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MMA POPULAR WITH MICHIGAN YOUTH
The sport of mixed martial arts, or MMA, has drastically risen in popularity across the country in recent years and Michigan is no exception, as many sanctioned events have been popping up all across the state.
On Dec. 11 the MMA will be coming to Grayling and bringing with it fights that will include local and area talent.
Zack Burns of Frederic, who himself is a professional fighter and will be competing in the event, is also the promoter for the upcoming show. Burns, a four-time world karate champion, is co-founder of New World Kombat where he teaches and trains karate and mixed martial arts.
“When starting out classes in karate, most kids do not come in hoping to one day be a professional fighter,” Burns commented. “Most parents of the children see benefits in getting them involved with martial arts. Some of them are the ability to defend yourself, mental dexterity and having a positive attitude. One day, when the child earns their black belt, they have accomplished one of many goals martial arts has to offer.”
Burns’ goal is also to train and turn out some of the state’s top MMA talent. “I wanted to team up with people who were not only champion-quality fighters, but had a traditional background in martial arts,” he said.
The negative perception of their sport is something that Burns and many of his fighters would like to see change. Burns hopes that more people will begin to view cage fighting as a legitimate sport and states that there is a lot more to it than two people brutally fighting each other.