Courtesy of the New York Times Editorial Board. 
The Disturbing Rise of Ultimate FightingBy The Editorial Board
Promoters of ultimate fighting, or mixed martial arts, are eyeing New York State as a new venue for their blood-soaked slugfests.
Big companies from Las Vegas are promoting the new sport — which has much the same flavor as a particularly vicious street fight — in more than a dozen states and on television. In New York, they have hired some of the oiliest lobbyists to start the legislative version of arm twisting.
Assemblyman Bob Reilly of Albany is one of the few brave voices standing up against them, and he he must feel like a poor wrestling jobber preparing to do battle with a hulking world champion.
Proponents of ultimate fighting concede that, yes, in the old days their sport was brutal and ugly. That was back when Arizona Senator John McCain called it “human cockfighting” and went on a campaign to ban it.
Now, they insist, the rules have changed and many of the lowest blows — like eye gouging and groin attacks — are outlawed.
“What they don’t tell you is what is allowed,” Mr. Reilly points out. “Kicking in the head, kneeing in the head, hitting in the head.” Ultimate fighters do not wear helmets or shoes or full, padded boxing gloves.
Ultimate fighting’s supporters also argue that at a time when funds are hard to come by, the state would earn a percentage of the big money from these spectacles, which can cost $200 to almost $400 a ticket.
But it would be — literally — blood money.
The most forceful arguments against this “sport” come from the British Medical Association, which is battling to ban both ultimate fighting and boxing. A quick read of their take on ultimate fighting makes it sound barbaric indeed.
The British medical establishment declared that doctors cannot stand by while violent fighting tournaments are allowed to take place. Large amounts of money can be earned by participants, promoters and others linked to ultimate fighting but no amount of money can compensate for permanent brain damage and premature death.
The rise of ultimate fighting, which is becoming a staple of cable television, is a tribute to the large amounts of money to be made — and to the nation’s bizarre double standard about violence and sex.
If there is a “wardrobe malfunction,” and a usually covered body part is briefly shown, the government reacts swiftly and punitively. If a young man bashes another young man’s face into a bloody pulp, well, that’s entertainment.
