The upcoming EliteXC MMA event this Saturday will be the first time that Mixed Martial Arts will be broadcast on a major television network.  Maybe MMA has finally shaken itself of its old image and is now a main stream sport, rather than its life before the modern UFC when it was seen as a cult sport.

This sport has come a long way from its days of allowing eye-gouging and shots to the business.

Since the sport was first introduced, it was shunned by all major media people, and it was attempted to be shut down by a current presidential candidate.  But now with the regulation of the events, how the fighters represent themselves and the sport, and grass roots shows like Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter how could this sport not be considered with the stick and ball sports of Football, Baseball, Hockey and Basketball.

Even respected sports networks like Sportsnet in Canada and a certain four letter word, lets call them PSEN, have had spots on television dedicated to this sport.  Sportsnet even employs thier own MMA talking head.  Not to mention most sports websites now have entire pages dedicated to the covering of not only the large events like the UFC, but also others like WEC, MFC and EliteXC.

Now  politicians are trying to influence these young viewers of these events, as evidenced by the commercial during TUF last night where various UFC stars are encouraging people to vote.  People who once poo pooed the sport, are now trying to take advantage of its popularity.

But even with the popularity of MMA, people still see it as they did when Royce Gracie was breaking people's arm.  They refuse to take a look at this sport now and see how far it has come.  But, then you can't influence how people perceive thier sport when thier mind is already made up.

With the first MMA event being put on "free" TV, Maybe MMA has finally arrived.