA fights have led to, or may be the cause of three fatalities, these were regulated by the same rules that the UFC follow, but were not sanctioned by them.
There have been no fatalities during a UFC sanctioned fight. Boxing is not banned, yet the number of related deaths number the hundreds.
The injury rate in UFC has been reported as 23.7 per 100 fights, which is comparable to competitive boxing and karate.
The latest Australian Rules Football injury rate I could find was 37.6 in 22 matches per club in the 2009 season. Significantly higher, and yet the sport is often compared to religion in Melbourne.
Regardless, the threat of serious injury or death cannot be used as a reason to disallow cage fighting, because these injuries can happen in any MMA contest. MMA contests are not banned in Victoria, only caged fights.
The main argument to lift the ban is that MMA is safer in the cage! I have heard of many MMA fights spilling out of the ring, increasing the risk of injury to the competitors and judges, who sit close to the ring by necessity.
So what is the problem with UFC? Is it the violence, or the public relations image of fighting in a cage?
If it’s the violence, this ban is not stopping anything. MMA is legal and bouts in the ring are sanctioned.
If it’s the negative ‘cage-fight’ image, all that’s being asked is that the most elite and highly regulated version of the sport is on display.
To people that do not like the sport, all that changes in the packaging. To fans of MMA, it is the gift of the world’s best coming to perform, just for them.
The only purpose the continuation of this antiquated ban by the Napthine Government serves is to deny fans the opportunity to enjoy MMA at its most elite level.
It also prevents athletes who live in Melbourne, and have attained the required level of skill, fitness and strength, from feeling the swell of a local crowd behind them, as they fight at the highest level in their chosen discipline.
If a succinct and reasonable explanation with proof can be produced to effectively rebut my arguments, I will eat humble pie.
However, if MMA fighting in a ring continues to be sanctioned in Victoria, while the UFC is refused a foothold in the greatest sporting town in Australia, I will continue to write in the hope that others will join me, and the state government will be shamed into acceptance by each and every Victorian fan who is currently being unfairly denied the Ultimate Fighting Championship in our home town.
Joanna Bainbridge
Guest
Google John Eren, the Shadow Minister for Sports and Rec, he's petitioning to get the cage ban lifted and has been very supportive of an open forum. Adam Ireland from MMA Kanvas is trying to get Hugh Delahunty involved in a debate, Eren is all for it, but Delahunty has been non-responsive so far... here's hoping we see a debate on this soon!
Jon
Guest
They know. It's typical dog whistle politics. They know that they can win votes from older conservative people with no understanding of the sport (who associate it in their minds with violence). They don't care that it's an irrational policy, which will result in injuries for the competitors. They're scumbag politicians. Anything for popular media coverage.
Joanna Bainbridge
Guest
I don't think you can blame the UFC for refusing to scrap a major marketing draw card, one that also has proven safety benefits. The octagon is as important to PR for the UFC as big-name fighters, like SIlva. These are the venue parameters of this particular competition, and it just happens to be the most widely publicised competition of those that feature MMA. Every comp has strict parameters, no matter the code. I personally think the ban is the more prominent issue, not the competition's refusal to flex on its format. However, I do appreciate your knowledge on the subject and understand that it is something that you are passionate about. I hope you are on the side of lifting the ban in Victoria. Thanks for your comments.
Roger
Guest
Relax Tane, I wasn't being condescending, I was agreeing with you.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Sorry you did but it was a question and I dont like being called Pal in a condesending manor.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Well pal, you didnt make that point at all.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
I am amazed that there isn't anyone smart enough in the Vic government to expose the ridiculousness of the situation to the PM and sports minister: the sport itself isn't banned but the venue/arena where its played is. I can understand that 15 years ago, 'a sport in a cage' seemed scary/ inhuman to some. Thing is, MMA has proven to be a very safe sport plus the 'violence aspect' that cages may have is dwarfed everyday by what's showed on all media, social or not. Only imbeciles don't change their mind so hopefully the current govt will see the light one day.
PJ
Guest
I would like to see every Japanese UFC card to be held in a boxing ring with the PRIDE FC rules. Maybe even under the PRIDE FC Banner too
PJ
Guest
Well written article! I saw a fight at AFC last year here in Melb. where the fighters flipped through the ropes & believe they hurt themselves. If they legalized the cage already here, things like this wouldnt have happened (unless certain promotions prefer using boxing rings) Get your stuff together Vic Government!
Pot Stirrer
Guest
To say what fans see in the cage will be replicaed in society by the fans is ridiculous. DO motor racing fans drive at 100 miles an hour on the highways ? No, only the idiots who do it anyway do. Do NRL fans tackle people in the streets ? No. If you dont like it then dont watch is the best answer. Anybody who would be driven to replicate violence on the streets would do it anyway becuase they are of limited intelligence. Personaly i see more people influenced in public by music videos and video games.
Andrew
Guest
I agree wholeheartedly here. You're obviously a longtime MMA like myself. Just like grass court or clay court tennis, fighters are advantaged and disadvanted by the rules and/or environment. It would be great to see the UFC use a 'good' ring with appropriate ring based rules like they did in PRIDE. Just like Wand and Shogun were much more suited to the ring and pride rules. I think Anderson Silva was best in the cage, because of the open spaces and his counter striking/footwork - then again he's not automatically penalized if he's on his back, where position is everything. Something I hate about the judging/scoring with the Unified Rules. The Unified rules are horrible for MMA, but unfortunately its what we're stuck with. At least there's OneFC.
Bondi
Guest
My 16 year old son has participated in karate and judo classes since he was 10 years old. Both these martial arts teach self discipline, self confidence, self respect and above all a knowledge that violence is to be avoided at all costs. Most martial arts are just that: An ART of self defence. They are not about violence at all and if anything give kids an outlet to chanel whatever anger they may have in a positive outlet. If you are arguing that MMA encourages violence on the streets then shouldn't all video games and violent DVD's also be banned? Where are you going to stop? Why are you not looking at the amount of steroids, drugs and alcohol involved in these violent acts. Why are parents and the young people not taking responsibility of these violent acts. Why is it always because of a "sport" or some other influence. It is never the person's fault themselves! As for NRL, my son and myself decided that the attitude of some parents and kids on the field was too violent. In the South Eastern District NRL of Sydney, the referees are too scared to make calls against certain teams as they worry they will be punched when they leave the field. This is in the Under 8's. No one does anything to stop this. My son no longer plays NRL and plays school Rugby instead. At least we are not scared to leave the field at the end of the game. Can't comment on AFL games but NRL still has a long way to go to stamping out violence in the junior codes.
Roger
Roar Rookie
No pal, I think you missed my point. True MMA (or any martial art for that matter) practitioners know when and where it is appropriate to be used. They are skilled and disciplined. My point was that there will be people who use the UFC, or MMA as an excuse for public violence. A monkey see, monkey do mentality. These people might be fans, they might even train, but they would be violent lunatics with or without it.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Another thing. Im frustrated that the UFC wont adapt. They seem hell bent on the fights being in a cage. I myself love the idea of fights being held in the octagon in Nrth America (USA and Canada) and in Australia and Asia being held in a ring of various sizes and then in Europe in a smaller round cage for example. This adds to the sport, it doesnt take away from it. Imo it is obvious it would advantage and disadvantage some fighters. Couture would be better off in a cage whereas a fighter like A.Silva may benifit from a ring. Lets expand the sport and incorperate different platforms in the UFC. I would also love for PRIDE and DREAM rules to be used in Japan. I think Wanderlei was definately handicaped by the unified rules but some would be handicapped by the PRIDE rules. I know this wont happen but imo it would be add a great deal to the sport.
Jon
Guest
You realise that a 15 year old child died this year in a rugby league game? In a completely legal tackle. How dare you lecture MMA fans, when you're sport leads to the deaths of children.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
The UFC also doesnt promote a no holds barred style of fighting. Heres just a list of the fouls let alone the vast amount of other rules and regulations. Fouls As set out by the Association of Boxing Commissions: Holding or grabbing the fence Holding opponent’s shorts or gloves Butting with the head Biting or spitting at an opponent Hair pulling Fish-hooking Intentionally placing a finger into any orifice, or into any cut or laceration of your opponent Eye gouging of any kind Groin attacks of any kind Downward pointing of elbow strikes (see Elbow strike) Small joint manipulation Strikes to the spine or back of the head (see Rabbit punch) Heel kicks to the kidney Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh or grabbing the clavicle Kicking the head of a grounded opponent Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent Stomping of a grounded fighter The use of abusive language in fighting area Any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to opponent Attacking an opponent during a break Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee Timidity (avoiding contact, consistent dropping of mouthpiece, or faking an injury) Interference from a mixed martial artist's cornerman Throwing an opponent out of the ring or caged area Flagrant disregard of the referee’s instructions Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his or her head or neck (see Piledriver) Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat Hardly "no holds barred". I appreciate some may assume it is no holds barred but the UFC definately does not promote itself that way and has had to go to great lengths to change peoples perception of it as being "human cockfighting".
joe b
Guest
Both the AFL and NRL have gone to great lengths to stamp out on-field thuggery....why? Seriously, do YOU understand why these governing bodies have done this? It is your right to argue that this isn't a "nanny state" and we should be able to do as we please, but thankfully govts legislate to protect fools from themselves and the greater community...ignoring the impact, normalising and de-sensitising, of violence on the community is morally bereft. But I can see this being a circular argument. Bonsoir.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
UFC is not a sport. MMA (mixed martial arts) is a sport. Just like NRL is not a sport but is a competition in which rugby league is played. This article states that not only that UFC is the sport but that the sport started in 1993. It didnt. The sport has been around for thousands of years with rules varying from place to place and time to time. The sport of pankration or "total combat" can be traced back to at least 700 bc. Wiki it. I just want to make it clear that the UFC didnt start MMA and wasnt the driving force behind the first sactioned MMA competition or indeed the first organisation to be sanctioned although people connected with the first UFC fights were responsible for first using the term MMA to describe the sport which had various tags for various forms previously including shooto, pankration, catch wrestling and vale tudo.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
The objective is not to beat your opponent into submission and that happens on very VERY rare occasions. Perhaps 1 in a thousand at the top level. I must say that its true to form that a person who obviously knows nothing about the sport is against it. Learn about it first, then comment. Roger I hope you are not implying that MMA practitioners are "violent lunitics" because thats really stupid and a genralisation that should be avoided.
Roger
Guest
You've missed the point Joe B. The argument is not about the UFC, it's about the cage. MMA (the sport) is already here. The ban is preventing the UFC (the company) from bringing the highest level of the sport here, and preventing the practitioners from competing in the safest environment possible. Yes, the aim is to submit, to win via tap out, knock out, pass out, or points but that's the sport. It's not the only sport that supports winning by these methods. I won't list them, because if you can't think of them, you are incredibly short sighted. However, the negative impact on the community is a cop out, akin to blaming society's woes on music, films or video games. There will be people who are negatively impacted by it, but these are people who would be easily influenced by anything. I saw it after Mundine vs Green, blokes in pubs thinking they were hardcore. Banning the UFC from coming to Victoria will not prevent these people being a problem. To borrow a phrase from comedian Dylan Moran, they are "people who are mainly violent lunatics. Who would be violent lunatics if they had...a kite. Or just a rubber duck, they'd still be insane".