UFC 144: World’s most violent sport hits Tokyo

Wed, 02/01/2012 - 05:00 — Anonymous by Jason CoskreyLater this month, that
bastion of bash-'em-ups, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), makes a
long-awaited appearance in Japan, giving fans an opportunity to see some of
the best fighters in the world, including the latest incarnation of B.A.
Baracus in the flesh. The Japanese fight scene hasn't been quite the same
since Pride Fighting Championships (PRIDE) shuttered its doors in 2007. As
UFC holding company Zuffa bought the remains of the old company that year,
it's no surprise the card UFC has put together is a mixture of new Mixed
Martail Arts (MMA) stars and former PRIDE stalwarts. For the curious, or
uninitiated, it's a chance to get a taste of a rapidly growing sport that
has deep roots in Japan. MMA is unarmed combat that brings together fighters
with backgrounds in karate, Brazilian jiujitsu, boxing, wrestling and various
other disciplines. If it involves pummeling your opponent in a ring, it's
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