Minotauro and Carlão defend MMA in Brasília

Rodrigo Minotauro defended MMA in a project that calls for banning the sport on TV Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

Rodrigo Minotauro wants to keep MMA on TV broadcasts (Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC)

Bill 5534/2009, which prohibits the transmission of MMA fights by Brazilian broadcasters, was discussed last Thursday (1) in Brasília. Against approval, two strong reinforcements: the former world champion Rodrigo Minotauro, current UFC ambassador in Brazil, and retired fighter Carlão Barreto, also known for his work as a commentator on Canal Combate.

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In a hearing of the special subcommittee created to analyze the project (whose rapporteur is former judoka João Derly), the two former fighters spoke with federal deputies, defending MMA on TV for more than two hours.

PUBLICITY:

“Again, I reiterate that MMA has all the indicators and tools to make it a mass sport, which is practiced throughout the country, obviously, within a framework, within an organization, from a technical, educational perspective, so that be done in a healthy way for everyone who practices it”, commented Carlão Barreto.

The deputy responsible for the Bill, José Mentor, from PT, responded, declaring that MMA is not a sport and complaining about the brutality of the sport:

PUBLICITY:

“Now, we cannot call MMA physical, mental and sensory safety, it is not possible if the objective is aggression. According to the concept of sport, MMA is not a sport. I had contact with all martial arts confederations, and none of them, except jiu-jitsu, defend MMA. The philosophy of martial art is exactly the opposite, it is self-control, non-aggression, discipline, and MMA is the opposite, it is aggression. You have blows like successive punches, successive elbows, kicks to the face… This is not martial art.”