Can a Vegan be a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Fighter? Mac Danzig Says YES.

As Mac Danzig prepares for his big pay-per-view Ultimate Fighting Championship event on February 6, 2010, he will be participating in the world's fastest growing sport: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

"Lots of people are talking about how MMA has surpassed boxing in popularity, but it's much more than that," says Michael Margulies, one of New York's top fitness trainers and owner of East Side MMA. "Boxing's in the rear-view mirror and MMA is gaining on NASCAR and NFL now. MMA fighters are the next rock stars of sports."

Such rapidly growing popularity is especially important for the 5-foot-9, 155 pound Danzig because what sets him apart from his fellow MMA combatants can be summed up in one word: vegan. "Ever since I can remember," Danzig says, "I've always had a profound respect and interest in nature and animals ... I remember being 13 and seeing a truck on the interstate filled with pigs all headed to the slaughterhouse. One of them made eye contact with me for a while. It was one of the saddest moments I can remember. There was so much intelligence and spirit in him, and here he was, being sent to an awful death."

This didn't automatically translate into a dietary change for the professional athlete. "I believed what everybody said," explains Danzig, "that you need animal protein in your diet if you're going to train hard and win." However, with help from a nutritional guru, the former animal sanctuary worker eventually switched to a plant-based diet in 2004 and has never looked back. "I didn't have any problems with strength, didn't feel weak," he says. "I had cravings for about a month, then they stopped. I haven't had any cravings since."

An Increasingly Vegan Planet

Fortunately, Mac Danzig's story is no longer so rare. Top vegan athletes include tennis legend, Martina Navratilova; long-distance runner Paavo Nurmi, winner of nine Olympic medals and holder of 20 world records; and Bill Pearl, four-time Mr. Universe. In addition, NFL star Tony Gonzalez and NHL "enforcer" Georges Laraque of Haiti are vegans who have taken their lifestyle to the activist level. Don't forget about these 10 superstar athletes who don't eat meat, either.

As Mac Danzig sez:

"If you truly care about animal rights and have a passion for it, take some action. Whether it's hands-on or political, just go for it. No matter what path you choose in life or what you decide to do, you can use your voice to educate other people and help the cause."

Become a Vegan Knockout

- Learn more about the 7 core reasons to go vegan

- Read these vegan-related books

- Start taking those first steps towards plant-based health

- Defend yourself and the planet

(Who knows? You might even start talking like a vegan.)