SINCE when is kicking, elbowing, kneeing, punching and stomping an opponent classified as sport?

On Saturday night on Fuel TV I witnessed the brutality and bloodshed of the UFC - apparently, and worryingly, the world's fastest growing sport.

This was nothing but barbaric savagery that should be banned in this country.

The fact women were allowed to fight on the card was an even bigger disgrace.

The main event was between Aussie Mark Hunt and Brazilian Antonio "Bigfoot'' Silva.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT GALLERY. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT

media_camera Mark Hunt (right) lands a brutal punch to the face of Bigfoot Silva. Picture: Marc Robertson

The commentators described it as one of the greatest fights in UFC history.

It made me feel sick.

Hunt started with blond hair that finished a blood-soaked red. Both fighters became barely recognisable from the blood and facial wounds of five sadistic rounds.

BUZZ ROTHFIELD'S BLOG

It scared me that the Brisbane Entertainment Centre was sold out with so many thousands of people (including families with young children) who were prepared to pay to watch it.

And all those who lapped it up and loved every cruel moment on pay-TV.

Almost defenceless men being held down on the ground and punched senseless.

What does it say about our society?

Why do we allow our kids to watch and cheer for something we teach them not to do?

And why are the competitors allowed to do all this inside a cage when it's illegal on the streets?

People have been sent to jail for less than what happened inside a cage on Saturday night.

media_camera Mark Hunt lands and elbow on Antonio Silva.

If you really want to make yourself sick, Google "UFC worst injuries". The images are seriously disgusting and raise the question: why aren't the fighters at least made to wear headgear?

Why aren't fighters getting protection from blood diseases?

Why do the referees and doctors allow mismatches and lopsided fights to continue?

I know the UFC has statistics to prove there are no more serious injuries than in boxing, but that's not the point.

The beauty of all sport is the toughness and determination of its competitors. The pain they put themselves through to become the best.

The injury risks they face in rugby league and all the footy codes. At least their sport involves a large degree of skill - and it's not just a contest to ­violently bash another person into submission.

media_camera Julie Kedzie of the USA and Bethe Correia of Brazil fight during the UFC event in Brisbane.

HYBRID TALKS

NRL chief Dave Smith refuses to rule out the Kangaroos' ­involvement in a hybrid game against the Wallabies.

Promoters are believed to have offered Smith $7.5 million earlier this year to play against the Wallabies.

He met with his ARU counterpart, Bill Pulver, and there was talk about Anzac Day this year at ANZ Stadium.

With Smith unwilling to commit, the promoters approached the English rugby league and got an agreement in principal.

Smith told me over the weekend it was something he may consider down the track.

"I've had a few people come and talk to me about hybrid games," Smith said.

"It's been a question of priorities for me. We've had so much to do this year with pathways, membership programs and all the integrity issues.

"Who knows, in the future it might be something interesting. I'm happy to talk to anybody who's got a good idea. It just wasn't a priority this year."

Under the hybrid game rules, it's a 13-a-side contest. The attacking team plays the ball in its own half and has a maul in the opposition half.

HIGHLIGHT:

Mitchell Johnson's sensational 7-40 spell that destroyed the Poms in Adelaide. On current form he can stand proudly alongside Lillee, Thommo and Glenn McGrath.

LOWLIGHT:

The World Cup draw leaves the Socceroos in an impossible position to advance to the quarter-finals. The equivalent would be the USA making the rugby league World Cup semis.

HERO HARRY:

I received this lovely email yesterday from Wanderers fan Richard Lasek.

"Being a Western Sydney Wanderers fan I need to congratulate Harry Kewell on the way he conducted himself yesterday," he wrote.

"When he would go to warm up he would high five the kids on the fence and take a photo with them.

"It was after the game he showed what a real ambassador for the code he is.

"For a good 45 minutes and well after both teams were in the dressing room he was still going around the ground shaking hands taking photos with Wanderers fans.

"One lucky child was given his jersey. Harry can cop a lot of flak but what he did was a true testament to the man.

"If this was done at a home game, fair enough, but to do it at an away game was amazing.

"I hope you will find space to give Harry a plug in your paper."

ZERO TOLERANCE

At last the NRl has taken the appropriate action to get off-field ratbags out of the game. A no-tolerance stance on off-field misbehaviour is the only way to go.