Commander's Call: UFC: Violence is it a Societal Renaissance?

Every time UFC or an MMA event comes on television, I try to get one of my close friends to watch it. His response is usually along the lines of, "It's too boring and there is not enough violence."

Well, last night I convinced him to watch UFC's Fight for the Troops, and he was ecstatic about the amounts of blood, bruises, concussions, and broken bones. In a nutshell, some people really got their asses kicked last night, and I got to say, "Now that...is how it's done!"

My rational for enjoying UFC so much is, as a man, I do have an innate desire for violence. It's human nature, but men over time have continually been pacified by either societal and or Christian norms while evolving from hunter to gatherer.

I have personally spent the recent years of my life as part of an organization that makes a living for all intents and purposes in the fury, control, release, and sustainment of violence. 

I got to the point where nothing shocks me, nothing at all—whether it is a broken arm, or someone bragging about breaking an arm. I have a high tolerance to life, limb, or eyesight injuries. Is it easy to overcome normalcy in chaotic situations? What do you think?

So when I see a sport with gladiatorial lineage and it is about the survival of two entities facing off, I refuse to say it's too violent. Now, is there class in breaking an arm and mocking the victim? Not at all, but we must accept the fact it is what it is: a fight with an option to quit.

I feel like a lot of people were upset about the so called "mismatches" and the ruthlessness of Steve Cantwell and Mike Swick, but all these fighters are paid professionals who think that they are championship material, so there is no pity party for a beatdown.

We are men and woman who are attracted by the survival mechanism of a fight. I not only condone this sport as a professional sporting event but even as a sport for children to participate in, in a controlled and supervised environment.

You see, what can you really ever know about yourself if you've never been in a fight, or better yet, had your ass kicked? These are two fundamental rights of passage in becoming a man and can be character-defining and humbling all together.

The whole concept of a Mixed Martial Arts competition is exciting and can be intoxicating as the world's best warriors bring different styles to the mat. This sport is not for the faint of heart. It is violent and competitive. If you don't like it, that's OK—then it is not for you!