about the UFC
"When (UFC) first started, we could not sanction it because it was no holds barred, anything goes," says Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission. "Now, it's a real sport. And we're delighted to have it here."
It's a "real sport" now why? Because they added a litany of meaningless fluff rules that look good on paper but have not added anything to fighter safety? Whenever someone demonizes the old UFC out to be this horrible evil event with fighters dropping like flies it makes me sick and it diminishes the accomplishments of great fighters like Royce, Shamrock, Frye, Ruas, whoever fought in the sports early years. These guys carried the UFC on there shoulders and paid for it in blood. The UFC was as much a sport back in 1993 as it is now. Just bothers me when people who haven't followed the sport since its inception say stuff like that.
You have to admit, they way the first few UFC's here set up with guys fighting to the finish, no rounds, guys getting stomped kicked into the mat, that it didn't look like any sport anyone had ever seen ever before.
i have to agree with you..
I agree it was a unique sport, its violence was the appeal as it still is today. It looked different because we got so far away from real fighting through the years, it just got lost. The first UFC wasn't a perfect event, but it fixed the obvious problems, especially refs being able to stop fights, but at the same time it was never truly NHB, the most important rules were there from the beginning, no biting or eye gouges. No fish hooking was a good rule because it could easily lead to biting fingers, but that wasn't added till UFC 6 I believe.
Well, in 93' I would agree with the nevada state athletic commission. The UFC (owners at the time) frame the event as "THE BLOODIEST show on earth" and focusing on the fact that there were no time limits, no weight classes, and few rules made it more a novelty sport(i.e, rollerball, dodgeball,and whatever that this with the basketball and trapolines is called. It's all about the advertising.
i think they should bring back the knees and kicks to the head of downed opponents. i know that sounds like i want someone to get hurt but there are risk in everything you do everyday. this is a violent sport and i think if ufc really wants to contend with pride for exciting finishes, that would be the way to go.
my retarded opinion,
wade
"hair pulling and shots to the balls"
hair pulling isn't a big issue since most fighters have short hair and the stereo-typical MMA fighter is a bald dude with a goatee anyways.
shots to the balls, everyone that I've shown fights to love the Hackney vs. Joeson fight for that very reason. If it hurt that bad Joeson would've tapped out to it. I thought it was hilarious. When Big Daddy reached inside The Pedro's cup and gave him a pickle tickle that surely needs to go though. But I could surely live w/o groin shots. Can't live w/o knees, elbows and kicks though.
No weight classes was one of the most dangerous aspects... also remember that the refs back then didn't seem as educated as to when to stop a fight. It was pretty common for a guy to take an extra 4-5 punches or elbows while unconcious - and that's when someone is going to get killed/hurt.
And keylockarmbar, I agree with you 100%... maybe that will come with time.
Violence is the reason people watch mixed martial arts? It's not the reason I watch. I like the strategy involved. I am the first one wanting the fight to be stopped when someone is getting mauled. I don't enjoy seeing someone get repeatedly pummeled. I would prefer not to see it at all. But I do enjoy the skill and strategy it takes to deliver a well timed strike or take your opponent down and submit him.
With that said, I enjoy the UFC much more now than I did when it first came out.