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Jan 26, 2010 - 4:34:21 PM

By: Mark Skiba, MMATorch Columnist

The Star Spangled Banner is playing in the background, three flags are being raised to the rafters as three men stand upon the podium. The bronze medal is awarded to Frank Mir, the silver to Fedor Emelianenko, and the gold medal is placed around the neck of Brock Lesnar.

The event showcased a combination of boxing, wrestling, head, leg and arm submissions and the ability to strike a downed opponent with fists. What sport has been described in the above description? While Mixed Martial Arts is most likely the first thing that comes to mind, the answer is, in fact, incorrect. The correct answer is Pankration, an event from the Ancient Olympic Games.

Of course some rules will have to change as the International Olympic Committee has done to boxing and other sports, but why not at least recognize a growing sport in MMA that has such a close resemblance to an Ancient Olympic event? As of now the IOC does not recognize Pankration as a sport, nor would it be allowed as a demonstrative sport as was tried back in Athens in 2004.

While it is unlikely, it is not impossible for this sport to become an Olympic event. With the popularity of MMA rising and competitors from all over the globe participating it can be done.

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing the following contact sports were official competitions: boxing, wrestling, judo and taekwondo. Karate also once was an Olympic sport, however as it was not included in Beijing and has been taken off the competition list for the 2012 and 2016 games it seems to be a lost sport on an international level.

Combine those recognized Olympic events and what does that give you? Why could the people of the Ancient Olympiad recognize the pride, honor and purity of what these athletes train for, but it cannot be at least recognized by the current IOC?

While it is understandable that on the limited amount of time during the Olympics for the athletes to recover, MMA as we know it may not be possible, but why not at the very least a form of submission style wrestling? Why not give one round to wrestling, one to boxing, and another to submission wrestling? Make it a three round event; win two and you move on? These are just ideas, of course, but with the proper time the IOC could come up with rules to allow this sport to be showcased, or at least take the first step and make it officially recognized.

Around the world we are seeing MMA rise, with each competitor bringing a personal style to the sport. Cultures are clashing; fighters are traveling around the world to train, to become more diverse than their opponent. The Olympics would be a great opportunity to showcase a great sport to the world. It would allow another breed of athlete to represent their country, so they too can compete to watch their flag rise, so they too can listen and sing along with their country's anthem.

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