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Not For the Squeamish, But Area MMA Fighters Put On Quite A Show
BY RANDY GARDNER
Not much going on in the world of sports this week, so I will talk about a sport that doesn’t get much publicity in the local media but is becoming one of the biggest sports in terms of entertainment in the world. That’s MMA and that stands for Mixed Marial Arts.
It is a sport that only a few can participate in because of its brutal nature. The men and women who fight in this sport are highly trained in many different aspects of fighting. They only wear small gloves to protect their hands and all else is unprotected. When you watch the fights the participants are in a cage which makes it even more brutal.
I would be crying for my mom the second they rang the bell. These MMA guys and gals don’t do that, they kick, they punch, and fight it out ’till the end. Either 3,6,8, or 10 rounds. At a local level, the money isn’t that good but as fights increase in size, the prize winnings get bigger and better.
The reason I bring all of this up is that over the weekend, CBS had in primetime MMA fighting on a Saturday night. For me, the sport is brutal but as I mentioned it is an art form. I will not let my kids watch it though.
When I first saw a bout in person with Shamrock Promotions and Finneys MMA I was totally impressed. It’s a lot neater in person and it doesnt seem as brutal in person, although if you are close to the ring when a big blow is landed, you might catch a bit of blood.
I have seen a lot of local fighters move through the ranks over the past several years and have become local celebrities on a National level. This includes Jesse Finney, one of the best MMA fighters in St. Louis and the country.
In the ring, the guy is deadly but out of the ring, Jesse is the nicest guy you will ever meet. This seems to be the trend amongst the men and women in this sport. They know when to turn it on and turn it off. They know they are both fierce competitors in the ring against one another and respect each other win or lose.
To check it out in person, Shamrock Promotions has events year round along with several other MMA groups around St. Louis. Remember, this sport is not for the squeamish or weak of heart. I will be man enough to say that I could, o would participate in it.
