Muay Thai

While browsing the internet for articles and news regarding Ultimate Fighting, I came across a very interesting discovery which introduced me to a new style of fighting, similar to that of the UFC. This style of fighting is known as Muay Thai and is further described below:

"Muay Thai (pronounced [muāitʰāi]; Thai: มวยไทย) literally Thai Boxing and also known as The Art of the Eight Limbs is the Thai name for a form of hard martial art practiced in several Southeast Asian countries including Thailand. The different styles of kickboxing in Southeast Asia are analogous to the different types of Kung Fu in China or Silat in the Malay peninsula. The Thai military uses a modified form of Muay Thai called Lerdrit.
Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand and is the country's national sport. Traditional Muay Thai practiced today varies slightly from the ancient art Muay Boran and uses kicks and punches in a ring with gloves similar to those used in Western boxing. Muay Thai is referred to as "The Science of Eight Limbs", as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art. A master practitioner of Muay Thai thus has the ability to execute strikes using eight "points of contact," as opposed to "two points" (fists) in Western boxing and "four points" (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of martial arts."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_Thai

Muay Thai techniques involve the use of the entire human body. In other words, if you want to learn Muay Thai, you have to learn how to use everypart of your body; including fists, elbows, shins, feet and knees.

This is the reason why Muay Thai received it's name, “The Science of Eight Limbs”.
Muay Thai techniques are divided into categories of punch, elbow, kicking and knee techniques.

One key Muay Thai technique is the "clinch or grappling," used extensively in Muay Thai fights. "A common clinching technique in Muay Thai fighting is to tap the head downward before executing a throw. "
http://www.muaythai.cc/Muay-thai-kick-boxing.php

Muay Thai techniques are also used in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Apart from traditional Muay Thai fights, you will find Muay Thai techniques being used in MMA fights like PRIDE Fighting Championships and Ultimate Fighting Championship as well.

The following video depicts a traditional Muay Thai fight which also demonstrates the Muay Thai techniques mentioned above:

"One on One with the President Dana White"

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/custom/mma/bal-whiteqa122,0,7658660.story?coll=bal-mma-headlines


Below is a conversation with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White:

"What are some of the obstacles you face as you try to gain sanctioning in states where MMA is not currently sanctioned?

I think the big problem is a lot of these other states are states that big shows wouldn't go to anyway. But my goal is [comprehensive sanctioning] -- these smaller shows are happening in these states and it needs to be sanctioned. One of the biggest reasons is fighter safety. … When they fight these rinky-dink, little shows all over the place, they don't have to go through the same medical testing, drug testing, everything else that we do in all the major states. But it needs to happen. That's the commission's job.

What are you doing to overcome these obstacles and to gain the sanctioning you need? Are you working with local and state governments? What's the process that you go through for that?

That's the reason we brought Marc Ratner on board from the Nevada State Athletic Commission. We hired him -- that's what he does all day, talks to all these different states and continually works to get proper sanctioning."

UFC is not legal in all states because it is labeled by many as "human cock-fighting." Most fights take place in Vegas, where the UFC has become a major entertainment spectacle.

During an interview with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White, it became apparent that the UFC's main objective is to focus on gaining sanctioning in primary states so that fights can take place legally and in a larger percentage of states.

All of the small measures the UFC takes are included in the main objective and focus on gaining popularity, distributing interest, and accumulating viewers.

The Fight for Fame

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=dm-freeagents031008&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Both Tito Ortiz and Lyoto Machida are important names in the fighting realm of the UFC. On May 24th, 2008 both men are scheduled to be apart of what is deemed "among the most important matches of 2008."


Whether these two well known fighters choose to accept it or not... they are apart of far more than just an ordinary match. "It is generally believed that barring a miracle reconciliation, Ortiz and UFC will part company when his contract expiresUFC will be gambling by airing Ortiz’s match live on pay-per-view. Ortiz is a big enough name to help sell orders. The former UFC light heavyweight champion’s contract calls for bonuses far beyond his $210,000 reported per-match figure, so the feeling is it’s too much to pay without getting market value through heavily promoting his fight.Machida should be favored to win the fight, but it’s hardly a lock. It’s a win the undefeated Machida needs if he’s going to work into position for a shot at the light heavyweight title, and connect with an audience that has seen him win many times against lesser-known fighters, but has yet to react to him as a star.
But if Ortiz wins, he’ll be a free agent at a time he’s at the top of the list of the most famous mixed martial artists in the country, in a business with many potential suitors who are all in need of a recognizable star.
By himself, no one fighter is going to make a difference in a promotional war. But Ortiz, former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, Josh Koscheck, Mike Swick and two-time former heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia all have contracts that have either run out or are close to expiration. Losing most at the same time will give the public the impression the UFC must not be the be-all and end-all of the industry, particularly if several are seen shortly on a major television station with a competing promotion."

This fight is far more than merely entertainment. May 24th, 2008 will leave one individual both happy and successful. If Tito Ortiz wins this match, he will not only be gaining another victory, but also winning stardom and recognition in the upcoming sport the UFC rejuvenated.

"He'll be a free agent at a time he's at the top of the list of the most famous mixed matial artists in the country, in a business with many potential suitors who are all in need of a recognizable star."

However, if Machida should dominate the fight, he will be given a chance at conquering the heavy weight title he has so desperately desired and a shot at "connecting with an audience that has seen him win many times against lesser- known fighters, but has yet to react to him as a star."

For both fighters, winning this match will bring them a peice of stardom and the UFC a portion as well. It is apparent that all members in this fight are striving to make it to the top on their claim to fame, with the UFC in the lead...victorious either way.

"Ultimate Fighting Championship is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts (MMA) organization, currently recognized as the major MMA promotion in North America.

The UFC started as a tournament to find the world's best fighter, no matter their style, and was based upon Brazilian vale tudo fighting. Although there were a limited amount of rules, the UFC was initially known as no holds barred fighting and contests were often violent and brutal. Early UFC fights were less sport than spectacle, which led to accusations of brutality and "human cockfighting" by opponents. Political pressures eventually led the UFC into the underground, as pay-per-view providers nixed UFC programming, nearly extinguishing the UFC's public visibility.

As political pressure mounted, the UFC reformed itself, slowly embracing stricter rules, becoming sanctioned by athletic commissions, and marketing itself as a legitimate sporting event. Dropping the no holds barred label and carrying the banner of mixed martial arts, the UFC has emerged from its political isolation to become more socially acceptable, regaining its position in pay-per-view television. With a cable television deal and legalization of MMA in California, a hotbed for MMA fandom, the UFC is currently undergoing a remarkable surge in popularity, along with heightened media coverage. UFC programming can now be seen in the United States, as well as in Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, Mexico, and Brazil.

The UFC is currently based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and owned and operated by Zuffa."


http://www.oobdoo.org/wiki/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship.htm

The UFC has become a dominant sport in television as well as training. This change only appeared in today's world through some restraint, regulations and refined rules.

The UFC's changes and legalization came with the help of Spike TV, a UFC reality show, and The Ultimate Fighter. Both shows "often outdraw NBA and baseball games among the coveted 18- to 34-year-old male demographic."

With the UFC's growing popularity, the President and CEO of the UFC refers to this sport as "the sport for a new generation. White is aiming squarely for the hip multitudes." Which also ties into the previous posting, discussing the UFC's presence on BET and in the world of Hollywood and Hip Hop.

The following are a list of aspects which contribute to the UFC's growing popolarity and the things which are simultaneously overlooked by others:

Even though UFC fighting was marked "cock fighting" by senator McCain and ruled off television by others, people fail to realize that "boxers have died in the ring, but so far not one UFC fighter."

Now that times are changing, so are the lifestyles and desires of a new generation. "Football and baseball may be American pastimes, but for a high-tech generation weaned on immediacy, such sporadic action doesn't compare with UFC's short and definitive flurries of violence."

Has the UFC been revitalizing itself from "former freak show" to take the title of the new martial arts sport, or even take the place of another American favortie...Boxing?

Black Entertainment Television, or better known as BET is introducing a new reality series. The Iron Ring Championship series is focused on celebrities from the "worlds of hip hop, sports, and Hollywood who are introduced to the most dangerous fighters in the nation."

Teams within this series are owned by; Dipset, Floyd Mayweather, Lil Jon, Ludacris, Nelly, T.I., Snoop Dogg, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and comedian Eddie Griffin.

"The Iron Ring takes a different tack. Scheduled to air this summer, it will feature four celebritites managing teams of hand-picked fighters who will then battle it out for cash prizes."

The Iron Ring Championships ingeniously want their sport to appeal to everyone. Integrating an urban version of Ultimate Fighting as well as incorporating celebrities into the mix would in my opinion be a successful business decision in broadening the UFC audience as well as popularity.

"Real Professional fighters aren't always blessed with great personas, though, so why not find somebody who can do the talking for them? Given BET's audience, young black entertainers were the obvious choice."

The objective behind this show seems to be more oriented toward entertainment and appealing to a larger more expancded audience. However, would this move take away from the traditional fighting style or brand image which the UFC is known for? Would this hurt the UFC's exceptance into the sports world?

http://www.layandpray.com/2007/03/bet_fight_show_could_raise_que.html