I'm sure as fans of Mixed Martial Arts most of us at one stage or another have felt the need to try and explain our love for the sport to those who seem determined to try and force their opinions (however ignorant they may be) upon others.

While no doubt we are all familiar with the insipid debates that scrawl their way through the infinity of the interweb, it was nonetheless still refreshing discover in an article here in  which it was one of the fighters themselves engaging in such a debate.

Dan Hardy:

“I try to avoid debates with people I dont know, but when I was sent a link to an article in The Independent [an English national newspaper, fairly high-brow, yet with dwindling sales] website, about our wonderful sport, I was quite annoyed by a comment left on the page. I must have been in a bad mood that day, because I decided to engage the guy.”

Ebbi581:

“This is a savage and barbaric act, not a sport. Chicken, dog, bear and all other animal fighting are criminalized but when it comes to human beings anything goes. It is a shame. This level of violence in the 21st century is stupid.”

Hardy:

“I’m sorry, I have to disagree. Your level of ignorance in the 21st century is stupid. This is a sanctioned and organized sport and, just because it isn’t to your taste, doesn’t mean it is wrong.

I’m sure there are a lot of things that you enjoy, that wouldn’t interest me, that doesn’t mean they should be illegal. I love this sport, not only as a fan, but as a participant. Nobody forced me to do it, I enjoy the competition and the opportunities the sport provides. Since 1995, there have been 123 deaths in Cheerleading, do we make it illegal? Cheerleading has also left 782 people paralyzed. Do you know how many deaths or serious injuries in Mixed Martial Arts? Zero. My name is Dan Hardy (one of the fighters discussed in the above article), and you are welcome to come to my gym in Nottingham and learn a little more about the sport and the athletes involved. I think, if you invested a little time in it, as opposed to casting an uneducated judgement, you might just learn something.”

Unfazed by the chance to argue with an actual participant in this 'barbaric act' Ebbi581 continued without trepidation:

“Sorry my friend, I condemn any kind of violence sport where people can seriously get hurt. I am against any kind of violence whether sanctioned or not. Sorry I have no time to invest in watching people beating each other. This is the 21st century and civilized people should not need to engage in active violence. Read your comment again. Is there truly anything to learn from two people locked in cage while beating each other where brain damage is a sure possibility ? Your argument about cheerleaders does not hold water since they do not intend to beat each other. The intention is ‘not’ to hurt one another but if the rate of injuries becomes ridiculous then it must be looked at with possible safety provisions, but it is entirely different to two people trained and psyched up to beat each other . If we can stop animal fighting we must stop human fighting. The human race must be mature enough to realize that violence is not the answer. Although I can understand your position since the fights are providing your bread and butter.

Finally there is nothing about human fighting to require educated judgment. Educated people do not engage in violent sports.”

Hardy again responds:

“No sir, educated people know that they are in no position to pass judgement on other peoples lifestyles. That means, unfortunately you have just revealed, not only your lack of open-mindedness, but also a lack of intelligence. I agree with your point about animal fighting, the difference there is, [sic] the animals being made to fight, dont have a choice. I, on the other hand, would partake in this sport, even if it wasnt paying my bills. What about all of the other sports where physical contact is a part of the game? I’m sure you are aware of the amount of injuries sustained in, say, American Football? rugby ? Ice hockey ? Do we ban these also? Maybe sanctioned sports that allow physical contact, are a cathartic activity for the millions upon millions of people that have a desire to express their animal nature?

We can’t all sit in our armchair and cast judgement on others, supressing our human nature and being content with golf. Having said that, using your words, there is nothing to be “learned” from golf either, so why not ban that also ? I am sure that you occasionally enjoy an alcoholic beverage, talk on a mobile phone, perhaps you visit a fast food restaurant from time to time. Do you give up all of these things because they can be dangerous? With your attitude, you might as well lock yourself in your house and stare through the window, contemplating the dangers of the outside world, condeming the public for taking such risks as to cross streets and drive cars.”

“I happen to enjoy testing myself against another, well-trained human being, in the controlled environment of my favourite sport. I understand the risks, as does my opponent. nobody is making you partake in the sport, or even watch it, so please don’t come on here and cast judgement upon me, and all of my fellow athletes, when you have no knowledge of the sport or the people involved. Nine people died from upturned lawnmowers last year, nobody died from competing in a mixed martial arts event. I don’t cut grass, so I am confident that there are a lot more people at risk than I am. Why don’t you go and bother them instead of littering this page with your foolish comments.”

Ebbi581 responds again:

“My friend. You are insulting me as lacking intelligence. I can equally be rude, very easily, but here we observe a very clear distinction between you and I. You compare golf with barbaric fighting ? And ban golf because its boring? When was the last time people got hurt or killed by playing golf ? Of course I expect that you are intelligent enough to be able to distinguish between unintentional accidents and intentional infliction of pain and wound upon other people in the name of openness of mind and intelligence ? You do not find one intelligent person going out there with the intent to hurt another human being, but contrary to your very shabby, desperate and well-worn, antique argument, you go inside a ring to inflict maximum damage to your opponent. This is where my argument starts, this is what I call barbarism and savagery at its best, put on visual display of [sic] a bunch of equally sick people who pay to see it ! Intelligent people do not and should not need to beat the hell out of each other even in a “controlled environment” in the name of sport! What on earth is ‘controlled environment’ while two people in a cage are killing each other? What is exactly controlled? Of course I do not expect you to agree or understand my position as intelligence is not and can not be your character´s strongest point. I can assure you that money is the incentive and there are people just like yourself who are making good money hence would put up a fight to portray this savagery as a sport. This is the 21st century and we should not and need barbarism and brutality in the society and certainly the people who promote it who clearly are financially benefiting from it.”

Hardy finally decides he should probably be concerning himself more with Mike Swick than Ebbi581 but parts on this note:

“I mean not to insult you sir, I merely observe. “Judge not, lest ye be judged”. Some of the most distinguished and respected philosophers in history, have been generals and soldiers. Mankind has a warlike nature, nothing will ever change that. be it, the spectators in the stands, baying for blood, or the gladiator in the arena, proving his worth. Mixed martial arts is a violent sport, I agree, but to call the athletes ‘uneducated’ is short-sightedness. The difference between you and I, sir, is that I embrace what I fear, in order to learn from it. You on the other hand, condemn it, knowing that you would never have the courage or dedication to see it through approach it head on.”

Miyamoto Musashi, for example, was a great japanese philosopher, and the author of one of the most influential books in the business world to date, The Book of the Five Rings. throughout his life, he killed, I believe, 64 men in duels, his first one being at the age of fifteen. I feel he summed you up perfectly when he wrote; “People in this world look at things mistakenly, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the true void. It is bewilderment…”

“Combat was the earliest form of sport, and has always been the most respected. no other sport offers you the opportunity to prove yourself, both physically and mentally. In the 21st century we have had the foresight to realise that mans warlike nature will always be. Call it barbaric, call it what you will, man will always need an opportunity to prove ones self through combat, in one form or another. The intelligent ones among us, realise that a controlled environment is the best place to do this. A controlled environment being, a governed sport, with many rules and regulations, as is mixed martial arts. I don’t see the benefit of wasting any more time, debating this with you, when you clearly can’t see reason.

“To use your words, I accept my ‘barbarism’, as you should accept your ignorance. I aim not to injure another human being, but to test myself, in order to learn about my capabilities, and grow as a person. I hope, in some small way, this debate will open your eyes a little, to a world that you clearly know nothing about. I also hope that, one day between now and the day that you die, that you find something that you fear, and attack it head on. Nothing has ever been achieved from condemning that which you fear. As another famous (and warlike) philosopher said: ‘Cowards die many times, before their actual deaths’. It was Julius Caesar.”

I apologise for what is an extremely lengthy transcription, but gained enough enjoyment from it that I wanted to share it in its entirity.