Video: The Backyard Is Still Very, Very Real
Posted by Eric Shapiro on Apr 1, 2009 at 12:07 am ET15 Comments
These days, you’re more likely to find Kimbo Slice marketing his own line of arcade machines than settling scores with his bare knuckles. But that doesn’t mean that the backyard Miami brawls which made him famous (or infamous) are any less alive and well. The below video from All Elbows appears to be the first preview for a documentary about “backyard MMA”, which also highlights a Kimbo protege/doppleganger by the name of Dhafir Harris, better known as “DADA.”
At first viewing, I immediately thought “epic awesome” but now I’m wondering if it isn’t more awesomely-bad, or just plain bad. Either way, it would appear that the Crockett and Tubbs Miami I had always envisioned isn’t very accurate after all.
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I definitely have mixed feelings about this. If these people in this neighborhood are really putting down their guns and settling their disputes with their fists instead of bullets because of this, that is a good thing. To tie that to the current sport of MMA, I’m not so sure about. It would be better if there was a more legitimate and safe way for these people to go about making $300 for a fight that they could take part in. Either that, or the people involved in running the fights take just a few steps to make things safer.
That said, I think with both parties being consenting adults, no one should be able to stop the events.
The thing is (such as u and I have discussed) that if these people are attempting to “go pro” from these “backyard brawls” thats going to be rather difficult to do, the safety of the fighters is another concern for me… Never the less such as you stated that if fists come before guns that is always a good thing, I also am concerned about the people putting on these specticals attempting to tie themselves to true MMA… Yes the participants are doing this for the money (due to whatever reason) and are attempting to be “professional” in their actions, this imo isn’t exactly the same as Kimbo v The Bouncer and things of that nature, but this is not far removed from it either…. Hell I have fought “on the street” and shhhit “bar fights” and such, but to put forth a poster to invite people to come to your backyard and pay to see fights is on an entirely different level, It will be interesting to see what you guys think of this, perhaps I’ just over analyzing it, I don’t know…
This is not good. All this will do is promote more backyard brawls and give people a reason to bash MMA. I didn’t see any doctors there, but what I did see was a bunch of kids. I think the whole, “Lets stop shooting and settle this the old fashioned way” is a crutch to give meaning to what they are doing. Lets face the facts, it is illegal, the same as dog-fighting and cock-fighting.
I agree with what was said. I personally don’t believe that this is a different form of solving problems with “GUNS” witch is what they are saying this is preventing. I think that if guys that are in these fights get beat it would only intensify the urge to want to “Get even” or to prove more to there peps, furthermore creating more Gun or weapon violence. This is obviously nothing close to a sanctioned MMa bout and I hope this won’t encourage people to believe REAL MMa is a barbaric backyard brawl. If these clowns want to make money fighting they need to go to a gym and start training for real, I mean what is 300 bucks for getting your face smashed in bare knuckle style.
not a good way of solving differences , but neither is UFC – it needs no justification other than the ufc’s point – IT’s SPORT between those who choose to fight
Its a nice thought of putting guns down and fight instead. Problem is these guys aren’t rival gang memebers. They are just random guys fighting each other, so they aren’t really saving anything. I do believe sports are the best way to get kids out of the streets but this isn’t the way. They need training, structure, and be taught discipline, that’s what Martial arts does. There is no structure here, they are just swinging for the fences. I do fear for the fighters safety, no doctors ring side, no one making sure that these guys are medically cleared to fight, especially since its bare knuckles. This isn’t the right way to do this. I hope these guys get shut down, its bad because people will think this is what MMA is about.
What a disgrace To MMA. This is just morons wanting to impress their buddys and look cool on the internet. They will never get anywhere. No promoter will ever seriously look at this and say “I want that kid figting for me”. Thanks Kimbo, you just lowered the standard. AGAIN.
This **** needs to stay underground. Stupid barbaric circuses like this are what’s keeping the UFC and other promotions out of NY and many other states where money can be made. It’s just holding people back. It’s crazy and stuff but it’s not what the professional sport needs to move forward, it only moves it backwards!!!
yes this might reflect unfavorably on the ufc rep – but not in an untrue way.
How is it worse other than the level being less pro?
– ufc, affliction, etc – they are bloody wars to.
in all scenarios – the fighter are sportsmanlike afterward in the majority of cases
Welcome to Vale Tudo in America. Your knocking what started MMA from the very start. I realize these are people mimicking that original dream, but in reality they are carrying the same passion just with the wrong intentions. Vale Tudo was about gym to gym, family to family wars and respect whereas this could be considered centered solely on entertainment and promotion. So I guess my synopsis is that its bastardized Vale Tudo. And please forget the criticisms really because idiots have been doing this for years. Fight clubs, backyard wrestling with broken glass and spiked bats, hell even the home of honor in Japan celebrates “Death Matches” in Pro wrestling, no different than this at all.
These are dudes that like to fight, want to fight so let them fight.
The whole idea of fighting is floatin away from its natural object, I mean mma is a sport… yes it is, and this is a sport because they compete and win or lose. Some people like to fight so they compete as sportsmen/women but some people like to fight because theye are dogs to the bones. Dogs fight like dogs!
I love this.
it’s hard to have a really solid argument against it,
given the lower ranked ufc guys earn very little given that they are peak age for a decade and sacrifice getting other jobs, and life skills for chasing the ufc dream.
and there’ a little bit more money that isn’t going to dana, fertita’s and networks.
free country.
i worry for fighters in or out of the ufc equally
It will no longer seem like harmless sport or fun when someone dies, becomes comatose or becomes brain-damaged from swelling of the brain, loses an eyeball, sustains a spinal injury, or the spectators shoot each other as unsupervised gamblers sometimes do. And in a society where all sporting events, even kiddie soccer, require liability waivers, the un-insured tenant or owner of the backyard will lose what he has (probably little) or the town will be sued because the police did not stop it but knew about it. The solution? Rules…that’s why sports like boxing, judo, wrestling evolved. MMA is sort of a step backwards, but the referees running it are quick to stop the action. I hope in the gyms the coaches are, too.
Let me guess…there is no ringside doctor present at these fights? A brain swelling concussion sometimes needs to be relieved within minutes before permanent brain damage or death. I wonder if the thugs in the yard will call 911– or wait before doing so in order to leave so as to not draw attention to themselves by the police etc. Sad.
someone will defanitly get hurt! they need gloves (thin), a ref that isn’t waiting for someone to get hurt, and a doctor!