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Today’s MMA; Top 10 Reasons for the Success of Modern MMA, Part III
August 1, 2008 |
6. PRIDE
If Zuffa is responsible for bringing MMA to the mainstream U.S. audience, PRIDE was responsible for bringing MMA to the 
rest of the world. PRIDE was formed in 1997, and sponsored more than 60 MMA events before being bought out by Zuffa, LLC. The Japan-based promotion is also the holder of the largest live MMA event with over 70,000 fans attending. The extent to which this company took MMA on a global level may never be truly realized until the history of MMA is fully written. This company was responsible for a global growth level of MMA that the UFC alone could not have achieved for decades, if ever, without the acquisition of PRIDE.
5. John McCain
How could the one man who was almost single-handedly responsible for doing away with MMA in this country be 
responsible for helping it become bigger? The answer can be found in two little words, “regulation” and “rebellion.” Let’s explore this, shall we?
In the mid 1990’s John McCain sought to eradicate MMA from the landscape of professional sports in America. He called the sport, “human cockfighting” and assured his constituents and anyone else who would listen that he was going to do what it took to make sure the sport was dissolved ASAP. Well, what became of Mr. McCain’s conservative governmental onslaught was a better regulated and legitimized sport, and thousands, if not millions of people who wanted to check out what all the fuss was about….
“There must be something good to watch if this politician is so irate about it. Let’s check it out.” The same thing happened when the parental advisory sticker was placed on audio cassettes and records back in the mid 80’s. The kids saw that and said, “Ohh. Something I’m not allowed to have? I’ll take two please,” or at least, that’s what I said. In a way, McCain’s bringing such abhorrent violence to the forefront of our minds accomplished his mission, only not in the manner he was thinking. He wanted the unsanctioned violence to cease, he wanted the unregulated sport to go away, and he wanted us to be appalled enough to take action.
We did take action. We agreed with him, but instead of banishing the sport, we eagerly accepted the olive branch when the UFC cleaned up their act and became regulated by state athletic commissions. Wow, that was easy. It was kind of like when a parent says to their children, “you can’t beat up the dog or do anything else to him until you have completed all your homework, cleaned your room, and have done the dishes,” thinking that there was no possible way this all could be accomplished before bed time. Well, the kids did all that and the dog ended up half shaved, and the other half was died bright pink. Then the kids super-glued rain boots to his feet. “What mom? We did everything you asked!” The UFC did everything McCain asked, and as a result became more popular than ever. Mr. McCain, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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