Sports
The evolution of Mixed Martial Arts
BY MARCEL MARIAK
A combat sport’s journey from obscurity to fame
Combat sports and fight competitions have been part of human cultures for thousands of years. From the ancient martial arts such as Pankration and Wushu, which were created for war; to the more contemporary, competition focused martial arts such as boxing and Muay Thai, almost every identifiable human culture has developed or adopted some sort of unique fighting style.
In recent times, with the evolution of communication and broadcast systems such as radio, television, and the internet, we are able to experience martial arts from all over the world from the comfort of our own homes. While some martial arts such as boxing, freestyle wrestling, and Taekwondo have been well received and recognized by the general public; other fighting disciplines have remained hidden in the shadows.
A glaring example of such a case is the sport of MMA. For the past few decades, while boxers performed for thousands of fans in packed arenas, mixed martial arts competitions in North America were largely held as underground, unsanctioned events. A major factor contributing to the lack of popularity of mixed martial arts was the public’s negative perception of the sport in its infancy.
Delicate beginnings
There is no conclusive origin of the sport of MMA. While members of the combat sports community regularly disagree about its beginnings, the most widely accepted origin of MMA is that it evolved from the Brazilian combat sport of Vale Tudo in the mid-20th century. Vale Tudo gained popularity in Brazil as a no-holds-barred fighting competition. Competitors wore no gloves or shin guards and could strike with any part of the body as well as grapple. The sport gained extreme popularity as martial artists from various disciplines competed against each other to prove their art was superior.
While practitioners of many disciplines found success in Vale Tudo competitions, one martial art was undoubtedly dominant: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). Developed by the Gracie family, BJJ uses technique and leverage instead of brute force; allowing its practitioners to control and defeat a more physically imposing opponent. Quickly, BJJ began to gain a massive following in Brazil. Eventually, the Gracie family decided to travel to the United States to spread their system to the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, while BJJ was loved and welcomed in Brazil, America at the time was living in the age of Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Karate Kid movies. The simple truth was that nobody wanted to roll around on the ground and practice submissions. People weren’t interested in a subtle and effective art; they wanted to wear Karate Kid headbands and break boards while screaming like a banshee. As a result, BJJ had a tremendously difficult time picking up speed in America… something had to change.
Behold! The Ultimate Fighting Championship! The Gracies figured that if no-holds-barred fighting worked in Brazil, it would work in America as well. The first ever UFC event was held on November 12th, 1993. It was a tournament style event where practitioners of all martial arts disciplines could fight for the championship. Of course, Royce Gracie, the BJJ representative, dominated his opponents and won the tournament. More events began to be held, and Jiu Jitsu fighters were consistently winning the tournaments. This success caught the public eye and BJJ in America began to grow.
Rising popularity
While BJJ was entering the mainstream in the United States, the sport of MMA was being pushed into obscurity. While martial artists viewed MMA as an amazing way to learn combat sports and improve their skills, the general public saw only a brutal, gladiatorial event where competitors tried to maim each other for the entertainment of the audience. As a result, while many outstanding individuals by the likes of “Big” John McCarthy, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, and Bas Rutten were helping the sport develop, MMA continued to be a niche market in the late 90s and early 2000s.
It was only in the mid to late 2000s that various big names in the sport of MMA began to break through into the mainstream media, and the general public began to see mixed martial arts as a sport rather than a bloodbath. Influential personalities which helped spread the sport of MMA include Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping, GSP, and most notably, the brash and confident Conor McGregor.
A vision for the future
While MMA has come a long way since its Vale Tudo days in Brazil, there are still issues in the sport’s community that need to be resolved. Problems such as disputes over fighter paycheques, and the legalization of the sport in various states are still preventing the stunning sport of MMA from reaching its true potential as an internationally (or even Olympically) recognized combat sport.
BY KRISHNA MISTRY
To all cricket fans, Antigua and Barbuda welcome you all to the Grand Cricket Tournaments this summer! Two major cricket events are happening at the twin islands of the paradise of Antigua and Barbuda this year. They are hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, and FairBreak T20.
They have started their promotion for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with an innovative marketing campaign, ‘Be’, and the Antigua and the Barbuda Tourism Authority is inviting cricket fans to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the game in Antigua and Barbuda.
The CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin C. James, gives us insight into their campaign: “Our ‘Be’ campaign is about being present in the moment, allowing one’s senses to awaken to the variety of experiences Antigua and Barbuda has to offer. From exploring our heritage and vibrant culture to indulging in the thrill of sailing and yachting, finding solace in our wellness havens, or being romanced in our intimate settings, the campaign beckons visitors to be present and embrace every aspect of our unique destination.”
The campaign rolled out this month, with a “Be” video tailored specifically for cricket fans, as Antigua and Barbuda – known for its rich cricketing culture – prepares for a summer of fantastic cricket. This month, the campaign started with a special video for cricket fans, showcasing Antigua and Barbuda’s rich cricketing tradition ahead of a summer packed with thrilling cricket action.
The video depicts a cricket ball in space that lands on a beautiful Antiguan beach, accompanied by delighted local children. The ball’s journey takes it to iconic landmarks like Shirley Heights and Nelson’s Dockyard, through bustling restaurants and tranquil spas, accompanied by the sound of a conch shell signaling the beginning of the festivities.
The “Be” cricket campaign will be released across key source markets for Antigua and Barbuda, targeting potential travelers interested in cricket. It will appear in digital, print, social media, and radio advertising for the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority.
The video featured Sir Richie Richardson, a West Indies cricket legend and one of the country’s cricketing knights. He exclaims, “You’ve got to Be Here,” during the “Be” campaign as he shares a warm invitation to all cricket fans to experience the cricketing action, soak up the ‘cricket carnival’ atmosphere Antigua and Barbuda is famed for and “be a part of the game” in his homeland.
Antigua and Barbuda astronaut Keisha Schahaff, the first person in the world to go to space with her daughter, also appears in the video that plays on elements of the “Out of this World.”
The ICC T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup comes to Antigua this June. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup isn’t the only prestigious cricket tournament coming to Antigua and Barbuda this year.
The FairBreak T2O Challenge will celebrate Women’s Cricket in July. Then, from August 28th – October 6th the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL24) will take place across the Caribbean, with key matches in Antigua.
In November, England’s Men’s Cricket will once again tour the West Indies for a white ball series, with fixtures and matches across Antigua and the Caribbean. The full schedule of the upcoming ICC T20 Fixtures taking place in Antigua are:
June 9th, 2024 – Oman vs Scotland
June 11th, 2024 – Australia vs Namibia
June 13th, 2024 – England vs Oman
June 15th, 2024 – Namibia vs England
June 19th, 2024 – A2 vs D1
June 20th, 2024 – B2 vs D2
June 22nd,2024 – A1 vs D2
June 23rd ,2024 – C2 vs D1
BY KRISHNA MISTRY
Twenty-three-year-old, Léonice Huet, is one of the few Black representations in badminton. Huet, a French badminton player, started her career at BadBonneval Club, and soon in 2014, she joined the CLT Orleans, another badminton club.
She then debuted in the BWF, Badminton World Federation, competing in the VII Portuguese Junior 2015, where she played women’s singles and mixed doubles. She moved on to play in many junior international series in: Poland, Hungary, France, Latia, Romania, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Germany and many more countries worldwide.
Huet has had the opportunity to play in many series, allowing her to grow as an athlete and gain more opportunities in badminton. Huet has played a total of three-hundred and sixteen matches in her career, two-hundred and thirty-eight matches in singles with one-hundred and thirty-nine wins and ninety-nine losses, fifty games in doubles with thirty wins and twenty losses, and twenty-eight in mixed events with nineteen wins and nine losses.
She has won a total of ten titles in her career, from 2015 to 2024, four being gold medals and six being silver. This year alone, Huet has competed in many series. She started her 2024 by competing at the VICTOR Swedish Open, from January 18th to February 21st.
Huet played extremely well, allowing her to proceed to the quarterfinals, where she played Ágnes Kőrösi, a Hungarian player, which she won both sets, progressing her to the semi-finals. She played an Azerbaijan player named Keisha Fatimah Az Zahra, whom she easily beat. It was now time for the finals, where she played an Indian player named Devika Sihag.
It was a tough match, Huet was able to win the first set, twenty-one to eighteen. The second set rolled around, and it did not look too well for Huet, who lost fourteen to twenty-one. It was time for the third set, the tiebreaker.
Would Huet win the finals, starting her year with a great start and receiving gold or would she lose and receive a silver medal?
Unfortunately, Huet lost the third set by two points and received a silver medal. She has competed at the: Azerbaijan International, YONEX German Open, Orleans Masters Badminton by VICTOR 2024, and the Orlen Polish. The latest championship she competed in was the 2024 European Championship in Germany.
She won all the rounds in this tournament, except for the quarterfinals. Huet was against Carolina Marin, a Spanish player, who ranks fifth in the BWF. This was a great learning opportunity for Huet as this will help her move up the ladder.
Huet is currently ranked seventieth, which is impressive as there are four hundred and ninety-nine players in the BWF. She has big dreams. To improve, to be better and to have the opportunity to compete in the Olympic 2024, which will be held on her turf.
Huet takes inspiration from Serena Williams, twenty-three-time grand slam winner, as she bids to qualify for the home Olympics in Paris 2024.
She has told the BWF, “It is very important for Black people to know that they are capable of achieving great success in life. It is essential to convey this kind of powerful message to inspire them.”
Will Huet be competing at the Summer Olympics Paris 2024? Unfortunately, the list of competing athletes has not been released. The Olympics takes one-hundred and seventy-two badminton athletes to compete: eighty-six women and eighty-six men. The qualifications started on May 1st, 2023, and ends April 28th, 2024.
The final eligibility list will be published two days after the deadline, April 30th.
BY KRISHNA MISTRY
The American track and field athlete, Sha’carri Richardson, is currently ranked fourth globally in the women’s category. Richardson, a twenty-four-year-old, has quickly jumped up the ladder in the course of her professional career.
After her first year at Louisiana State University, Richardson became a professional track and field athlete in 2019. At her first meet, she ran the one-hundred-meter race with a record of 10.75 seconds, breaking the collegiate record at the NCAA Championship Division, making her one of the ten fastest women in the world at eighteen.
She competed at the United States Olympic Trials in 2020, winning gold in the one-hundred-meter event. This was a significant moment, as no US woman had won a gold in this event since 1996. Richardson was determined to win in this event, as it had been twenty-four years, but also wanted to prove people wrong. Richardson stands tall at five feet and one inch, and many had told her that this was not the profession for her.
She proved them wrong and won gold in this event at a speed of 10.86 seconds. This led to her qualifying for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Unfortunately, on July 1st, 2020, it was reported that Sha’carri Richardson had tested positive for THC metabolites, indicating recent use of cannabis and putting her US Trials event in doubt. Richardson then made an official announcement that she had taken the drug to cope with her mother’s death.
Unfortunately, she was not able to compete at the 2021 Summer Olympics, but soon returned to track where she competed at the 2021 Prefontaine Classic, where she placed ninth (last place) with a time of 11.14 seconds.
In 2022, Richardson could not make it to the World Championship as she did not qualify in the one-hundred and two-hundred-meter events in the US National Championship.
Finally, 2023 rolled around in hopes of being the year for Richardson. She won the one-hundred-meter final at the Miramar Invitational, with a time of 10.57 seconds. Moreover, she secured her career’s first Diamond League victory in Doha. This annual day-long track and field meet is held in Doha, Qatar.
Richardson competed at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Eugene, Oregon, clocking in at 10.82 seconds in the one-hundred-meter event, qualifying her for the World Championship.
This was a memorable meet, as seconds before the race, Richardson took her orange wig off and revealed her original braided hair. When asked about her actions, she told the media, “The reason why I decided to do the wig reveal… Last time I was at the big stadium here, I had my orange hair. I wanted to show you guys that I’m still that girl, but I’m better. I’m still that girl, but I’m stronger. I’m still that girl, but I’m wiser.”
With this great win, Richardson competed at the World Championship, where she won the title. The World Championship was held in Budapest, Hungary from August 19th to August 29th.
Richardson proved her athletic skill in Budapest by winning the one-hundred-meter world title with 10.65 seconds, leaving behind Shericka Jackson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Jackson is a Jamaican sprinter who competes in the one-hundred, two-hundred, and four-hundred-meter events.
In the one-hundred-meter event, she is the fifth-fastest woman of all time, in the two-hundred-meter, she is the fastest woman alive, and the second-fastest woman in history. Fraser is also a Jamaican sprinter who competes in the sixty, one-hundred and two-hundred-meter events and is widely known as one of the greatest sprinter.
The year 2024 has a lot in store for Sha’carri Richardson, as she will attend her first meet of this year on April 6thl at the 2024 Miramar Invitational alongside Shericka Jackson. She is also training for the 2024 Paris Olympics as it will mark her debut in the Olympics.
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Dani
July 21, 2020 at 4:44 am
I can’t see MMA getting to the Olympics. Though it is packed with technique, for those that can’t see that, it comes across as a little brutal. I don’t think the Olympic committee would want to see fighters getting KO – though I wonder what the KO percentage is compared to other combat sports.