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Main Event: Jim "J. R." Ross

Posted: Sep 14th 2009 By: CMBurnham

I have been a mixed martial arts fan since it first appeared on pay-per-view television several years ago. As a sports fan, the intense, physical competition in such a unique environment intrigued me from day one. My passion for this unique sport has only increased as MMA has grown to become a global phenomenon.

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Through my association with World Wrestling Entertainment, I have had the opportunity to work closely with such MMA stars as Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn and Brock Lesnar. All three at one time performed in WWE and all three have found fame and success inside the octagon.

Lesnar, one of the biggest stars in MMA, was recruited by my department in WWE after winning a NCAA championship for the University of Minnesota wrestling team. Lesnar came to WWE and became a star before leaving to eventually become the heavyweight champion in the UFC.

As a native Oklahoman, I have enjoyed following MMA stars Randy Couture and Don Frye who were both outstanding collegiate wrestlers at Oklahoma State.

One can only day dream about how successful former Oklahoma Sooner wrestlers Danny Hodge and Steve "Dr. Death" Williams would have been if MMA had been around when they graduated from college.

MMA, in its current form, has rapidly become one of the most popular sports in the world, and the skill, toughness and intensity of the athletes keeps me coming back for more.