MMA of Olympic Proportions

This past week UFC President Dana White stated he'd like to see MMA in the Olympics. White is 40 years old--but he's going to have to live to 140 before MMA is a sport in the Games. Don't get me wrong. I'd love to see it. I just choose not to hold my breath. Hell, I can't hold my breath for 100 seconds let alone 100 years.

Alright. So MMA has come a long way in the past five to ten years. A crazy long way. It is a mainstay on all the sports highlight shows. It's on free TV. We walk into a sports bar, and it's very likely we'll see some level of MMA on the flat screens. Which I love. I think that it's also going to get bigger. It is truly a main stream sport enjoyed by millions. And not just in North America either. All over the world people are watching. Case in point this past weekends UFC 110 in Australia. Half way across the world and people go nuts over MMA.

So the interest is there. The Olympics are always looking to include new sports that have an appeal to a large group of countries and that no one country will dominate. MMA definitely fits that bill. But it's about the only bill being fit when it comes to cage fighting going to the Games.

There are just way too many problems surrounding it. The IOC hasn't even allowed kick boxing into the Games. They wonder if enough countries practice the sport. I'm not too sure but I have a feeling more people kick box than do synchronized swimming. And kick boxing could actually work. They could use the head gear, the big gloves and the leg pads. But let's face it. The IOC is run by a bunch of conservatives. Kick boxing is far too violent. Sometimes I'm surprised boxing is even in the Olympics. Come to think of it, which super-forward-thinking-dude let boxing into the Olympics?

There is also the question of who would participate. Would you have the amateurs like in boxing? Or the pros like in hockey? And here's some other questions: Would you have it in a cage or a ring? Would you wear any sort of protective padding? Would your shorts logo be a picture of a kid and his dad doing karate instead of an ad for condom depot? There's just way too many questions for a backwards group like the IOC to even consider when considering MMA. But again, the number one reason is it's just too violent.

I would suggest there is not much actual fighting in Olympic boxing. I'm not saying that has to be a bad thing, but I don't see many knockouts in Olympic boxing. It's more of a contest to see who can touch the other person's head gear with their gloves the most. Kind of like a light slap contest. I'm pretty convinced a light slap contest is about as far as the IOC will allow in their Games. That being the case, you couldn't make head gear and the big gloves work in MMA. You simply can't employ a safe, fair ground game with that equipment. It' just doesn't work. Another reason we won't see MMA in the Olympics.

Maybe you're reading between the lines I'm not exactly a huge fan of the IOC. I'd call that some nice detective work on your part. Having said that there is one reason for not allowing MMA that the IOC could throw out that I'd have no problem with. And that's that the Olympics are a family affair. I have young kids, and there's no way I'll let them watch MMA. It's not in thier paradigm of understanding. It is an adult program.

With that in mind, what about a comprimise of sorts? We already have boxing, Judo, Karate, and wrestling in the Games. Those are parts of MMA. Why not add jiu jitsu? It's not necessarily all that violent--at least in appearance--and that's what counts with the IOC. It is practiced in a number of countries now, and not always dominated by Brazil. Mostly, but not always. I could see that happening down the road.

I just can't envision a world where the IOC will open it's ultra conservative arms to Mixed Martial Arts. And maybe it shouldn't. MMA certainley doesn't need the Olympics--or vice-versa. While I would never debate the merits of MMA as a sport--I can see why it's not an Olympic sport. Too many issues--real or imagined by a short sighted Olympic governing body.

As I stated Dana White has just turned the big 4-0. I am in that same age range. And for the most part I see White as a definite realist. But if he thinks he'll see MMA taking a bite into the Olympics in his lifetime, his reality definitely bites.

Enjoy the rest of the Olympics. Go Canada Go!