By Ramon Johnson
Two guys locked in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu floor work—one on top, one on bottom—each in an attempt to submit the other with impenetrable holds sounds homoerotic; but are the gladiator contests of ultimate fighting "sporno" or just rough homosocial play?
An ultimate fighter has yet to come out publicly since The New York Times, About.com's parent company, featured gay rough-house Shad Smith in the magazine last year. The sport, however, has attracted an avid base of gay and bi fighters and fans.
As a person who trains with other boxers, I'd argue that there are more gay/bi boxing and MMA enthusiasts than the notoriously homophobic boxing leagues will admit. Yet, other leagues, such the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), aren't so quick to tap out openly gay fighters.
"Any guy involved in grappling is the furthest thing from homophobic in the world," UFC President Dana White said, as reported by The Daily Beast. "I honestly think it would have no impact whatsoever with not only our fighters or our fan base."
White's gay embrace comes after a previous blast for spitting anti-gay slurs at his critics.
Could this be a new day for ultimate? Will underground gay boxing clubs start sparring out in the open? Given the historically homoerotic-yet-homophobic nature of hyper-masculine sports like boxing, it may be some time. But, with Dana White's crack in the door, ultimate could soon be the most open sport yet.
Image: Anderson Silva (R) fights Patrick Cote in the UFC Middleweight Title Bout. © Tasos Katopodis/Getty
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