Combat sports such as boxing and, more recently, Mixed Martial Arts have come under scrutiny as of late.  There is a percentage of the population that views sanctioned fighting events to be barbaric in nature and think that humankind has evolved beyond the point of violence for sport.  Conversely, many view fighting as a sport in the same way that they view soccer or football, and some portion of people even support combat sports and would like to see it become more prevalent in the mainstream.  

Boxing has been a staple of American culture for over one hundred years and has produced its fair share of legitimate stars such as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Manny Pacquiao, and Floyd Mayweather.  "The Sweet Science" as boxing is often referred has been under scrutiny lately for its violent nature and all of the new research available to the public about the dangers of repeated, significant blows to the head and the long-term effects it can have on the brain.  Combat sports are a controversial topic due to its aggressive nature and is viewed as a sort of "human cockfighting" by its skeptics.  Combat sports are brutal by nature, and they may not appeal to certain audiences; however, there is evidence to suggest that football is worse than any combat sport as far as the extent of the damage compiled over a career, and just because the players wear pads and helmets does not mean that they are any safer for it.  Combat sports teach a number of valuable lessons and skills that are practical in the real world, like the importance of good health, perseverance, and a hard work ethic.  Outside of the brutality of watching two grown men attempting to beat the other into submission, combat sports have all of the fundamental elements of other more orthodox sports and is also highly technical and safe when performed and sanctioned by trained professionals that know what they are doing.  I would even venture to say that combat athletes are subjected to some of the most intense physical and mental strain of athletes in any field.  Participants in these events are highly trained and often have dedicated their life to their craft, as any other athlete would in their respective sport.  They call football a game of inches, and combat sports are that and more, where even the slightest mistake can end with a fighter unconscious or tapping out. 

Humans have been fighting since the beginning of our existence, it is a natural instinct that we were born with as a method of self-defense or aggression towards others.  As we developed laws and other sanctions to stop people from fighting, along with the advancement of weaponry, it has developed a culture that fighting is unethical and barbaric in the collective consciousness of Americans.  Fighting does still occur outside of the confines of a ring, but it is unsanctioned and a majority of people lack any technical skills.  Fights that happen in the streets are more dangerous because there are no rules and minimal means of keeping the fighters safe.  Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts have transcended these archaic forms of confrontation and established itself as a legitimate sport, with strict fighter safety rules in a controlled setting and athletes who understand the risks associated with the job, and also have undergone extensive training to keep themselves as safe as possible.  

At the end of the day, no matter how legitimate the competition is there is still a significant portion of the population that is still opposed to combat sports. With all of the evidence of long-term brain and bodily harm coupled with the intense action and high stakes involved it is easy to see where the concern stems from.  Another share of the community supports combat sports, because every sport is inherently dangerous and has some level of risk involved, and each person that steps into the ring is aware of these hazards.  There is no rawer form of entertainment than a fight, and the thrill of witnessing something so rare in today's society has companies like the UFC selling out stadiums all around the world.  People have been using violence to assert their dominance since the beginning of time, and regulated combat sports have helped usher this ancient sport into a newer, safer era.  Each side can make a compelling case for where combat sports should fit into today's society and where it should go from here.  The truth of the matter is that combat sports appear to be here to stay for the time being, despite putting fighters on a pedestal in a society that condemns physical conflict, but does that mean that it belongs on our televisions?  At the end of the day what it all boils down to is that combat sports are exactly that, combat, and they may not appeal to everyone, but they are certainly here to stay for the near future.


I chose to do my major writing assignment on combat sports and their influence and the controversy surrounding them because when I was younger I had a serious interest in mixed martial arts and I wrestled in high school.  There has always been controversy on the issue of whether or not they should even be legal, because some people view it as a form of "human cockfighting" or too violent to be allowing on a regulated basis.  I do not have an opinion on the issue, but I may be slightly biased towards combat sports due to my participation in them in the past and my interest in the sports.  I will do due diligence to make sure that any bias towards one side or the other is kept to a minimum and all arguments are well represented.  I can write about this topic because I am well-read on combat sports and their current events, and I have some level of training in multiple disciplines in martial arts.  

