Don't have much to say on this one, so I'll leave any comments to Bloody Elbow's more astute commentators.  I've always enjoyed Deford's articles, but this one...  I will say he makes some interesting, thought-provoking, although possibly not quite accurate, points.  Anyway, it's got me thinking.  

Here's the link if anybody's interested:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/frank_deford/04/16/mma/index.html