CONTROVERSIAL boxer Mike Tyson is predicting a blood-fest when a brutal sport arrives in Manchester.
The former heavyweight champ is due to referee during Britain's first World Cage Fighting Championships at the M.E.N Arena next month.
The no-holds barred, mixed martial arts sport is a blend of boxing, kick boxing, wrestling and Kung Fu fought out in an octagon-shaped cage.
Rules are limited and the only things not allowed are eye-gouging, kicks to the groin, head butting or stamping on an opponent's head. It is a huge hit in the US.
The British Medical Association has called for more research into the sport to establish the dangers. Donald Campbell, a Harley Street consultant neurosurgeon, has called cage fighting "grotesque" and compared it to dog fighting.
Tyson, who once infamously bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear during a boxing bout, said: "I love cage fighting, we can't get enough of it over here in the States, people are going crazy for it. The UK is going to take to this with open arms.
"This is the first form of fighting from the Greeks to the Romans and it takes 100 per cent discipline to be a true warrior. You're going to see some blood, it might get gory. It's not for the weak to watch."
Alistair Overeem, one of the top cage fighters in the world, will be competing in Manchester. He said: "There is no more risk of injury with this sport than with any other sport whether that is football, rugby or boxing."
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Sounds Amazing, my two sons
have trained in many disciplines to eventually travel to the states or japen for glory.
However I now wont have to say goodbye as there heroes are comming to manchester and maybe soon tey too can be in the WCFC.
Horray Manchester
Sounds great! It'll make a change from Pantomime Wrestling & Boxers dodging the hardest fights to prolong their careers eg; Fraudley Harrison!! "Iron" Mike Tyson in a Cage where he belongs, brilliant! After so many years of creating mayhem, who else could know more about creating carnage in a Cage. It's like appointing King Herrod as Chief Paediatrician on a maternity ward!!! Love it, just love it!!!
Id like to see the mainstream press look at the sport of MMA and be more objective in its views & educate itself further on this great sport. Theres automatically an instant stereotypical assumption when the words - Cage fighting are brought up by people who do not make any effort to educate themselves. Over the years MMA has evolved considerably and I firmly believe that WCFC will showcase the sport of MMA in a postive light.
I noticed that peole are keen to mention the lack of rules in MMA - well I suggest you move forward to 2006 & not look into 1993 when UFC was brought to peoples attention & as for cage fighting being barbaric, well surely the same could be said for boxing the only difference is there has been no fatalities in MMA unlike the aforementioned.
I for one am looking forward to this event & hope to see more in the UK specifically in the M.E.N arena
KC
I think it's an excellent idea having the Sport Live in Manchester. It's a shame Mike isn't fighting himself.
hi/i`m all for it ,and i`ll be there to see it live cant wait i hope there`s lots of blood and with a bit of luck some one gets killed for my enjoyment,and i`ll my cam with me to record t he killing!!!
You people are sick - isn't there enough violence in the world, without this so called entertainment from the US? America is a very sick country and this is a nasty symptom indeed.
I have friends involved in REAL martial arts, they feel the same as me about this unnecessary spectacle. The MEN should not have agreed to stage this.