The " UFC " menace !

New South Wales police commissioner Andrew Scipione has every right to be concerned at the growing link between the " Ultimate Fighting Championship " ( UFC ) craze sweeping the USA - and the surge in random street attacks taking place in Sydney.

The UFC is a televised " sport " that is drawing an ever growing audience.   It is a no holds barred contest in which the fighters are contained in a cage - and it is definitely a blood sport.  No external weapons are allowed, but the contestants can punch, kick, head butt - there is simply no limit to the tactics that can be used.   As a consequence, those who seek blood and gore are treated to a spectacle that would not be out of place in the Coliseum of ancient Rome.

There are strong suspicions that UFC is influencing street behaviour here in Sydney.   There is a growing " Hoon " culture of competition to deliver a blow to a totally unsuspecting stranger that renders them unconscious.   Often, this is recorded by a mate using a mobile phone and it it later transferred to social media to confer bragging rights on the victor.

It might be remembered that on the night Thomas Kelly was killed in Kings Cross, his assailant attacked four random victims on the basis of a need to " bash someone ".   We are now seeing groups of young men affected by alcohol turning their night out into a challenge to determine who can mount the most spectacular attack event.

As in the case with Thomas Kelly, the actual blow did not kill.   The fact that the victim fell and hit his head on the pavement caused brain damage that was fatal, and as a consequence - the thug faced a charge of manslaughter rather than murder.

The police have reason to be worried by this growing fad.   It is quickly becoming a crime of opportunity and the victims range from the young to the very old, both men and women.  The assailants are totally indifferent to the damage they may cause - and usually alcohol is involved.

Kings Cross is covered with cctv cameras but there is a danger that this crime - and it is a crime - will move to the suburbs.    If it becomes fashionable to compete for attention on social media there is every chance that the victims can be people walking their dog, putting out the trash or simply having the misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It will be a sad day if the streets of this great city become a no-go area after sunset.   Perhaps the television networks should consider withdrawing air time to habit forming events such as UFC !