Does Being an Olympic Sport Help Judo's Profile?

Judo (meaning 'gentle way') was created as a wide-ranging and unique martial art in 1882. It's regarded as both a sport and a peaceful physical activity. It has been an Olympic sport since being included in the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, in 1964. This event was officially called the Games of the XVIII Olympiad – the 16th edition of the Olympics event, and it was the first to be held in Asia.

The question being asked here is, does being an Olympic sport hurt or help the profile of Judo?

How has being an Olympic event changed the profile of Judo?

When Judo was first introduced at the Olympics, it was presented as an exhibition event with no separate weight divisions and only a category for males. Since becoming an Olympic event, Judo has changed in many ways.

More rules have come into the sport, and certain wrestling-style moves, such as the two-hand leg reap (the 'morote gari') and the shoulder wheel (kata guruma), are no longer legal.

The sport gradually took a different approach and focused more on foot techniques (e.g., ashi waza) and standing techniques, such as the shoulder throw (seionage), the hip sweep (harai gosh), and uchimata (inner-thigh throw).

The main reasons for the modifications were to distinguish itself from wrestling and make it more visually appealing when shown on television. In most countries, the popularity of Judo increased exponentially after appearing in the Olympics, and it was no longer an exhibition sport and far more competitive.

Is MMA/UFC an Olympic sport?

Although there are several combat/martial arts sports at the Olympics, MMA/UFC are NOT Olympic sports. It's mainly because MMA is still a relatively new sport. The main combat/martial arts sporting events at the Olympics are the following:

• Judo
• Karate
• Taekwondo
• Boxing
• Greco Roman Wrestling
• Freestyle Wrestling

Where and when is the next Summer Olympics?

The next Summer Olympics is in Paris, France. It will run from Friday, July 26th, 2024, until Sunday, August 11th. Although you won't be able to watch MMA/UFC events at the Paris Olympics, if you live in Paris, you can potentially watch a 'UFC Paris' fight this year in a hotly anticipated UFC return to the French capital.

The last UFC fight in Paris was a great success, which saw Frenchman Ciryl Gane beat Tai Tuivasa in a highly entertaining and commercially successful heavyweight fight called UFC Fight Night: Gane vs Tuivasa.

According to reports, the next UFC fight in Paris will take place on September 2nd, 2023. However, no further details are available at the time of writing.

Can I bet on UFC, MMA, or Judo?

Yes. Many fully licensed online bookmakers have a wide range of betting markets with competitive odds for UFC, MMA, and Summer Olympic Judo events.

The markets usually open several weeks or, in some cases, several months before the event is scheduled to begin. You can also generally place in-play bets on these events.

Are there any upcoming UFC fights to place a wager on?

Yes. Throughout the year, there are many UFC events. The next big events you can place a real money wager on at reputable sites like Unibet are scheduled for March 25th, 26th, April 8th, April 9th, and 15th.

There's also an unconfirmed fight in December 2023 on New Year's Eve. If the event goes ahead, Conor McGregor will fight Michael Chandler. You can already find odds for this fight, which looks like it will be a very close-fought contest.

For example, McGregor is the current odds-on favourite to win this potential fight and has a 57.10% implied probability rate of winning. In European decimal odds format, he's priced at 1.75, which is the same as saying -133 in American/moneyline odds format or 3/4 in the UK fractional odds format.

In comparison, his opponent, Michael Chandler, has a 48.80% chance of winning. He's currently priced at 2.05 in decimal odds, 105 in American/moneyline odds, and 21/20 in fractional odds. Although the odds are in favour of McGregor to win, don't forget that no bet is ever guaranteed.

Also, despite these odds being accurate at the time of writing for a fight that may or may not go ahead, the odds are still subject to change at any time.