Mixed martial arts boasts just a handfull of global MMA organizations, including Bellator MMA, BRAVE Combat Federation, ONE Championship, PFL, and of course, the UFC. Below that are intercontinental organizations, which include Cage Warriors, Combate Global, Invicta Fighting Championships, and M-1 Global. Then there are intracontinental organizations, that fight for example exclusively across Europe, like KSW and Absolute Championship Akhmat. Then there are promotions exclusive to one nation. And then there are promotions exclusive to a single state, province, region, or even city. And then, below that, you get to the real grassroots, sometimes fought on actual grassroots.
There are a growing number of amateur fight clubs, subject to no regulation, where friends get together and fight, informally, with a minimum of organization, and typically no cage, mats, doctors, officials, pay, or tickets, etc. This is a bridge, of sorts, between two friends putting on gloves and sparring in the backyard or basement, and an actual combat sports competition. The daddy of these informal, grassroots MMA efforts is StreetBeefs.
The USA-based bi-coastal backyard fighting club and YouTube channel has been around for 15 years or so. Participants can choose varying rule sets, including boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts.
One would expect that the level of excitement declines directly, with the drop in organization. The NFL SuperBowl is typically exciting, college less so, high school less so still, and two buddies tossing a football around holds barely any interest at all. However, sometimes StreetBeefs beefs are deeply compelling, showing remarkable heart, conditioning, and/or skill.
Perhaps the greatest example is Mayhem (0-1) vs. Blackie Chan (4-0). This is the highlight.
This is the whole fight.
And this is a video with some alternate angles.
Mixed martial arts and combat sports are dangerous. The athletes are typically trying to hurt each other, and regularly succeed, which is not surprising as they are trained to do so, sometimes highly. So these literally grassroots organizations should embrace regulation, for the health and safety of their friends. That said, they are not legally required to in some states, as they neither charge spectators, nor pay fighters.
And there are further nuances, as founder Christopher “Scarface” Wilmore explains: After years of watching people in my area severely hurt each other over various disputes, I decided to offer a solution. Come to SATANS BACKYARD, and put gloves on to settle your dispute. No guns, no knives, and/or gang of friends jumping in. Just you, your foe, the referee, and a group of spectators. I have settled hundreds of disputes in our area with this method, and hope to settle THOUSANDS more; all while entertaining my viewers. SOME MATCHES ARE PURELY FOR SPORT, some are REAL beef, but ALL are entertaining. Streetbeefs is a club where people form a bond with each other, develop lasting friendships, and provide a safer outlet for aggressive young individuals to solve disagreements without killing each other or breaking the law.
Streetbeefs has shown organizational ability and fighting talent easily adequate to put on a regulated amateur show, and should. Then we might get the best of both worlds – fighter health and safety addressed, while maintaining the undeniably raw and compelling nature of the best of StreetBeefs.
For more information on StreetBeefs check out:
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