Comments on: Mixed Martial Arts: A New Kind Of Fight

MMA Is Becoming One Of The Fastest Growing Sports In America

[rgabriel01]

Ok, I'll be the only critical voice. I can't see how this would be more of a marketing puff piece if UFC produced it themselves. 29 out of 50 states still ban this 'sport'. Your report had ZERO on-camera soundbites or quotes from anyone with an opposing view. None. Your statement that this is safer and less injurious than boxing was not attributed to any medical doctor or reputable medical organization. Where did you get that information? From Dana White? He claims it all the time - does the AMA? You say the rules make it less bloody. Have you SEEN the last 3 UFCs. the mat was a red lake.

Most offensive was that you slyly mention that the UFC is regularly seen on a cable network. It is not JUST a cable network, it is Spike TV, a network owned vy VIACOM just like CBS NEWS! Spike TV's success is owed to UFC. I doubt CBS is going to be critical.

This is just like when 60 Minutes features and promotes EVERY anti-Bush book that fellow VIACOM company, Simon and Schuster, publishes.

It is a shame that 60 Minutes has lost so much credibility. In my mind, it is nothing more than a poltical and economic shill

[rgabriel01]

Ok, I'll be the only critical voice. I can't see how this would be more of a marketing puff piece if UFC produced it themselves. 29 out of 50 states still ban this 'sport'. Your report had ZERO on-camera soundbites or quotes from anyone with an opposing view. None. Your statement that this is safer and less injurious than boxing was not attributed to any medical doctor or reputable medical organization. Where did you get that information? From Dana White? He claims it all the time - does the AMA? You say the rules make it less bloody. Have you SEEN the last 3 UFCs. the mat was a red lake.

Most offensive was that you slyly mention that the UFC is regularly seen on a cable network. It is not JUST a cable network, it is Spike TV, a network owned vy VIACOM just like CBS NEWS! Spike TV's success is owed to UFC. I doubt CBS is going to be critical.

This is just like when 60 Minutes features and promotes EVERY anti-Bush book that fellow VIACOM company, Simon and Schuster, publishes.

It is a shame that 60 Minutes has lost so much credibility. In my mind, it is nothing more than a poltical and economic shill

[eurosportfan]

Again, the rules were in place BEFORE Dana White and company were involved in the UFC. Can anyone be bothered to check simple facts before running a piece on this show?

The failure to address this casts doubt on other stories featured on "60 Minutes."

Also, as stated earlier, Tim Sylvia is the UFC heavyweight champion and he was on the show. Why not bring up his involvement with steroids? If you guys had Barry Bonds on a baseball segment, you'd have mentioned illegal drugs as many times as you could, and Bonds has NEVER tested positive for an illegal drug.

Here, on this show, you have a guy who is a KNOWN steroid violator and you do and say nothing.

Fluff piece.

[kaplinga]

Great job on the story about MMA! Since the UFC has become more popular here in the states there are several local fight clubs that have sprouted up. These clubs allow people that will never enter an octogon train like a real fighter and at the same time get a good workout and meet other people with a passion for the fight game. In your piece you actually trained with Renzo...so I'm sure you realize how grueling and rewarding the training can be. Maybe a follow up story on the many "would be" fighters would be a good story too.

[squiz2]

My husband and I just went to see the MMA here in St. Louis this past weekend. Until now, I always thought that it was just a bunch of testosterone junkies wailing the *** out of each other. It's really great to see the dedication and skills that these guys have, and I'm glad that articles like this can help people (like me!) see that it's more than guys getting the snot beat out of them!

[f3pres]

"Wow" Im really impressed by your unbiased piece on mma.So many times journalist go in for the easy kill not taking a momment to understand the disipline conditioning and heart in a mma athlete.
I found your presentation honest w/ no hint of an objective which is rare the words mixed martial arts are mentioned.
I also feel that doing articles like this may also help bring in a younger viewing market as I know at least 20 people who tuned in to watch the piece.
I look forward to hearing more on this subject hopefully from you you guys.thanks again

[eurosportfan]

Tim Sylvia, who was shown on that piece, has been busted for using illegal steroids on at least one (actually, I believe it was two) occasion.

The owners of the UFC should have been scrutinized (in my opinion). They got a free pass.

The UFC had rules and sanctioning BEFORE the current owners bought the company.

These and other of the several inaccuricies could have been cleared up with a modicum of research.

[in2pain]

I'd like to thank your show for being above the influence of the "Good Ol' Boy" sports media. Too many times is MMA treated like a *** child of sports. The buyrate beats boxing on a regular basis and still its never given the respect it deserves. As a veteran having MMA taught as last resort weapon, I would have never thought a combat fighting skill would be the choice of sports viewers today. Its a shame the mainstream sports media can't look past itself.

[rlnakp]

Thank you CBS for a fair interview. I am a mom of 2 boys, and when I first heard of MMA, I was very much against it. However, after doing research on the new rules, and watching the last couple Matt Hughes fights, AND seeing what a positive influence he is on young men, my mind has been changed on MMA. MMA is now much safer than boxing or football. I have 3 young adults involved in karate and competitive sparring (2 sons and a daughter.) Matt Hughes is a positive influence and an excellent sportsman and I applaud him.

[rlnakp]

Thank you CBS for a fair interview. I am a mom of 2 boys, and when I first heard of MMA, I was very much against it. However, after doing research on the new rules, and watching the last couple Matt Hughes fights, AND seeing what a positive influence he is on young men, my mind has been changed on MMA. MMA is now much safer than boxing or football. I have 3 young adults involved in karate and competitive sparring (2 sons and a daughter.) Matt Hughes is a positive influence and an excellent sportsman and I applaud him.

[windycity919]

I have been a fan of MMA for well over 10 years and I just wanted to say thanks for the objective view of MMA. Too often in mainstream media MMA is portrayed as a barbaric event rather than a skilled sport that it is. Mr Pelley did a great job with this report. I appreciate him going in with an open mind and although it was great to see him roll, he could use some work on his ground game!!! Just kidding. Great job and thanks for showing our sport as it truly is.

[ottawa_cowbo]

Thanks for the fair and informative piece on MMA.
I started watching the sport because of The Ultimate Fighter and have been a fan ever since.
Like Pat Miletich said, it's like checkers to chess compaired to boxing. The multiple choices and ways a match can be fought make it interesting. Usually fans are more upset about stopages being to early than too late. The refs and the major Organizations really do try and protect the fighters. It's a great SPORT.

[lexcoupe92]

I've been a fan of MMA since 1993 and the first UFC event and I have to say this show brought tears to my eyes. So many times have I seen shows bring UFC president Dana White on and bash MMA and the UFC without letting him defend the company and the sport. This show truly sheds a much deserved positive light on the sport. It was great to see correspondent Scott Pelley rolling with Miletich and Gracie. Hopefully, people will now see the sport for what it is and not jump to the conclusion that these guys just fell off of a barstool and into MMA.

[lockc232]

I just wanted to send a big thank you for the report you did on MMA. As a big MMA fan, I felt it refreshing to see something that was objective and educated on what MMA is truly all about. Most stories these days are negative or have some bias to it. Your report was put together beautifully (full of videos ranging all the different organizations, interviews with MMA legends, and great explanations on the history, growth, and rules of the sport).

I just want to thank you all for putting together something that (from what I have seen) has made MANY MMA fans very happy. Great work

[mikenjae]

Wow...thank-you to 60 Minutes for putting on an objective feature about MMA. This is fascinating sport that is constantly evolving and deserves to be covered with the respect that it got on this segment. And kudos to Miletich and Renzo for representing the sport well in their interviews.

[maroons2105]

It was very surprising to see the mainstream news media cover the booming sport of MMA, let alone in a way that helped raise awareness of what the sport is really about. Mr. Pelley did a fantastic job showing that MMA is more than just two men beating each other senseless, and that it is acutally an art form. So many people do not realize that MMA is actually safer than Boxing and the NFL and see it as a rutheless blood sprot. My hat is off to Mr. Pelley for his work on this topic.