Mike Chiappetta • E-mail

Never Back Down, the mixed martial arts film that can probably best be summarized as The Karate Kid meets The Fast and the Furious, opens this Friday at theaters nationwide.

If you're an MMA fan, there's almost no way you wouldn't know this.

The film's release has sparked all kinds of discussion in the MMA world from diehards who look at it as blasphemy. For most of those fans, who have been around since the stone age of the sport, they believe the use of MMA in a Hollywood movie surely represents a sign that it is no longer theirs.

Don't blame them for that. There is a romantic aspect to being part of a select group who discovers something great, knows about it before the rest of the world and defends it when criticism comes its way.

Not to go Dr. Phil on you, but this phenomenon begins when we're kids making up secret clubs with our friends. We call the non-members uncool and defend it against wannabes and attackers alike. But just as we grow up and understand that letting other people into our lives is by and large a good thing, so, too, will the MMA subculture learn that most of the changes that come by way of mainstream will be positive.

Never Back Down star Sean Faris spent time training with legendary MMA fighter Bas Rutten.

There are more opportunities for the fighters, who are writing best-selling books, being cast for TV and movies, and getting bigger sponsorships. There is more product for the fans. Five years ago, you practically had to go on a scavenger hunt to find live MMA, but today, there's the UFC, WEC, IFL, Strikeforce, HDNet Fights, EliteXC and the list goes on.

The movie may not be an Oscar contender but it is a platform for getting the word out about a sport you love. Maybe not the way you would've liked it, but think back to the stone age. How would you have reacted back then to an MMA movie? Probably with a smile on your face.

Even if you hate the premise for the movie, at the end of the day, you're on the same team. Never Back Down is just the next step in an evolution that you're powerless to stop. Pretty soon, Nike and Coca-Cola will be on board and you'll be watching MMA on ESPN. It's likely just a matter of time.

Don't fight it. Unlike the main character in Never Back Down, you're bound to lose.

Reader mail

After beating Dan Henderson, will Anderson Silva actually get the PRIDE belt?
- Jeremy Itou, Japan

Yes. I specifically asked Dana White this question at UFC 82, and Silva will get a brand-spanking new PRIDE belt to add to his collection.

White did note that the production process had taken more time than they expected, and that they were still working to get Quinton "Rampage" Jackson his belt after beating Dan Henderson and unifying the 205-pound titles at UFC 75.

Where in the world is Roger Huerta?
- Ted D.

I'm sure you're not the only UFC fan having Huerta-withdrawal after the young star saw more TV time last year than Barack Obama. Huerta won five matches in '07, but after beating Clay Guida in December, decided to take a break from action.

Huerta has been in demand outside of the octagon as well, though. He just signed on for a movie role in the live-action adaptation of the popular video game, Tekken. (Strikeforce middleweight Cung Le is also reportedly part of the cast.)

Huerta, who had a difficult upbringing as a parentless child for most of his formative years, also recently began a children's charity, My Fight 4 Kids. Information can be found by clicking here.

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