The ancient theme of combat as sport, is ubiquitous across history and has been participated in and represented by a vast array of cultures and art forms. As a figurative artist, I have been drawn to the heroic while also being captivated by the narrative of the ring. I also recognize the sport as having a brutal aspect to it and an embracement of the spectacle. MMA, in particular, is both a blood sport and a highly technical art form. I am attempting to display this dichotomy through the poetry of the brush. It is through these poetic representations I can bring these scenes into a realm that still does not mask the grit of the spectacle. An added layer of tension is that this work is inspired by on-site drawings of my triplet brother who is an MMA fighter. This highly personal connection to the fights created an internal dilemma, processing the heart-wrenching scenes. The ancient theme crescendos as my beloved sibling enters into the ring, onto the stage, and now in paint onto the canvas.