It’s almost as though the art of verbal communication is disregarded. You know, sit down, talk things through, be honest about your feelings. See a counsellor or something.
That would be the modus operandi for people who had real problems with each other. But when it comes to boxing, wrestling, martial arts and other contact sports, it’s nothing personal. Even if the bloody nose, Puffer fish-like eyes and half-bitten earlobes tell a different story.
Ten points if you’ve guessed that a woman is penning this article. Moving along. In line with FX’s Friday Fight Night idea, mixed martial arts will be the order of the day from September 23.
The two-hour-long episodes of mixed martial arts mayhem come to you via the FX channel, courtesy of Extreme Fighting Championship Africa of EFC Africa for short. Over the years, EFC Africa has been providing audiences with bouts between proudly African athletes.
Let’s face it, everyone enjoys the theatrics of the WWE thespians but there’s has to be more to entertainment than putting someone in a chokehold for Smackdown. Complete with tribal tattoos – oooh, fancy – and a uniform of shorts (sorry, there will be no Big Show-esque mankinis or unitards), EFC Africa presents a different kind of ass-kicking showdown.
First, the names are recognisable (there’s a Terreblanche in there) and they aren’t laughably ambiguous or creepy, like The Undertaker.
Second, it’s mixed martial arts so there are a million and one ways to skin these cats. There will probably be the same amount of heaving and grimacing as other sports programmes but at least there won’t be as much mascara.
These are clean fights that make it obvious that this is all business and maybe only slightly personal. Who knows, these athletes may even grab a bite to eat and visit their therapists together afterwards.
lEFC AFRICA starts on FX (Top TV Channel 110) on September 23 at 8.30pm.