By Samantha Roberts aka MMA Brat

“Fighting for Acceptance: Mixed Martial Arts and Violence in American Society”

Over the last 15 years no sport topic has captivated the world’s attention as much as MMA, and whether or not it’s a “suitable” sport. The main problem has been that there has only been opinions from the ill-informed or from people who tend to sway one way or the other. Dr. David Mayeda and David Ching have finally put together a reference book for everyone, no matter what their background, to use as an unbiased source.

They do a very good job at letting the reader see the industry through the eyes of a Mixed Martial Artist, with over forty personal interviews with fighters such as Dan Henderson, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Randy Couture, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, Chris Leben, and many more.

While talking to Mayeda there seemed to be an agreement on several points, including the need for regulations. “I would like to see a national commission take control of certain things, such as enforcing certain rules (no head stomps or soccer kicks).”

He went on to say, “I don’t mind slight rule variations between organizations, like whether or not elbows are allowed, but I don’t think head stomps or soccer kicks should be allowed anywhere and there needs to be a National Commission that enforces that rule.”

Many fighters talked about how they was introduced to MMA Dan “ Hollywood” Henderson is world class Greco Roman and Collegiate wrester. Quinton Jackson also had a very extensive wrestling background, but also fought on the streets, as well.

The author’s understanding that there was a real need for a “holy grail,” so to speak, to explain the transformation MMA has gone through from the early “No Holds Barred" days, to what it has transformed into, and the future things to come, was what fueled this book.

This book is a must read and I would suggest that for anyone who missed out on the evolution of modern MMA as I had, this book will be the best learning tool you have bought to date.