Any UFC fans out there?

Love the UFC and Pride fighting. Personally, I think boxing is much more dangerous with repeated hit after hit after hit to the head. The REFs in UFC are all experienced in MMA and they know what is going on at all times. If you want to talk violent, check out some of those Asian Muay Thai matches. Man, that stuff is out there. As for the Gracies, back when UFC started most of the contestants were amateurs and weekend warriors. Very few of the contestants were on the level of what you see today. It was the dentist with a black belt kind of thing. Today, all these guys are professionals and are prepared for whatever comes thier way. Sure, it is still violent. This is martial arts and martial means war. It looks much worse than you think especially if you over-react to bloody noses. Check out your Sunday football and you get to see guys playing with broken arms. How is that for violent?

BTW, early on in UFC it was a bit more violent considering that most fighters were amateurs and such things as punching in the groin were allowed. Anyone remember seeing that? Plus, no weight division so a giant could fight a little guy. Today there are lots of rules and weight classes just like in boxing. Plus, Big John McCarthy is an excellent ref and I don't think he would allow any fighter to get needlessly hurt under his watch.

The UFC and MMA will run boxing out of town in time. Boxing is a dying sport.

Skinny Royce and the Gracies started the MMA thing for sure. The thing is, Royce was great at beating amateurs. Once everyone figured out what was needed, Royce was pushed aside. Royce recently lost to Matt Hughes. 15 years ago, Royce would have still lost to Matt Hughes although a younger Royce would have probably lasted a little longer. Yeah, Royce beat Ken Shamrock but who didn't?

The first few UFC shows had lots of blood. Royce got beat upside the head in one match and couldn't return to finish. Even in the beginning, it wasn't all roses.

How old is Rocky Balboa?