So do sports fans now except this as a sport? MMA fighting takes more hard work than any other disapline so do people still think its Barbaric?

no i do not except this as a sport. It is barbaric.

This kind of "Sport" onlyt goes to premote violence, not only in the "controlled" enviorment, but also out of it.
The same with boxing. Sorry I know a lot of people like this, but really it is just thugs who have taken it to another level, who like beating the crap out of each other...
Sorry
But no...

Kind of a sport, in much the same way as pro-wrestling is.

I know UFC isn't fixed, I'm just saying that they are both of the same ilk. The showmanship and the like.

being a trainee Mixed martial arts fighter myself, i can tell you that regardless of whether certain individuals have ignorant views as to whether MMA fighting is a sport, i can definately say it takes alot of training, some of the toughest out there, when you fight you feel alive and on the edge but also in a calm manner as being out of control would be pointless and useless. it is similar to sports in many ways, and in my opinion is a sport but does it really matter if it classed as a sport? all that matters is its an available opportunity for people who are good at something other than the norm sports, to excel.

personally i train more towards real life defense and combat, which is certainly different and not a sport, but MMA is verf fun indeed. i am currently training in Boxin, Muay thai, Brazillian jiu jitsu, Bujinkan budo taijitsu (Ninjutsu schools).

doesn't matter if it requires a lot of training! It is simply a sport that has at it's main objective to kick the shit out of someone else...It is not sport. It might be entertaiment to some, but in my honest opinion it is far from a sport.
But in these day and age. we have so many so called sports.

Tiddlywinks is a sport
Conkers is now a sport
dominos is now a sport

where do we end

extreme tea drinking.

No this is not a sport in my mind.

if you look at a definition of sport, from for instance wikipedia, then by all means MMA complys completely.
'Sport is an activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively. Used by itself, sports commonly refer to activities where the physical capabilities of the competitor are the sole or primary determiner of the outcome (winning or losing), but the term is also used to include activities such as mind sports and motor sports where mental acuity or equipment quality are major factors. Sports are used as entertainment for the player and the viewer. It has also been proven by experiments that daily exercise increases mental strength and power to study.'
views on whether violence for entertainment is morally correct, are not the same as whether it is a sport or not

so by that defination tiddlywinks is a sport.

UFC is nothing but violence for violence sakes, it is a waste of time, and only causes harm. This is true for boxing also. it causes brain damage in lots of cases. This can not be deemed a sport. Am sorry this is my opinion.

thats not really a justified view but hey. it is exactly the same as playing football, same concepts, different rules and methods maby but still competing against others using your physical and mental ability. your opinion that it isnt/shouldnt be a sport sounds like its only based on a negative attitude to all violence, other than logical thought , as if that was the case you would see that its no different from football or any other sport. and yes people can get brain damage, but they consent to the risk, and i know people who have sustained injurys in many other sports that has permanently screwed up there performance.

If you class Boxing as a sport than yes, MMA is too. To me a sport is something that involves physical exsersion, which MMA definatly does. Plus its amusing to watch two blokes kick the crap out of each other. If their happy to fight for money whats the problem?

I think UFC is a sport you have to be very skilled and brave to do it respect fella's

Thanks for the responses fellas Ive been training in Martial arts for 15 yrs now and I think that MMA has saved martial arts . I have been training in and Teaching MMA for about 4 yrs. It has to be the hardest game for the lowest gain I mean the money is better than it was but its still not enough in my opinion. For some years I have had many friends who have said to themselves what is the point of training to such a high level and never really being able to test yourself. I believe UFC is that platform. If you also look at the orignal Olympic boxing and wrestling was far more barbaric than UFC (there was a Ch4 documentory on yesterday about it). Im glad to see that there are some other fighters out there that like to push themselves to the limit also and I dont feel like some mindless thug like some would call me.

Np mate, where is your training based?

I train in Liverpool with the Giam brothers my main style is Lau Gar but we are not what you would call a traditonal club we incorporate Thai boxing, Wing Chun, floor work scarfold drill etc, Jujitsu and a style called Torite Jutsu which involves pressure locks and points. I have my own slightly more traditional club which I tend to do C and R and street application. I also teach care workers and Prison officers C and R.

It is a sport and it is violent, however as far as i know there have been no deaths, also unlike boxing its not all head shots and you re not pulled apart all the time.

Some of my mates have competed in cage rage, all power to them.

the only thing i would say is i dont like the audiences they always seem to be baying for blood and booing, push em in the cage thats wat i say!

My (limited) understanding of this is what I've seen in movies - personally yes I do think its a sport, just the same as anyone else is doing a sport who wants to get in a ring and beat the crap out of someone else - no one to my knowledge has yet to inflict/suffer major injuries? - though some have in boxing, and even on the football field.
I must admit when I've seen 'bare knuckle fighting' in the movies, I enjoy watching.