One of the biggest overnight success stories of the last ten years, mixed martial arts does not appear to be slowing down. Since its inception, MMA has experienced ups and downs, but overall it has continued to develop and expand. Although MMA is a competitive sport with a thrilling and unpredictable presentation, is it really a sport?
Looking at mixed martial arts, it is obvious that it fulfils this definition. While the latter two words, "for entertainment," may bother some, they actually refer more to the audience than they do to the act itself.
MMA may be criticised as being more of a spectacle than a sport. The WWE is most likely the best illustration of what people contrast and compare in this context. Although it can be argued that the WWE fulfils the aforementioned characteristics, it is unclear whether it "competes."
Pro wrestling and mixed martial arts are different because MMA is neither staged or artificial. WWE wrestlers are undoubtedly competent and athletic, and they frequently suffer serious injuries in the course of their employment, but it is not a competitive sport when the result is already known.
But does its popularity and success imply that it is a sport? Not necessary, given that curling is a sport and is perhaps not the most well-known one when compared to others. It's difficult to fathom why MMA wouldn't be a sport given the popularity of other sports like boxing in the USA. Some would contend that because boxing provides the boxer with greater protective equipment, it is less dangerous than football and rugby.
Athletes practice and hone their skills for MMA competitions in order to be the best they can be. They practise in order to demonstrate to the world what they have discovered, what they are capable of, and how superior they are to other athletes. For themselves, their nation, their team, and their families, they train and fight. These actions are nothing less than the core values of every sport that exists, including the Olympic Games.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that allows athletes from a variety of combat sports to compete using a wide range of fighting methods and talents. The regulations permit the use of striking and grappling manoeuvres from both a standing and a seated position. Athletes from a variety of backgrounds can compete in competitions.