Reader mail

I was wondering your thoughts on the recent news of kids as young as 6 in "garage" MMA fighting & has any MMA fighters given their thoughts on it as well?
- Brian Cronin

First of all, the story was filled with mistakes such as calling the sport "ultimate fighting" and describing the fights as "bare knuckle."

Most appalling, the report notes "the trend alarms medical experts and sports officials who worry that young bodies can't withstand the pounding," yet offers no medical experts in the piece, and only one sports official who comments on why youth fights are banned in his state. The sensationalistic nature of the story hurt its credibility.

That said, I don't see any problem with kids training any of the various disciplines involved in MMA, but they obviously deserve a greater level of protection than adults who train and should be overseen by a qualified expert. Full-blown MMA matches are probably not a great idea for young bodies and in my opinion, should wait until adulthood.

How can Uriah Faber not be considered the best in the world ? He destroys everyone he faces like cannon fodder.
-John Gosford

I think some people are hesitant to vote him higher because he participates in a division that doesn't have the depth of some of the other divisions. His star is fast-rising, though; he received a huge ovation when he was shown in the crowd at UFC 82.

Regardless, being in the top 10 is not too shabby.

Has there been any word on where either Ricardo Arona or Antonio Rogerio Nogueria are going to pop up? I guess the easy answer is DREAM but I was hoping to see either one or both in the UFC. I'd love to see Ricardo Arona against Chuck Liddell...If for nothing other than to show UFC fans what real leg kicks are all about. Thank you...
- Dave Stroble

Nogueria signed a three-fight deal with the Canada-based Hardcore Fighting Championships last year. [For those who don't know, he's UFC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's brother.]

Arona hasn't fought in a year since PRIDE was bought by UFC. He was rumored to sign a deal with M-1, but that didn't happen. Then, he himself talked about signing with World Victory Road, the new Japanese promotion, but that didn't materialize, either. As best I can tell, he's still a free agent.

Being a fan of MMA for the past 10 years, I have kept up with the ongoing changes in respect of the sport.  From Sen. McCain’s comments of the sport being no more than human cockfighting or a local news anchor merely criticizing the sport because it is brutal,  I am curious to know McCain’s stand on the sport now that it has officially entered the mainstream and if he will be taking a stand again if he were to become president.
- Victoria Petrie

McCain's quote is one that still haunts the sport to this day; it's like a scar that doesn't go away. But like a scar, it's also a symbol of survival.

The famous critique was actually a turning point for MMA, as promoters realized the sport might not survive without regulation. With state sanctioning came legitimacy in the eyes of many sports fans, and those who haven't been converted in accepting MMA as a sport are probably in the minority at this point.

McCain rarely talks about the sport anymore (more important things to worry about, I guess), but last year he acknowledged to The Washington Post that "the sport has grown up and that rules have been adopted to give its athletes better protections and to ensure better and fairer competition."

When I first started watching UFC I thought Dana White was cool and admirable. Lately, I catch him making lame comments on this video and that video... I know UFC is  big, huge, whatever but am I completely off base when I feel that if he's not careful, he can find himself and his organization potentially  weakened someday because of his attitude and cockiness?
- Steve Rawson

We get so much reader mail about Dana; the guy is a lightning rod for sure. I have to be honest and say that as a reporter, I enjoy his bluntness because he always gives great interviews and rarely pulls his punches. Positive or negative, he says what's on his mind. That might turn off some, but it endears others, too.

White is definitely confident about his product and he deserves to be; they're the industry leader. He also treats fans extremely well. When I was in Columbus for UFC 82, I watched him try to walk through the crowd at the Arnold Sports Festival to get where he was going, and he must have stayed in one spot signing autographs and taking pictures for a good 45 minutes before actually moving on. Not too many famous figures from the mainstream sports world would do that.

I don't think the UFC would ever sink or swim based on White's demeanor. The athletes are the stars of the show and as long as the fighters continue to perform at high levels, UFC will stay successful.

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