Noah Bard Week 1 - The Misunderstanding of our Modern-Day Gladiators
When I hear the word gladiator, I Immediately think of the Colosseum and humans being eaten by lions. However, times have changed, and so has the term gladiator. I’m talking about the sport of MMA, and more specifically, UFC fighters. Besides the few million crazed fight fans out there like myself, the current consensus about MMA is that it’s stupid. At face value, it’s a very sensible conclusion to make. Why in the world would anybody want to risk their lives on national television, or in that case at all? Well, here’s why.
Every day before that bell rings, these men and women are mastering the art of fighting. It takes much more than just supernatural athleticism; it ultimately comes down to the fighter's mental fortitude. Every slight move in the eyes, feet, and hands of your opponent must be taken into account to win. It’s a common stereotype to think that fighters aren’t very smart and not only because of what they do for a living, but oftentimes it’s because of the way they speak and portray themselves. Nevertheless, it’s the exact opposite. Every night when trying to fall asleep, you can only imagine the thoughts going through their head, trying to play out every possible scenario of what could happen once the cage closes. However, I believe that that's why they do it. They enjoy the excitement and anxiousness of being alone one vs. one with no one there to help. And even more than that, they like the feeling of victory. It’s a part of our human nature to fight and survive; everything we do revolves around it. So the adrenaline these fighters get after they get their hand raised is probably one of the best feelings in the world.
It might sound crazy, but would you ever consider becoming a mixed martial artist?

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