Humanity has always been fascinated by violence and survival. From ancient battlefields to today’s movies, TV series and documentaries, we’re drawn to stories of struggle. Tales of winners and losers, life and death. If we rewind a few thousand years, we find the origins of these narratives: the Gladiators.
In ancient Rome, gladiators who managed to survive became stars - men who fought for their lives in front of roaring crowds, often against one another or wild animals. Their stage was the Colosseum; their reward, the chance to live another day. Many were condemned criminals, prisoners of war or slaves. Surprisingly, some were free men who voluntarily joined in search of glory. Sound familiar? It should. Today, the world’s largest MMA organization, the UFC, carries on their legacy. The difference is that modern gladiators aren’t fighting for freedom from slavery - they’re fighting for freedom from mortgages and a ticket to luxury cars, glamorous women, and financial independence.
Today’s gladiators, MMA fighters, train in cutting-edge facilities and compete in the octagon in front of millions of fans worldwide. They no longer fight to the death - although, in a way, they are still fighting for their lives. The goal remains the same: climb the rankings, win titles, and secure the mythical “money fights” that can change their lives forever.
And everyone wants a shot. From impoverished Russian farmers who grew up wrestling to wealthy, privileged YouTubers, all are welcome if they possess the talent, technique, endurance, and the willingness to take punches to build a career.
But it’s no easy path. Only a small elite reach the top and manage to stay in the spotlight. The rest work just as hard yet often survive on limited resources, living not unlike ancient war slaves. For the majority of fighters, life isn’t about luxury - it’s about scraping by. Grueling training, matches, and recovery dominate their routines, with injuries as the high price for their ambition.
During gladiatorial games, a defeated combatant could plead for mercy by lying on their back and raising their left arm. The crowd decided their fate with a thumbs up or down. Today, showing such “weakness” in the UFC is unthinkable. Try that, and you’ll face more than boos - you’ll likely never step into the octagon again.
Still, the bloodlust of the audience remains. While today’s rules are more civilized, the hunger for drama, pain, and spectacle persists. And as long as we crave it, there will always be someone willing to step into the octagon, endure the blows, and hope for their chance at freedom.
Parallels abound. Ancient Rome had Dimachaerius, the gladiator who fought with two swords, and Andabatus, who fought blindfolded. Today, we have weight classes like Featherweight and Heavyweight. Instead of swords, fighters wield fists, leg kicks and wrestling. Yet the essence remains the same: the roar of the crowd and the sight of blood that makes us turn away - only to look back again.
The most famous gladiator of antiquity, Spartacus, led an army of 70,000 men in a fight for freedom and justice. His name became a symbol of rebellion against oppression, a reminder that even the most desperate can challenge power. Today, we have Jon Jones - the undisputed king of MMA. With a string of championship titles, controversies, and an Instagram following of nine million, he is a modern-day legend shaped by a different era.
Yet the core remains the same: the fight to be the best, to leave a mark the world will never forget. For Spartacus, it was freedom from slavery; for today’s MMA stars, it’s the freedom to secure their next mansion, their third Lamborghini, or maybe their fifth Rolex.
The path to the top, however, is harder than ever. The competition is fierce, with thousands fighting to break through, often training in small gyms in poor neighborhoods worldwide. Only a fraction make it to the biggest events and the fattest contracts. The demands are relentless, requiring not just physical strength and technical skill but mental resilience - and a bit of luck.
Yet they persist, just as gladiators did in the Colosseum. The dream of reaching the top, of carving one’s name into the annals of sport, is as alive now as it was then.
On December 7, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will transform into our modern Colosseum for UFC 310. The arena will be packed with Hollywood stars, musicians, and probably Donald Trump - because no event is complete without him and Elon Musk these days.
The gladiators now go by names such as Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura, Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry, and Ciryl Gane vs. Aleksandr Volkov. At the center of it all sits our modern emperor, UFC president Dana White. The man who bought the organization for $2 million, sold it for $4 billion, and still managed to keep the crown.
History repeats itself, but with a new filter. The gladiators are back, now with brand deals and sponsors. We’re as bloodthirsty as ever, but we’ve traded the Colosseum for HD streaming. Perhaps we’ve changed - but maybe not as much as we like to think.
The times may change, but our instincts do not. Gladiators are back - and we love it.
And Dana White, our modern emperor? He’s giving a thumbs-up, all the way to the bank.
