Telemachus Redivivus

This past November, Zuffa, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) sued NY Attn. General, Eric Schneiderman and Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance, looking to end the state ban on live MMAs.

They are arguing that MMA is an art form, like ballet. This is a ridiculous attempt to dress up a blood sport in a tutu. With the increase of violence in so many forms across our nation the last thing we need is promote it for commercial profit. We need to voice objection to such efforts, we need a Telemachus redivivus for our day.

The account of Telemachus is recorded by Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus in Syria (393-457AD) in his Ecclesiastical History.

A certain man named Telemachus had embraced the life of a monk. He had set out from the east and had arrived in Rome. Upon arriving he felt lead to follow a crowd to the arena. There, when the abominable spectacle was being exhibited, he himself went into the arena, stepping between the two gladiators shouting three times, “In the name of Christ, forbear!”

The gladiators stopped. However, “the spectators of the slaughter were indignant, and inspired by the fury of the demon who delights in those bloody deeds, stoned the peacemaker to death.” When the Emperor, Honorius, heard of the event, and perhaps influenced by his Christian wife, he put a stop to the gladiatorial combats for good.

I am a sports fan and have, and continue, to participate. Injuries in sports are unavoidable whether it is large bodies tackling in football or in competitive cheerleading (surprisingly so). And I see nothing wrong with learning MMA to defend oneself. However, the ‘human cockfight’ that is promoted as entertainment lowers the moral bar of human dignity and worth and promotes the idea that brutal violence can be entertaining.

As it stands, MMA (and boxing), stand apart as sports where the intent is to harm and incapacitate one’s opponent. While deaths in MMA have been few (compared to boxing), the long-term consequences of traumatic brain injuries (ie: Mohammed Ali) are too often not considered or investigated.

Some may argue that the comparison of MMA and boxing to the gladiatorial games of telemachus’ day is unfair in that the gladiator contests were non-consensual. There is truth in that but does it not make matters worse since these MMA contestants do it without compulsion? Is there no other venue in life in which they could not find fulfillment and satisfaction than in such intentional violence?

The growing popularity of MMA raises a dark concern. Why does such blood sport attract? It feeds some primordial ‘demon’ within that cares not for others as long as one feels “pleasure” in the brutal spectacle. Who is not sickened in seeing (yes, I did view some MMA clips in researching this blog-but will no more) a man knocked to the canvas, either semi-conscious or unconscious, only to have his opponent lunge upon his defenseless body with a further furious assault before the referee stops the fight?

The Bible declares all people are, “made in the image and likeness of God” (Gen.1:27). That alone gives every person dignity and worth, from conception to the grave. The Apostle James writes that although humanity has marred the image of God through sin, we still bear it and it should not be abused, even by cursing one another:  “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers this should not be.” (Jam.3:9-10). If we are called to refrain from cursing one another, how much more should we refrain from physical violence towards another or encouraging it in others and supporting it by attending such an event?

I hope that New York will not cave in to Kuffa’s specious argument, the ‘blood money’ revenus and show some moral backbone by keeping the ban against MMA and even consider readdressing boxing as well.

Telemachus, where are you?

“Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called the Children of God.” Jesus Christ- (Matthew 5:9).