Is MMA Selling Out?
Written by: sprawler
Kimbo Slice, Brock Lesnar and now a possible Kurt Angle. Are MMA organizations selling out?
Fans are outraged that Slice and Lesnar gets main event status not to mention pay days in the hundreds of thousands of dollars with no real MMA bouts or victories under their belts. I’m sure Angle will be the same.
MMA is a great and evolving sport however, it is still a business and can only survive when making money. There is no doubt the UFC is making money but any business would like to make more. Elite XC, Affliction and others need it even more.
Slice is by far the biggest chump of the bunch as Lesnar’s and Angle’s wrestling credentials are second to none. Lesnar is a Division I Champion and Angle is an Olympic gold medalist. I think the real heartburn comes from their WWE days but that’s what made them a household name. Those names sell themselves so the organizations pay more for that.
Do these guys deserve a shot with being one trick ponies and knowing only one discipline when getting a fight? There are plenty of fighters like this currently; that come from a brawling background, wrestling background and a BJJ background only. Houston Alexander has no ground game. Matt Hamill didn’t have a MMA fight when he was asked to join the TUF crew and he only wrestled for a Division III school. The list goes on and on. The difference is most of these guys make pennies on the dollar compared to Slice and Lesnar.
The fact is, we, the consumer and fan buy these pay per views and tune in to see if these guys get or give a beat down. It’s not the organization’s fault. If we didn’t order or tune in when Slice, Lesnar or Angle fought, they wouldn’t continue to be signed. Let’s not blame the organization to want to make more money or stay in business. If we want to blame someone for the successes of these ”questionable” MMA fighters, we need to look in the mirror.
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7 Responses to “Is MMA Selling Out?”
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Mat said on Sunday, September 28, 2008, 21:37
I tune in for Slice just because I want to see him lose.
Wizdom said on Monday, September 29, 2008, 11:43
THAT’S WHY HE (KIMBO) Makes so much I’m so done with all the kimbo haters. As if they could do better. He has not wrestled for anyone so he’s a nobody please that’s like saying just cause YOU haven’t seen someone fight means they can’t get real. People who make these claims about kimbo should be well perpared to eat those words in the near future. What he doesn’t know can be taught but his puncing power is natural and that alone can take you a long way ask CHUCK when was the last time he had to use his wrestling.
Mat said on Monday, September 29, 2008, 13:25
Ask Chuck when the last time he’s been on a 5 fight win streak. Kimbo hasn’t faught anyone. His opponents are handpicked. He has a padded career. Bas Rutten has admitted to picking opponents that he felt Kimbo would do well against.
Anon said on Monday, September 29, 2008, 14:07
I’m actually not outraged. =/ Nor is anyone I talk to in person. It’s mostly just “hardcore” fans.
Wizdom said on Monday, September 29, 2008, 21:37
Man you’ll even turn on chuck in an effort to hate on kimbo go to church
Mat said on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 8:16
LOL. My hatred for Kimbo is higher than my love for Chuck. But the point is valid. Chuck’s game isn’t that complicated. You know he’s coming at you with fists, you can strategize easier against one track fighters. Unless Kimbo develops ground game, he will never be successful. And if his team keeps handpicking opponents, it will always be a padded career.
Sprawler said on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 22:45
Kimbo needs to learn to SPRAWL. Chuck stays up because he can.