Any Publicity Is Not Good Publicity For The UFC Or MMA

You can probably count on both hands the number of times MMA has been on the front of any major media site/newspaper or mentioned on any mainstream news outlet. And yet, it's been on the front of Yahoo a couple of times within the past two days. But sadly, not for the right reasons.

Yes, UFC 100 included Georges St Pierre defending his title (again) and Dan Henderson showcasing that the 38 year old is still on fire by knocking Mike Bisping out cold, that's not what is making the news. While the biggest weekend for the UFC met many milestones such as the first UFC Fan Expo, fastest sell out for a major UFC event, and UFC 100 it's been overshadowed by one specific incident.

Instead we have to continue to hear about the UFC being a 'circus'. Not exactly the adjective I was hoping would be used as a way of describing this last weekend.

I get so frustrated because I see these guys first hand train their butts off. Multiple times a day for hours at a time. Following strict diets, and mastering not just one sport but MANY.  They don't all act like such a fool. In fact that's the exception. The fighters I know personally are some of these most considerate and kind people I've ever met. Sure there are a few knuckleheads out there but aren't some of your own friends knuckleheads? Brock Lesnar is beyond a knucklehead. 

With Frank Mir's face looking like tenderized meat, he walked away the winner in my opinion. Brock didn't use many moves to gain position. He didn't change his guard or control but rather used his size and sort of laid on Mir to hold him down as he punched his face. Sure, it's legal, sure it worked. But when it was said and done and Brock walked away with the "win" Frank gave some undeserved respect to Brock and said semi nice things about him. He out-classed Brock ten fold. As if that was hard to do.

Brock's behavior after beating Frank was disheartening. At first I was disgusted. Then mad. Disappointed. And now I think I'm mad again. Seeing the words "Lesnar's circus antics" on the front page of Yahoo two days later, makes me feel as if his poor choices have set the sport back a few steps in the eyes of people that don't understand the sport. It's not a joke or a circus. It's nothing like WWE, with the exception of Brock Lesnar (aka Nacho Libre ). I've 'talked' to many of you who have told me I'm too harsh on Brock, but I don't think I am. He can apologize but I don't think he's sorry. He's only sorry that Dana White tore him a new ass hole. Remember his behavior after his fight against Heath Herring? Yeah, not classy. And here we are again. History repeating itself. He can apologize but when sponsors start leaving because of the crap he pulled on Saturday hopefully people will see he really isn't more than a 300 lbs WWE guy. What will it take for people to see what a joke he really is? A mask? A folding chair in the cage perhaps?

As someone that spends A LOT of time educating people on the sport, this makes me mad. He's NOT good for the sport. He's a big guy that wrestled and I'm guessing his size was only a benefit even then. I doubt his success was due to his skills. And even if his skills were as good as his college record, I can't see past his personality so it doesn't even matter.

And it also annoys me that everyone is so amped to see him face Fedor. Hello is this thing on... there are plenty of people left in the UFC he hasn't yet fought. I think Shane Carwin or even Cain Velasquez could put him in his place. Both are undefeated and in my opinion more than capable of taking Brock.

 

For those of you that are going to comment or email me saying I'm a bitch, I accept it. Feel free. But just remember, this behavior only means one thing: less overall acceptance as a sport = less advertising money + fewer fans and that means fewer events/fights.

Comments

[Sal DeRosalia]

So... As someone who follows MMA very closely, as someone who trains MMA and as someone who truly loves the sport, I AGREE with you 100%!!! Was I rooting for Brock? NO. Was I hoping that a mixed martial artist would beat him and put him in his place, YES. It didn't happen the way Frank Mir or I would have liked but at the same time that was not what I was the most upset about. I understand wanting credit from the world. I understand wanting to avenge a loss. I understand Brock wanting to prove his point but I DO NOT understand why he choose to act a fool AGAIN. I work in press and marketing and most times any press is good press but not in this case. The press that you talk about the UFC receiving post UFC 100 is BAD PRESS and it will hurt the UFC in the long run. It will allow the haters to continue to invalidate the sport we know and love. I hope that we MMA lovers will continue to put our best foot forward even when some of us are only thinking of number 1... MMA is bigger then any fighter, owner, promotion company or piece of bad press.

[derrick]

Ms MMAHotStuff
I totally agree with what you've said. And now that you mention it, Nacho Libre is hilarious. That's what I'm going to refer to as going forward. And I also agree either Shane or Cain could take him. He is a douche bag.

[JB]

There are two stories coming out of UFC 100: Brock Lesnar talking trash after the fight and Dan Henderson knowingly admitting that he hit Michael Bisping despite knowing that he was unconscious to "shut him up a bit."

I find it troubling that nobody is talking about Dan Henderson, despite the fact that Hendo's actions could do FAR more damage to the future of mixed martial arts than what Lesnar did. Lesnar's actions may have turned off hardcore fans, but Henderson's flying punch could have done FAR worse damage; imagine swing voters in New York seeing that punch and deciding that perhaps legalizing mixed martial arts in New York isn't such a great idea after all?

I mean, I understand why Lesnar is being vilified. He comes from the WWE, so that automatically makes him bad for the sport. Let's overlook his NCAA heavyweight championship for a moment, because that would mean that Lesnar has the same background as people like Josh Koscheck and we can't have that. He was in WWE, which means he's a faker and a bad fighter, despite the fact that he trains his ass off just like everyone else in this sport.

So basically, what you want is for people to pretend like they hate each other in order to build up a fight, and then make up with each other and reveal it was fake all along and that they were working you to build a fight (like BJ Penn and Sean Sherk)? You'd rather have that than the kind of real, intense dislike that Brock Lesnar has for Frank Mir (who did 95% of the trash talking before the fight, it must be noted)?

[pdiddy]

Brock is good, but he's not "that good", he's just "good enough". He's got enough of a wrestling base, and enough practice hitting sparring partners to use that skill to beat a less physically gifted opponent. And by physically gifted I mean "smaller". The reality is that Brock will never develop skills that make him a great tactician because he doesn't need to. All the jiu jitsu in the world can't help you move a guy that outweighs you by 40 pounds and knows how to use that weight. Frank Mir's boxing and jiu jitsu are light years ahead of Lesnar's, but Lesnar's size wins out. It's not his fault he's so big, it's just his fault that he acts like such a douchebag after the fight. I would think for someone characterized to be such a competitor, that eventually he'd get tired of winning simply because he's bigger than everyone else. Doesn't take much skill or practice to be the larger fighter. Congrats Brock, you win by default.

[bford]

Congrats Brock.. you won because you beat the crap out of Frank Mir.. doesn't matter if people like him or not... he destroyed Frank.. he was able to take him down.. EASILY....Frank didn't come close to stopping him.. well since he is so big, he has to be slow.. right? Wrong... he has great athletic ability for any size.. he is so quick and explosive that Mr. Mir had no chance to stuff his takedown attempts. He's a guy who was the last cut made by the Vikings after not having played football for years.

I remember Frank hoping that Brock would take him down, because that is where he could submit him and turn the tables..

the problem for Frank isn't that Brock is just bigger.. it is that he is super strong even for his size.

Carwin is the best chance for a win.. Velasquez has a ways to go... still.. I don't think Carwin is going to beat Brock.. but I really want to see the fight.

This isn't a setback or lasting blow to the UFC or mma.. both will continue to grow and be fine.. no matter who the HW champ is.

[Chris]

I totally agree. I think Dana White needs to kick his minnestoan butt out and never let him fight again. He is turning it into something that it is not. I love it when guys are able to get HELL beat out of them and be good sports, but his performance was exactly was Yahoo! said, a circus. While you may be right about Shane and Cain, I still would like to see Fedor armbar the eff outta him.
-Chris

[Fenriq]

This isn't so scathing as it is spot-on. Lesnar is an ass who has no concept of honorable combat, respect for your opponent and grace in victory and defeat.

I don't know about Carwin's chances against Lesnar but I am pretty confident that Fedor would either knock him out or make him tap out. And yes, I will buy the PPV to watch it happen.

[Klemiro]

Beating the two top guys in the buisness is not that big a task is it. And he can't be a good fighter just because he keeps Mir on the ground, it's not like its a hard task doing that. And the size is just something that comes natural, he doesn't have to train to be that big. Brock is just born that size, and with that quickness. I bet he just sits in front of the tv and drink bud.

And I totaly agree about this beeing the wrong kind of attention. We don't want mma to be rekognised as entertainment and show. Its much better to keep the fokus on the voilent sport stamp.

So I totaly agree. Brocks just lucky he's big, and UFC shouldn't get the mainstream attention. Actually we should ban all punches and kicks and go pure bjj, thats what will sell PPVs in the long run, not media attention.

[JB]

For those that think Brock displayed no skill on the ground, watch this video as master BJJ technician explains how Brock nullified Frank Mir's half guard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIDmNMisXQc