Could MMA ever be an olympic sport?

Special_K · 11-23-2006, 10:17 AM

UFC, Pride and all other MMA organization should get together and start a tour on the next major olympic event...we have so many great talent from all over the world GSP, Silva, Arlovski, Franklin Gomi the list goes on so get to it.

Nimmy · 11-23-2006, 10:21 AM

the sport struggles to get recognition in the USA, its banned in France and many other countries, id highly doubt the olympic commision will approve it, it would be tossed in the bin besides sports like Snooker, rugby and golf.

plus is olympic is supposed to be amatuer athletes then there isnt much room for error in MMA. im sure it woul dbe frowned upon big time.

duke09 · 11-23-2006, 10:44 AM

im with nimmy on this one.

Jras0001 · 11-23-2006, 11:10 AM

I think that before there could be any actual push to get MMA in the olympics, it would have to become a collegiate sport, therefore offering a huge amature talent base from which make an olympic team from. If wrestling could be an olympic sport, I dont see a reason why MMA couldnt....

Special_K · 11-23-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimmy

the sport struggles to get recognition in the USA

UFC is one of the biggest sports in the U.S today

GSPALLTHEWAY · 11-23-2006, 11:59 AM

in theory this is the best idea ever.... theres too many roadblocks to have it realistically work, however it sure is a way to see the fedors vs sylvias and chuck vs everyones.... almost like the kumate in bloodsport but official and for medals...

angryjonny · 11-23-2006, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Special_K

UFC is one of the biggest sports in the U.S today

Let's not get carried away here.

Ryduce · 11-23-2006, 12:27 PM

I think sub grappling or BJJ will be in the olympics one day,but not MMA.

Snow Patrol · 11-23-2006, 12:29 PM

Squash isn't in the Olympics yet and it quite a popular sport in Australia, Egypt, UK, France, South Africa, North America (somewhat) etc. I just don't see MMA being an Olympic sport for at least another decade.

Nimmy · 11-23-2006, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryjonny

Let's not get carried away here.

yep how can it be one of the biggest sports in the USA when its banned in many states

Bomber · 11-23-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Special_K

UFC is one of the biggest sports in the U.S today

I may be wrong, but I would guess football is the biggest sport in the US today. IMO neither North American style football nor MMA will ever be Olympic sports. Nothing to back it up, just my opinion.

Nimmy · 11-23-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bomber

I may be wrong, but I would guess football is the biggest sport in the US today. IMO neither North American style football nor MMA will ever be Olympic sports. Nothing to back it up, just my opinion.

i wouldv said basketball, american football and baseball are the top 3, outside that soccer, boxing, tennis and motor racing.

subgenius · 11-23-2006, 02:06 PM

Hockey in the US is hardly the top sport, yet it is an Olympic event. Wrestling is only popular at the high school and college level, but is NOT by any means a popular American pass time (discounting pro-wrestling, seriously). Baseball is now seeing players that have five year contracts worth $25 million, $50 million, and I think recently $100+ million. The lowest paid baseball players make $250-$500 thousand. MMA is way down there in the basement of sports when it comes to the pay that the athletes recieve.

I can see Jui-Jitsu as an Olympic event. But, I think that it would be far easier to slip that in the back door behind kickboxing and Muay Thai and Oriental rules kickboxing. The ISKA Strikeforce organization is already world-wide, and that helps a lot with getting together a structure that the Olympic committee can grasp and understand. That is really the big problem. MMA will not ever be an Olympic event until there is a single, large promotion that can be held as a standard world-wide. FIFA is good for that in soccer.

Special_K · 11-24-2006, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nimmy

yep how can it be one of the biggest sports in the USA when its banned in many states

what states are they banned in?

Super Warrior · 11-24-2006, 01:46 PM

MMA does not need to be in the Olympics to get its recognition. Its doing just fine where it is now.

Nimmy · 11-24-2006, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Special_K

what states are they banned in?

im not 100% sure but isnt it banned in Washington until recently, LA until recently, banned in New York to?

subgenius · 11-24-2006, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Special_K

what states are they banned in?

I forget which specific States in the United States still have the ban on the UFC, but there are some. The UFC was not able to hold events in California until this year (I think starting with the Hughes-Gracie fight back in May). There are a few other States. I found an interesting article from back in May that talked about the bans, but did not specify. The article also mentioned that Dana White was trying to get UFC events in the UK, Mexico, and in Europe. I think those are good ideas.

White has big plans for UFC
President looking to Canada, Europe and beyond.
http://www.presstelegram.com/mixedma...rts/ci_3862112

Now that we have GSP as the WW champion, it seems that a UFC event in Canada is a sure thing. Mike Bisping might be able to get the people in the UK to be interested enough to want he UFC to hold an event in London or maybe in Manchester. An event in Mexico would be a huge success, IMO. There are plenty of Latino UFC fighters. I would also love to see a UFC event in Brasil. With Anderson Silva as the MW champion, an event in Brasil would be awesome.

imdahman · 01-02-2007, 05:41 PM

Just an interesting thought. With it's popularity on the rise, do you think something like this could ever happen? I mean, for me the chances seem extremely nigh, but boxing is an olympic sport and that's still considered by many to be a rather 'brutal' blood sport.

Is BJJ an olympic sport? I'm not even sure on this particular martial art. There's what? Judo, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, wrestling?

If it were to ever become an olympic sport, what kinda format do you think would be used? Tournament bracket in weight classes? Team oriented like the IFL?

I think it would be a great idea, but I don't think it could happen anytime soon.

vegas mma · 01-02-2007, 05:44 PM

well snowboarding made it so who knows.

MuStAnG12687 · 01-02-2007, 05:45 PM

I am not sure how the Olympics decide what is a sport for them or not but this would be an AMAZING sport for the Olympics...Imagine tournaments for all the weight classes...we can truly see who has the most heart, determination and skill with all MMA fighters…wow...I think one day it can happen...I just don't know all the politics involved in a new sport for the Olympics.