Throughout my life I’ve watched many hours of television that made me feel guilt, embarrassed, and a little dirty. I once cheered a Toronto Maple Leafs goal, I’ve secretly viewed the Fox News Network, I’ve grimaced through a TV preacher or two, and I’ve even watched a few minutes of Glee; all things I’m not proud of. In fact, these are all good indicators that it was the Devil who invented television. The Ultimate Fighter produced by the (Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC), however, is no such show.
Traditionally the television, and more importantly the remote, has been in the firm and unquestioned control of men. But times are changing. In Canada, women on average watch five hours/week more television than men. That’s not all that’s changing; men’s television viewing is changing from hockey, baseball, and football. It now includes the rising star of UFC and mixed martial arts (MMA) action.
In fact, during a 2006 major league baseball playoff game, more men aged 18-34 tuned into a UFC pay-per-view event to watch Tito Ortiz defeat Ken Shamrock by technical knockout. Millions of young men tune into these fights and I’ll bet that includes most of the few remaining young guys left in your church who skip Bible study on Fight Night.
Why do so many young guys, Christian or not, love watching super-fit dudes in tights grapple and hug each other until someone bleeds or taps out? What is so alluring about gold chains, cauliflower ears, and tribal tattoos that men don’t even notice the watered down beer served up at a fight? How come dudes hardly look twice at the UFC girl in a bikini? I’ll tell you why, we like a good fight.
What UFC president Dana White knows and what MMA marketers are tapping into is the instinctual and God-given urge for men to discipline themselves, conquer, and win against all odds. Part of what MMA is doing is speaking the heart-language of men and putting words, thoughts, and actions to the things we already feel. A drive to achieve, to be at the top of our game, to be honoured among our peers, to work hard, and to feel confident even if we’re wearing tights and taking a beating.
And while some dudes stuff their tights to feel bigger and better about themselves, it takes a lot more than an extra sock rolled up or a lifted truck to actually live bigger and better lives. Discipline, hard work, and mutual respect aren’t the types of things you can pretend or fake. Standing up for the oppressed, fighting injustice, and loving your family aren’t actions done only when felt like it. Like MMA, being godly and manly is a lifestyle that should drive men day in and day out.
True, UFC and MMA events do get a bit of a mixed review among the church crowd. Instead of fists and elbows flying, Bibles and verses fly with each side trying to defend engagement or avoidance. Whatever corner of the cage you find yourself in, the fact remains that our young men enjoy and connect with MMA. And, I’ll put some money up on this one too, I bet the young men in your church would put up with a watered-down church if they had a reason and a cause to fight for. I bet they’d get in the cage and go a few rounds if only they could get a sense and feel of why they’d even bother. And I bet if a few good guys led them, well, the rest would follow.
Flickr photo (cc) by adrianpua
