We previously noted that London Mayor Boris Johnson made some bizarre comments about ping pong in his speech at the party where London officially took the mantle from Beijing as Summer Olympics host city. But there was another part of the speech, about 2:20 in, when Johnson said something of interest to those of us who would like to see mixed martial arts in the Olympics:
"I mourn the passing of some of the sports," Johnson said of the way the Olympics have changed. "For instance the Pankration."
Pankration was a sport in the Ancient Olympics that combined both boxing and wrestling, and it's a sort of forerunner to MMA. Since Johnson mourns its passing, I would suggest that he should propose to the International Olympic Committee that it make MMA an Olympic sport.
Previously on FanHouse:
Dana White on MMA in the Olympics: 'I Hope I'm Alive to See It'
"I mourn the passing of some of the sports," Johnson said of the way the Olympics have changed. "For instance the Pankration."
Pankration was a sport in the Ancient Olympics that combined both boxing and wrestling, and it's a sort of forerunner to MMA. Since Johnson mourns its passing, I would suggest that he should propose to the International Olympic Committee that it make MMA an Olympic sport.
Previously on FanHouse:
Dana White on MMA in the Olympics: 'I Hope I'm Alive to See It'
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