Hey guys,

Recently, I was chatting to a very cute girl in a particularly boring lecture. Things were going well until she found out I do mma (fighting in a ring or cage), and that I do it a lot. She had an idea of what it was and I could tell on her face she was at least fazed if not perturbed.

Yes, I understand there are many negative connotations behind mma. For one, the fans happen to be largely uneducated, young testosterone fuelled males (as a generalization). It looks overtly violent. And even though the cage is a safety precaution, it looks animalistic. Therefore, the fighters and participants must all be barbarians.

Then again, I am a post-graduate college student, and who listens to Baltic gypsy rock and likes to hide in libraries, but most people tend to learn that you ‘fight’ and have preconceptions about you.

My question is to girls, does it bother you? Is it enough of a subconscious turn-off to make you question a guy’s suitability?

I would actually find that very hot and like watching that sort of thing. My boyfriend was a wrestler in high school and did some sort of fighting on the weekend and I loved going to watch him. She may not have been turned off but she may not have been impressed which is why she acted that way

I don't think it would bother me, maybe worry me though. I don't enjoy watching "fights", not a big fan of that sort of thing, but I don't begrudge anyone else to watch or participate in this sport.

If someone judges you solely on what your sport is, well then, she's not worth it in the end. Walk away, you'll find someone more compatible. :)

Good luck.

Well I am not a girl but I am a huge fan of MMA and I find it beyond baffling how the press in this country constantly gets this sport wrong. I find it particularly insulting when I hear that boxing is safer then organized MMA, which is just sad because 5 minutes of research would prove that to be false. In fact I'd go so far as to say that organized MMA is safer then football. Somehow I bet the people over at ESPN would disagree and bring no facts to back it up.

The woman you are dealing with has heard the hype but never actually questioned it or seen a fight. In a very playful way, If she was that turned off by it I'd ask her if she believes everything she reads in the paper or sees on TV. She's probably answer back that there are no rules, which you could then correct her and go right back to the question if she believes everything she reads or sees on television and she'd probably come up with something else. Then, and again playfully, say "I guess I shouldn't waste my time with somebody who only believes what people tell her but doesn't find out for herself." You not only being honest but your putting her lack on knowledge back on her.