Thanksgiving 2011: 50 Things in MMA We Are Thankful for This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time when you are supposed to reflect on your life and figure out what it is in life that you are thankful for.

Why should MMA be excluded from the process?

There are many moments, fighters and other things that helped MMA become what it is today and it's those things that we are thankful for.

What exactly are they and why should we be thankful? Read and find out!

First, a Special Thanks

A big thank you to Trent Reinsmith, Josh D. Carey, Mark Pare, Kyle Symes, Andrew Brining and Scott Harris for helping me come up with some of the ideas for this piece (I hope I'm not forgetting anyone).

UFC 1

UFC 1 started it all on November 12th, 1993.

Royce Gracie effortlessly dispatched his opponents and in doing so started a martial arts revolution.

Even though the Gracies take a lot of heat for selectively picking opponents that they knew were outmatched, Royce Gracie's actions at UFC 1 were crucial in creating modern MMA.

For that, we must be eternally thankful.

The Pre-Zuffa Legends

Before Zuffa's purchase of the UFC in 2001, the organization was owned by the Semaphore Entertainment Group (or SEG).

Many of the fighters from the SEG days didn't have success in the Zuffa era either because they were too old or because the sport simply passed them by.

However, we should still be thankful for their existence because through their skill and talent they helped the sport evolve.

So before you cut the turkey, give thanks to men like Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Don Frye, Dan Severn, Oleg Taktarov, Tank Abbott and the other great fighters of the pre-Zuffa era.

The Early Zuffa Legends

We must be thankful for the pre-Zuffa legends but we also must be thankful for the legends in the early days of Zuffa's ownership of the UFC.

Fighters like Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz and Rich Franklin were instrumental in laying the groundwork for the modern UFC. They deserve the gratitude of MMA fans.

Joe Silva

Joe Silva has been making the matches that excite fans all over the world for over a decade now.

His genius has provided us with some of the best fights of all-time, we should definitely be thankful for him.

Pride Fighting Championships

Pride Fighting Championships may have gone the way of the dinosaur, but that doesn't mean it wasn't great while it lasted.

Pride put on some of the best fights in MMA history and was home to some of the most highly-regarded fighters in MMA history.

So this Thanksgiving, give a nod to Pride and remember how great it was.

Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson

The image of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson slamming Ricardo Arona to the mat and knocking him out has been burned into the memories of many a burgeoning MMA fan.

The clip is one of MMA's most famous highlights and it's likely used daily to help convert new fans.

Fedor Emelianenko and His Legendary Highlight Reel

Fedor Emelianenko is one of the most accomplished heavyweights in MMA history. When he fought in Pride, he was a living legend.

A poor showing in the United States' MMA scene tarnished his legacy a bit but we should still be thankful that such a fighter existed in MMA at all.

In fact, so profound was Emelianenko's influence that MMA fans constantly seek to place a fighter in the role that he once occupied. They are always trying to determine which fighter is the greatest, which fighter is the next Fedor.

Wanderlei Silva

Wanderlei Silva is another fighter who made his fame in Pride that all fans should be thankful for.

Silva constantly seeks to entertain fans at the risk of his own body. He is a legend in MMA and one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet (unless you're on the opposite side of the cage).

His highlight reel too is an incredible one that sends chills down the spine of even the most difficult to please "hardcore" fan.

Speaking of Wanderlei Silva...

Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le

MMA fans should be thankful for Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le—the co-main event of UFC 139—because not only was it one of the best fights in recent memory, it also let us see vintage Wanderlei Silva one last time.

The eyes of millions of MMA fans lit up when they saw Silva grasp Le in a Thai clinch and proceed to bash his face in with knees and punches!

However, Silva vs. Le wasn't the only fight that night that we should be thankful for.

Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua

UFC 139's main event between Dan Henderson and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua was one of the greatest fights of all-time.

It was truly a back and forth affair that saw both men nearly clinch victory only to be nearly defeated themselves.

We should all be thankful to have watched such an amazing contest as well as be thankful that fighters with such heart and grit exist.

5-Round Main Events

When the UFC first announced that all main events—not just title fights—would be five rounds and not just three, there was some skepticism about whether it was the right call to make.

Dan Henderson and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua proved the critics wrong with their epic 25-minute duel at UFC 139, proving that five-round main events were the way to go.

UFC 139

UFC 139 was one of the best fight cards ever put on by the UFC. It offered excitement from top to bottom and each fight perfectly built up to the epic main event.

Anderson Silva

There are legendary UFC events and then there are legendary UFC fighters.

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is one such legendary fighter. Silva is considered to be the greatest of all-time by many (including UFC president Dana White).

The Brazilian may have given some strange, lackluster performances in the past, but he's given so many more great victories than bad fights.

He holds records for the most amount of successful title defenses (nine) as well as the most consecutive wins in UFC history (14) and has been the most dominant fighter fans have seen.

Jon Jones

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is the future of MMA and one of the most intriguing fighters to watch since he has such an unorthodox fighting style; you never know how he'll do next!

Georges St-Pierre

Georges St-Pierre is one of the most widely recognized MMA fighters and is aiding in the UFC's transition from "human cockfighting" to sport of the new generation thanks to his professionalism.

Fans may not like his fighting style, but a fighter of his temperament is just what the UFC needs in this critical time.

Thus, we should be thankful for him.

St-Pierre's Rivalry with Nick Diaz

Georges St-Pierre's rivalry with Nick Diaz will no doubt produce more hype than any other of the Canadian's fights.

The rivalry has a very unique angle, where St-Pierre is almost sort of a villain since Diaz is now considered to be an anti-hero by many.

No matter how this rivalry ends, we should all be glad it happened.

Nick Diaz

How could you not be thankful for the brash, fiery, exciting Nick Diaz?

The man pioneered the "Stockton Slap" style of MMA-boxing and is swiftly becoming one of MMA's most adored "villains" since his questionable antics have actually won him more fans. In that sense, he is almost like a real-life "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

Even if you don't like his antics, you should be thankful for him because he's bringing the best out in St-Pierre and has already given us many memorable fights.

Strikeforce Still Existing

Nick Diaz was the Strikeforce welterweight champion. He, along with several other fighters, were pulled from Strikeforce to the UFC after the Zuffa acquisition.

The shifting of Strikeforce's elite to the UFC made many think that Strikeforce's death was imminent.

However, the final curtain hasn't fallen on the San Jose-based organization.

They have put on some truly memorable fights and will continue to do so if they are allowed to keep operating. Thus, if they close at some point in 2012 we should be thankful they existed, if they don't we should be thankful that they are still around.

Women's MMA

Strikeforce is essentially the capitol of women's MMA (at least in the United States).

Fights between female fighters have provided the organization and MMA fans with some of the best action ever seen. The women's fights on the card are usually better than the men's!

Gina Carano

Sadly, women's MMA (WMMA) can't be sold just on the heart and talent of the fighters. A pretty face is also needed.

Gina Carano was "the face of Women's MMA" because of her abilities, but also her looks. Without her, WMMA simply couldn't have come as far.

So if you are thankful for WMMA, you should be thankful for Gina Carano as well.

Miesha Tate

Gina Carano left WMMA for a film career. When this happened, WMMA was left without a marketable star, that was until Miesha Tate won the Strikeforce women's bantamweight championship from Marloes Coenen.

Tate will help preserve WMMA's popularity and will also build upon the history of WMMA with fights against other contenders such as Sarah Kaufman and Ronda Rousey.

Bellator Fighting Championships

We should be thankful for Bellator Fighting Championships not only because they provide WMMA with a great home, but they also put on great fights and tournaments for free on MTV2 and will be on SpikeTV in 2013.

Bellator serves as a great lower-tier organization to develop talent. Also, it's great that the UFC has competition in Bellator, lest the UFC product becomes stale a la WWE after WCW was dead and buried.

Smaller, Regional Promotions

Regional promotions—such as Shark Fights, King of the Cage, or Ring of Combat—are actually some of the most important in all of MMA.

They allow fighters to develop and enable them to be all that they can be.

Can you imagine how different the MMA landscape would look if fighters were never given enough time to properly hone their skills?

Regional MMA organizations are the grounds on which future stars are made. For that, we must be thankful for them this Thanksgiving.

HDNet

Mark Cuban's HDNet is a niche network to be sure, but it's responsible for some really great MMA programming.

The cornerstone of HDNet is Inside MMA. The show stars Bas Rutten and Kenny Rice and is arguably the best MMA show on television or on the Internet (and I was so upset when this show was moved to Monday nights. So many Friday nights I "ate dinner" with Bas and Kenny).

HDNet is also responsible for airing regional cards that otherwise wouldn't be seen by fans. It's really the closest thing fans have to an MMA television channel.

SpikeTV

HDNet may be a great network for MMA, but SpikeTV helped put MMA on the map and it helped keep it there with tons of UFC-related programming. 

Spike hasn't given up on the MMA market despite the UFC's departure to FOX. They will be airing Bellator events sometime in 2013.

The Ultimate Fighter: Season 1

We should be thankful to SpikeTV for giving MMA a chance on its network, but we should also be thankful for the MMA that is showcased as well.

The first season of The Ultimate Fighter was the single most important show in the history of combat sports since it made the UFC a household name overnight and captivated the coveted males age 18-24 demographic for the UFC.

MMA Has Become More Than Just a Bloodsport

MMA used to be considered a crude, sordid bloodsport until The Ultimate Fighter and the growth of the UFC showed people that the sport wasn't a bare-knuckle brawl to the death but was a safe, refined sport that only the toughest athletes could be successful in.

We must never forget that MMA had (and still has, in some cases) such PR problems and we must be eternally thankful that the MMA-is-bloodsport perception is beginning to evaporate.

UFC Gyms

So powerful has the UFC name become that a franchise of gyms was opened with the intention of bringing MMA and fitness to the masses.

We should be thankful for these gyms because they can provide training and MMA education to the layperson or the fan who isn't interested in competing either as an amateur or as a professional.

UFC Personal Trainer

Why should we be thankful for this thing?

Well, MMA fans need something to laugh at and UFC Personal Trainer is it. It's the MMA equivalent of the shake weight

UFC Undisputed 3

Speaking of video games, we should be thankful for UFC Undisputed 3.

The new features of the game (Pride mode, a new stamina system, entrances, new controls and a slew of other changes) make it one that will definitely be worthwhile.

Most fans are probably thankful enough to have a decent game as MMA was without one for such a long time.

Bantamweight and Featherweight Divisions Being in the UFC

UFC Undisputed 3 isn't the first UFC game to feature both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions—but of course it is! Those two divisions haven't even been with the UFC for a full year yet!

The WEC was once their home but the organization was merged with the UFC in early 2011.

The two divisions have put on great fights in the UFC since then and we should be truly thankful that they were allowed to do that on MMA's biggest stage.

Early Start Times for Pay-Per-Views

UFC pay-per-views used to start at 10 p.m. When they announced that they'd be switching to 9 p.m., East Coast fans and MMA writers were ecstatic; they could get to sleep an hour earlier.

Unfortunately, the UFC will be going back to the 10 p.m. time this December, so be thankful for it while it lasted.

Brock Lesnar Being Back

UFC 141 will be the first event to air at 10 p.m. again after the switch to 9 p.m. but it will also mark the return of Brock Lesnar, who was sidelined again due to diverticulitis.

Fortunately, Lesnar recovered and will be back in action in nearly a month's time.

People may not like Lesnar for his brash attitude or days in the WWE, but the man is a draw and a fun fighter to watch (or to watch get beat up).

Alistair Overeem in the UFC

Fans wanted Strikeforce heavyweight champion (and linear heavyweight champion) Alistair Overeem in the UFC, and now he's in the UFC.

Not only is he part of the company now, but he's facing Brock Lesnar at UFC 141 in a title eliminator!

Now truly is a great time to be an MMA fan.

The Return of Brittney Palmer

It was a somber day for MMA fans when ring girl Brittney Palmer was released from the UFC (especially so for Bleacher Report writers Tim McTiernan and Matt Juul).

But much to the delight of MMA fans everywhere, it was announced that she'll be returning to the Octagon (or at least the outside of the Octagon) soon.

Knowledgeable MMA Fans

Knowledgeable MMA fans are a blessing and we must always be thankful for them, lest we be surrounded by people who boo the instant a fight hits the ground!

Quality Officiating (when It Happens)

MMA fans often criticize the officiating in the sport (in some cases accurately, in some wrongly).

But one thing we must be thankful for when we see it is quality officiating. Being a good referee can save a fighter's career and/or life!

The Unsung Heroes

There are many men in MMA who are forgotten despite their contribution to the sport.

Fighters like Gene Lebell, Masakatsu Funaki, Guy Mezger and possibly even Bas Rutten (although saying that he is "forgotten" is a bit of a stretch, he's not as famous amongst "casual fans" as he should be).

These fighters helped to build MMA in various ways, they deserve to be remembered this Thanksgiving.

Collegiate Wrestling Programs

This may seem like a strange thing to be thankful for, but it really isn't.

Wrestling is the best base on which to build a competent mixed martial artist and many of the UFC's top fighters and prospects were collegiate wrestlers.

Thus, wrestling programs ultimately help to create great MMA fighters and we should be thankful for them.

The UFC on FOX

For the longest time, fans waited for the UFC to get a network television deal.

Earlier this year, they finally got one.

The UFC signed on with FOX. The deal isn't official until 2012, but FOX and the UFC collaborated to put on an event on November 12th that helped bring the UFC to more homes than its ever been in before.

The FOX deal is bringing the sport to the big leagues, how could you now be thankful for it?

Celebrity Recognition

The UFC is lucky to have the recognition of trusted celebrities such as Shaquille O'Neal and the New York Jets.

Credible faces help to give the sport legitimacy in a time when foolish journalists are seeking to undermine it.

Twitter

MMA fans should be thankful for Twitter and UFC president Dana White's insistence on having his fighters use it.

Why?

It allows fans to connect with fighters and get a truer sense of their personalities. It also allows fans to witness Twitter feuds happening right before their very eyes; they can be part of "the magic," as it were.

YouTube

MMA fans and YouTube are a match made in heaven.

Think of all the thousands (if not millions) of highlight reels on YouTube and the joy the brought to fans all over the world.

Facebook Preliminaries

Do you remember UFC fight cards before they started airing the preliminary bouts on Facebook?

They had so much less of an impact.

Now that all of the fights on a card can be watched, each UFC fight card is more of an important event rather than just sitting around watching five fights. You can make an afternoon and night after watching the card now.

Bleacher Report MMA and Kenda Perez/The Ultimate Show

How could you not be thankful for the group of writers who bring you the most compelling MMA content on the web daily?

And how could you not be thankful for the wonderful Kenda Perez and The Ultimate Show?

There Are Only 7 Belts

The UFC only has seven belts and one major organization.

Boxing has several major organizations and dozens upon dozens of belts.

Having one clear ruler in MMA and only seven titles makes the sport easier to follow, which brings in new fans. Could you imagine if the UFC inflated the amount of titles by adding useless divisions like "super middleweight" and the like?

The UFC's Global Expansion

The UFC has its sights set on the world. The organization has been to Europe several times, will be going back to Brazil a second time soon and will also be returning to Japan after a long hiatus from the island nation.

In addition, the UFC has also begun to make inroads in China to reach a market of over a billion people.

Soon, the UFC will be a truly international sports organization (if it isn't already) and we'll be seeing the best fighters from each nation competing.

Dana White

Love him or hate him, Dana White was instrumental in bringing the UFC and MMA to where they are today.

You have to be thankful for that.

The Evolution of the Sport

The sport has come quite a long way since it was style vs. style. Instead of seeing one-dimensional fighters, now we see fighters who excel at everything.

One benefit of this is that we get to see amazing techniques that weren't possible back in the day such as Anderson Silva's front-kick knockout or Lyoto Machida's crane-kick knockout.

The sport will only continue to evolve, so there will be many more esoteric techniques that we will see adapted to MMA.

You!

Look in the mirror and say "thank you."

Being thankful for yourself may seem a bit too philosophical, but hear me out.

You shouldn't be thankful for YOU, but you should be thankful for other MMA fans like you. MMA fans make the MMA world go round with their money spent on pay-per-views and merchandise.

Without the MMA fan, without you, MMA wouldn't be around. So as you're sitting down and reflecting this Thanksgiving, give yourself a pat on the back for being there for MMA.