Unlocking Word
Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in
today’s article.
1. combative
(adj.) [kuhm-bat-iv] – having or showing readiness in fighting (or arguing)
Example: He displayed a combative attitude towards his critics.
2. incorporate
(v.) [in-kawr-puh-reyt] – to include or be included as a part or member of a united whole
Example: The manager incorporated all the ideas of the members in the project.
3. pay-per-view
(n.) [pey-pur-vyoo] – a system requiring a subscriber to pay for each program viewed
Example: The live broadcast of the
championship games can only be seen on pay-per-view.
4. revenue
(n.) [rev-uhn-yoo] – a collective income produced by a particular source
Example: The new sales strategy is likely to
increase the company’s revenue.
5. turn
the tide (idiom) [turn] [thuh] [tahyd] – to completely reverse the course of events
Example: The sudden economic boom has turned the tides for the almost bankrupt
companies.
Article
Read the text below.
Asian fighters of mixed martial arts (MMA) are
now ready to showcase their power along with the best fighters in the world.
In a successful MMA fighting event held in Macau,
Korean fighter Bae Myung Ho won a welterweight title against New Zealander
Rod McSwain.
MMA is a combative
sport that incorporates techniques
from various forms of martial arts such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, judo,
wrestling, karate and Muay Thai kick-boxing.
In the United States, MMA competitions at the
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has been the most watched sport on pay-per-view television. The show
gained astounding revenue of $200
million in 2006.
Although MMA has also found success in Japan, the
rest of Asia has struggled in organizing MMA events mainly due to poor ticket
sales, bad press, and rumors of internal conflict. However, the success of
the recent event in Macau turns the
tides.
Ho’s victory was staged by Legend Fighting
Championship (LFC) before an audience of 1,500 people in Macau’s City of
Dreams casino complex. It was also televised in 150 million households
worldwide, reaching audiences throughout North America and even China, a
market the UFC struggles to capture.
LFC co-founder Chris Pollack says the time has
come to show Asia's best fighters to the rest of the world. After all, Asia
is the true home of martial arts. He believes the sport started in Asia as
seen in Bruce Lee’s 1970 hit "Enter the Dragon", which shows the
first filmed MMA match.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
Are
mixed martial arts competitions popular in your country?
·
What
sports do you usually watch?
Discussion
B
·
Do
you enjoy watching events where people beat each other up (e.g., boxing)?
·
What
type of sports or events do you think should not be televised? Why?
