I always hear talk about what is “for the good of the fighter” or “for the safety of the fighter.” But I often find myself asking, “When was the last time we saw a change in MMA that really and truly benefited the fighters?”
Maybe my memory is shot. But nothing seems to pop up!
Let’s take a look.
Weight measuring system? Lots of talk, lots of indignation, but we are still putting these athletes through a simply asinine process of extreme dehydration and then an extreme athletic competition in the form of a fight 24 hours later. We talk about it over and over, but then we just keep on at it. This has to be one of the most idiotic processes in sports history.
So let me ask a question here: We all got treated to a simply amazing fight last weekend between Marvin Vettori and Paulo Costa. Listen, let me make it clear: I do not support the antics that led to the fight being contested at 205 pounds. But that being said, it seems pretty obvious that the quality of this fight, the punishment that both men were able to take, and both men’s overall performances were enhanced by the fact that neither of them had to endure extreme dehydration during a pre-fight weigh cut. It seems to me that this stares us right in the face.
How about the fact that we want these guys and girls to go in there and “let it all hang out,” take all the risks, but if they lose for doing it, all they go home with is what? A loss. If they do it a few times, their whole career ends up the same: lost.
How about judging? Fighters still do not understand fully the backgrounds of those who are judging them, and more importantly, what exactly they are looking for while they score fights. I fail to see any effort out there improving on this situation.
Years start and end. The sport grows its fan base. Economics keep on reaching new heights. But the people who actually step in the cage and make it happen keep getting the short end of a growing stick. They are not the primary voices being consulted about what must be done. Instead, the athletic commissions, the promotions, the fans, they aren’t really listening to anything else except for the trash talking on social media.
These guys and girls are not fighting for the money. Well, not only for the money, anyway. They are fighting for the challenge, for the glory – for the love of fighting.
And we are watching it for the same reason!
But I wonder: Will the world ever wake up to the huge injustice being done here? Perhaps no one will listen, simply for the fact that it’s all working just fine for the powers that be. But the souls making it happen remain stuck in the same place, suffering from the same issues, while everyone else gets the benefit. That has to change.
Will it?
Alex Davis is a lifelong practitioner of martial arts and a former Brazilian judo champion. A founding member of American Top Team, Davis currently oversees the careers of a number of prominent Brazilian fighters, and he recently launched a branch of the famed ATT camp in Las Vegas. Davis is a regular contributor to MMA Junkie, sharing his current views on the sport built through his perspectives that date back to the Brazilian roots of modern MMA.
When it comes to what’s best for ‘the good of the fighter,’ who should make that call? | Opinion