Street fighter: Kimbo Slice

I was asked to give the presentation due to an observed increase in teen violence in Minnesota that stems from MMA’s rising popularity in the region. The following is an overview of my presentation minus the fighters' quotes from my original research. Much of this piece synthesizes previous posts of mine here on FightTicker. It’s long, and parts are bit esoteric, so read on at your own risk.

 The following is an overview of my presentation minus the fighters' quotes from my original research. Much of this piece synthesizes previous posts of mine here on FightTicker. It’s long, and parts are bit esoteric, so read on at your own risk.

Defining Violence
As defined by the World Health Organization, “Violence is the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, which either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation.”

Even as fans of MMA, we must admit that the sport is a form of violence, one of many that thrives in our society. Across the globe, we see collective violence in the form of wars, gang conflicts, and in the media. Interpersonal violence takes place in school yard fights, within families, and between intimate partners. And some even commit self-directed violence upon themselves.

The level of severity that we assign to different forms of violence is subjective. However, along the endless continuum of violence, most would agree that at the most serious end of the spectrum lie examples, such as genocide, homicide, economic sanctions, and the excessive degree of drug violence currently transpiring across Mexico. At the other, less severe end of the continuum, perhaps some forms of media violence, such as cartoons, stand as examples.

But again, how we assign severity to acts of violence is a subjective process, frequently dependent upon our own experiences. Furthermore, those who perpetrate and/or support violence (in whatever form it comes), almost always try to find a way to justify its existence. Murderers can attempt to justify their behavior by claiming insanity. Dictators can try to justify genocide by defining a group/race of people as inferior. Movie producers may justify violent images as being fake entertainment. And sports owners/coaches can justify athletic risks as part of the game.

We also tend to justify violence by comparing its seriousness to other, perhaps more severe acts of violence. Those in the MMA industry (including myself) do this all the time: “Well, MMA is not as dangerous as boxing or football or a street fight.”

Society Glamorizes Violence
The contradiction we live with is that while we tend to criticize violence, we simultaneously crave and signify it in the media. One study found that by age 18, most children will have witnessed approximately 16,000 simulated murders and 200,000 acts of violence just on television (Tolan & Guerra, 1994). Add on what children see in movies and the internet, and what’s heard in music, and that is a ton of violence.

The referenced numbers appear high, but think about how much television youth watch and the different television shows that have permeated our lives over the decades.

What’s more, when we think about the blockbuster movies that audiences watch and the role models who emanate in those movies, it becomes increasingly blatant that with few exceptions, our violent role models are almost always male, especially in movies that are to be taken seriously.

Considering these trends in the media, it is not surprising that so many males grow up wanting to embody the violent hero who saves the day, the renegade “bad boy,” or even the violent sports star. Just as Hollywood media glamorizes violence, so does the sports industry. How often have you watched NFL highlights on ESPN over and over in order to keep seeing the same wicked Ray Lewis hit? And while the NFL is expanding its rule base to help prevent injuries, the increasing speed, power, and size that continues to characterize athletes makes sports injury prevention impossible.

Not to mention, sports existed before MMA that ritualized fighting, namely boxing, hockey, and Thailand’s national sport, muay Thai kickboxing. As dangerous as boxing is now, boxing was far more violent in the late 19th and 20th centuries when it was also known as bareknuckle fighting.

One would be remiss to ignore the overlap between MMA and the artificially scripted world of professional wrestling. Sure there are individuals who have shifted industries (e.g., Sakuraba, Josh Barnett, Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley), but the overall ambiance of today’s premier MMA organizations also share many of the same theatrics as professional wrestling – the in-ring/cage pre- and post-fight interviews, build-up television specials, and even the occasional family scuffle. Other sports may use similar promotional tactics, but the 1-on-1 nature of MMA, boxing, and pro wrestling situate these two sports and pseudo sport in a different realm of fight sport theater.

MMA and Media Violence
What separates MMA from most other sports is that in addition to being a form of sporting and media violence, MMA is also an example of fighting specifically, which is broadcast as entertainment and for profit. When tempers flare and people act before thinking, they generally don’t stop, get ten friends, have their adversary get ten friends, and settle the dispute playing football. They fight. Therein lays the danger of promoting the most comprehensive and real fight sport possible.

Manipulating people to fight for spectators and profit is an age old enterprise historically frowned upon. Recently, we’ve seen two Texas institutions come under investigation for promoting fights among young people and the institutionalized for entertainment. More than any other sport, MMA perpetuates this level of violent irresponsibility.

Through reality shows, such as The Ultimate Fighter, those in power maneuver contestants into vulnerable, pressure laden situations, muddled with conflict. Inevitably, some contestants break down and cast an unfavorable image of mixed martial artists. Promotional shows, such as UFC Primetime, highlight trash-talking in which feminized language (“little bit--”) and profanity (“go fu-- yourself”) are highlighted to disparage opponents.

Now MTV is airing a reality show in which bullies are beat down physically and verbally by professional mixed martial artists. Thus far it appears only a small fraction of the MMA community is providing any critical analysis. Should professional mixed martial artists and MMA as a sport be used as a violent arbitrator of supposed moral justice? Does sport exist as a means to problem solve and teach lessons through cyclical forms of humiliation?

And despite some differences, the overlap between Bully Beatdown and Kimbo Slice’s backyard fighting are obvious.

Ironically, upstanding role models exist in the MMA industry; in fact these figures are plentiful. Unfortunately, the major MMA organizations do little more than promote their athletic excellence. Philanthropic stories are scant at best. Public service announcements promoting non-violent resolutions are almost completely absent, a bit surprising considering traditional martial arts in the modern era call for peace. Yet in this approach to the world, MMA generally remains silent.

In 2008, a young woman in Hawaii was killed by her ex-boyfriend in public. An older man attempted to intervene, but was knocked out after the perpetrator hit him with the butt of his gun. Executives from MMAHawaii.com saw the suspect on the news and realized he was a frequent spectator at local MMA events and therefore, initiated partnerships with the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (HSCADV) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

If in some ways MMA contributes to violence in society, it can also decrease, perhaps even prevent some types of violence. There is no reason more MMA organizations, media entities, fighters, and fans cannot initiate greater levels of social responsibility.

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David Mayeda, PhD, is lead author of Fighting for Acceptance: Mixed Martial Artists and Violence in American Society, the first political book on mixed martial arts that attempts to reform the sport by increasing violence prevention measures through interviews with forty mixed martial artists, including Randy Couture, Dan Henderson, Guy Mezger, Antonio McKee, Chris Leben, "Rampage" Jackson, "Mayhem" Miller, Travis Lutter, and Frank Trigg. Dr. Mayeda has also published numerous academic journal articles on youth violence prevention and discrimination in sports media.

Citation: Tolan, P., & Guerra, N. (1994) What Works in Reducing Adolescent Violence: An Empirical Review of the Field. Boulder, CO: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence.