Adelaide set to host first UFC event in May — but will you be there?

IT’S the most brutal and controversial sport on the planet and now it’s coming to Adelaide. Should the UFC be welcomed — or banned? Read the arguments and have your say.

IT’S the most brutal and controversial sport on the planet and now it’s coming to Adelaide. Should the UFC be welcomed — or banned? Read the arguments and have your say.

A DISGRACE? UFC IS BLOODY AMAZING

Ben Harvy

TODAY I prepare myself for battle. Except I won’t be fighting inside a cage like UFC fighters. I’ll be fighting a war of words defending the sport of mixed martial arts.

With news of the UFC bringing its first event to South Australia breaking today, I expect there to be a backlash. And a big one.

Almost every day, I defend the UFC.

Colleagues, friends and family know I am a huge fan of the sport (yes, it is a sport, folks) and constantly they barrage me with arguments as to why it should be banned full stop.

“It’s way too brutal.”

“There’s blood.”

“It would be illegal if it was held out on the street.”

“You can’t use a cage, fighters are trapped in there.”

And don’t even get me started on the people who have decided that women shouldn’t be allowed to fight either.

Miesha Tate, left, celebrates a win over Sara McMann.

But, to all of these people, I deliver the same response every time — don’t watch it.

``But ... but ... but ...’’, but nothing. Don’t watch what you don’t like.

Who’s more stupid, the men and women jumping inside of a cage to fight — and for God’s sake it’s a cage, not a ring — or the people who choose to watch it, even though they hate it?

You know you’re dealing with people who don’t really know what they’re talking about when “ring” and “UFC” are used in the same sentence.

C’mon, you can’t be serious.

One of the famous comment pieces against the UFC was written by Phil Rothfield back in December 2013 after he watched Aussie Mark Hunt and Brazilian Antonio “Bigfoot’’ Silva go at it for five rounds (you can read what he had to say further down).

That was the best fight I have ever seen.

It was like something out of a Rocky movie.

Action from the Hunt-Silva fight.

The two lumbering giants pushed their bodies to the absolute limit, slugging it out inside the cage for 25 minutes. They both fell down and they both got up. It was a true testament to their spirit and competitive drive.

The round of applause at the end of the final bell was deafening just watching from the TV at home, let alone being there in the flesh at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Just have a look at Hunt and Silva after the fight.

Bloodied up? Yep.

Brutal? You bet — but it epitomises the ‘never give up attitude’ that embodies professional sport and the fight between Hunt and Silva was a testament that.

And there they are, arm-in-arm after a tough night at the office.

If you label the UFC as a disgrace and call for Australia to ban the sport then I couldn’t disagree with you more.

Thiago Santos, right, raises his hands after his TKO win over Andy Enz.

To say fighting in the UFC does not require a large degree of skill informed and erroneous.

Mixed Martial Arts is extremely technical and takes a lot more skill than the casual observer would realise or could comprehend.

The beauty of the UFC is that it combines boxing, kickboxing, judo, jiu-jitsu, wrestling and muay-thai. What other sport combines so many technical elements which need to be mastered to reach such an elite level?

I can accept that not everyone is going to be a fan of the UFC. But you can’t lay hate on mixed martial arts without aiming at boxing, too. And if we’re going to take a look at boxing, then the NRL, AFL and Super Rugby are next.

There’s plenty of biffo in State of Origin and we love it. But that’s completely acceptable because it’s on grass and not inside of the cage?

Violence is violence at the end of the day, but it’s not illegal.

Competitors are subject to regular blood tests to ensure diseases are not spread — if anything this is the safest, most entertaining and respectful form of violence you can get.

And if you don’t like this column, don’t ever read it again. It’s that simple.

THE UFC IS A BLOODY DISGRACE

Phil Rothfield (column written on December 8, 2013)

SINCE when is kicking, elbowing, kneeing, punching and stomping an opponent classified as sport?

On Saturday night on Fuel TV I witnessed the brutality and bloodshed of the UFC — apparently, and worryingly, the world’s fastest growing sport.

This was nothing but barbaric savagery that should be banned in this country.

The fact women were allowed to fight on the card was an even bigger disgrace.

The main event was between Aussie Mark Hunt and Brazilian Antonio “Bigfoot’’ Silva.

The commentators described it as one of the greatest fights in UFC history.

It made me feel sick.

Hunt absorbs a Silva punch.

Hunt started with blond hair that finished a blood-soaked red. Both fighters became barely recognisable from the blood and facial wounds of five sadistic rounds.

It scared me that the Brisbane Entertainment Centre was sold out with so many thousands of people (including families with young children) who were prepared to pay to watch it.

And all those who lapped it up and loved every cruel moment on pay-TV.

Almost defenceless men being held down on the ground and punched senseless.

What does it say about our society?

Why do we allow our kids to watch and cheer for something we teach them not to do?

And why are the competitors allowed to do all this inside a cage when it’s illegal on the streets?

People have been sent to jail for less than what happened inside a cage on Saturday night.

If you really want to make yourself sick, Google “UFC worst injuries”. The images are seriously disgusting and raise the question: why aren’t the fighters at least made to wear headgear?

Why aren’t fighters getting protection from blood diseases?

Aussie Soa Palelei looks to the crowd after putting away Pat Barry at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

Why do the referees and doctors allow mismatches and lopsided fights to continue?

I know the UFC has statistics to prove there are no more serious injuries than in boxing, but that’s not the point.

The beauty of all sport is the toughness and determination of its competitors. The pain they put themselves through to become the best.

The injury risks they face in rugby league and all the footy codes. At least their sport involves a large degree of skill — and it’s not just a contest to ­violently bash another person into submission.

Originally published as Adelaide set to host first UFC event in May — but will you be there?