It has been interesting to see mainstream writers wrestle with whether mixed martial arts is “gay.” The Daily Beast has had two somewhat-opposing columns on the subject in the past two weeks, the most recent by Sam Sheridan, himself a fighter. Writes Sheridan:
Having fought and trained a little, let me assure you that there is nothing sexual going on-fighters are in survival mode, the “fight-or-flight” instinct is in full swing. It’s kill or be killed, intensely claustrophobic, and a mental and physical war of counter and bait, deception, and speed. A fighter’s grappling style reflects his body type, his temperament, his training and his thoughts, just like an artist’s. There are thousands of variations on attacks and defense, “the ground game” is hard to appreciate at first, but worth the study. Is it homoerotic? Sure, if you want it to be. But, as Freud said, sometimes a cigar is just a good smoke. Of course, to those boxers and boxing promoters who don’t understand and are threatened by MMA, homophobia is the last refuge of the scoundrel.
Sheridan was responding to another Daily Beast post (in which I was quoted), by Thaddeus Russell, in which he wrote:
Recently, gay bloggers, homophobic critics of MMA, and even straight fans have declared that one of the great appeals of the sport is its homoeroticism. They note the large number of gay men and straight women who have become fans of MMA and attribute it to the appeal of the nearly-naked hard bodies of the fighters and the intimate, often pelvic techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the favored grappling discipline in the sport.
Sheridan says that it’s the nature of MMA (where the “fights continue if the combatants fall to the ground”) that give it its gay vibe. And some of the terms such as “rear naked choke” clearly can be several ways. It’s a sign of the growing popularity of the sport and the increased acceptance of male-to-male sexual imagery that discussing MMA and gay in the same sentence is becoming fairly common.
For example, I easily found this YouTube clip where a couple of guys and a woman titter like Beavis and Butthead as they watch slow-motion replays of what could be construed as one MMA fighter kissing another. They seem more fascinated than repulsed:
You can also go to the MMA Fix website, which regularly posts its “homoerotic photo of the week:”
I think homoerotic is a much better term for MMA than gay. I agree with Sheridan that anyone in an actual fight is not viewing his opponent as a potential sex partner; it’s hard to have sexy thoughts when someone is trying to pummel you into submission. And I would guess that the percentage of MMA fighters who are gay roughly mirrors the percentage in society as a whole.
But there is an undeniable homoerotic aspect. This has always been true of certain sports — one that feature the body (bodybuilding, gymnastics, swimming) or ones that feature some form of domination (wrestling, football, rugby, MMA). I leave boxing out of this since I have never seen it argued that watching someone punched repeatedly in the face is sexy.
A lot of discussion has come about after boxer Bernard Hopkins and boxing promoter Bob Arum dismissed MMA as nothing but gay porn. Their reactions spoke more of desperation over boxing’s rapid decline, since calling something “gay” is supposed to render it unwatchable by the mainstream (especially young men). But when straight fans can write about their top MMA hotties, and UFC head Dana White welcomes gay fans and fighters, the gay slur is losing its punch.
on Nov 17th, 2009 at 10:44 PM
I think straight MMA fans see the sports as “gay” as in a joke, or as something bad — the sport’s become “too gay.” The “Homoerotic Picture of the Week” thing, that could be more of a ha-ha thing than a hot-hot thing by straights. Whereas gays will see that shot as the latter more than the former.
I guess it’s all on how you see things. To me that “Homoerotic photo of the week” isn’t hot-hot nor ha-ha.
Some gays should be careful in not overly homoeroticizing* sports. I think some might see that as gays more interested in the sport, but rather on the scene in terms of seeing it with “gay eyes,” rather than “fan eyes.”
(*Not a word? LOL)
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 12:15 AM
It is also funny how many amateur MMA athletes are involved in gay porn.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 2:48 AM
Those working as Rough Trade are gay, like it or not.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Makes for great foreplay…just pop it on instead of porn!!
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Are we still having this discussion, yawn. I think when you land on the sticking point of something being homoerotic (yes it’s worth discussing) once or twice but it’s like a broken record. What about ALL the great fights and athleticism involved in the sport, what about all the craziness and nerdy guys involved, the promotions and advertising. I don’t believe that bullshit line about amateur mma athletes being involved in gay porn, who and where, and if they are, wouldn’t that make a great story? Oh and Sheridan’s book, great cover, but an average read at best. How about another angle guys?
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 2:53 PM
“What about ALL the great fights and athleticism involved in the sport, what about all the craziness and nerdy guys involved, the promotions and advertising.”
Hi Jocko:
If you want to submit something on these topics, would be interested in running it.
Jim
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Trying to beat the living crap out of someone and calling it homoerotic is like saying running a bayonet through someone is homoerotic or that the shape of bullets, guns, and bombs are phallic and therefore violence is all homoerotic. I guess people raping Iraqis is also homoerotic at some level, but it’s not why I am into MMA. I like boxing as a sport as well.
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 5:37 PM
Ohhh niice, let me see what I can come with regarding mma
on Nov 18th, 2009 at 10:41 PM
Ok Jocko
Anyone trying to make it may do things that they aren’t always wanting to do. Take Paul Donahue who i ran into at a wrestling tournament not to long ago. A good friend of mine asked me “hey do you know if he (Paul) is still working for that company on the side?” Well i told my friend he would be crazy if he didn’t cause this Olympic dream isn’t cheap!
The Idea of Armature MMA Fighters with good Bodies doing porn isn’t out of the idea. They need to eat and pay bills while they train to make it to the big time and most folks cant have Full time jobs. I have spent the last 2 years with a full time job while doing the Olympic level thing and its not easy.
So again Sex has nothing to do with the fact that sexuality in sports is all around. MMA, Wrestling, Judo, Grappling and other such sports are just the ones that people can identify with while not presenting a weakness
on Nov 19th, 2009 at 10:15 AM
That’s the only reason why I watch MMA, lulz.
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 8:53 AM
on Nov 20th, 2009 at 12:00 PM
I don’t agree with jayoriginal. None of those violent acts – used with deadly weapons, no less – are erotic at all, but muscular shirtless barefoot dudes wrestling together in multiple poses, some of which are seen regularly in gay porn? How can you not see the homoeroticism there?
Oh well; maybe it’s just me.
on Nov 22nd, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Lusting after straight guys doesn’t sound pathetic or desperate at all….
on Dec 20th, 2009 at 8:11 AM
This is just another sad homoeroticizing of a sport people either don’t understand or are afraid of. As a former Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor, I heard this nonsense a lot. And that’s what it is, nonsense. I agree with the Sheridan’s conclusion, you can eroticize almost anything. But speaking from experience, if there’s one thing I find utterly offensive, it’s other gay men using my fight vids as “sports porn”. It’s repulsive, to be honest, that all some men can see is a couple of guys in board shorts instead of the chess match the sport really is. Grow up, guys, seriously.
on May 7th, 2010 at 6:23 PM
As I’ve said, it’s okay to grapple, but no erections.