I’m amazed at the success of MMA formats over the past 5 years. Dana White and the UFC have done an absolutely incredible job of marketing their product.  He’s kept complete control over the business, and he seems to make all of the right moves.  He even has control of setting up the fights.  MMA is basically choking out the sport of boxing.  Boxing was the king for years, but it doesn’t have the luster it once used to.  And the biggest knockout punch to boxing is that you know they would lose in a fight to a highly trained MMA athlete.  These guys are killers.  They’ve been trained not only in striking but in jujitsu, which is the fighting on the ground.  Because of the fame of a few of these guys and the money that is in it if you make it to the top, MMA gyms are popping up in cities all over the world.  Fighters can get easy access to MMA gear and training equipment.  They can train all day with the right protection.  Here in Cincinnati, we have our own hero in Rich Franklin.  He was a teacher at a local school, Oak Hills, and then he became famous through fighting.  He’s a pretty laid back country boy.  It’s not uncommon to see him around the city in a pair of Ariat western boots.  But, he is one of our hometown heroes.

If you don’t know anything about MMA, you should watch a video or two.  The most amazing and deadly fighter I have ever seen is Anderson Silva.  The guy is MMA’s Ali, and he can’t be stopped.  Check out his highlight reel.