Adam Swift thinks that having women on the CBS/Elite XC card is going to be bad for the sport:
One of the most under discussed angles in MMA's major network television debut is the potential political backlash the sport may face. "Cagefighting" will arrive on the national stage for the first time this Saturday and the reaction is assuredly going to be mixed. Some pundits will no doubt seize the opportunity to hammer CBS for peddling blood and violence, but the biggest danger lies in a potential political backlash in the vein of John McCain's "human cockfighting" crusade of the mid-90s.
While the sport is in little danger of returning to the dark ages of untelevised, unsanctioned events, the potential for political grandstanding against MMA, particularly in an election season is very real. For a sport not yet established as acceptable in the mainstream, that may be all it takes to stifle the growing influx of blue chip sponsors and mainstream acceptance.
The inclusion of a women's MMA bout as part of America's introduction to an already violent sport has done the industry no favors in this regard.
I must say I strongly disagree. We're living in a day and age of grrrl power. Its not like Gina and Kaitlyn are drunk young bimbos humiliating themselves for $50. They're trained mixed martial artists on network television.
I think they'll have an impact on the national dialog. And yes, some will complain. But in the end, women's MMA will be a positive for the sport.