Sunday, September 21, 2008

Women fighing in MMA

When I was sitting in McNichols Arena in November of 1993 with less than three thousand people in a venue that held 18,000 I never thought I was present for the birth of a whole new sport. But since then what was then called "No Holds Barred" or "ultimate fighting" has evolved in what we now know as Mixed-Martial arts and it has indeed taken the world by storm.

Many fans would agree that Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson, and Randy Couture are household names. However, true MMA fans realize that the sport isn't limited to the UFC .

Outside of that organization, there are women who fight and receive little recognition for it. Many praises to EliteXC (despite their many other faults) and other, smaller promotions that allow these fine athletes do what they do.

My favorite backpedaling on women in MMA was done while Dana White was on the road doing interviews in the Mall of America in Minneapolis and Canada pre- UFC 87.




While being interviewed in Canada, Dana was asked about women in MMA, and instead of giving the old Dana answer that women were not meant to fight, Dana stated that "there just are not enough women to fight" and he elaborated stating that far more men were available for fights so finding enough fighters to fill out a card was much easier for a fight organization to just handle men.
This of course is a far departure from Dana flatly saying that he did not like to see two women fight using mma.

And truth be told, some of these women have skills beyond what any MMA fan would expect.

Gina Carano (aka "Crush" on American Gladiators...a name that best describes her effect on me) is a female fighter with an immense amount of skill, strength, and heart. Gina is the first American female to win a Muay Thai championship in Thailand, and after beating such worthy opponents as Julie Kedzie and rosie Sexton (No Relation) she is currently undefeated in womens MMA and her fights are every bit as entertaining as those between UFC elites.

Whatever your sex, that's an accomplished mark.

White has been known to say that women are "too pretty" to fight. He's also stated that when two women fight, one is a "pretty girl" and the other looks like "a man."According to White, the "man" always wins—and no one wants to see that.

Well Dana, Gina Carano and Julie Kedzie have met in combat. Which one do you think looks like a man?



Carano (left) and Kedzie (right) would probably love to hear what you have to say...

I am sure if Dana had shown an interest in hiring female fighters, he would have been quite surprised at the number that would turn out for auditions. Possibly not enough for the number of weight classes that the men have but enough to showcase a few matches at each UFC event.
Of course I wouldn't want him to stop there. My idea for a TUF season featuring women fighters competing for a contract and shot a a title in the UFC.

Such a series might possibly draw more viewers than the regular TUF series with men.
The women would surely have spats where the men have fights while living so close together for six weeks, but I doubt there would be any house destruction or drinking binges (too many empty calories for the weight savvy gals) or the peeing on themselves and fecal pranks that the men found so compelling.

Apparently there now is room to hope, although I am sure it will take a long time. It is possible that instead of the EliteXC being accused by Dana of copying his business mdel, Dana will be guilty of copying the EXC'S women's fights which drew so much interest to the CBS programs.

So tell me...how do you feel about women fighting in MMA?