General Features

David
Personally, I don't like it. I don't like the idea of an entertainment event based around watching two human beings hitting one another. That goes for many of the more established sports referred to in the article and other comments as well.But on reading the evidence, it seems that if those other 'sports' are permitted there is no reason to ban this either. The imagery and "cage fight" name are unfortunate, even though I've heard the cage actually makes the fight 'safer', and I will not be going to see it.

Jordan Mehegan
Why not ban cars and aeroplanes too? Why not ban alcohol and cigarettes? why not ban music with swearing and suggestive language? why not live in a nanny state where our very emotions are controlled? there are risks in everything in life, people can die from not chewing properly, in fact, more people die from choking than MMA so why not ban eating too? why dont we all just lye, tied to a bed being fed intravenously while listening to bach and beethoven? Why, because we are the human race. people have their own individual ideas and values, some arguably not as moral as others but still, they are our own. it is inevitable that some of you will see this sport as barbaric, the same as i find golf tirelessly boring and should also be banned, but thats just me. my friend who does mma with me also golfs so im expecting he wont feel the same. you have to look at the issue thouroughly. there have been far less deaths and injuries in MMA than many other sports, especially contact sports. the ATHLETES that take part in these events are highly trained, and the level of sportsmanship is second to none. you see two football players go at it with grudges, one breaks the others leg with a harsh tackle, swears at him, spits at him and then a real fight breaks out between both teams. in MMA both participants know they are there to fight, albeit with rules (which are VERY strict if you can be bothered to check them out), they fight and then what do they do at the end of the fight? they hug, shake hands, no bad blood.how many times have you seen footballers bullying the referee? how many times in mma? hardly any! IN rugb y you can run 40 yards, absolutlely smash an opponent in the midriff and its completely legal, and then dont even get started on aussie rules. my point is people do what people do, this sport is safe and if you people weren't so ignorrant, you would see that too!

jane nurse
i love the sport ,i really want to take part in the training. i dont think it influences the young generations thought procedure.

lewy
chuck is the best fighter in the world

Ian Johnson
There are many ex boxers with brain and eye injuries (even the good ones like Ali). They had the protection of gloves on their opponents fists.Will it take a near death event to make people realise how dangerous this is.You cannot just compare the number of injuries with rugby - you have to look at the percentage of players injured and I would suggest that is much higher - and why the MMA propoters don't use it.If it is not dangerous to box without the heavy gloves why do boxers have to wear them?

Matt Kirkham
i think its a dangerous as any other sport but its is twice as better than any other sport

Andrew Riach
I only saw the end of the 6.30pm news clip where MMA was being discussed, however, I am greatly concerned that BBC WM has not portrayed the sport in its true light: even the website article is misleading. For example - the article would lead people to believe that licences for the sport in American States are being repealed, when actually, the number of states allowing the sport is increasing. Cage Rage is a somewhat amateurish organisation, where many of the fights are miss-matched: examining the more professional UFC may inspire a completely different view. Miss-matched but safe I might add.I was also concerned by the imagery shown in the broadcast because it was all of the fights just before a referee stoppage. Thus in each fight it appeared that one fighter was literally beating up a dazed opponent.Last year I wrote a similar complaint to the BBC regarding the sports portrayal on BBC Newsnight, and I think that it is about time the BBC held/made a balanced debate/documentary regarding the legitimacy of the sport. I challenge BBC WM to do this.

Mark Gilbert
Where are people's critical thinking skills? Simply by comparing the number of seriously injured and killed participants by sport, if we decide to ban MMA, then we must ban formula one racing, boxing, mountain climbing, tight-rope walking, rugby, American football, etc, etc, etc...Obviously, those who would condemn this "purest" form of sport would make even worse policians than the lot that we currently have in Whitehall!

tom
mma is good its only a sport and is great to watch, its good cage rage is coming to birmingham

Ed
Boxing, judo, taekwondo are all legitimate Olympic sports. Mix them up and you have MMA, the decathlon of combat sports.The athletes are dedicated and skilled. It's been proven safer than other contact sports yet still the criticism is based on ignorance and sensationalism.

nadine mason
I am very pleased that cage rage is being held in bham as i have to travel to london to watch it normaly. I am a true supporter of this sport and of the hard work that the fighters put in to achieve such high standards. This sport/MMA is about technique and stamina and is very controlled /the same as any other sport has to be. This is the view of thousands of people who go to these events but are we being counted?...thankyou ...

Mr Andrew Walton
Why is it that Ricky Hatton gets(deserved) mainstream respect but MMA sportsmen don't? I wish people would actually undertand the sport before leaving their ignorant comments.

Megan
cage fighting requires skill, talent and commitment these fighters are highly talented and have to be skilled at what they do, these events do not just throw anyone into the ring, fighters must train for months before thier fight, i also think that this is a sport that you are either good at or your not and for the people that are not don't like it and frown apon it. i am 100% for cage fighting its a sport that is fun to watch and to do, i know this as i train at one of the UFC's most reconised training camps 'American Top Team'and i can honestly say i have gained more injuries playing football and rugby. i have enjoyed cage fighting since i can remember.

Inderjeet Singh
All Martial Arts should be seen as a sport. it's not easy to learn the technique's and can take many years to perfect the Martail Art. i dont think it should be banned. personally i think more people need to get involved with this kind of sports. it keeps the body fit and healthy. Plus you learn how to defend you're self if even in a bad situation. it also stimulates the mind.

Aman S. Bhogal
Cage Rage is just another one of those Martial Arts competitions where people compete for the great title, at any cost. Not all sports are as safe as tennis or badminton; after all it is just a sport for many people's entertainment, including the athletes themselves. Martial Arts is a noble art that seems brutal and violent at first but the physical and mental benefits is important as well as the adrenaline pumping entertainment it brings to the people watching. To me its an overall safe sport that isn't as dangerous as 'free solo climbing.' If the athletes are happy to participate in such competitions, then who are we to complain about it? After all, it's just a sport that people shouldn't get up in arms about. If the cage was removed, would the public then accept the competition and see more of the sport itself? I strongly believe in Andy Geer's view and statement and I am sure that there are other traditional sports out there that rank higher in the violence category. Some people need to get over that; if they don't want Cage Rage appearing on TV, then they are going to have to simply change the channel.

Lee Machen
Although the sport of MMA is violent, it is in my view the ultimate test of all round physical and mental ability. Many sports are violent and most cause physical damage.

Jill Waring
Am I mistaken but is one object of this so called sport to bash a human head so hard that the brain rattles against the skull so hard it causes a 'knock out' and possible brain damage - its sickening and should be made illegal.

Tim Woolley
In regards to the arguments that cage fighting is brutal, i think this is utter rubbish as it's not as if the fighters are forced to fight, as in the poor analogies depicted, such as cock fighting. Also, as a rugby player myself, I foward the notion that rugby is a much more rough sport that the cage fighting, and even at the U14 level that i am at i have seen much worse injuries than those depicted in cage fighting. Furthermore, I feel that cage fighting is an excellent form of combat as it comprises a wide variety of fighting styles, icluding boxing, wrestling and martial arts. And, despite the size of the fighters, the sport is still very graceful. Cage fighting is miles better than the late night bar brawls that take place only too often around here, and at least this way no cops get hurt! Also, in regard to the brutality of the sport, all of the fighting therein is controlled, with minimal numbers of blows to the head and controlled violence. To conclude, i think that, considering it is the fighters' choices to compete, that this is a fully valid and quite a noble sport. Also, my dad who is currently on sticks after having a new knee says that he'd happily have a go if it weren't for his temporary disablility!!! GO CAGE FIGHTING!!!

Nick
I think it's unfortunate that the British product has decided to call itself Cage Rage as this has clearly led to some moral panic. However, MMA is very closely regulated and the scope for violent injury is far less than say in boxing and arguably even football. You won't see the sort of career threatening bone breaks in MMA that we saw Eduardo endure.MMA is a skillful sport that often results in grappling and submissions rather than wave after wave of punches and kicks. Yes there can be blood, but often injuries are minor although appear graphic. The people calling for it to be banned are often ignorant of the skill, tactical thought and physical prowess required for a high level MMA fight and do not understand that it is NOT the modern equivalent of bare knuckle boxing.

Marc
People who call MMA 'human cockfighting' should take the time to investigate the sport further. They would find that the people who take part are highly trained and skilled fighters who dedicate their lives to the sport. Rules are vigorously enforced by the referees and officials at ring side. Unlike boxing, where a fighter can get knocked down take a standing 8 count and carry on getting hit, in MMA as soon as a fighter cannot defend himself the fight is stopped. MMA is an exciting sport and the critics should take the time to actually research and watch an MMA show to fully get the facts.

Daniel Barker
I cannot believe people have the audacity to try and prevent this sport from continuing. After reading the report every arguement has an opinionated floor and lacks factual information. Firstly this is NOTHING like a cockfight. In Cage Rage the fighters are people like you and me who want to earn a living. They are doing what there dream job. In MMA head shots have specific guidelines which prevent damage to there talent. Cage Rage would never jeapordise any talent what so ever, nor would any company. Boxing however, atleast 50% of the moves that take place in each match is specificaly aimed for the head. So you will allow boxing which has limited rules in that respect, but you will attempt to ban a sport that has more enforced guidelines? For god sake people need to grow up. Everyone who complains about it has never truely watched MMA what so ever. If it is not your taste than simply don't watch. MMA is a sport hense it is a combination of them. MMA means Mixed Martial Arts so that kicks the sport arguement well out the window. Is MMA brutal? Yes it is. Is it dangerous? Isn't every sport. Should it be banned? Millions of fans across the globe will say...NO!

Josh
I think cage rage is good the people in it do so at their own risk and are perfectly aware of it.

Andy Timms
i find it hard to believe that with all the support for MMA that the BBC has had nobody reply to the feature in a positive manner. MMA is a true sport like Boxing, Kickboxing, Football, Rugby. all of these have aspects of violence the difference is in MMA the fighters train very hard to be able to compete, both Fighters are aware of the risks, which are musch less than in boxing where repeated blows to the head will cause brain dammage. fighters also have great respect for each other and compleatly following the rules and the referees decisions, not like football, of which i am also a fan, where players completley disrespect the referee and other players and the rules, purposley trying to injure and end peoples careers with bad tackles and headbuts trying to intimadate referees. MMA is not a barbarick cock fighting display, but on the whole a true display of sportmanship, true Skill with martial arts, and respect. the people who critisise should look more into the sport rather than be close minded

Aaron Turner
MMA is no more brutal than any other form of combat art. By many who actually understand MMA, including myself as a professional Muay Thai Boxer, the sport is in fact seen as safer than boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing and other striking arts. The use of thinner gloves and and removal of the "10 count" rule means the fighters experience much fewer concussive blows. This reduces the chances of receiving damage to the brain by a huge amount, as the fight is stopped much earlier on. The fighter is not given the chance to fight on if they are viewed as "Not able to intelligently defend themself" by the referee. This means that fights are often stopped before the fighter is rendered unconscious. More people have died in sports like Rugby than in MMA up to date, which is a trend that will not change. The people who refer to MMA as human cockfighting are the people who have no understanding at all of what the sport stands for.

Winston
Amateur cage fighting can be barbaric, however that is light years away from the professional fighters on the "cage rage" bill. These fighters are highly trained, disciplined and skilled and do not take the repeated blows to the head that boxers endure.Just watch a pro MMA match and then make up your own mind.

David Smith
No street fighter could come off the streets and compare to these athletes. It take years of decication and massive amounts of skill to fight in MMA. It is definatley less barbaric than boxing as alot more skill is involved and alot more training needed and very strict rules and regulations have to be up held and unlike boxing most Mixed Martial Artists respect one another.

Deb Aitken
How do we expect to stop Violence on the street when people are paying to see this sick sport. It has to be stopped.

Kate in Derbyshire
If people feel the need to fight surely it is better doing something like this than getting drunk on a Friday and Saturday and brawling in the streets?

Luke
The views against MMA are the views of the ignorant.The sport has a superb safety record, and for those that say it isn;t a sport at all quite the opposite is true.Top athletes have to practice many sports such as Thai Boxing, Wrestling, BJJ as well as work on their strength and conditioning.MMAs top athletes are examples of hard work and dedication.

Theo Titchener
Personally I am pleased to hear that this sport is coming to the Midlands.As someone who has played Rugby and taken part in mixed martial arts competitions I have had far less injuries from mixed martial arts than from Rugby.The level of dedication and fitness required for most mixed martial arts athletes in my experience is equal to that of any olympic athlete.

Geoff Targett
This is not a sport, It's to barbaric to be classed as a sport. If it carries on someone will die soon.

Ross Middleton, Stourbridge
I believe that MMA doesn't deserve all the bad press that it seems to be getting. Firstly, the submission or knockout that takes place to win the fight, is the same as in many other sports and martial arts such as Judo and Boxing. The fight takes place in a controlled environment which is regulated by experienced and skilled referees. The fighters are highly trained and maintain complete control throughout. This goes against the idea of a "Human Cock Fight" that i am hearing so much about. I have taken part in MMA training sessions put on by my University Athletics Union and find it an incredibly fun and exhilarating way of keeping fit in a relaxed atmosphere.

Rob Bird - Derby
The individuals that enter the ring do so willfully. No-one forces them into the cage. This kind of sport is all about personal responsibility - something that is all to often 'outsourced' in modern day society. These individuals hurt no but themselves. If you don't like it you have the choice and personal responsibility not to watch it. In my opinion it is one of the purest forms of competition.

steve
Brilliant

John. H. Ireland
Absolute barbarism.No sporting value whatsoever!You can see this in any town at weekend after time out,with local thugs performing.

Rob Bird
The individuals that enter the ring do so willfully. No-one forces them into the cage. This kind of sport is all about personal responsibility - something that is all to often 'outsourced' in modern day society. These individuals hurt no but themselves. If you don't like it you have the choice and personal responsibility not to watch it. In my opinion it is one of the purest forms of competition.

Anon
Me, myself is a mixed martial artist in taekwando kickboxing and submission fighting. There is nothing wrong with the sport and its just as dangerous as anything else we do in life.

tim
If the two contestants get into the ring of their own free will what is the problem? Those who dont like it should not pay to watch.

Mark Stevens
i think its a good thing that MMA is coming to Birmingham. It is the individuals choice to take part in the sport or not and i think that its as safe as any other contact sport such as boxing.

Lucy
its a completly pointless 'sport', its in the same league as dog fighting and cock fighting, but if it keeps certain types of the street, it shows what society has become.

Pat
It's legalised thuggery. There will always be violent men who want to beat people and this allows them to do it legally. At least it's a genuine blood sport where both participants are willing, unlike other blood so-called 'sports' that involve animals.What concerns me more is the mentality of the people who want to pay money to watch senseless violence like this.

Anon
If two grown men want to beat **** out of each other in front of paying customers let them get on with it; it's their necks on the line, nobody is forcing them to do it.

Jason
I have nothing to bad to say of this sport. For some of the fighters it is an effective method of work whereas they may have been criminals or drug dealers otherwise. As for people who say it is'Cruel' it is not as if these men are forced to fight they make a conscientous decision. It is also a good way of releasing a persons anger and stress and so the benefits of this easily out measure a few cuts and bruises. I think that people who think it is nothing but a bad thing a very narrow minded.

Bobby Brookes
These are grown adults who have the right to choose to fight in a controlled environment if they so wish, they are trained and are aware the risks.Talk of banning this sport is laughable.

matthew hykin
I think that the ufc cage fighting is the best contact sport goin and i belive that it is a lot btter than rugby,football and boxing. muay thai is probably the next best contact sport going and cage rage should never be banned there are people saying it should be banned be have a think about i bet it is the people that dont like watching fighting thats why they are saying it should be banned but it shouldnt if they dont like watching fighting change the channel.SO DONT BAN IT.

Gavin Buchannan
Im not going to go and watch this sport because it doesnt interest me, but what i do get offended by the hypocrites that rave on about human rights and then deny these men theirs. If they choose to do this it ois their choice and i will defend their rights as much as i defend the rights denied to people in China!

Mark M
Cage Rage is a sport with professional athletes who know the risks they take when competing, as do boxers, it is a show of martial expertise and a test of one's mastery of the discipline that it takes to compete. This should not be banned, if this sport is banned then you may aswell prohibit boxing and even competitions within different martial arts. It's simple ignorance to want to ban this sport.

KD
If two men want to fight in a controlled environment, why not let them. Far better than on a street possibly with an unwilling opponent. Calls for it to be banned are no doubt from people who don't want any excitement in their lives, don't do sport and wouldn't want to go and watch anyway. Let the punters vote with bums on seats. If nobody wants it it'll soon disapear.

K Meehan
If this is to be banned than boxing should be as well. They seem to leave the same amount of damage to the fighters so they should be judged on the same level. Either ban both or allow both!

LEE HUNTER
THIS IS A SKILLED SPORT IF YOU BAN THIS THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO BAN ALL OTHER FULL CONTACT SPORTS LIKE BOXING,KICK BOXING AND EVEN RUGBY

RWB
Another ignorant broadcast slating MMA, why am I not surprised...?MMA's safety record is excellent, I would like to know why Midlands Today never provoke complaints about Boxing events. Another combat sport, a more dangerous one, but as it is 'accepted' it is deemed untouchable. Why is there such outrage at people competing in a cage? Once again, people are scared of what they do not understand. A cage is actually safer than a ring for MMA. But then the hordes slating the sport don't know about wrestling, or jiu-jitsu, or muay thai, or ANY aspect of mixed martial arts.Please people, find something more worthwhile to do in your life than complain about something you do not understand.

Hannah Brewster, 30 from Redditch
How is Cage fighting any different to boxing? I travel regularly to London to watch Cage Rage, and have already purchased my ticket for the one at the NEC. There are rules and regulations that the fighters have to abide by. And the fights are monitored closely by professional judges and medical staff. At least the fighters have a respect for what they do, alot more than the youngsters on the streets running round with knives have nowadays.

Rosemary Jones, Shrewsbury
This violence is totally unnecessary. It can only exacerbate the problems we already have in this country

Darren Williams
Bit disappointed at the obviously bias views you are reading out on the news. The people saying it's 'barbaric' etc. obviously are older and without fun/spice in their lives, it's something that would appeal to youth groups and being 17, I find it fun to watch. They say it should be banned because it gives brain damage etc. but the fighters would know this before entering the ring - If the fighters allow it so should we. People who say no to it are just jealous they can't fight. It's like a more skillful and harsher boxing/kick boxing variant, if you ban this then you would have to ban all other fighting sports.

Brian Prestidge
No one is being forced to take part in or watch these events. The popularity of it and its competitors should be the only answer to whether it should be allowed or not and whether it can be classed as a sport, or even sports entertainment! i'm all for physical activity of any kind to help the health of the nation

John Cox
I believe that what is practised between two consenting is there business.

Tony Rimmer
I have just watched the article on Midlands today ... out of all the negative comments, how many of those people have actually watched a full MMA event ? Or how many have just seen knockout/sub highlight reels like you played tonight ?Andy Geer mentioned the 150+ boxing related deaths and even more injuries, he didnt mention (or it wasnt shown) that there has only ever been 1 death in an MMA event, and that fighter was told by his personal doctor he wasnt fit to fight, he ignored that, and kept it to himself.MMA is not only a lot more exciting than boxing, but its definately a lot safer, whats the aim in boxing, knock your opponent out, or knock them down 3 times, mma fights get stopped the second a fighter is unable to defend himself, they arent stood back up to take a few more hits to the head.

Paul from Worcester
Cage Fighting is just more proof of the moral decay in our violent society today.You hear more bad language in the media, it becomes more acceptable to use on the streets, the same is with violence. If we the public don't start to stand up against these things then the cancerous tumours will grow and take over our society.

Ryan from Hereford
How is this different to boxing?? If this is to be banned then so should boxing. So if boxing is aloud then so should Cage Rage!!

Ahmed
Cage fighting is abuslotly disgrace and dangures.It should been band and never let any turmant to be organised in the UK.We as humanbeeing should not let any thing like that to happend.Regards

Alex Gray
I do not go along with the labels ‘cruel’ and ‘blood sport’. Let’s not forget that it is their own choice to get in this ring and they are not held against their will. "Human Cock-fighting" is unfair. Cock fighting by definition is cruel simply because left to their own devices cocks would not fight. Ask any of these competitors and they will explain to you that it is their life and that it IS a sport. The consequences are their own.

Tim, Stoke
It's just the same as boxing or any other fighting sport. Two parties choosing to fight in a ring. Nobody speaks out over those other sports.

Dan Jones
I train in the martial arts and have competed in Semi Pro MMA within the last two months. MMA Fighters are trained athelets just like any othe rsport. Yes its rough and unlike any other full contact sport but to say it should be banned is nonsense. The fighter and this is everyone I have trained with in my 9 years in the martial arts are responsible, thoughtful and kind people. Most of the people who have commented on this subject from the basis of your reports obviouly have never set foot in a martial arts dojo or had any evperience of the martial arts.

jack
i love the sport how dare people criticize it!!!i think it shows how week this country is and i hope it never gets banned cage rage is apsolutely amazing

daniel
MMA is not half as bad as boxinless than 15 years ago a young boxer was put in to a come and soon after diedyet there has been no such thing in mmaunless you have sat and watched a full event dont pass comment on itin mma you can't take blows to the head like you can in boxin or kickboxinmma ref's look to stop the fight once thay see one fighter not defending them selfid like to say that most of the ppl posting comments are silly & missinformd as to what mma isi say you need to watch some mma and learn how much it is difrent from other contact sports

Scott Bate
There are many other much more dangerous sports with less medical help so closely avaliable, so the sport should be allowed and not condemed

Mark
The athletes that do cage fighting are not forced to do it so how can people say that it is cruel, they all choose to take part. I also have a feeling that if someone was to say to the athletes that their sport is 'not' a sport they would be offended.

Jim
I have sen a little Cage Rage on TV. It seemed to be much less gratuitous than American wrestling and involve much less sustained 'pounding' than boxing. One could argue for banning all of these 'sports' but I can't see why pick out Cage Rage.

Virginia Bomber
Me and afe friends went to angggr management cage fight in kidderminster recently, absolutly terrific atmosphere and it isnt any worse than boxing these fighters are trained!!

Rob
Don't know how it can be compared to human cock fighting its two men that want to go in to the ring there not being forced in to nothing its something they want to do and train hard to do it.

Mark, Birmingham
I think that cage rage is a skillful sport with combinations of boxing, martial arts and wrestling and should not be banned

Ray Povall
Love the sport, less chance of having a serious injury than boxing or other martial arts. I wish people who don't know about the sport would shut up - if you don't like it, don't watch it.

Brett
Fantastic, a breath of fresh air brought to the streets of birmingham. I take my hat off to these fighetrs. A true refelection of society today. Brilliant. Where can i get tickets?

Blair Frew
i dont think its that bad. i personaly think that Boxing is just as bad its resulted in more deaths, you carnt rule out one and not the other.

Ross McDermott
Its a sport, they are trained athletes and i think they should be allowed to do what ever they want!!! It's no worse than boxing

alex
it it really fun to watch let it happen

Ben
If people want to fight and compete in a sport then they should e allowd to do what they wish without comments, but if injusry happens then they have no one to blame apart from themselves