In the Pride organisation, a hugely successful operation in Japan in the late 90s continuing into the 21st Century, foot stomps were allowed, as were soccer kicks to the head. This is indeed brutal and probably beyond the limits of what Mixed Martial Arts should condone.

Although this is could be seen as brutality, it is not a pure form of fighting. One of the Gracie brothers from Brazil retired from the current form of fighting due to the pacification of what he considered pure. There is a movement within MMA to return this sport to its origins. In reference to foot stomps, it is still allowed, at least by the UFC, but only from a standing position and stomping on another's foot.

Kimbo Slice has pushed the sport back in terms of progress, and if anything has given rebirth to the image of human cockfighting. Despite the best efforts of Dana White, UFC President, to promote the athletic side of the sport, Kimbo Slice was able to come in and undo all his good work in one fowl spell and confirm that there is indeed a human cockfighting element to it, whereby all people want to see is somebody get knocked unconscious.

Kimbo Slice recently tried out on the Ultimate Fighter. He is a street fighter without any real talent for Mixed Martial Arts. He is the epitome of "human cockfighter," however the individuals in the UFC are professionals who understand the science of the sport. Kimbo Slice was eliminated from the Ultimate Fighter because he could not fight at the level of the others.

It is a disgrace...a blood lust. Anyone who denies it is being less than truthful. The whole point is to submit the opponent in a violent manner..choke, knock out, TKO, etc, and lots of blood is spilled in the process. Boxing is the same really. Sports that display skill and toughness, such as amateur wrestling, would not bring in the big dollars because they don't result in a bloodied and humiliated opponent. Hence, society demands more brutality. C'mon folks...be truthful... MMA is just another reflection of the decline of society.

Blood is not always a factor. True, some fighters go out of their way to cause mayhem, but the majority are there to display their courage, and overcome the challenge of an opponent's skill-base. Furthermore, the principles governing MMA were present in the ancient Greek Olympics in the form of Pankration, and were also employed in the Japanese martial society to determine who had a better grasp of the human body and it's limitations. Anyone who has participated in any combative self-defence system will acknowledge the difficulty in handling an aggressive opponent, and can appreciate the discipline, control and training required to defend oneself from an attacker.

No it does not because it is stupid. I thinks that John McCain is a smart Christian and knows what is best for America. although this arguement is full of holes and falicies, I can add to it by stating humanity will eventually evolve away from voilence as intelligence and access to information increases.

To name but a few of the mixed martial arts that have been witnessed in the UFC (which has become synonymous with mixed martial arts) one should mention san sho, muay thai, Brazilian jiu jit su, tae kwon do, judo, wing shun, not to mention the grappling techniques of college wrestlers and the less refined boxing that is also showcased. These art forms are not labelled as barbaric (granted boxing does come under criticism), and to label ancient art forms upon which countries pride themselves (Brazil, Japan, the Philippines, and China) would be to degrade their history and culture.

Having a black belt in any martial arts has lost its meaning as schools that teach martial arts are springing up everywhere and modifying the requirements to suit the bottom line. The image of human cockfighting actually is as far back as 600 B.C. where fighting was used to entertain the public. The Romans included Pankrase, a form of martial arts, in thier olympic games as it was recognized as an athletic event. The Gracie family, before the UFC promoted Vale Tudo which means anything goes, in Brazil before Helio, the founder of BJJ under the tutilage of a Japanese Master who settled in Brazil and taught the Gracies, moved to California in order to open schools of BJJ. The Gracies where approached by an ambitious promoter(the first owner of the UCF) who decided to train with the Gracies and promote Vale tudo in which a challange was made to all fighters world wide that Gracie BJJ could be used to take down an opponent of any size and the forum which is known as the UFC was where this challenge would take place. UFC fighters have made the news in being arrested in domestic violence cases, so yes, they do put it to good use until they can no longer fight in the ring. The need to fight is still there, hence the family suffers from being victems of those who need release.

To become a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jit Su takes many years of study and hard work. This is not the sport of somebody who just likes to get into fights for the hell of it. Mixed Martial Arts includes many skilled practitioners of Brazilian Jiu Jit Su, and many champions form the world renowned Abu Dhabi grappling competitions. The image of human cockfighting comes from the early 90s image of the sport when it was no holds barred, and was made up mostly of 30 year old white males who were not actually versed in any particular form of martial arts, excepting a few exceptions, most notably Royce Gracie who turned early UFC events into an advert for Gracie Jiu Jit Su.

Although mixed martial arts is for all intent and purpose is allowing to grown men to 'kick ten bells out of each other', there is alot of skill involved. As mentioned above, martial art forms such as Jiu Jit Su are a perfect example of how to defend oneself appropriatly.It is a graceful from which takes years to master,aswell as promoting self-control and obedience. The men that fight in the UFC are all athletes who do what they do because they love using their skills and put them to good use in an 'octagon' rather than out on the streets.

Rebuttals to the contention that Mixed Martial Arts is safer. It has been proven that kicking, grounding, pounding and many more brutal action done in Mixed Martial Arts is not a safe scenario done a guy receiving punches only which could not actually knock down a boxer directly. Even though fighters are allowed to go on, it is still up to the discretion of boxers if they are fit to continue, they stand up and beat the count of 10. They tell referees that Ok I'm alright I can still fight. We also do not forget that there are ring physicians assigned to each bout and the cornermen of a boxer may also throw in the towel. Even though there is only one recorded death in MMA, still it does not answer that MMA is not human cockfighting.

Mixed Martial Arts is actually safer than boxing despite its outward appearance. Any TKO's are called immediately. In Boxing a competitor can fight on after being knocked down, or, so long as they keep the fight standing, can be continuously punched in the head for 12 rounds. Mixed Martial Arts has only had one recorded death since rules have been sanctioned, and there has never been a fatal injury in the UFC, Mixed Martial Art's big top in the U.S.

If it were human cockfighting then this assumption would presume that those who watch it want to see somebody get seriously injured. However, there is a huge amount of gentlemanly conduct in the sport, with massive respect between competitors, and in Japan, which can be regarded as the birthplace of Mixed Martial Arts; the fans appreciate the ground game of the athletes probably more so than those that keep the fight standing.

Modern MMA has over 30 rules and is sanctioned by state athletic commissions all over the USA and Canada. It is no longer the brutal blood-sport that it once was when it was first intruduced in the USA. MMa is also considered safer than boxing because of the implementation of the new rules.Gone are the days of hair pulling, groin punching and head stomping. Brute force is no longer a factor as it was,hence, strategy and knowlege of anatomy and kinetics is a determining factor. These new rules not only protect the fighters, but they also protect the sport. 1. Butting with the head. 2. Eye gouging of any kind. 3. Biting. 4. Hair pulling. 5. Fish hooking. 6. Groin attacks of any kind. 7. Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent. 8. Small joint manipulation. 9. Striking to the spine or the back of the head. 10. Striking downward using the point of the elbow. 11. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea. 12. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh. 13. Grabbing the clavicle. 14. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent. 15. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent. 16. Stomping a grounded opponent. 17. Kicking to the kidney with the heel. 18. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck. 19. Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area. 20. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent. 21. Spitting at an opponent. 22. Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent. 23. Holding the ropes or the fence. 24. Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area. 25. Attacking an opponent on or during the break. 26. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee. 27. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat. 28. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee. 29. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury. 30. Interference by the corner. (UFC web)