On September 3, 2022, the UFC, the most powerful American league in MMA, the mixed martial arts, organized its first event in Paris. An evening long awaited by all fans of the discipline. In France, competitions have only been legal since 2020 and the hall of the Accor Arena in Bercy was sold out. Sophiane Amazian, journalist in the sports department of RFI, tells how this sport is becoming more and more essential in France.
In this episode of News cookies, Sophiane Amazianbegins by telling us more about MMA: “ It is a mixture of several combat sports such as boxing, Brazilian jujitsu and karate and this makes very complete athletes who are able to evolve with the feet, with the fists, on the ground and this makes obviously spectacular fights “.
Asked about the rules that govern the fights, Sophiane answers: “ Everything is codified. When you watch MMA for the first time, you have the impression that all shots are allowed, but it’s not true, there are rules. It is forbidden to touch the private parts, to cling to the cage, to scratch and when one of the fighters is on the ground, his opponent is not allowed to kick or knee in the face “.
France is one of the last countries in the world to have legalized MMA competitions. Violence is often questioned by those who oppose the recognition of this sport. ” It’s truesaid Sophiane, that you have to put up with violence a little bit, but when you really take an interest in the athletes, in the culture of combat, in tactics, you realize that there is very important training to be done. It’s a bit like a game of chess between two opponents hoping to knock each other out. A fight is not won just with strength “.
There is now everything in motion around MMA in France. The public is more and more present and the practitioners more and more numerous and more and more known. Sophiane Amazian went to a room where MMA is practiced: “ The boss explained to me that he had three MMA slots per week, but that he was going to have to add more as the demand is strong. There are between forty and fifty people per class. Before legalization, practitioners came from boxing or karate, but now young people tick the MMA box directly and not another type of combat sport “.
Sophiane assures her, this evening organized by the UFC, Ultimate Fighting Championship, will also shake things up ” This highlighting of MMA will benefit clubs, fighters and also the public who are demanding more and more events like this “.
Some dream of a world championship in France: ” I think we will get there, the UFC will return to France. Dana White, the boss of this league explained that he wanted to do other dates in other French cities and come back to Paris for a big event. We imagine that there will then be belts at stake and why not a world champion belt “.
As for MMA, an Olympic discipline? ” The president of the UFC would like it very much, but there is currently no discussion in this direction between the various federations and the Olympic Committee. We can start dreaming about 2028 or 2032 “.
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