In the wake of the recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 98 last Saturday in Las Vegas, Nev., the general public as well as many mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have been discussing the value and expectations held toward MMA champions. In other words, did the defending Light Heavyweight Champion, Rashad Evans, let them down because he was not well prepared enough? Or was his challenger, Lyoto Machida from Brazil, simply the next Bruce Lee? Watch the fight video after the break!
Watch the fight video of Machida vs. Evans and judge for yourself:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4_n3MD7Ffg&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
It is no secret that Western culture celebrates winners and trashes losers. In martial arts culture however, losing is actually considered a learning experience. In that sense, a fighter learns more from a loss than from a win. Granted he may lose his title belt and bonus pay alongside the fight. Nevertheless, a loss never determines the course of the future, whether it applies to a professional MMA fighter or a hobby martial artist. Besides, losing is as much part of fighting as punching, kicking, sweating and the spilled blood.
This article appears in May 27 – Jun 2, 2009.