MMA.

If web sites were people I’d want to roll around on top of this one.

Yesterday, while playing SudokuCombat against random strangers, I was competing against a guy named “joe”. As I made mistake after mistake, I jokingly said, “I keep screwing up because I’m watching UFC while playing!” and that prompted a conversation about MMA.

As it turns out, “joe” is a writer for Sherdog and he has several friends who are in training to be fighters, and after 40+ minutes of conversation neither of us had finished the damned Sudoku. He was surprised that I was a girl, and more surprised that I hadn’t become interested in the sport as a result of some guy’s interest, and we had some very good conversations about training, competing and what it takes to be a wicked MMA fighter. He confirmed a lot of my suspicions about how guys get into the sport and he confirmed my belief that it is one hell of a sport to train for when compared to other sports.

When he asked what I liked best about the sport, I didn’t want to say, “the homoerotic nature of it”, so I said, “it teaches me new methods of tackling my husband, pinning him to the ground and shouting, ‘DO YOU SUBMIT?’ over and over”. Joe approved, but said, “Y’know, seduction works just as well…”

Seduction is nowhere NEAR as much fun as a leg bar and a headlock, though. COME ON.

In all seriousness, what I love best about MMA – besides the sweaty, half-naked men rolling around on each other – is the incredible ‘raw’ power. These are men who train 6 days a week, lifting weights and studying multiple martial arts, who get into a ring with another guy and pummel the shit out of each other. At first glance it appears to be all about the brawling. At second glance, you notice the precision and speed. After watching for a while it becomes a fascinating dance of skill. To have a response to all your opponent’s moves, to anticipate what comes next, to use strength and agility and skill to counter every action – it’s amazing.

Yes, I enjoy the end result – sweat, blood, busted-up faces – but the skill is mindboggling. It is, as far as I’m concerned, the best sport in the world. I can’t wait for Coffee’s debut fight.