WATERCOOLER: We deplore coward punchers but cheer the UFC

COWARD punch, sucker punch, king hit, cheap shot.

UFC fighter Ronda Rousey

COWARD punch, sucker punch, king hit, cheap shot.

They all mean the same thing - a punch thrown at an unsuspecting victim who has no chance to defend him or herself, or one thrown when the victim is defenceless.

New South Wales now has an eight-year minimum sentence for certain violent offences where the offender is intoxicated with drugs or alcohol.

And in Queensland the 2014 Safe Night Out Legislation Amendment Bill aims to reduce alcohol and drug-related violence.

Here, unlawful striking causing death carries a maximum life sentence and a mandatory minimum of 15 years or 80% of the time served which ever is the lesser amount.

Both pieces of legislation have been criticised by the individual state law societies which have argued existing legislation is adequate through the charge of manslaughter.
 

CAN WE REALLY CRACK DOWN ON VIOLENCE WHILE SPORTS LIKE MMA ARE POPULAR?

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Argument for the amendment in Queensland was based on the political point that proving intent to kill made it difficult to secure a murder conviction.

Availability of CCTV footage of a distressingly large number of individual events showing the raw violence involved in an unprovoked attack on an unsuspecting victim means there is no community sympathy for offenders and nor should there be.

Equally, while heavy punishment for offenders is an understandable reaction to crimes of this nature and some satisfaction will be drawn from that, the nature of the crime means tough-on-crime measures are unlikely to have any deterrence affect.

What ever is going on in the brains of offenders that lead to their actions, it is probably reasonable to suggest there is unlikely to be any moment for reflection about potential consequences for either themselves or their victims.

After all, many of these crimes are also played out in public places where CCTV or mobile phones are likely to record the offence.
 

In all the outrage that has erupted over the tragic deaths of Colin Miller in Brisbane and Trevor Duroux on the Gold Coast in the past month, and last week's assault on Melissa Abdoo in Mount Isa, there has been no reflection about the duality of our attitudes to violence.

Consider the ridiculous level of mainstream support for UFC, cage fighting, Fight Club or whatever other guise this blood sport masquerades as.

It says a lot about modern society and what it has become that just two months ago more than 56,000 people paid $2700 for a "VIP experience" and $100 to sit up the back to watch two women attack each other in a contest that lasted 59 seconds and left one, the defending Ultimate Fighting Championship belt holder, in hospital.

The gate takings were $9.5 million with a fortune more collected from pay-per-view audiences.

COUNTERPOINT: You can not compare UFC and coward punches

Boxer Danny Green, who has become the spokesman for an end to coward punches, was in the front row with his seven-year-old son.

"It's his first time, he's loving it,'' Green told reporters.

More recently, I saw on television footage of another UFC fight where one man lay prone on the canvas, his arms pinned by his opponent's knees who was using both fists to batter him in the head.

Beyond the eight-sided cage the crowd was roaring its approval, as it also does when an elbow is used to attack the head.

How did it come to this that the lumbering brutality of beasts has become entertainment? Why is it that all the suffering in the world and blood being spilled isn't enough?

And is there possibly a link between actions we see on the street and those we sanction as entertainment?

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ON FACEBOOK

Dannielle Wright 
No more than the car racing industry is contributing to road toll, or the Melbourne cup causes animal abusers to increase. highly trained athletes who condition their bodies for 6-8hrs a day for 6weeks leading up to a 5-15minutes bout of consensual trained skilled martial arts/grappling/boxing cannot be compared to a coward one hit punch.
 

Dave Evans 
Of course - it is desensitising - its normalising violence.
 

Ty Tamblyn 
In a huge MMA fan and I have no desire to go hit somebody... MMA teaches people a lot about life too.. The dedication, fitness, health and mental strength plus learning that fighting belongs in a cage or a ring not in the streets. Story's like this just show how narrow minded and lack of knowledge people have of fight sports...

You want to find the roots of the problem look at parents or lifestyle or many of the other outside influences.. Not a sport to blame... It's like saying racing in responsible for hoones... Stupid
 

Greg Parry 
I think the problem is a lack of parenting to act as filters. Yes, increased exposure to violence etc without context or supervision for children is going to create challenges. Those of us who grew up with parents who taught us right from wrong, good morals and values did not become thugs because we watched wrestling, boxing, MMA, football or an other activity connected to violence or heavy physical contact.
 

John Carby
I think we "blame" everything to much. There will always be people with no respect for law or other people. So instead of escuses and reasons, how's about consequences and punishment and personal responsibility.

Nick Downes
Yep. I've been saying this for a long time. Wannabe tough guys in UFC and Tapout t-shirts proving how gutless they really are by hitting people when they're not looking. Perhaps they should get in a cage and take on a real tough guy some time?

Craig Mcintosh
yes and no..... they have clear rules in boxing and mma/ufc ... And then you have Danny Green doing his bit about coward punches and like he says drugs and alcohol are no excuse ...... just like ppl trying to fight drink driving charges saying they were drunk...... B..LS..T I say ....ppl need to grow up and only blame them selves ......