Issue 092
September 2012
It’s an Olympic year and the globe has never been more in love with mixed martial arts. Perhaps our caged combat joining the five-ringed festival isn’t too far fetched…
WILL MIXED MARTIAL ARTS EVER BECOME AN OLYMPIC SPORT?
YES
BRAD PICKETT Exciting British bantamweight striker, 21-6
It can happen, but it’s going to be very difficult. There are a lot more sports out there that people want to have as an Olympic sport that aren’t an Olympic sport. I think it could be because MMA already has all the aspects of the combat sports in the Olympics. They would have to do it on an amateur scale, and mimic it the way that boxing has done things. It would have to be done in a way that amateurs would fight in the Olympics then they would decide to go pro.
Plus, it develops a lot more fighters on an amateur level and gives them more experience before they reach the professional level. The big thing is that if MMA is to get into the Olympics, it’s going to need a governing board, and they’ve only just started that up. I think it’s do-able, but there’s a long way to go.
NO
GEORGES ST PIERRE Incumbent UFC welterweight champion, 22-2
I do not believe MMA will be in the Olympics. The reason is, MMA, it’s not an event, it’s not a sport, it’s a combination of many sports. It’s a little bit like triathlon. Triathlon is cycling, running and swimming. MMA is a little bit the same thing: it’s mixed martial arts. So if you do mixed martial arts that means you take away the taekwondo, the wrestling, the boxing and the judo, which is impossible.
What these guys do in the Olympics as fighting sports, it’s very specialized. They’re specialized in their sport. When you fight in mixed martial arts you can be specialized in something but you need also to do the other sports. That’s what makes you a good mixed martial artist.
I believe it could happen in the future, but I believe we’re far away from that now because it’s not legal in certain countries. Maybe it will happen. It used to be in the Olympic Games back in the day; it used to be called pankration. It was a way different sport than it is now. But I believe it could happen one day but we’re far away from it now. I think it will take a lot of time.
What you had to say on the matter ...
“Yes but not for a long time, there is still a lot of stigma attached to MMA as many don’t see past the ‘cage.’”
@BILLYHOLKUSMASH
“Doubt it. The Olympics are for people who master in one field. Unfortunately mixed martial arts is too many different events rolled into one.”
@MATTHEWTRUEMAN
“I think it will. It’s becoming way bigger than boxing lately and that’s an Olympic sport. It would be amazing to see.”
@RYAN__CASH
“When sports like karate aren’t even in the Olympics and with the brutality of MMA it's hard to see it being accepted. It’s a shame.”
@LEWIS_MARTIN94
