Open Mic: UFC, WWE Feature Superior Physical and Mental Abilities

With physical prowess and mental instinct, it is no surprise why the Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Wrestling Entertainment are the leaders of pound-for-pound athletes. Now I know that most of you are wondering, "Ron, what the hell are you smoking? Professional Wrestling? Seriously?"

Before you start throwing your "mother-in-law" rants together, allow me to explain why I placed professional wrestling in the same sentence as the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting

It's no surprise that there are people who still don't take the UFC seriously. But it's obvious that they have never seen a single fight if they're still thinking that. From its near fatal passing in 2001 to its arrival into the public mainstream with show like UFC Unleashed and The Ultimate Fighter, Dana White has done anything and everything to bring his baby to the top of the fighting food chain.

With young up and comers like Forrest Griffin and proven veterans like BJ Penn, the UFC has shown that it can live up to the hype. Combining wrestling, boxing, and jiu-jitsu, the UFC is continuing to grow into the pound-for-pound empire that White was expecting and hoping.

The success is clearly shown with the growing phenomenon known as "The Ultimate Fighter" series. Preparing to polish off its seventh season with the Ultimate Finale this weekend, the show has brought us many of the company's best rising stars: Josh Koscheck, Chris Leben, Diego Sanchez, Rashad Evans, Nate Quarry, and of course, Forrest Griffin.

It's clear that with the departure of Floyd "Money" Mayweather that boxing will be hurting. But with the rise of UFC's version of "Money," Anderson Silva, it won't take long before the squared circle of boxing is silently replaced with the sight of a caged octagon. Physicality wise, UFC owns the pound for pound title.

Which brings us to the mental side of pound-for-pound...

Professional Wrestling

It may sound crazy. It may sound ridiculous. It may even be the dumbest thing ever placed in a competitive argument. But professional wrestling belongs in this column for the simple fact that though it is a scripted franchise, it takes a massive amount of mental preparation to be able to do the things that they do on a daily basis.

For those who would like to tell these guys that they are living a scripted life, good luck. These guys (and girls) are real athletes. They get injured like other athletes. They battle critics like other athletes. They strive for greatness...just like other athletes. From legends such as Ric Flair, Macho Man, Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan to legends in the making such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, John Cena and The Undertaker, the WWE has persevered in the face of adversity.

And professional wrestling has become a popular addition to the sports family. Even Vince McMahon himself has said that this is sports entertainment and even though it has heard the 'F' word multiple times ('F' word meaning Fake), it still continues to grow and show in households all over the world. From WWE to Ring of Honor to TNA, professional wrestlers have been a format for mental toughness through the years.

But why mental tenacity you ask? Every move is practiced before the matches to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Just because it is scripted doesn't mean that these guys don't suffer. From the passings of Owen Hart, Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit to baseball's Steroid Era transferring over to professional wrestling, it's clear that the business takes both a physical and mental toll on its athletes.

So when the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and NHL take their hiatus at season's end, Ultimate Fighting and Professional Wrestling keep going. Year round and pound-for-pound, these two industries are catalysts for physical and mental toughness.