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By: C.J. Tuttle, MMATorch Columnist
The UFC in 2013 is the perfect environment for a fighter to manipulate and posture their way into a desirable place in the company, or atop a fight card. And the best position to be in right now is a free agent.
Fighters these days seem to be seeking - also known in some circles as "earning" - a desirable match up to pad a wavering record, or being thrown into a title fight and jumping over rightful #1 contenders after a perfectly placed shot to the chin of some gatekeeper. Condoning these methods has led to some of the best (or most anticipated) fights in recent memory, and has showcased the impromptu meteoric rise of some young buck against the torch bearer in a division. But it also takes away from the sport aspect, and screams a sleazy and corrupt way of doing things.
Matchmaking isn't the only area of the sport affected by a fighters "stroke." Nate Diaz's tweets, Roy Nelson-Dana White interaction, Rampage's jump to Bellator, these are all examples of how a fighter has utilized the public forum to put the ball back in his court. Anthony Pettis put it best: you can't knock him for trying. Being unhappy in a work environment can be one of the most frustrating things, and in the end can contribute to poor results in the Octagon.
The problem with this, though, is the greatest CEO/Commish/Owner/President in all of sports, Dana White publicly pandering and engaging in such antics and allowing the fighters to achieve their agenda.
Now, this is a double edged sword. I love how Dana addresses the pressing issues. I also admire his desire to give the audience the fights we want. But recently some of the decision making has led to conundrums and less than popular final fight choices. I'd like to see a more in house approach to the fights being chosen and whom is "next in line."
How about letting those revolutionary rankings do the talking?
Am I arguing that Roy Nelson lost his fight with Stipe Miocic on purpose to avoid getting re-signed? Or that Nate Diaz spoke out about Pat Healy losing his bonus money to get dropped from his UFC contract? Yes and no. The two are the more extreme examples, and I honestly think Nelson just got beat down, and that the Diaz brothers are legitimately on some other stuff. But, it wouldn't hurt them either way with the sharks in the water constantly lurking around the UFC's ship to pick the free agents off one by one.
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Jon Fitch's recent signings by the alternative to UFC promotions - World Series of Fighting and Bellator - provide the blueprint for a successful career outside of the UFC. The money and platform to build celebrity, along with wins over lesser foes, are all there for the taking; and smarter, career oriented fighters are taking notice.
The success arc in UFC is steep and sudden. The average to above average nearly always fall to the elite fighter. With the never ending well of upcoming young talent, the UFC can afford to let yesterday's news jump ship. After a couple losses, a fighter's retirement talk begins. This can lead to the fighter questioning themselves and looking to capitalize on their stock before the time is up.
Twitter, countless news outlets and we the journalists all contribute to the frenzied consumption of injuries, call outs and Dana White scrums. There's always some sort of news breaking and the more a fighter's name is in the headline, Chael Sonnen quotes included, the stronger the chance is that they will be fighting in the main event on some free Fox card. Which in turn gives us all something to complain about.
Once a stop is put to this practice, I hope fighters take to publicly questioning a choice or decision made by sticking to problems needing to be addressed within the sport. Topics like TRT use, salary disparities, and inept refereeing/judging ought to be in the forefront of a fighter's mind; leave the posturing and manipulating aside and focus on winning fights put in front of you decisively.
COMMENTS? RANTS? c.j.tuttle@me.com @kidceej
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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