MMA has hit the mainstream.
Suddenly barbers have been blown out of the water with requests for 'the Conor McGregor' and being called an 'Irish Joe' is now a compliment.
But there isn't universal love for the sport UFC has made popular. Critics usually bring up this sort of stuff.
"It's fake just like the WWE"
Robbie Lawler v Rory MacDonald was on the UFC 189 card.
These two men beat each other to an absolute pulp, with Rory MacDonald requiring re-constructive plastic surgery after it.
It may not be everybody's idea of 'sport', but it's certainly not fake. Most people who shout about the authenticity of MMA have never been to a fight.
These fighters are putting their bodies on the line and training to be athletes who can hurt each other. When hits land, people get knocked out and there's nothing fake about that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWUGMXDxWIk
Clip via RVprod
"Conor McGregor is nothing but a big mouth"
Sure, 'The Notorious' has used his persona to get ahead in the game. But he has had to back it up in the Octagon too.
His fight record speaks for itself. Only one of his UFC fights has gone the distance.
Also, his persona has made him the most bankable star in the sport. An athlete's career is a short one and he has found a way to make the most of it.
His intelligence and his talent would suggest he's far more than just 'a joker.'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Melbtsa1USA
Clip via Audio Steroid MMA
They're all juicing
MMA definitely has a drug problem, but so do most professional sports at the moment.
Hector Lombard, Jon Fitch and Anderson Silva are just three of the fighters that have failed drug tests recently. This shows that the relevant authorities are doing their best to catch cheats and punish them.
MMA isn't perfect, but it's striving to improve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRVclQPG2TE
Clip via UFCJFitch
"Everyone will fall off the bandwagon once McGregor loses"
There were MMA fans before McGregor and there'll be MMA fans after him. He has introduced the masses to the sport, but he is far from the only Irish fighter who has been making waves.
If a portion of fans fall off the bandwagon, then so be it. There'll also be a huge amount who remain interested.
It's safe to say that the buzz around the country is no longer a bandwagon, it's a fanbase.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGzjpHEKhQM
Clip via Photos by Ricardo
It's barbaric
Wrestling is a huge part of MMA and it's one of the oldest and most respected sports in the world. It also incorporates virtually every martial art: most of which require restraint, discipline and respect.
The end product may produce battered bodies, but the preparation and diligence involved is anything but barbaric.
However, if it's not your thing, just don't watch it, but quit your bellyaching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMu5pdr-1lM
Clip via Cage Warriors TV
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