Column: The parallels between MMA & MXGP!
Overall, Mix Martial Arts is a huge sport. A sport that also has its fans among us motocross riders, so a few weeks ago we suddenly saw Ken Roczen sitting in the audience. During a sleepless night I sometimes feel like wheezing and that is why I watched the 'Ultimate Fighting Championship' last night, you may know it under the name 'UFC'.
The final battle was between one Robbie Lawler, the champion and Carlos Condit. These two extremely professionally trained athletes went all out five times for five minutes. I immediately understood the interest of motocross riders in this sport, the parallels can easily be drawn with such a championship race for such a strange abdominal belt. For twenty-five minutes, two rivals go head-to-head against each other, ultimately trying not to lose to the man you see in the mirror every day, namely yourself. Because no matter how some blows, chatter, chokeholds and kicks may arrive, at the end you mainly see two young men and you no longer notice that they ever displayed such excellent fitness.
It mainly reminded me of the Grand Prix of Lommel, in which motocross riders from all over the world, of course more than two, take the start. First fighting and battling against their rivals. But they soon fall into a battle with themselves, their bike and the grueling course that in turn deals blows, chatter and strangleholds. Ultimately, after the finish we see boys who can barely cover the last 50 meters from the finish jump to their mecano. For the supporter, that is heroism. What they saw yesterday after twenty-five minutes and what they see after the finish in Lommel is what makes the sport beautiful. Boys, men who are trained sportsmen down to their very core, who end their match completely, completely loosely.
Text: Matthias Van Eeckhoven
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