ESPN Mixed Martial Arts Blog

Posted by Jake Rossen/Sherdog.com

The UFC's global business model, although surely complex, appears to be taking some of its cues from Wal-Mart and Starbucks: Plop your brand down in any far-flung corner of the world and ignore the disgruntlement of the natives. They'll get used to it.

Latest hostile takeover: Australia, possible site of a February UFC event. Already, the country's Sydney Morning Herald is delivering a litter of kittens over the idea.

Despite the sport being banned in 10 U.S. states, UFC president of the British division Marshall Zelaznik confirmed that cage fighting was coming to Australia. "It's going to happen, we're coming," he said. "Planning is in effect, we've had a number of strategy meetings and we are on the verge of retaining some key partners in Australia."

Despite a byline on the story that featured three -- three! -- writers, the communal brainpower couldn't decipher that MMA is banned in only two states: New York and West Virginia. It's simply not regulated in the other eight.

More? Of course there's more.

Health experts have condemned UFC plans to introduce the contentious sport into Australia. "It's madness. If this was the animal world, the RSPCA would come down on you like a ton of bricks," said leading neurologist professor Mark Cook of St. Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne.

"As in boxing, the nature of sport means that brain injury is inevitable and this cage fighting may be worse, with people allowed to hit somebody while on the ground."

Two lessons learned: Humanity should act based on whether or not we would allow similar behavior from animals. And leading neurologists need not bother to check mortality rates when discussing the dangers of combat sports.

A prominent criminologist questioned whether UFC should be staged in Australia. "This is the last thing we need to be importing," said professor Rob White from the University of Tasmania. "UFC may have an even bigger impact than other forms of violence because it is a blood sport where we make heroes out of people who bash each other."

I'm checking out. You can't argue with anyone who has a degree from the University of Tasmania. If the Australian media is curdling now, it's probably not going to get any better: The rumored main event for the show is Wanderlei Silva versus Yoshihiro Akiyama, which might be MMA's violence equivalent to Freddy versus Jason. Hide the children.