The professional wrestler is extrovert in character driven to perform to a wide audience. Showcasing his fitness and skills in an artificial arena against a like minded opponent. Although choreography plays an important role in order for a successful and entertaining affair with all the glitz and razzmatazz of typical televisual entertainment.

The wrestlers themselves harbor no real desire to injure any opponent and remain in peak physical conditioning and levels of fitness to keep injuries to an absolute minimum. It is a world of mutual respect for each others skills and abilities.

Many spectators consider the bouts to be completely rehearsed and purely enjoy the athleticism on display which is what makes the spectacle so entertaining. It would not be possible for matches to be completely choreographed from start to finish and this is where the wrestlers remain completely reliant on each others levels of fitness and skill.

The powerful slams and high velocity somersaults can take their toll on the human body and although every effort is made to reduce injuries, they still happen frequently. Even the most professional and top performing wrestlers sustain injuries that need medical intervention and sometimes surgery.

Professional wrestlers are actors who role play as superhuman beings or dastardly villains locked in the constant battle of good verses evil and accept injuries as consequence of the work place and only desire to entertain, not cause injury to others.

Mixed martial artists are by nature, hunter predators who enjoy the challenge of battle against others on an equal level. A test of strength, stamina and skill without restraints of padded protection. It projects them back into a primeval struggle of survival of the fittest.

The desire to demonstrate their own ability to withstand extreme levels of violence and physical punishment while dealing out the same to an opponent in order to secure a victory is the singular goal of each combatant.

The Adrenalin generated during the often titanic struggle against a foe acts as a temporary anesthetic until the euphoria of victory takes over. It remains fortunate that the vast majority of injuries suffered are superficial lumps, bumps, cuts and bruises.

Mixed martial arts battles are the modern day equivalent to the gladiatorial spectacles as witnessed in ancient Roman arenas. The only difference being that the modern day gladiators choose to compete.

The spectator desires to witness at first hand the blood and gore that these battles often demonstrate. The volume of people who participate or observe such demonstrations of violence is testament to our acceptance of bloodsports.

The professional wrestler is the fairytale ending of good triumphing over evil with everyone living happily ever after.

The mixed martial arts is more akin to the natural world documentary showing the hunt and celebrating the victory of the kill.

Which you choose to view is down to personal preferences and although I remain somewhat curious to the world of mixed martial arts I prefer the fairytale ending of happy ever after.

Learn more about this author, Peter Edwards.
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