From a pariah sport, just three years ago, to a true social phenomenon, MMA, mixed martial arts, has made a place for itself on French territory. The public is there, during the various events organized in Paris, the fighters are part of the biggest leagues in the world. How is MMA truly establishing itself as a major sport in France, is its future as bright as predicted? Rebroadcast from November 1, 2023.
Saturday September 2, 2023 at the Accor Hôtel Arena in Paris Bercy. Nearly 16,000 people gathered to watch the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) evening, the world’s largest mixed martial arts league. That evening, the French fighters shone and the public was vocal. From simple shouts to “Marseillaise” repeated in chorus, the atmosphere has everything from unforgettable memories for the mother of one of the athletes present on the card, William Gomis. “ It was a very beautiful evening, full of twists and turns and atmosphere. To see all this enthusiasm for MMA in France, it’s great to see, I hope that the UFC will come back quickly “.
In two editions, the UFC has made Paris, and France, a new land of MMA. Everything suggests that the national market is flourishing, insists with pride the vice-president of the American federation, David Shaw: “ The Arena made a profit of $4 million in ticket sales, which is a record. You should know that 70% of tickets purchased are by fans who live outside Paris », before adding with a smile: “ We couldn’t be more satisfied with the way the UFC has established itself in France. I was on the phone with some colleagues from Las Vegas right after the party, they were telling me how loud the crowd was from the screen. »
“Young people want to be like footballers”
Since the legalization of the practice in France in January 2020, the MMA wave has engulfed everything in its path. To better understand the phenomenon, we must return to the essence of this sport, in contact with amateur practitioners. Located in the heart of Paris, the Maccabi hall is a reference in the area. A modern establishment designed on two floors, Maccabi offers a multitude of combat sports classes, including MMA. Registrations have exploded over the past three years, the profile of amateur fighters has evolved like Mory, 18 years old: “ I had in mind to start with MMA, but since then I have practiced other disciplines to improve myself “, he explains, catching his breath. For Romain, an MMA practitioner for 2 years, there is logic in seeing young people swear by mixed martial arts: “ Indeed, there are more and more young people aged 15-16 who are starting out with MMA, it’s true that like footballers, when young people look at MMA stars, they want to be like them. »
Stunned by the phone call, Benjamin Attia, the cousin of the gym manager, bends over backwards to reorganize the course schedule and make room for MMA: “ It was timid at the beginning, but since the start of this year we have had more than 1,200 registrations. The year before, it was in the 800s, we increased by almost 50% », rejoices the young man with the impressive build: “ It’s a sport that speaks to young people, which is becoming part of their habits. The arrival of the UFC in Paris also allowed us to develop, as did the advent of new stars in the discipline like Ciryl Gane or Greg. »
Greg is the diminutive of Grégory Bouchelaghem, 46-year-old MMA teacher and professional fighter, known on YouTube as GregMMA. With nearly a million subscribers, the man who has just resumed his fighting career tries, in his own way, to explain the meteoric development of the practice: “ MMA corresponds well to the current era, it is the globalized crossbreeding, the mixture of cultures. It’s American-style pragmatism so it’s normal that it’s a hit “, he insists.
“I found this hatred unfair”
A sport that is a hit in France, but which is not without its dark sides. With wild fans, in the public and on social networks, it is difficult to distinguish things, even if you are adored like Cyril Gane, standard bearer of the discipline and star of the UFC. His quick defeat against the American Jon Jones last March left its mark on the Internet: “ I am aware of what social networks are, I was armed for that », underlines the 115 kilo colossus, slumped in his hotel room armchair. The French heavyweight adds: “ I felt sorry for the haters, I found it unfair. »
A good dose of ingratitude, the consequence of a sport in full metamorphosis. In Nice, Aldric Cassata knows something about it. The manager of Manon Fiorot, the French woman closest to a world belt in the UFC, fought when MMA was hated. Now head of the Boxing Squad, a small room, located on the fourth floor of a building on the outskirts of the city, the veteran remembers: “ We weren’t seen at all by the French, there were no networks. It was expenses, not remuneration. We were notified a week in advance to fight. It was martial desire that took precedence and nothing else », he relates, lying on the tatami mats after a boxing session with Manon Fiorot.
Social networks, the lethal weapon of MMA, the one that takes a fighter to another dimension. Frenchman Morgan Charrière, 28, is the perfect example. A newcomer to the UFC, the Parisian who now trains at the US Métro Bizot, a modern American-style gym, first made a name for himself on YouTube: “ I got serious about creating videos in 2017. I wanted to do this work upstream to make myself known and my sport known. When a strong community follows you, you are taken more seriously by organizations, you are put forward more. It’s a real strike force. »
All the lights are green for MMA to become essential in the region, to the point of dethroning more established sports like football and rugby? Not so sure, according to the combat sports journalist at the TeamJean-Charles Barès: “ Current regulations mean that it is impossible to broadcast MMA on a free channel before 10:30 p.m. Changing this rule would help develop the discipline, but we are not going to be choosy, it’s the start of a story », he analyzes. And why not the Olympic Games? “ This is entirely possible, because the format is suitable. The question could arise in a few years “.