Ao many people believe that MMA is the best way to learn how to fight against a real fight? I mean it has rule's just like everything else? You sure are not going to beat the living crap out of your partners everyday or else you want have any? So with all of this in mind what makes it so GOD like to the masses?
In the 60's it was Judo.
In the 70's Karate and TKD and TSD - full contact sparring
In the 80's the Sparring kids who sparred in the late 70's were still using pads and light contact. The point games became real popular. Also the eclectic arts were popular amny of them using weapons.
In the early 90's it was BJJ and others that grappled
In the 00's we see a return to stand up and good defense against the ground or grappling games.
In the 70's there was the JKA (* Judo Karate schools of America *) in South East Michigan. These guys had Shito Ryu Karate for kicking and hard blocks and strikes. They had Judo for take downs, they also have JuJitsu for ground work on top of the Judo. They also had Muay Thai.
Yep I said it, these guys did it all in all ranges (* they covered weapons in their self defense courses - maybe not to level of a FMA or Taijitsu but they tried *) in the early to mid and even into the late 70's before no one wanted to spar with them or train as it hurt too much.
I know of some guys who came out of this group. They are hard nosed, have to knock them out types when they fight, and yet, they have control and will work with others and have stated to me, that as the senior on the matts for they they are teaching or showing it is their responisbility to make sure they other guy does not hurt themselves. They are also very injured and have the medical records to show it.
So why does MMA seem to be the best?
I do not know. I like to watch it. I train in ranges, but am not a proficient ground person, and recognize that and train to stay up. But that is me. Others like to go to the ground. Hmmm, note the people winning some stand up and others go to the ground.
I think it is a place for guys to go "Fight" and have some rules for "Safety" and to allow them to kick and punch and grapple and not be as limited as some other events.
But the media has it. The fans have it. Heck why was Big Time Wrestiling so popular? I do not know, but it was.