MMA in the Mainstream: The Jorge Gurgel Theory

By E. Spencer Kyte November 07, 2009With Strikeforce's long-awaited network television debut tonight, the mainstream media will be turning their often-occluded eye towards Mixed Martial Arts. So too will millions of viewers, some long-time fans flocking at the chance to see the great Fedor Emelianenko fight for free, others in sheer curiosity towards this sport they keep hearing about called MMA. Over the last few months, a great deal has been made about the potential push of Mixed Martial Arts into the mainstream and tonight's groundbreaking event opens the door for that discussion once more. Except this isn't going to be a discussion of how MMA will make it to the mainstream; this is about why it will never happen and it's called The Jorge Gurgel Theory. * * * * * Let's get one thing straight: Jorge Gurgel is a terrific athlete, a great fighter and an outstanding performer. Unfortunately, he's also a terrific example of why Mix...