Unlocking the Cage: Exploring the Motivations of MMA Fighters

Mark Tullius is a former cage fighter and boxer turned author and stay-at-home dad. Unlocking is an in-depth sociological study of why competing in mixed martial arts (MMA) appeals to fighters. Why do these men and women subject themselves to the endless hours of grueling training required for the full-contact sport? In MMA a fighter's goal is to punch, kick, and choke an opponent into submission, and if there is blood and injury along the way, so be it. What compels these individuals to develop the necessary strength, endurance, discipline, and skill despite the risks involved?