(Video courtesy of YouTube/JoeRoganDotNet)

One way of gauging the mainstream popularity of pretty much anything is the growing influence it has on stand-up comedy. Case in point, the next few weeks we’ll likely see an influx of Casey Anthony jokes like we did Rep. Anthony Weiner ones the past month. If you watch much stand-up comedy, you’ll notice that more and more comedians (besides Joe Rogan) are mentioning MMA and the UFC in their routines.

That’s a pretty good indication that the sport has stepped out of the “fringe” category and into the mainstream. I can’t help but get excited every time I hear a comedian mention MMA, even if they call it, “Ultimate Fighting” and wrongly describe it as “no-holds-barred fighting.” Exposure is exposure and it means MMA is relevant in society.

Check out some of our other favorite MMA-related bits below.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/Mclhea)

How many times have you had this very conversation with your buddies? I’m sure the first time someone picked a fight on the streets of Fortaleza with Anderson Silva, they soon regretted the decision.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/ComedyTimeDir)

Take away the bit about MMA having “no rules” and him planning to bring a sword into the cage and you have sweaty fat guy hilarity.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/normakaz)

Even guys who train wrestling and BJJ think of it this way. There’s nothing worse than rolling for an hour only to get caught in a sweat-soaked triangle.

(Video courtesy of YouTube/mmadigest)

Ok, this one isn’t a bit, but how cool is it that Russell Peters is a UFC fan, that he used to train with Carlos Newton and that he started following the UFC in 1991 — two years before it was created?