*Photo props to Clinch Gear on Facebook.
A good friend once told me, “where there is no beauty, create it yourself.”
Many folks who have yet to subscribe to our Mixed Martial Arts sport may tell you MMA is violent and ugly. And if they saw this picture above, they might use it as evidence to back up their claim. But all I see when I look at this candid shot is the beauty of the sport. These are two great warriors who pridefully created each other’s battle wounds and humbly give each other respect. Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua were not even fighting for a belt last night. They were fighting for honor. And in that regard, they both won.
Fans and media have repeatedly rejoiced that this UFC 139 five round headlining bout was “epic” but I call it, defining. It’s the fight we should expect to see every time two fighters enter a cage. It’s the fight we MMA fans will talk about to recruit new fans. It’s the fight we needed to prove that UFC is ready for its spotlight broadcast role.
Thank you, Hendo and Shogun for setting the standard and taking us to a whole new level of awe.