On Mixed Martial Arts

Just what is the determining factor for reigning victorious in the cage? Can this X factor be narrowed down and defined? Clearly MMA is as close as it gets to a street brawl, besides of course that an MMA fighter actually possesses combat skills. Despite the rawness of this sport there is nevertheless structure. When this kind of brawling is taken out of the street and warriors are matched by weight and aptitude how does a fighter get an edge over their opponent?

One thing that sets this fighting sport apart from others is the well roundedness of the competitors. We all learned early on, thanks to Royce Gracie, that if you can kick and punch but know nothing about defending on the ground you are at a considerable disadvantage.

But, as all things in life either evolve or die out, the MMA warrior as an entity has evolved. At this point there is no excuse for not developing every possible weapon in your arsenal. Stand-up fighters must show up with a respectable ground game and vise versa. If you come into the cage and these skills are not present you are basically in a boxing match with one hand tied behind your back.

So, early on, the lack of assortment in artillery was more of an issue then it is today. What then, I reflect back, is the X factor? Is there one… or is the outcome of each match determined by chance? Well, I would argue that there is no such thing as chance.

The ancient warriors, albeit cross continental and generational, developed these various fighting systems with the knowing that there was a deeper connection involved. Martial Arts, literally meaning, arts of war were thought of as just that. These styles of fighting were not a diabolical means developed solely for destruction.

Today, with a seemingly primal vengeance, these men and women enter the ring and attack their opponent. Despite this, the majority of them display an overt respect for their counterpart at the close of each fight. Clearly this is not just about hurting the other person in the ring. More so, it is a test of ones own strength, and that is in no small part psychological.

Therefore, I would deduce that the X factor lives somewhere in the brain, and is often times referred to as heart. Mystical as it may seem, what we believe will happen, often times does happen. Make no mistake about it, to be successful in this arena you need to physically train like a madman. The belief alone without the action is better referred to as a delusion. But, when all other things are in place, neglecting the mind body and spirit connection may be the biggest mistake you can make.

We have all heard stories of unfathomable displays of strength. Adrenaline is of course part and parcel of these seemingly unnatural acts. But, what is also paramount is an internal belief system. This is why, in all sports, records are always broken in increments. Once someone in any given sport breaks an existing record they prove that the bar can be raised. This then gives others the belief that this new level is in fact attainable. At the core of this concept is the individual's belief that they can and will accomplish what they are setting out to do.

This is no different in the world of mixed martial arts. When all things are added up and the physical virtues of each fighter are virtually equal, the one who will be standing in the end is the one who wanted it more. The victor is the one who had more heart, the one who stepped into the fight with a personal mandate to not give up, and more so, they maintained it no matter what pursued.