MMA: The Not So Funny Joke

I am so amazed to see a sport that I once was a fan of become such a commercialized fad. Its almost like being an MMA fighter has become the new Power Rangers or Pokemon. Everywhere MMA gyms and stores sprouts up almost overnight and sometimes in an already crowded area all due to its commercialized popularity. People who never knew the sport in its primal begins suddenly become big fans and are seen walking around wearing a tap out or affliction shirt.
I am even more amazed to see a sport that I grew up participating in to be dominated by "couch potato critics" who sit and watch and then give out advice, reading and studying up on their favorite stars and become "professional couch coaches". They are so caught up in the male soap opera that is the UFC that they fail to try and understand the whole rigors of being an actual fighter.
Further more what really "loads my gun" metaphorically speaking is the fact that MMA has been down graded from a sport of talented martial artists, to a bunch of street brawlers who knows a guy who knows a guy who's friends with Dan Henderson and then bingo hes in the octagon. Yes I know its not the case with everyone but the sport is dominated by guys who are "10th degree white belts". Men who haven't grasped the concept of one style, men who decided that working at McDonald's or being a Teacher wasn't fun so they want to put on gloves and pour all their frustration and stupidity into a cage and try and beat the snot out of each other, but in reality those are the guys laying on the mat after lasting maybe a minute in the first round.
I believe that UFC has taken MMA, made it its donkey and is riding it till its legs break. It has taken away the traditional aspect of the true martial artists who have worked and dedicated their lives to becoming masters. It takes away from their credentials and the respect of their Dojo when you see a "mixed martial artists" who has appeared over night trying to apply an art that they have almost perfected and making an utter fool of them selves and disgracing them selves and the art.
BUT... the most horrifying truth is people love that! Its the fans that matter. They no longer are interested in the great legends and masters like Bruce Lee, Tatsuo Shinabuku, Matsumura or even the modern day warrior like my two great instructors Shihan Robert Marckovich and Hanshi Albert Mady. They are way to interested in seeing two men bash their heads in with little or no skill. There is atleast some hope with the new rise of traditionalists such as GSP, Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva. Men who have studied the fine arts and apply them so effectively in the ring. Yet these men are said to be losing favor in the site of the fans due to their "lack luster" fights, all because they go in the ring and rather than trade punches they out wit and out skill their opponents.
I look forward to the day when both rider and donkey end up in the ditch... and as for this poet and martial artist, I will strengthen both body and mind, going to war with my hands and defeating opponents with my mind.