Iowa Pride

I have read more and more into Senator Heckroths propositions and I do have to agree with most of what he said. Most fighters want to be treated as what they are. They are athletes. If some one is serious about pursueing a martial arts career of any level they can not rely on skill alone. They have to build up their athletic ability and improve upon themselves. We do deserve fair treatment. I sat down with my training group and over all we like the idea of a commision over seeing amateur MMA. I applaud the idea of oversight on smaller promotions who try to get by with 'meat grinder' shows. HIV and physicals are a requirment for boxing. This should be carried over into MMA. As well as stricter limitations on fighters. It is true that fighters have been known to fight a couple nights in a row. Even after suffering a concussion. Give us the opportunity to legitimize this sport. It is not human cock fighting. This is the purest form of athletic competition. Where one persons will is matched up against anothers. It is not about who is the toughest guy around rather who has the most heart and determination.

I find it slightly humerous how I have been hearing all these people describing my own bout. Yes, I got beat up pretty bad. Yes, I lost. Yes, the guy was far more experienced then me. No, the fight was not a one sided beat down. I was not just some random kid walking in off the streets trying to act like I was a UFC fighter. I went in knowing what could happen. Even during the fight we went back and forth. I rememeber every time the fight seemed like it could be called I would push forward and fight harder until the very end. Once again, I am not trying to glorify what I did but just to give some insight.

I whole heatedly dissagree with the possibility of changing the fighting age from eighteen to twenty-one. If a person can be veiwed as legally being an adult they can make that decision for themselves. Plus this goes back to the concept of possibilities of under ground fighting. These people fight because that is what they do. They will find some way around it whether it is going out of state or other means.

Thank you,
Jerod Botts