The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

404 - What the Hell Happened to MMA?

May 14, 2024

MMA analyst Luke Thomas discusses the changes in MMA, rise of Eastern European fighters, UFC leniency, drug testing, fighter unions, and the impact of Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson. The conversation explores the monopolization of UFC, challenges faced by competing organizations, evolution of anti-doping measures, risk assessment in decision-making, trends in MMA competitions, and a call for support for content creation.

01:09:48

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Episode guests

Luke Thomas

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The discussion highlights the changing landscape of MMA, including the rise of Eastern European fighters and the tolerance of questionable behavior among fighters.

The podcast explores the evolution of drug testing in the UFC, comparing current anti-doping measures with past systems and addressing broader concerns about doping in sports.

The episode delves into the relationship between age and athletic performance in combat sports, discussing trends in fighters' success against quality opponents and the impact of age on winning UFC titles.

Deep dives

History and Evolution of MMA

The podcast delves into the speaker's journey as a long-time fan of MMA, from watching early tapes of fights to following the evolution of the sport over the years. The discussion highlights key moments like the 2018 incident involving Conor McGregor and the shift in perception towards MMA resembling professional wrestling in terms of promoting fights. The lack of consequences for fighters behaving questionably is noted, prompting a reflection on the changing relationship with the sport.

Introduction

3min

Evolution and Impact on MMA: From Struggle to Mainstream Dominance

5min

UFC's Leniency and Unionization Efforts in MMA

11min

Monopoly of UFC in MMA Market and Challenges Faced by Competing Organizations

15min

Evolution of Anti-Doping Measures in MMA

10min

Intelligent Risk Assessment and Age Factors in Decision Making

2min

Trends and Shifts in MMA Competitions

21min

Expressing Gratitude for Impactful MMA Content Creation

3min

Luke Thomas is one of the most influential MMA analysts in the game and the host of The Morning Kombat Podcast. I was delighted to talk to him today about

How the sport of MMA has changed
The rise of Eastern European fighters
Why is terrible behaviour of MMA fighters tolerated
Can other MMA organisations ever rival the UFC
Drug testing in the UFC
Fighter unions and the Ali Expansion Act
What Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson means for combat sports
And more!

Check out Luke Thomas's Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/ @LukeThomas

And, if you have a second, please follow my two outdoor adventure accounts to make my book publisher happy! https://www.youtube.com/@essentialwilderness and https://www.instagram.com/essentialwilderness should do the trick!

Thanks ever so much,

Stephan Kesting

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