Mixed martial arts is the most misunderstood, safest and most popular full contact sport today. Since 1998, there have been over 70 boxing-related deaths, while in sanctioned MMA events there have only been two! MMA has been around for centuries and wasn't widely known until the early 1990s with the introduction of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. At first the UFC was considered violent, barbaric and criticized by Senator John McCain, calling it "human cockfighting", but in a 2007 interview with ESPN, he softened his stance and said: "Although it is not the my favorite sport, the UFC is making progress in cleaning up the sport from what it was." (Smith 1). Visually, MMA looks very barbaric and dangerous, but MMA is one of the safest sports and should be recognized as such. First of all, mixed martial artists have been called “mindless violence junkies,” as critics have put it. But in many interviews with fighters, they are actually the most respectable, educated, polite and friendly people you could ever meet. They are all normal people trying to support their families and enjoy doing their jobs as professional fighters. Many critics of MMA don't see how MMA has helped people get off the streets and out of trouble. Court McGee, winner of the season 11 finale of The Ultimate Fighter (reality show), said in a tearful post-fight interview: “I dedicate this fight to everyone who has wrestled. If you had come from where I came from to where I am today, you would have been the same way. My mom and dad taught me since I was a child that you had to work hard and never give up on your dreams, that's what I did.”(Morgan 1). Court McGee is an example of how MMA has helped... middle of paper... n. "Court McGee wins the TUF 11 finale.". MMA Junkies.com, 2010.Web.-finale-recap-court-McGee-crowned-tuf-11-champion.mmaNon, Sergio. "Herschel Walker: MMA is safer than football.". USA Today, 2011.Web.-mma-safer-than-football/1>.Impact MMA, . “How safe is MMA.”. Impact MMA, 2011. Web.-is-mm a/>.UFC, Wikipedia. “Popularity and growth on the rise.” Wikipedia, 2011.popularity_and_growth>.Smith, Michael. “Don't forget John McCain's other MMA quote.” MMA Fights, 2008. Web.-MM A-quote/>.