Combat sports such as boxing and, more recently, Mixed Martial Arts have long been scrutinized for being uncivilized and dangerous. Sanctioned Mixed Martial Arts competition was only recently legalized in New York, a huge step towards mainstream legitimacy. A percentage of the population views sanctioned fighting events to be barbaric in nature and think that humankind has evolved beyond the point of violence for sport or entertainment. 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 their aggressive nature, a sort of "human cockfighting" as John McCain infamously called it. Combat sports are brutal by nature, and they may not appeal to certain audiences; however, evidence suggests 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 one another into submission, combat sports have all of the fundamental elements of other more orthodox sports and are also highly technical and safe when performed and sanctioned by trained professionals. Combat athletes are subjected to some of the most intense physical and mental strain of athletes in any field. Between intense training, weight-cutting, and taking damage from other fighters, fighters take part in one of the most taxing sports in existence. Participants in these events are highly trained and often have dedicated their lives to their craft, constantly trying to improve technically and physically. Although they train similarly, the stakes for fighters are much higher due to the nature of the business.  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, combat is a natural instinct as a method of self-defense or aggression towards others. As we developed laws and other sanctions to prevent people from violence. A culture has been developed that fighting is unethical and barbaric in the eyes of common population.  Fighting does still occur outside of the confines of a ring, but a majority of the people participating 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.  

No matter how legitimate combat sports become in their safety and regulation, a significant portion of the population will remain opposed to their existence. With all of the evidence of long-term brain and bodily harm coupled with the intense action and high stakes, the concern is not without bearing. Contact sports are inherently dangerous, the stakes are high when people put their bodies on the line, but each fighter is aware of the risks each time they step into the ring, and it is their decision to make. A fight is the rawest form of entertainment, and the thrill of witnessing something so rare in today's society has companies like the UFC selling out stadiums 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, despite putting fighters on a pedestal in a society that condemns physical conflict. At the end of the day combat sports are exactly that, combat, and they may not appeal to everyone, but they are certainly here to stay.


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.  

