Initially I want to open this post with a personal statement.
I'm a boxer and boxing fan. I've followed boxing beyond the limits of my memory and I will continue to well into the future.
However, it would be a lie to state that I am not interested in Mixed Martial Arts.

In the past number of days I have noticed posts on this site that cast a negative shadow over Mixed Martial Arts and openly attempt to denigrate the sport. The fact is that at the moment MMa is enjoying a growth spurt and popularity boost unlike any which has preceeded it. The sport is exciting and is attracting legions of followers.

It seems that some boxing fans are resntful of this fact and use everything in their arsenal to attempt to discredit mma and it's followers.
I hear boxing fans mention steroid abuse, attitude problems and even fashion sense in arguements against mixed martial arts.

These ridiculous claims are not only irrelevant they are also hypocritical. In boxing, us fans have been scandalised with several cases of steroid use. In boxing several fighters use the guise of "gangsters" or bad guys just to be marketable. And in relation to fashion sense it seems boxing has alligned itself with Hip Hop in a similar fashion to mma alligning itself with Metal and Rock.

Mixed Martial arts is a sport in which the participants are necessitated to train diligently and develop their physical capacities to the extent of their capabilities. The concept is new, but the values are similar to boxing and other traditional combat sports. The idea is to train as hard as possible and compete as well as possible.

I'm not sugesting that all boxing fans become mma fans, but I do feel that a little mutual respect i demanded. These athletes are putting themselves in danger, just like out ring heroes and they do not deserve ridicule and disrespect for their efforts.