Recently the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced a fight that may already be the most anticipated matchup ever for the hardcore fans of mixed martial arts (MMA). Yes, I’m talking about Nate Diaz, the brother of Nick Diaz and one half of the legendary “Diaz Brothers” from Stockton, California versus Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal. Interestingly, the UFC has decided to put a title belt at stake… but it’s not the world championship. What is it? According to the UFC, it will be officially called the “BMF” belt. That literally stands for “Baddest Motherf*cker” belt. I’m not kidding. Regardless of its origins or the nature of that, I just want to point out how wild that is when one examines what MMA is about in other continents. Organizations like ONE Championship in Asia preach respect and the quest for personal growth. These are more accustomed and recognized positive aspects of martial arts. The UFC has become the premier organization for the sport, bringing MMA into a much more American, brash light, similar to the likes of boxing, where showmanship, trash-talking, and, in fact, disrespect are often thought of as essential to winning big purses from promoters. Is there a right answer as to what the true culture of MMA is? The sport is less than 30 years old, so maybe not, but it’s a question us hardcore fans should ask as the sport is growing — rapidly.
