MMA used to be boxing’s younger, troublemaker relative but it has grown into a fine, upstanding contributor to the world of combat sports. It is now socially acceptable to be an MMA fan. However, some people have taken the fanaticism too far. If you are exhibiting any of these symptoms, you may very well be an MMA addict.
Never missing an event, no matter what cost
Suddenly things that were once important to you, no longer seem all that significant. Birthdays, weddings, funerals all get put on the backburner if they clash with a “stacked card”. To be fair, what could possibly warrant missing Hendricks vs Lawler II in December?
Sleep deprivation
Time zones are the blistering thorn in the side of every Irish UFC fan. However, once you catch the MMA bug, you think nothing of staying up past six or seven o’clock in the morning just to see the main event. And that’s after watching hours of the main card, prelim and early prelim action.
Ignoring the damage it does to your health
There’s 24 hours in a day. You can’t spend all of them watching MMA fights. Remember to eat, sleep, bathe and occasionally venture outside.
Depleted funds
Pay-per views, Fight Pass subscription, events, t-shirts and if you’re a gambling man, betting all adds up.
Getting legitimately depressed during extended periods without events
Hardcore MMA fans might also experience withdrawal symptoms when the UFC decides to go on a break. Cold sweats, nausea, anxiety, shaking hands and hallucinations can all be cured by watching classic Pride or Strikeforce bouts.
Snootiness towards casual fans
Get down off your high-horse. You were new to the sport once as well. Instead of berating newcomers for giving out about the wrestling aspect, teach them that it is a skill. Show them the righteous path. Teach them that there’s more to the sport than just knockouts.
Anger towards critics of the sport
Calm down, for God’s sake! Fighting these people won’t help your case.
@TheNotoriousMMA Sorry but that's disgusting. #notsport
— Tony O'Donoghue (@Corktod) July 19, 2014
Rolling out the clichés during arguments
You know, it can’t stay the fastest growing sport in the world forever.
Actually tuning in to the weigh-ins
Really? You’re actually going to sit down for an extended period and watch human beings getting weighed? I suppose, sometimes they can be exciting, but not nearly regularly enough to endure watching every single weigh-in.
Being able to say the word “gi” out loud without cracking a smile
You can thank Royce Gracie for introducing this term to most MMA heads. See also: stand and bang.
Thinking all other combat sports pale in comparison
If you harbour prejudices against all other combat sports, you might have a problem.
