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Every now and then I start losing a little faith and wonder whether MMA really will take off in Australia like it has in North America. I have been so adamant in telling people that the storm is coming for so long that I haven’t stopped and thought about it for a while. Around the same time I started to second-guess myself, I also began talking to some of Australia’s best promoters for our article Behind the Curtain. It didn’t take long for the boys on the front line to assure me that the phenomenon that is MMA is well on its way and it will be hitting our shores with the full force of its mainstream potential. It is times like this that you remember why we do the job we do and why we get into it in the first place. It was awesome to hear some of the guys that have been in Australian MMA for so many years, long before the hype and money began to arrive, and to hear how passionate and psyched they still are for the sport on a home-grown level. One of the most popular comments that I heard from a lot of them was about what they call the ‘UFC fan’. This isn’t a negative term, but just describes the type of MMA fan whose interest in MMA is completely focused on the fights of the UFC and aren't involved in any other aspect of the sport. Nothing wrong with that at all, as far as I see it, its no different than fans only being interested in AFL or NRL, as opposed to going to local games. However, as many said, if just a percentage of these fans got out there regularly and checked out some of their local MMA shows, the industry would become that much stronger over night. So, if you’re pretty keen on MMA so far and you haven’t had a look what’s happening in your local area — go check it out! Some of the shows might not be on the scale of UFC, but walking in and seeing that cage lit up and those fighters giving it their all can be an awesome experience, with or without the billions in backing cash.
Back on stateside though; the heavyweight division has now blown up like never before. Just a few months ago Cain Velasquez was fighting on our own soil, showing signs of a strong up-and-comer that could be one to watch. Now, suddenly he has taken the heavyweight belt in both hands and could turn out to be one of the strongest champions in history if his last couple of fights are anything to go by, especially his quick destruction of Brock Lesnar, which barely seemed to work up a sweat in the young Mexican. It is exciting time indeed for MMA fans, so stay tuned, there’s plenty more to follow.
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Credit: Sunny Brar
