While the M6+ platform has just launched MMA Academya sort of Star Ac of combat sports, more and more French people are becoming more and more interested in this phenomenon. MMA, short for “Mixed Martial Arts” (or “Arts Martiaux Mixtes” in French) is a mixture of boxing, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and judo where almost all blows are allowed: feet, fists, ground strikes, etc. The fights take place in a cage, the octagon, and often end in a knockout.
Although this sport has only been legal in France for 4 years, it is experiencing growing success in France. The number of licensees has exploded 338% in 2023-2024 compared to the previous season, reaching more than 60,000 practitioners. The appeal goes well beyond enthusiasts: executives, health professionals, and even celebrities go there to let off steam. Our colleagues from Echos for example, recounted this new passion born from a Lyon surgeon.
If MMA fascinates, it is also very criticized. He is accused of being too violent, poorly supervised, even vulgar with noisy supporters who sometimes encourage the harshest blows. Despite this, the discipline attracts an ever wider audience and new French champions like Cyril Gane and Cédric Doumbé, recognized on the international scene, inspire many fans.
A sport that attracts personalities
Celebrities are also entering the world of MMA. The two enemy rappers Booba and Kaaris had promised to settle scores on an octagon. Same thing for Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, without it having happened. Recently, influencers and YouTubers are organizing fights. A true global success, in France, the broadcasts attract many spectators and events multiply. The next Hexagon MMA tour will pass through Paris in January, Nantes in February, Nice in March, and Bordeaux in May. With shows like MMA Academy on M6+ and The Cage by Franck Gastambide on Netflix, the most watched non-English series on the platform in recent days, the discipline has not finished attracting the curious.
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