US army embraces 'human cockfight'

FORT BRAGG (NORTH CAROLINA): The US military is embracing a combat sport commonly called ultimate fighting that a decade ago was called human cockfighting and largely outlawed.
The sport, also known as mixed martial arts and involving disciplines like jiu-jitsu, boxing and wrestling, adopted safety measures that satisfied most state regulators. It is now soaring in popularity, especially among young men; on Saturday, an event will be broadcast live in prime time on network television for the first time.The armed forces, acknowledging the phenomenon and the suitable demographics, are using the sport not only as a way to build morale and aid in recruiting, but also as a training aid to enhance skills of soldiers.
To rally the troops, military leaders have welcomed professional fighters. The Army has conducted tournaments among soldiers. In an opinion article for Army Times last year, major Kelly Crigger urged commanders to field a team of fighters on television in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
"Many of those viewers are eligible recruits," Crigger wrote. "UFC provides a great venue to get the army name into the minds of young Americans."
Across the service, embrace of mixed martial arts has come with some reservations. The sport's emphasis on solitary glory runs counter to the army's recent efforts to shift recruiting themes from individual development to group unity. But as the sport found its audience on channels aimed at young men, recruiters soon took notice.
In 2006, officials at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California invited the UFC fighter Tito Ortiz, marketed as the Huntington Beach Bad Boy, to attend their birthday ball as a guest of honor. Letters to Marine Times protested the invitation, but it was rescinded only after the Bad Boy indicated that he planned to take his girlfriend, the porn star Jenna Jameson.
Rich Franklin, former UFC middleweight champion known as Ace, frequently appears on Marine bases. Last year, Matt Hughes, a former UFC champion, visited Fort Benning.
Army bases around the country now conduct tournaments. In January, the air force adopted the Combatives program. The navy has trained certain units. The marine corps has trained recruits in martial arts since 2000.
(NYT News Service)