Freak show fight

In kickboxing and mixed martial arts (MMA), "freak show fight" is an idiom for a bout featuring a deep disparity in skill, experience or weight between the fighters.

[1][2] This kind of matchup was common in the early period of mixed martial arts history, but it has become increasingly rare due to the regulation of athletic commissions and the implementation of official weight classes.

[1][2] Those bouts are usually a source of controversy among pundits, as they are perceived to elevate spectacle over true competition,[1][2][3] but they retain a measure of acceptance among wide audiences due to their entertainment value.

[4] Around the same time, in turn, Japanese company Pride Fighting Championships embraced the concept, initiating the custom of creating matchups based on the idea of "technique vs. size" or "David vs.

[2] This trend was adopted by Japanese kickboxing promotion K-1, pushing the fighting careers of highly publicized superheavyweights like Bob Sapp, Akebono and Choi Hong-Man, who also competed at Pride.