The Neutral Corner

It seems the Fightin' Wordsmiths who cover MMA here are tossing around accusations with the recklessness of an Anaconda Choke Hold.

I must say, though, it was quite entertaining.

In their most recent post to us on Fightin' Words, we are being labeled "closet MMA fans."

Interesting.

This corner has had many an office debate with Hammerin' Hank and Joey Jiu-jitsu and have defended the Sweet Science. (Which, admittedly, can be difficult at times.) Throughout the course of our conversations and watching some YouTube links sent my way, I have a greater appreciation for the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the athletes who compete. In fact, during our interview, one of the messages Pete Sell wanted out there was that people should look at us like, "athletes, we're regular, hard-working guys." I can buy into that.

Here's what I don't buy into. I wrote this once before during Newsday's great Boxing-MMA debate. But it's worth repeating here:

"... I'm sure [MMA fighters] are brilliant within their own disciplines [wrestling or Brazilian jiu-jitsu.] ... But there is a reason that those sports have not made it to network television on their own. While the athletes are skilled, the action is simply not very compelling. That's why the only wrestling we see on television is of the fake variety.

"The reason MMA has been so successful is that it has taken legitimate sports -- wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, etc. -- and added a rogue element. You are allowed to elbow your opponent, knee your opponent, hit him while he's down and do other things that one would basically find offensive in a bar fight. Without those "rules" MMA would lose its appeal. MMA is a sport for the MTV generation. It's a sport of instant gratification. Observers want to see someone bludgeoned and bludgeoned quickly. They want to see someone's arm snapped and they don't want to wait 10 rounds for that to happen. I am sure there are fans of MMA, like Joe, who are
connoisseurs of the sport. He appreciates the nuances of an MMA fight. But that person is as common as a triple heel lock. The millions who are tuning in to watch UFC are tuning in for legalized mayhem. So, yes, congratulations MMA, you have succeeded in providing the blood thirsty fan with a quick fix."

But a closet fan? Sorry. I'm not sneaking a peak at UFC 937 down in my basement.

And sorry, we are not pirating page views by writing about MMA. The Neutral Corner's Toe-to-Toe segment has featured basketball, tennis and hockey players.

Oh yeah, and as for us "clinging to the wreckage" of our once great sport, let me just point something out. There has not been a single MMA event that has come remotely close to drawing the PPV buys and total gross numbers of the De La Hoya-Mayweather fight. (2.15 million pay-per-view buys for $120 million, on top of a live gate of $19.3 million.) And that record will be eclipsed by the De La Hoya-Pacquiano fight.

Try wrapping your armbar around that.

-- CASSIDY