As the Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games slowly get underway many questions are raised about how to keep the competition relevant in the eyes of the new generation.
2x Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier is the current UFC light-heavyweight world champion
One such topic discussed is the matter of MMA’s future inclusion in the Olympic games. Once upon a time Olympics did feature a very similar event – Pankration. Pankration was a combination of wrestling and boxing. It was a dangerous sport where everything was permitted sans biting, gouging and groin punching.
UFC’s former owner and CEO Lorenzo Fertita spoke to BBC several months ago and claimed it was only a matter of time before this type of competition steps on the center scene of the Olympic Games.
“The Olympics are a business and they want to attract younger viewers for all these big television deals,” Fertitta explained.
“Where we’re going with UFC, eventually we will be part of the Olympics.”
“If someone had told the Olympic committee 20 years ago that their number one program continued.
“But that’s where we are today because that’s what the kids want to watch — and that’s where we are going.”
And really, given how close wrestling was to being expelled from the Olympics due to poor viewership numbers it is all about business. And the UFC certainly performs great in their chosen demo audience.
The amateur side of the sport is governed by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), which is headed by a former Team GB Olympic judo medallist – Kerrith Brown – who took bronze in the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Brown told Mirror:
“Becoming an Olympic sport is the ultimate achievement and highest formal recognition possible for any sport. Hence that is what the IMMAF will strive towards,” said the statement.
“We see that the challenges for MMA are great today, but so are the opportunities, and the IMMAF should not have any lesser ambition for MMA than this.
“When the IMMAF formulates goals, strategies and tactics over the coming years they will need to pass the test – will this be an instrument in fulfilling the organisation’s vision?”
Given how there are further improvements in the certifications of trainers and officials as of this Tuesday MMA might be on a steady path to global acceptance and glory.
The association of Boxing Commissions approved 6 changes dealing with the judging criteria, eye pokes, grounded fighters and more. Big John McCarthy and current ABC president Mike Mazzulli spoke about the changes:
“We have to make sure everyone’s doing the same stuff,” said Mazzulli
“Everybody that wants to be a trainer, you get to come, we’re going to present a course for you, we’re going to give you the course, and you’re going to teach us the course,” McCarthy said. “When they pass our criteria to be an instructor, they can go and do ABC-certified training for everyone, but it’s all regulated under the ABC and they know what they have to do.”
Do you see MMA making it to the Olympics in the future? Sound off in the comments
