Why was Cagefighting banned in the United States?

Question

I'm doing a project for school about cagefighting and how its becoming very popular, but why was it banned??

Answer 1

Cagefighting or mixed martial arts was never banned in the entire United States. Each state is able to set their own regulations and guidelines for the sport. Indian reservations are not subject to state law when hosting mixed martial arts matches.

Mixed Martial Arts and its rules as they are today have changed very much since 1993. Back then there were little rules, commonly called NHB or no holds barred (no eye gouging), the matches were more spectacle than sport, and hence the bad publicity. Since it has been regulated more states have sanctioned bouts, and uniform rules the popularity has blossomed.

Here are some of the rules- No Headbutting, eye gouging, hair pulling, biting or fish-hooking.
Attacking the groin or trachea, or striking the back of the head, spinal area, or kidneys.
Clawing, twisting, or pinching the flesh.
Small joint manipulation (control of three or more digits is necessary).
Attacking an opponent on or from the break, or who is under the care of an official.
Intentionally exiting or throwing your opponent out of the area of combat.
Holding the ring ropes or fence.
Spitting on the opponent or referee.
Timidity—in some promotions fighters can be penalized for lack of aggression or faking an injury.
Spiking another fighter on their head if not thrown.
Striking the back of the head.
Striking the spine.

Answer 2

For a number of reasons. First you have to remember the state atheltic commisions are predominately people who come from normal sports like baseball, boxing, football, golf, etc. Very few have or come from martial arts backgrounds and so they have a different perspective on martial arts and especially the submission and choke out aspects. Even though most of these states recognized AAU Judo events (which allowed chokes at the balck-belt level) they did not even realize it which is how they were finally able to get it legalized.

Secondly the idea of fighting in a cage is just barbaric to a lot of people. They don't stop to think that it keeps the fighters in the ring and keep them from falling through the ropes or slipping under them and onto the floor.

Third the idea of hitting and kicking someone when they are down along with the use of your elbows goes against many people's idea of a sport and boxing which is what most people used to think in terms of.

Fourth the blood factor. People have so much more vasculartiy in the head and its very close to the surface so just a small cut or gash bleeds way more than a simular one somewhere else on the body.

Once the states were forced to recognize that they were trying to ban something that they did not understand and that they had also partially been sanctioning and one of the states (Illinois) had already had several cards and no major injuries, no deaths, not even a person going to the hospital Dana White was able to get it approved in California. There were actaully several cards put on by the late Brian Madden and myself in Illinois and Dana White flew out for our second or third one to find out how we were able to get it approved here since he had hit a brick wall in California. Prior to that Tom Lutelli in Chicago had put on a few cards and had started to run into problems and was stopped until we were able to get it approved and put on several.

Answer 3

It was banned because it was not sanctioned..!! Now it is sanctioned and it is not banned..!!

Answer 4

Because u can Die!!!