{"product_id":"mixed-martial-arts-and-the-quest-for-legitimacy-the-sport-vs-spectacle-divide-9781476671291","title":"Mixed Martial Arts and the Quest for Legitimacy: The Sport vs. Spectacle Divide","description":"\u003cp\u003e • Author(s): Mark S. Williams\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher: McFarland \u0026amp; Company\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher Imprint: McFarland \u0026amp; Company\u003cbr\u003e • BISAC: Martial Arts \u0026amp; Self-Defense\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Mixed martial arts or MMA is widely regarded as the fastest growing sport. Events fill stadiums around the world and draw vast television audiences, earning strong revenue through pay-per-view at a time when other sports have abandoned it. In 2016, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was bought by the massive talent agency WME-IMG for $4 billion. Despite this success, much of the public remains uneasy with the sport, which critics have denounced as \"human cockfighting.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Through an exploration of violence, class, gender, race and nationalism, the author finds that MMA is both an expression of the positive values of martial arts and a spectacle defined by narcissism, hate and patriarchy. The long-term success of MMA will depend on the ability of promoters and athletes to resist indulging in spectacle at the expense of sport.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Atlantic Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46484488716439,"sku":"9781476671291","price":2823.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0666\/3471\/1191\/files\/9781476671291.jpg?v=1766323272","url":"https:\/\/atlanticbooks.com\/products\/mixed-martial-arts-and-the-quest-for-legitimacy-the-sport-vs-spectacle-divide-9781476671291","provider":"Atlantic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}