The pressure on Sport Ireland to grant formal recognition to Mixed Martial Arts as a sport is likely to increase following news breaking in the US over the weekend that UFC, the biggest promoter of the sport and home to Conor McGregor among others has been sold to IMG and investment partners for a sum of $4 Billion.
IMG made its name originally through managing the affairs of leading golfers and tennis players under founder Mark McCormack. While it may yet be a while before we see Jack Nicklaus Octagon side for a UFC promotion the fact that such money is being invested by such traditionally respected power brokers means the sport is climbing steadily towards the top.
In any sport, as in any activity, safety is always a major concern and regulation, as part of recognition, is an essential element in taking the sport from the streets where it currently resides in Ireland to the mainstream.
Sport is a great social enabler and the rise in popularity of MMA over the past two years should create opportunities to fund development and facilities that will reach a younger section of the population that might be looking for something beyond the traditional strongholds of sport.
McGregor’s oft quoted line that “we’re not here to take part, we’re here to take over,” is more bragadaccio than fact in terms of the overall sporting landscape but there is a space for the sport, and the need to recognise and formalise some of its elements will now need to be given as high a priority as any with the sports administration environment.
