Author: Alexander Metalis

MMA Will Never Be Mainstream; Let’s Accept That and Move on

Fight fans want their beloved sport to grow, but Mixed Martial Arts probably won’t blossom into a “major’ sport. Let’s accept that and move on. Why can’t MMA achieve worldwide acceptance?I mean, Mixed Martial Arts is so visceral. It e…

Fight fans want their beloved sport to grow, but Mixed Martial Arts probably won’t blossom into a “major’ sport. Let’s accept that and move on.

Why can’t MMA achieve worldwide acceptance?

I mean, Mixed Martial Arts is so visceral. It evokes a raw, primal emotion that other sports, dainty by comparison, can’t.

MMA provides paragons of sport engaged in the purest form of combat, employing stunning techniques and showing unmatched grit. They’re badasses and we want to be them.

The emotions created by MMA are organic to humanity; fighting evokes animalistic emotions we all share. We are animals and we fight. Bloodsport is nature.

I guess nature won’t propel MMA to the top of the sports kingdom. Our human appetite for blood has been pacified by a taste for softer sports. The average sports fan would rather watch a man swing a stick at a cowhide ball than behold two warriors brawling it out. 

There are a slew of other obstacles blocking MMA’s path to international renown: Some people see grappling, a defining aspect of the sport, as boring. Others think MMA is deplorable, no less savage than gladiatorial games.

The sport also lacks star power comparable to older sports. Manny Pacquiao is a deity. Baseball enjoys household names like Albert Pujols. But still, at the pinnacle of their sport’s popularity, the average American is oblivious to the titanic exploits of Anderson Silva or Jon Jones. It’s vexing: ESPN holds MMA in the same regard as curling or swimming – SportsCenter barely touches it.

Brock Lesnar lured the spotlight to the Octagon, but his glittering gimmick wasn’t sustainable. The UFC tries to match the thematic fight-hyping that professional wrestling is infamous for, but MMA isn’t pro wrestling. The product is inherently different.

Yes, MMA is a baby. Conceived only two decades ago, venerable pastimes like baseball and football predate MMA by a century. In traditional sports, fandom has been cultivated and passed through many generations. MMA’ has just started its’ journey, and it must confront time-honored rivals like MLB and the NFL if it’ll reach the top.

MMA also lacks sufficient exposure. The UFC’s pantheon of titans can be beheld at a steep price: about $50 for a star-studded pay-per view. The UFC has tried to expand their product; their partnership with FOX was a tactful gambit.

More free shows are becoming available, but they generally lack star power. And even though they’re free, not many folks have Fuel TV, a channel devoting itself to UFC coverage.

So what? If the masses want pigskin and hoops, let them have it. Whether or not MMA wins their fandom, it will continue to be MMA. The product won’t wilt without their devotion.

MMA has etched out a sustainable existence on the periphery of the sports hierarchy. Let’s relish MMA as our exclusive jewel. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

MMA Will Never Be Mainstream; Let’s Accept That and Move on

Fight fans want their beloved sport to grow, but Mixed Martial Arts probably won’t blossom into a “major’ sport. Let’s accept that and move on. Why can’t MMA achieve worldwide acceptance? I mean, Mixed Martial Arts is so visceral. It …

Fight fans want their beloved sport to grow, but Mixed Martial Arts probably won’t blossom into a “major’ sport. Let’s accept that and move on.

Why can’t MMA achieve worldwide acceptance? I mean, Mixed Martial Arts is so visceral. It evokes a raw, primal emotion that other sports, dainty by comparison, can’t.

We watch chiseled, refined athletes maim each other, employing stunning techniques and showing unmatched grit. They’re badasses and we want to be them.

The emotions involved in MMA are basely human; fighting evokes animalistic emotions we all share. We are animals and we fight. Bloodsport is nature.   

Appreciation of technique aside, I’d figure a showcase of unadulterated brawling would appeal to our human appetite for blood. The evidence suggests we prefer softer sports. It seems many people don’t delight their inner-animal.

But there are a slew of other obstacles blocking MMA’s path to international renown: Some people see grappling, a defining aspect of the sport, as boring. Others think MMA is deplorable, no less savage than gladiatorial games.

The sport also lacks star power comparable to older sports. Manny Pacquiao is a deity. Baseball enjoys household names like Albert Pujols. But still, at the pinnacle of their sport’s popularity, the average American is oblivious to the titanic exploits of Anderson Silva or Jon Jones. It’s vexing: ESPN holds MMA in the same regard as curling or swimming – SportsCenter barely touches it.

Brock Lesnar lured the spotlight to the Octagon, but his glittering gimmick wasn’t sustainable. The UFC tries to match the thematic fight-hyping that professional wrestling is famous for, but MMA isn’t pro wrestling. The product is inherently different.

Yes, MMA is a baby. Conceived only two decades ago, venerable pastimes like baseball and football predate MMA by a century. In traditional sports, fandom has been cultivated and passed through many generations. MMA’ has just started its’ journey, and it must confront time-honored rivals like MLB and the NFL if it’ll reach the top.

MMA also lacks sufficient exposure. The UFC’s pantheon of titans can be beheld at a steep price: about $50 for a star-studded pay-per view. The UFC has tried to expand their product; their partnership with FOX was a tactful gambit.

More free shows are becoming available, but they generally lack star power. And even though they’re free, not many folks have Fuel TV, a channel devoting itself to UFC coverage.

So what? If the masses want pigskin and hoops, let them have it. Whether or not MMA wins their fandom, it will continue to be MMA. The product won’t wilt without their devotion.

MMA has etched out a sustainable existence on the periphery of the sports hierarchy. Let’s relish MMA as our exclusive jewel. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale: Charles Oliveira Will Submit Jonathon Brookins

Charles Oliveira may have a baby face, but don’t let that deceive you—Do Bronx possesses killer instincts and a potent arsenal of talents. Against larger men, the young Brazilian fought admirably in the UFC’s lightweight division. Wie…

Charles Oliveira may have a baby face, but don’t let that deceive you—Do Bronx possesses killer instincts and a potent arsenal of talents.

Against larger men, the young Brazilian fought admirably in the UFC’s lightweight division. Wielding smooth striking technique and an active ground game, the boy from the slums garnered a reputation as a future contender. His losses against studs Jim Miller and Donald Cerrone haven’t dispelled that notion.

Now contending as a featherweight, his natural weight class, expect Oliveira’s defeats to be fewer. However, Jonathan Brookins will provide a stiff test for Oliveira on Friday.

Jonathan Brookins brings strong wrestling and toughness to the Octagon. The TUF veteran may be able to plant Do Bronx on the mat, but controlling the young cannon on the ground will be a tougher task.

My take: Do Bronx will stalk Brookins and pepper him with strikes. Upon leaking blood from Oliveira’s barrage, Brookins will tactically plant Oliveira on the canvas and attempt to neutralize his impetuous guard.

Don’t expect Brookins to quell the newly-appointed black belt. Expect Brookins to have a limb hyper-extended by the Brazilian dynamo.

Why?

Because diving into Oliveira’s guard is like playing with the tentacles of a grumpy Kraken. Eric Wisely, unwisely enough, played with the Kraken and left his bout with Oliveira writhing in agony.

Charles pulled off the first reverse calf-slicer in UFC history against Wisely, an anomalous feat that baffled Joe Rogan.

 

Oliveira also showcased his perilous guard against Nik Lentz, a seasoned wrestler himself, among others.

Oliveira’s perpetual activity from bottom positions separates him from fellow Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners like Vagner Rocha, who Brookins recently vanquished. Oliveira doesn’t relent; he doesn’t allow his foe a chance to take a break.

So Charles Oliveira has more weapons on the feet than Brookins. If Brookins can’t handle the heat of a striking match, he’ll be sunk by Oliveira’s intense ground game.

Coming in at a cheap -200 on 5dimes.com sports book, a great value can be had on the future star Oliveira. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Stipe Miocic is the Best Prospect in the Heavyweight Division

Let’s get used to seeing Stipe Miocic (9-0) getting his hand raised in the Octagon. Miocic’s credentials precede him: He’s a Golden Gloves boxer and he holds Division I wrestling experience. His MMA game verifies those glittering cred…

Let’s get used to seeing Stipe Miocic (9-0) getting his hand raised in the Octagon.

Miocic’s credentials precede him: He’s a Golden Gloves boxer and he holds Division I wrestling experience. His MMA game verifies those glittering credentials, evidenced by the accurate punches and clever takedowns he used to dispatch Shane del Rosario on Saturday. 

In a duel of ascending prospects, Miocic sank Shane del Rosario with a barrage of ground strikes in Round 2, thereby stratifying himself as the UFC’s crowning heavyweight prospect.

In victory, the Ohioan showcased tenacity and sound tactics. Upon eating a steady diet of kicks from SDR, Miocic grounded the Muay Thai master and rendered Shane a mere plaything, a smart gambit indeed. He disarmed Shane’s most threatening weapon.

Stipe’s wrestling grants him that coveted ability: the ability to dictate where his fights take place.

That ability to ground an opponent at will is shared among many dominant fighters; it grants them total control of positioning. As per UFC.com, the Croatian-American has succeeded with six takedowns against being grounded only once.  

Against lesser fighters, Stipe won’t need to employ takedowns since his staggering punching power is enough to carry him past most comers. His punches stayed strong on Saturday.

Among his nine victories, the Cro Cop worshipper holds eight (T)KO wins.     

Miocic is relatively inexperienced in MMA and he’s already 29, but the newcomer’s impressive credentials testify to his skills. In a division thin on rising prospects, Stipe is the brightest in the division.  

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Current UFC Fighters and Their Signature Moves

No matter the arena, it’s cool to own a signature move: a move that’s associated uniquely with one person. Our favorite fighting game characters have them. Our favorite wrestlers have them. And, upon inspection, some of our favorite MMA fig…

No matter the arena, it’s cool to own a signature move: a move that’s associated uniquely with one person.

Our favorite fighting game characters have them. Our favorite wrestlers have them. And, upon inspection, some of our favorite MMA fighters have them, too. 

Each fighter prefers certain techniques, techniques that they’ve honed their entire lives. Some fighters have cultivated certain techniques to become go-to moves, moves that can be relied on. But a signature move is one that is often relied on and often yields success. 

The following list certainly doesn’t incorporate every signature move in the UFC, but it covers most of the obvious ones.

So without further ado, here they are: the most notable signature moves in the UFC.

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Profiling UFC Champs: How Safe Are Their Belts in the Long Term?

Today’s pantheon of UFC champions is the most spectacular in company history. Each current champ possesses an elite, trademark skill. Each brings versatility to the octagon. Each has proven himself in the highly competitive arena of modern MMA. Ea…

Today’s pantheon of UFC champions is the most spectacular in company history. 

Each current champ possesses an elite, trademark skill. Each brings versatility to the octagon. Each has proven himself in the highly competitive arena of modern MMA. Each one, in their own way, is a badass. 

Some of 2012’s strap-holders have already asserted their dominance over many years—for example, Georges St.-Pierre has harnessed the welterweight belt since 2008. All of them, however, have the potential to reign over their weight class for a long time. Of them, who’s most likely to actualize prolonged dominance going forward?

Given the numerous strengths of each champion, predicting their futures requires inspecting other variables too, like the depth of their respective divisions and their age.

Here they are: power ranking the current champs based on the likelihood they will protect their titles for a long time. 

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