Mma Informative Speech

Violence, we do not condone it on the streets, we do not condone it in the home and today ladies and gentlemen we do not condone it as a sport.

Mixed martial arts. Mixed martial arts. It sounds deceptively tame. I assure you, it isn't. Mixed martial arts broadly refers to full contact extreme combat sports of a violent nature in which contestants are permitted to use the fighting techniques of wrestling and boxing but also the defensive teachings of kickboxing, judo, and karate.. These are centuries old teachings that have had their traditional emphasis of self defence and control contorted and perverted into something else... Something intrinsically violent and savage that contradicts the most basic of moral principles.

This morning ladies

and gentlemen I will attempt to persuade you that MMA, widely known today as UFC, should be banned in Victoria. In its place I would propose reverting the current legislation outlining the legality of cage fighting to its standing prior to the current labor government taking office. In other words, outlaw violent fights in Victoria.

From its outset, legislation concerning cage fighting, at least in this state, was a contentious issue. Debate ran high between political parties. The previous Napthine government were staunchly opposed to the legalisation of MMA. However, much to my dismay, the incumbent Andrews government was swift in introducing new legislation that would overturn the previous ban, permitting fighting to begin effective immediately. Astoundingly, in its haste to redact the prohibition, the Andrews government blatantly ignored the official recommendation of two police commissioners and the incumbent Victorian Supreme Court Chief Justice. One must question why a government in its infancy would disregard the advice of such eminent law enforcement officials and jurists, whom are experts on the issue of concern. Parliament, with great haste must repeal legislation in line with the official recommendation of the judiciary and law enforcement.

Any form of of physical violence is illegal in Victoria. If an individual in society sees a person assault a member of the public on the street, they call the police, charges are laid and punishments meted out. So why is it that when one fighter brutally roundhouses his opponent for a "one hit K.O," he or she is revered for their martial prowess? Fighting in a steel cage, even with support staff on standby, should not magically nullify existing state law. This plurality behind the definition of assault and what constitutes acceptable violence has the effect of creating a dangerous double standard. A slippery slope, if you will.

MMA has the effect of creating so called "cults of personality" around the various fighters. This is exacerbated through various programs that take the viewer "outside the octagon." These shows glorify the practice of violence, whilst slurs thrown amongst the fighters breed racial intolerance and chauvinistic behaviour. Connor McGregor, recently crowned UFC featherweight world champion, has become infamous for his taunting and vilification of rival fighters. Some may call this a clever business decision, designed to generate hype and anticipation. Others may call it an attempt to get inside his opponents head. I see it as behaviour that would not be tolerated in everyday life, yet in this other world of UFC, it forms a badge of honour and pride. What kind of example are these fighters setting to their adolescent fans who are still young and impressionable? That antagonism is a means to an end, defines success or is somewhat or somehow morally acceptable behaviour? It is incredible to me that such behaviour can be tolerated and indeed celebrated. Swift action needs to be taken to ensure that the broadcasting of such behaviour is removed from society.

MMA, as with any long term exposure to violence, has the effect of desensitising people to the former.

According to the New York University, individuals exposed to violence on a regular basis had a higher propensity to commit aggressive acts in turn. For some in society, lines are blurred between what can be defined as acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Legalised MMA is juxtaposed by the numerous anti violence campaigns currently being implemented by parliament and law enforcement agencies. On one hand, government is detesting violence against women? On the other hand, the government has no qualms in letting people tune into a UFC fight and watch two women attempt to beat the other unconscious. How can society take these anti violence messages seriously when a hypocritical government is permitting savage MMA fights to continue in the name of entertainment. MMA must be banned in order to draw clear distinctions between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

Opponents of bans point to other sports that have a high risk of fatalities, such as horse racing, skydiving, motor sport and surfing. The problem for such advocates is that cage fighting share a unique characteristic: participants set out to “stop” their opponent, a euphemism for the infliction of harm that renders opponents unable to continue fighting. Knocking them unconscious is the ultimate “stop”. Participants in other sports, whilst accidents may occasionally occur, do no set out to intentionally cause harm to themselves or their

opponents.

Any style of fighting is, by nature, a violent act. Cage fighting elevates these concerns to another level entirely. The gladiatorial battles that drew the masses in the first century to the Roman Colosseum were a reflection of the cruel society of the day. One might question, watching the UFC channel and any other cage-fighting event, how much more civilised we have become in the intervening two millennia. Ex Prime Minister Tony Abbott, himself a well-known boxer in his Oxford days, in 2010, called for government and society to adopt a “kinder, gentler polity”. We should heed Abbott’s words, not only because of the dangers such fighting poses for its participants, but for the way in which it tends to de-sensitise us to the deliberate infliction of harm and to normalise aggressive behaviour in the minds of us all, especially the young and impressionable. We must question the ethics behind the legalisation MMA, and the subsequent degradation of societies morality and values that is guaranteed to follow. Thank you.