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The UFC is one of the most violent and tough sports around. I am a big UFC fan, but I understand why some think it???s too brutal. The widespread popularity of the UFC has a negative effect on our culture in that it has increased crime and violence rates. A fierce sport such as the UFC is absorbed as world-wide entertainment. When anything that violent becomes mainstream, it can be expected to have negative effects. Moreover, when popular companies and celebrities are endorsing said topic, the resulting outcomes can be even worse.
These past few years have been the UFC???s most successful. According to WGAL News, ???Across the country, the government said the number of violent crimes such as murder, rape and assault increased by 18 percent in 2011. It was the first such increase in two decades. The largest increase saw assaults rise 22 percent??? (wgal.com). Is it not peculiar that crime and violence rates went up for the first time in years during the same time that the UFC was at the pinnacle of sports popularity?
Big time knock outs, submissions, and upsets are what fuel the UFC and entertain the audience. No one wants to be bored, fans want to be enthralled. I don???t literally mean that after watching a UFC fight people are going to break into stores and wreak havoc, but the overall mentality and mindset of people could be altered to a more violent state. The affects that violent television has on culture is a well explored and popular topic. Exploration on whether violent media and television such as the UFC can contribute to crime and violence rates produce the following, ???Research on violent television and films, video games, and music reveals unequivocal evidence that media violence increases the likelihood of aggressive and violent behavior in both immediate and long-term contexts??? (Craig, Anderson, Leonard, Berkowitz, Edward, Donnerstein, Rowell, Huesmann, James, Johnson, Linz, Neil, Malamuth, Wartella 81). This statement reveals that the UFC does in fact contribute to crime and violence.
With the UFC, the barbaric and brutal activities cause an increase in violent activity. Data clearly reveals that there is indeed a strong correlation between the two. It is extremely plausible to think such a violent sport could have negative effects on society, such as increasing crime and violence rates. The research and data reveals that crime rates are increasing, along with the popularity of the UFC. I feel that there is a connection between the two, and researchers also agree. Therefore, the prevalent popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship negatively affects our society in that it contributes to increased violence and crime rates.