MMA as an Olympic sport?
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MMA as an Olympic sport?
POLL: MMA as an Olympic Event?
| YES!! |    |
31% | (12) |
| Yes, but not for a while |    |
18% | (7) |
| Yes, but will never happen |    |
23% | (9) |
| Other sports first ie. sambo, bjj, muay thai... |    |
10% | (4) |
| No |    |
18% | (7) |
PeteD
4/24/07 3:34:42PM
Just wanted to try this out. How many people feel that, if properly regulated, MMA should be an olympic sport? Pankration was an Olympic event in 648BC. As part of the hisory of the Olympics, I feel that it should be included.
JimiMak
4/24/07 5:10:29PM
Never happen. Pankration- maybe -, JJ- maybe -, even old Rings rules -maybe- , but "unified rules" mma- never. Even olympic boxing sucks. They aren't interested in adding any kind of real combat sport. Just my opinion, but I think there's about 0 chance.
dstlvb
4/24/07 5:11:22PM
There is already a movement to get Pancration in. They are aiming for 2012 at the earliest.
methodman_90
4/24/07 5:22:06PM
MMA is not big enough world wide yet to be an olympic sport
Svartorm
4/25/07 2:18:59AM
It'll never happen. Just look at Olympic boxing. They have 20 ounce gloves and head gear, and have to fight eight times in the course of the Olympics. You can't duplicate that level of safety in MMA, and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who could fight that many fights in that short of time against top competition. Plus you'd be unable to cut weight, so the classes would be all screwy.
I think submission grappling is a possibilty down the line, but never full on MMA.
I think submission grappling is a possibilty down the line, but never full on MMA.
Mastodon2
4/25/07 2:42:46AM
Far too many technical issues like Svartorm noted, and there is the issue of the sports legitimacy. As naive as we may consider them, some people believe its still a brutal blood sport, and unless everyone is in agreement that it is a real, worthwhile sport it wouldnt be considered for the olympics.
Even if it was accepted as a sport by them, the technical issues would stop it ever happening.
Even if it was accepted as a sport by them, the technical issues would stop it ever happening.
Svartorm
4/25/07 2:49:47AM
I'd actually completely forgotten that aspect about Olympics. Something like 60 countries have to recognize the event as a sport before it can be added, and theres no way MMA would get that many.
tomp6581
4/25/07 9:08:06AM
Who voted NO?
Explain why?!
Explain why?!
pv3Hpv3p
4/25/07 12:49:50PM
Posted by tomp6581
Who voted NO?
Explain why?!
Read the posts??? They lay it out pretty well...
I had actually voted yes, read the thread and now have changed my mind... Good points guys.
Rush
4/25/07 1:04:56PM
I voted no for many reasons.
1) There are too many sports in the summer Olympics as it is
2) Wrestling, TKD, Judo and boxing are already Olympic sports. I really like watching wrestling and judo, but there is just not enough coverage on TV regarding them and I find that having MMA in the Olympics would be redundant to the other combat sports already in the Olympics. While MMA may be more popular than wrestling, judo, etc. I think these events are under-appreciated as it is and deserved their coverage (and more) in the Olympics. My fear would be that MMA would eliminate these fine sports from Olympic coverage and that is not a good thing.
3) The UFC and Pride are essentially the Olympics of MMA. They are also increasingly becoming more and more international. I think to put MMA fighters in the Olympics would be redundant in the sense that it wouldn't be much different than what we already have. This is why I am not a fan of soccer/football in the Olympics. There is already an international event that is HUGE for these sports. Hockey is the exception since international tournaments are not as big as the Olympic ones.
4) Due to the intensity of MMA, I can't see how you can make a really successful round robin or elimination card for the fighters without running the risk of guys getting injured or just beat up. Skeptics might say, well what about the GrandPrix or old UFC tournaments. Well, just think of the difference in the number of fighters that would be represented in the Olympics. Even if most major countries entered one fighter per weight category, there would still be at least 10x more fighters (and thus more fights) that would have to take place to be able to crown a winner.
1) There are too many sports in the summer Olympics as it is
2) Wrestling, TKD, Judo and boxing are already Olympic sports. I really like watching wrestling and judo, but there is just not enough coverage on TV regarding them and I find that having MMA in the Olympics would be redundant to the other combat sports already in the Olympics. While MMA may be more popular than wrestling, judo, etc. I think these events are under-appreciated as it is and deserved their coverage (and more) in the Olympics. My fear would be that MMA would eliminate these fine sports from Olympic coverage and that is not a good thing.
3) The UFC and Pride are essentially the Olympics of MMA. They are also increasingly becoming more and more international. I think to put MMA fighters in the Olympics would be redundant in the sense that it wouldn't be much different than what we already have. This is why I am not a fan of soccer/football in the Olympics. There is already an international event that is HUGE for these sports. Hockey is the exception since international tournaments are not as big as the Olympic ones.
4) Due to the intensity of MMA, I can't see how you can make a really successful round robin or elimination card for the fighters without running the risk of guys getting injured or just beat up. Skeptics might say, well what about the GrandPrix or old UFC tournaments. Well, just think of the difference in the number of fighters that would be represented in the Olympics. Even if most major countries entered one fighter per weight category, there would still be at least 10x more fighters (and thus more fights) that would have to take place to be able to crown a winner.
Mastodon2
4/25/07 1:19:41PM
Pride GPs take place over a minimum of two non-consecutive events, or two two consectuvive events providing there is a sufficient gap between the events. Now, Pride GPs, having proved such a successful and popular format, take place over 3 events, starting in June with Total Elimination, September sees Critical Countdown and the Final Conflict happens in November, and that is for 16 fighters to fight, recover, prepare adequately for their next opponent and then fight again, the process for 16 people takes a long time.
The olympics is only a few weeks long, and would feature many more than 16 competitors. The logistics of such a tournament happening within the Olmypics just arent feasible.
The olympics is only a few weeks long, and would feature many more than 16 competitors. The logistics of such a tournament happening within the Olmypics just arent feasible.
dstlvb
4/25/07 3:43:21PM
It may never happen but it is in the works and being talked about with the IOC. MMA is not being considered, Pankration is. The Governing body behind it is currently lining up the requiered amount of countries for submission to the IOC. The big selling point is that it has already been an sport and is getting serious consideration. Still might not happen, but at least someone is serouisly working on it.
jdubs
4/25/07 4:51:33PM
hell no, some one like riggs could go in there knock a couple of bitches out and be named the best in the world
JimiMak
4/25/07 4:55:12PM
I just want to see ADCC style grappling. Don't really have much else to say, it's kinda slow paced sometimes. I think you either get it or don't.
Rush
4/25/07 4:55:39PM
Posted by Mastodon2
The logistics of such a tournament happening within the Olmypics just arent feasible.
Isn't that what I said?
MethodMan
4/27/07 7:38:56AM
Perhaps we are looking at this from the wrong perspective instead of getting the sanitized and boring modern olympics which is all about marketing and commercialism to take on MMA. We should create an old style of olympiad with the combat sports of boxing, ground wrestling, stand up wrestling and Pankration (punches,kicks,takedowns and submissions) at the centre of the event where they traditionaly were. one winner per-event with the best overall standing in five categories including a combative one being awarded the winner of the pentathelon.
JimiMak
4/28/07 5:43:31AM
Posted by MethodMan
Perhaps we are looking at this from the wrong perspective instead of getting the sanitized and boring modern olympics which is all about marketing and commercialism to take on MMA. We should create an old style of olympiad with the combat sports of boxing, ground wrestling, stand up wrestling and Pankration (punches,kicks,takedowns and submissions) at the centre of the event where they traditionaly were. one winner per-event with the best overall standing in five categories including a combative one being awarded the winner of the pentathelon.
Sounds good, but again we have the logistics of getting that many top fighters to fight that many matches in a short time period and stay healthy. Barnett did 8 fights last year, and I don''t think anybody thinks he should've been in the ring with Nog AND CC on NYE. Just based on things like rest time (I'm glad he's taking some) not even who "could" win... cuz realistically, there all top 5 guys any one could win any given day. (IMO when Barnett beats Fedor that officially F***s up all major hw mmath right now. That'll complete a necessary circle that shows how mmath works in circles not straight lines) .......... maybe a spiral, maybe even upsets are predictable if you figure out the spiral, hehe....
MethodMan
5/1/07 4:37:04AM
I agree there is very little between the top fighters, but being the olympics it should be ametures that are fighting in these events, hell I have fought fights with 5 minutes between opponents. An event with an emphysis on the fighting sports would produce the next batch of future champions, its got to be a better way of finding talent than the reality show route.
PeteD
5/1/07 10:05:21AM
Posted by MethodMan
Perhaps we are looking at this from the wrong perspective instead of getting the sanitized and boring modern olympics which is all about marketing and commercialism to take on MMA. We should create an old style of olympiad with the combat sports of boxing, ground wrestling, stand up wrestling and Pankration (punches,kicks,takedowns and submissions) at the centre of the event where they traditionaly were. one winner per-event with the best overall standing in five categories including a combative one being awarded the winner of the pentathelon.
I'm all for it, lets start our own version of the olympics.
JimiMak
5/1/07 10:51:38AM
All I can say is for now I think ADCC is the best we're gonna get.
Does everyone know it's streaming this year? I think it's elitexc's web site. I saw it on here a couple days ago.
Does everyone know it's streaming this year? I think it's elitexc's web site. I saw it on here a couple days ago.
pv3Hpv3p
5/1/07 2:08:10PM
Posted by JimiMak
All I can say is for now I think ADCC is the best we're gonna get.
Does everyone know it's streaming this year? I think it's elitexc's web site. I saw it on here a couple days ago.
Here's the thread with the ADCC link in it... It looks like it's through the proelite website... I believe they're the same folks that streamed the Trigg / Lawler Icon Event and Cage Rage Judgment Day... I heard it's actually pretty good quality, but have never used it myself. Hope that helps.