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MMA NEWS: Damning story on MMA world links sport to racist fighters
By Wade Keller, MMATorch.com editor
Mar 8, 2008, 19:12
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The Southern Poverty Law Center has published a story today on the supposed popularity of racist fighters in the Mixed Martial World. The following are key excerpts:
-Not surprisingly, this rapidly rising blood sport is likewise wildly popular among racist skinheads and other young extremists with a thirst for violence. Many white supremacist online forums have recently established discussion groups devoted specifically to MMA; skinhead gangs across the country are raising money by hosting illegal backyard tournaments; and retired white supremacist cage fighter Mike Buell runs a major MMA training school in Arizona whose logo is a Celtic cross (often used as a white supremacist symbol) and the phrase "Hail Victory" (the German equivalent is "sieg heil").
-Melvin "Man-o-war" Costa has a classic Nazi eagle and swastika insignia tattooed across his chest and a prison gang spider web inked on his right elbow. Costa, 26, also is a convicted felon, self-avowed white nationalist and currently the 10th-ranked light heavyweight fighter in King of the Cage, one of the most popular semi-professional "mixed martial arts" (MMA) combat leagues in America.
-Judging by online forum discussions, Costa's growing legions of white supremacist fans seemed far less concerned with his swastika or spider web tattoos than a third tattoo, circling his navel, that boasts, "I have a small penis." The common theory is that, as one fan said, "He might be going for a bit of sarcasm, depending on the actual size of his penis, given the false stereotype about us." Be that as it may, Costa says, "At least God blessed me with a strong jaw and a big head."
STORY LINK: Racists Active in Mixed Martial Art
KELLER'S ANALYSIS: I'm not sure the logic of the writer saying, "Not surprisingly, this rapid-rising blood sport is likewise wildly popular among racist skinheads." It's hardly a blood sport. That terminology for MMA should have expired ten years ago. Maybe MMA does attract more racists than boxing or golf or bowling, but this article hardly made a strong case based on one anecdote. That said, UFC and other major groups obviously are going to want to stay away from any fighters with Costa's overt, publicized beliefs.
Also, is there any sport out there that has more diversity of nationalities and races on any given event than MMA?
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