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Once Decried as 'Human Cockfighting', MMA Wants Olympic Spot
- Mixed Martial Arts is making its Asian Games debut this week in Nagoya, Japan, marking a milestone that organizers hope will eventually lead to the Olympics.
- To align the sport with Olympic values, the International Mixed Martial Arts federation replaced the traditional caged octagon with an open mat; a fence 'does not really align with Olympic values,' said Galastein Tan, director general of FIMMA.
- Decrying the sport as 'human cockfighting' in the 1990s, US Senator John McCain helped define a perception that organizers are now working to change as they pursue Olympic inclusion.
- Singapore's Teo Hui Hoon, who is guaranteed a silver medal, said the Asian Games debut creates a 'clear pathway' to the Olympics, encouraging teenagers to 'take it seriously.'
- Rival governing bodies FIMMA and the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts are competing for influence, making an Olympic appearance before Brisbane in four years unlikely.
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17 Articles
17 Articles
Combat discipline enters a regional sporting event, which could be a step towards possible integration into the Olympic program.
·Warsaw, Poland
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MMA makes its Asian Games debut
A sport once banned in much of the US and famously decried as “human cockfighting” by a high-profile politician is making an ambitious play for the Olympics.Mixed Martial Arts, known as MMA, is making its Asian Games debut this week in Japan — a milestone that fighters and organizers hope leads to b
·Taipei, Taiwan
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The Express TribuneReposted by 
GMA Filipino News
GMA Filipino NewsSafety first as mixed martial arts grapples for recognition at Asian Games
Mixed martial arts makes Asian Games debut in Nagoya
·Karachi, Pakistan
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MMA has taken an important step by being included in the Asian Games, and its next goal is much bigger – the Olympic program.
·Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources17
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 33%
C 50%
R 17%
Factuality
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