Carbazel on 𝕏
I'm a writer and podcaster who writes a lot about combat sports, martial arts culture, and entertainment. Subscribe and join over 1,000 readers every week!
Nov 05 • 1 min read
Do you still love it?
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Sometimes, a question pops up that you keep asking yourself over and over, especially during times of change. Lately, I've been wondering how much longer I want to write about MMA and combat sports. The UFC's grip on the sport has changed the way it's covered, but it has also helped it get more coverage. Opportunity is still there, just not the way I had thought it would be when I started 10 years ago. This week, MMA On Point asked a really good question on Twitter/X... Do you love MMA as much as you used to?
I couldn't help but chime in. My answer was: I love martial arts. I still love the fighters, fighting for greatness in something that can be very cruel to every competitor. I love the way they chase their dreams and focus on goals that may seem silly to people outside of martial arts. Every fighter I speak to inspires me to do something great after I talk to them. Because their energy is infectious, I usually want to work out more or write more after interviews. I don't think I can say I will never not love it. But it's been hard to love MMA in recent years. And that's the truth. It's why I started writing here and building this list. It's why I made the Fight Night Card Companion (PDF version here), to find a new way to help fans of the sport and martial arts engage and learn about what they're watching. They asked the question because of the gambling and fixed-fighting allegations that came up from last weekend's UFC APEX card. Stuff like that has ruined many sports, but the sports are still around. Even when I try to write about other things, like the book I just self-published in October, Martial Arts still calls me back to it. I still train, although not as often as I used to, but it still beckons to me. Nothing I do keeps me from coming back to martial arts and the sport of MMA. So I keep writing about it. Here, on Spectation Sports, MyMMANews, and my own Substack. If martial arts has taught me anything, it's that persistence always pays off. So, I'll keep writing as long as you guys keep reading. ➡Follow me on 𝕏: @Carbazel 📘 My books: Bow and Arrow Mysteries (my fiction writing) 📩 Mixed Martial Answers on Substack 📃 Fight Night Card Companion: on Gumroad 🎥 My YouTube channel: The Blogboard Jungle 📸 IG: @Carbeerzel |
I'm a writer and podcaster who writes a lot about combat sports, martial arts culture, and entertainment. Subscribe and join over 1,000 readers every week!