Why Mixed Martial Arts Stands Alone

Sport is all about competition, and every sport presents a different aspect to how athletes can compete. Without taking anything away from any other sport at all (i have respect and enjoy many sports), i would like to illuminate why i believe MMA stands alone in the world of sport.
Athletes around the world not only pride themselves in competing and winning, but also bettering themselves as an athlete. Ultimately, the goal is to well-round oneself in order to be as successful as possible. Look at a basketball player for example; they need quickness and speed, strength, cardiovascular strength, and shooting ability. These aspects of basketball only begin to cover what is needed for success. Training in excess on one aspect will take away at other aspects, and success is often attained by those who are able to find a balance.
In mixed martial arts, not only do fighters need to round themselves in terms of physical condition, but they have to actually train in an attempt to perfect interdisciplinary forms of fighting. This is far more extensive than any other sport, and preparing to be a successful mixed martial artist takes training in a number of sports, with each one being a complete sport in itself.
Although the Ultimate Fighting Championship coined this name years before the sport became so popular and respected, they had it spot on. MMA is a competition to find the best, most successful, well rounded, and Ultimate fighter.
The vigorous strength and conditioning workouts that mixed martial artists go through have much of the sports world envying them, and the mental toughness is simply unprecedented. But this only begins to explain what fighters must possess; Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing. These are all entities in themselves, yet must be mastered in congruence with one another before entering the octagon. While one fighter can be a great jiu jitsu master, and another an elusive striker, they both have experience in all walks of the game.
Styles are the main factor in how well two fighters can be matched up. Seeing a guy with great wrestling, and explosive takedowns fight against a submission expert with good hands is always interesting to see, and as mixed martial arts has progressed through the years, these fights continue to be the most entertaining combat in world. Seeing such skills clash with one another, while at the same time being experienced in the opponents strength, leaves this sport by itself at the top of the world of competition.
While it used to be as simple as two guys slugging it out without rules in a caged octagon, this sport has flourished and grown into the most complex, riveting, yet simple sports in the world. It is one man versus another, and using the different disciplines of fighting within mixed martial arts, this is undoubtedly the purest form of competition.