Budding Olympic sport gets cage stage to fight its corner

Date Posted: Tuesday 27th November 2007

Doncaster has been given front row seats to a sport that has recently been at the centre of a hard-hitting Olympic debate.
Doncaster's sport public will be given the chance to witness cage fighting in all its glory when The Dome plays host to Festive Fury on December 16th.

Backers of mixed martial arts, as it is otherwise known, have been campaigning in the UK for the controversial sport to be given Olympic status.

The martial arts that make up cage fighting, including boxing, wrestling, judo and tae kwon do, already enjoy Olympic status as individual disciplines, a statistic that lends itself to the argument for cage fighting becoming the 'decathlon of combat sports'.
Cage fighting is a burgeoning sport, growing rapidly in popularity, and in recent years has threatened boxing's status as the ultimate combat sport.

Promoters, fighters and supporters argue that cage fighting is in fact safer than boxing, is well regulated to minimise the threat of serious injury and is governed by an unwritten code of gladiatorial conduct that fighters adhere to.

Not only that, but with six million people in the country practising mixed martial arts (MMA) it is touted as a sport where England could potentially dominate.

Steven Parker, The Dome's Head of Commercial Activity, said: "We host a number of cage fighting events every year at The Dome and it is extremely popular.

"The events have a big following and I'm sure that many of the fans will have views on whether or not it should be considered as an Olympic sport."

Festive Fury takes place at The Dome on Sunday 16th December. Festivities kick off at 4pm for Gold ticket holders (£80) with a traditional Christmas dinner and 5pm for Silver ticket holders (£50).
For more information call The Dome on 01302 370777.