I think people saying fighting is for mugs is as bad as people saying imports are for hoons, basicly the same way of thinking, fighting is a sport same as anything else, all depends on what the individaul as to what they like.
I started kickboxing/maui thai training in 2001 for fitness reasons and after 6 months i went from 96kgs to wieghing in for my first fight at 70.2kgs and the adrenalin rush you get stepping into a ring with someone that isn't going to back down and possible trained as good or better then you, is second to none.
after over 5 years of active fighting i had it give up cause my now wife was diagnosed with non-hodgskins lymphoma and i spent more time in a hospital then the gym, even now 4 years later i still miss the rush,but with running a business and having a family i just don't have the time to train properly.