20 Reasons MMA Is the Greatest Sport

Mixed martial arts is unlike any other sport in the world.

It demands a certain respect from its fans and commands an unmatched ability to combine violence with discipline and loyalty.

The sport has reached a magnitude once only dreamed of simply by making its purity available to the masses.

It's an international powerhouse, an athletic portrayal of excellence and dominance, and has become more entertaining than ever.

The reasons are boundless, but for the sake of acknowledgement, here are 20 iron-clad truths as to why MMA is the greatest sport known to man.

The Ring Girls

This may sound immature, but mixed martial arts ring girls are truly gorgeous.

From Brittney Palmer to Arianny Celeste, round-by-round spokeswomen have never looked better.

So when most sports showcase cheerleaders demonstrating a choreographed performance, ring girls do what they do best by simply being their beautiful selves.

Dedication

Mixed martial arts is an involved sport.

Specific fighters may only fight three or four times a year, making every second of every round count that much more.

That type of dedication, stretching from training, eating correctly, and leaving loved ones behind deserves recognition beyond belief.  It demands a respect more intricate than most sports. 

Simply put, the life of a professional fighter is something to admire.

Walkouts

There is truly a vast number of unique figures in the sport of mixed martial arts.

From outspoken trash-talkers to quiet assassins, the list of characters is limitless.

But what makes these athletes even more entertaining and unique are their walkouts.

Whether it's a creepy mask, a country's flag, mean spirited or fan friendly, walkouts allow fighters to stress a certain type of individualism otherwise nonexistent.

MMA is by no means a team sport, making a tasteful cage entrance that more relevant.

Joe Rogan

Every sport needs a well-educated announcer.

It not only makes for better entertainment and a more diverse look at what is actually going on, but it enables the sport to vastly grow to new social heights.

Joe Rogan has been that guy for mixed martial arts.

The UFC's color commentator, alongside partner Mike Goldberg, has made listening to fights just as entertaining as watching them.

And with his stronghold over a diverse Internet following, Rogan has done more for the UFC's fan base than many people would think.

Not to mention he possesses a black belt in jiu-jitsu.

Blending Disciplines

Fighters have one goal in mind.

Train hard, learn as much as they can and blend those various disciplines into one final product.

That's why they call it mixed martial arts.

High-level athletes like UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos have been fortunate to succeed by forging skills like boxing with more popular techniques such as jiu-jitsu.

And fortunately for MMA fans around the world, dos Santos is just the tip of the iceberg.

Weigh-Ins

There's no better place than a weigh-in to witness the emotion, ferocity and sheer natural ability it takes to be a professional fighter.

For the select few that were bred to be mixed martial artists, a weigh-in means everything.

All the grueling training, intense sparring and emotion despair seemingly comes to an end, culminating into a feeling of being prepared for battle.

It's not just making weight.  It's a physical and mental accomplishment to stand toe-to-toe with your opponent and stare down his entire being.

A Woman's Touch

In mixed martial arts, the athletic competition doesn't start and stop with the male bravado.

Separate from some of the world's most mainstream sports like football, baseball and soccer, MMA inhabits a women's touch.

High-caliber professionals like Ronda Rousey, Gina Carano and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos have transcended every bias and stereotype a male-driven sport can produce.

As a proud guy's guy, I find it demoralizing that nearly every female fighter can teach me a lesson or two inside the cage.

But as a fan of the sport, it's satisfying to know that MMA is expanding culturally and socially.

Emotion

Mixed martial arts holds no punches.

Sure it's a physically demanding entity that never seems to pace itself, but more importantly, it's emotionally taxing.

I've never had the opportunity to do what some of my favorite fighters do, so I can only imagine how difficult it truly is to discipline the mind, body and soul all at once.

Win or lose, MMA fighters endure emotionally charged roller-coaster rides that often leave them mentally drained.

Prestigious Hall of Fame

Unlike other sports leagues, the UFC's Hall of Fame is truly prestigious.

The world's biggest mixed martial arts promoter has done a fantastic job in creating a truly sacred shrine for the sport's most legendary fighters. 

The career accomplishments needed to be part of something so fraternal are borderline impossible.

Lengthy title reigns, world ranks, historic Octagon battles and unforgettable finishes are all worthy attributes.

There's a reason why Royce Gracie, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock, Randy Couture, Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes and Tito Ortiz are the only fighters to be part of this special group.

Trash Talking

Trash talking is one of the most intricate aspects to mixed martial arts.

It sets the tone for not only championship grudge matches and personal beefs, but for international showdowns.

Ironically, some of the biggest trash talkers in the sport like the UFC's Chael Sonnen, Nate Diaz and Michael Bisping, are also some of the most successful fighters around.

For the most part, MMA fighters back up their publicly-induced personalities.

Fountain of Youth

One major aspect to mixed martial arts that separates it from other well-known sports is the fact that age simply isn't an issue.

In the NFL and NBA, athletes are forbidden by rules to compete at the highest level.  Now while those rules often help them to achieve greatness academically, it diminishes the overall depth of talent.

In MMA, it doesn't matter whether you're a borderline 20-year-old looking to make a promotional splash or a 40-year-old veteran wanting to go out on top, the opportunity to compete always comes down to the ability to perform.

No age restrictions, tricky contracts or hidden rules.  Age is just a number in MMA. 

Power, strength, speed and dedication, on the other hand, aren't.

Rivalries

Similar to the New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox in baseball and AC Milan vs. Inter in European football, rivalries in mixed martial arts often drive the sport.

For instance, the newest UFC rivalry between middleweight champion Anderson Silva and No. 1 contender Chael Sonnen has taken the action outside of the cage.

Partially due to Sonnen's public antics about Silva's family and country, the rivalry sparked all sorts of attention. 

Creating new fans and satisfying old ones, their back-and-forth struggles helped produce the biggest fight in MMA history when they faced off in their championship rematch.

But this hasn't been the first time two polarizing names have commanded an entire promotion's spotlight. 

Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz have done it before for the UFC, as well as Matt Hughes and Matt Serra.

Military Support

From putting on fights for the troops to employing actual war veterans, mixed martial arts, more specifically the UFC, has been a public advocate for U.S. military support.

The UFC has done its very best to showcase their appreciation for all the soldiers involved with American wars, whether overseas or working hard at home.

Other sports have surely done their part, but seems like MMA has taken the cause to the next level.

Due in part to the overall interest in MMA from many military members, promotions like the UFC have become serious players in making the toughest job in the world slightly easier.

The Finishes

Like a home run in baseball or a touchdown in football, a dramatic finish in mixed martial arts encapsulates the entire sport.

Whether it's a front-heel kick, spinning back fist, beautiful flying lotus or perfected guillotine, finishes are what we as fans live for.

Sure, technical ground wars and bruising striking contests are all they're cracked up to be, but there isn't a fan out there that doesn't prefer a decisive end to a fight.

There's really no way to explain its primal feel.  Goosebumps and all.

The Beards

Mixed martial arts showcases some of the greatest professional beards in the world on a monthly basis.

Fighters have a distinct knack for looking like a crazed lunatic turned disciplined warrior, so any sort of scraggly beard offers sort of a realism as to how barbaric MMA really is.

It also doesn't hurt that attached to these admirable whiskers are often calorie-consuming athletes like Roy Nelson.

A true marksman with his hands and an undoubted huntsman with his beard.

Various Organizations

Whether you're a diehard UFC fan or not, it's important to realize the value of other mixed martial arts organizations.

These specific promotions are just as responsible as the UFC in making MMA more popular and intriguing to the American people.

And even though many of these outlets serve as talent crops for the bigger Zuffa-owned promotions, it doesn't hurt to have events scattered across the world on a weekly basis.

Many may consider the UFC a monopoly, but what other sport in the world has two prominent leagues?

Pay respect when respect is due.  Thanks, Bellator.

Celebrations

There's truly nothing comparable to a post-fight celebration.

Certain fighters may exhaust more energy than others, but for the most part, every celebration is unique and memorable.

From Tito Ortiz digging his opponent's grave to Cung Le's back flips, the tales of accomplishments are endless.

As a true MMA fan, nothing beats watching a fighter knock out another fighter, then dance around the top of the cage.

Dana White & the Fertitta Brothers

Guys like Dana White, Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta don't come around that often.

Their efforts to turn around a struggling UFC company has transformed the sport of mixed martial arts into the international juggernaut it is today.

Their investment has surely exceeded every one of their expectations.  It hasn't been easy, but turning a dying MMA promotion like the UFC into a $2 billion entity never is.

And even though many people consider these three men part of a demonic monopoly set out to dominate the sport, others realize that without them, there may not be anything to control.

International Noteriety

Few sports reach international masses.

The MLB, NBA and soccer are the only entities that come to mind, but even they fail to command the following that mixed martial arts does.

Mostly due in part to the UFC's ability to sign the greatest fighters in the world from some of the most highly populated markets, MMA has become the sport of the future.

From Canada to Brazil, Japan to England, fights have been viewed live anywhere and everywhere (except New York).

That type of exposure is rarely met with competition, which is a reason why MMA is the fastest growing sport on the planet.

The Fans

Mixed martial arts would not exist without its fans.

That shouldn't be a secret.

The people that buy monthly PPV events, drape Tapout merchandise upon their bodies and empty their bank accounts to sit alongside the cage have helped transformed MMA into a truly addicting entertainment outlet.

They are the reason why fighters make the money they do and why popular organizations like the UFC have partnered up with high-profile television networks like FOX.

At the end of the day, it's humbling to know that I'm part of a movement.  You should feel the same way, too.

For more MMA/UFC news and coverage, Follow @DHiergesell