Absolutely compelling, and just a little bit disturbing, Unleashing Manhood invites the reader into the shadowy world of Mixed Martial Arts. Vaccaro & Swauger’s deep understanding of the participants, the practices, and the industry itself paints a clear picture of what outsiders tend to view as a violent and vicious sport, and the relationship between emotion, identity, masculinity, and violence. A must read for any person concerned with the state of masculinity today.

Kathryn J. Lively, Dartmouth College

Unleashing Manhood in the Cage demonstrates how the culture of mixed martial arts depends on crafting mixed masculinities. Is it a safe sport or a dangerous fight? Practiced by professional athletes or untamed brutes? Vaccaro and Swauger’s nuanced analysis shows how the hypermasculinity emerging in this specific arena is continuous with common enactments of masculinities, e.g. projecting bodily invincibility requires maintaining emotional invisibility, and to gain from pain is a common masculine imperative. A valuable synthesis of studies of sports and masculinities.

Harry Brod, University of Northern Iowa