In last week's UK Scene I wrote a segment about the recent comments made by Frank Mir and Marcus Davis. One of the points I made in the article was the “AIDS” quote, like the one made by Davis, could potentially harm the sport and halt the global progress it has been enjoying in recent years.
As usual I received numerous emails from MMATorch readers, but one in particular stuck in my mind.
The two key purposes for “The UK Scene” are to give UK fans a weekly update and a column dedicated to our country and the fighters that represent us. The other purpose is to give American readers, and readers from all over the world, an insight into the UK MMA Scene. Things in the UK are not even close to being in line with the way the sport is received in America at this point.
The comments that Marcus Davis made will, I’m sure, make no difference to the overall progression of MMA. However, this column is called the UK Scene, so therefore anything that you read here is written from an English point of view.
The reader in question made several references to NFL players and some of the controversial scenarios that they had been involved in. This was aimed to counter my comments regarding the effect an MMA fighters comments could have on the overall sport
Basically, what the reader was saying was; these events involving NFL players were indeed controversial, and they were scandalous in parts, but they had not had any effect what so ever on the NFL overall.
I couldn’t agree more with the argument that was put to me. Cast your memory back to the 2006 World Cup when Cristiano Ronaldo orchestrated the red card sending off of his Manchester United team mate, Wayne Rooney.
Now I’m fairly sure if Rooney had passed Marcus Davis like comments toward Ronaldo after that; not a great deal of commotion would have been made and the overall outcome would have likely been similar to how the land lies today.
The reason for this: Football (Soccer) is a fully established sport in the UK. Off field antics only play a small part in the overall act. For those who reside in the UK you will know the state of our Nation football team. Only a few weeks ago John Terry was stripped of his National Captaincy for having an affair with the mother of his teammates child. Believe me, this is only one in a long list of scandals the British press have made public in recent months.
The point I am trying to make here is that Football wouldn’t fold as a sport because of comments or off field antics because it is such a well established sport. The side-shows of the beautiful game, that we are subjected to, are just minor chinks in an otherwise glittering armoury.
MMA, on the other hand, is anything but a fully established sport as far as the British mainstream is concerned.
Gareth A Davies, who I interviewed last month, writes about MMA for The Daily Telegraph. The Telegraph is without doubt the most intellectual newspaper in Britain, and for it to cover MMA in the way it does is not as obvious a choice as it may appear from the outside looking in.
For the big-wigs at the paper to consistently print piece after piece would mean some serious ground work had been done by Gareth. MMA is about honour and respect as well as combat. It takes everything positive that Boxing has to offer and adds a bit. These are the pros that Gareth would have highlighted in his case to cover the sport of MMA.
There will be other writers, at various publications, desperate to get their editors nod to go ahead and cover the sport. Now , hypothetically, lets envisage the day of the meeting; where a possibly sceptical editor will deliver his decision as to whether this sport will be given the backing of the publication or not.
He will have no doubt been doing his own research to assist him in making such a decision. Within a few days of each other he stumbles across reports where Frank Mir has wished Brock Lesnar to become the first man to die of Octagon related injuries. If that wasn’t enough he then discovers comments, made by Marcus Davis, which state that he hopes a young British fighter by the name of Dan Hardy contracts AIDS and dies.
Now tell me that these comments don’t make any difference. Granted, in a place where the sport is fully fledged, although still unwanted in areas, the comments will likely have little or no effect. But here, they might not completely hinder the sport, but they most certainly do not help its case.
HARDY HITS THE PRIMETIME:
UFC Primetime is back. On Wednesday night Spike TV aired the first episode of the new series, following Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre and British challenger Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy in their preparations for their March 27 date.
Viewing figure reports stated that over 1 million tuned in on Wednesday to make this the most viewed episode since the programmes debut.
ESPN: UK aired the episode at half past midnight on Saturday night/Sunday morning, and on first impressions GSP seems to be getting better and bigger every time he appears on the screen. The highlight video of all his achievements left a lump in the throat.
Hardy looked menacing in the backyard shadow-boxing footage. The Brit was calm as began to put the preparations of his game plan together stating: “My only focus is to put fist-to-face as often as possible.”
In the past few months St-Pierre has stressed how Hardy should not be underestimated and that he is “The most dangerous guy I have ever faced.” GSP is quite possibly the most well rounded fighter in all of MMA but I do feel he is overlooking the striking threat that Hardy poses. St-Pierre went on to say: “One round I can strike with him and try to knock him out and in the other I can try to put him down and submit him. He doesn’t know what I’m gonna do to him. I can do it all. “
With all that being said GSP would be well advised to spearhead his attack with any other part of his Arsenal other than striking. I think if he tries to stand early he could play straight into Hardys hands.
I’m not trying to say that GSP can’t or won’t trade with Hardy, I just doubt he will try to do so early. He will most likely attempt to smother and exhaust his opponent first. Then strike once the playing field has been altered.
The episode came to a close in a real Sopranos fashion. After arriving in the States; Hardy had a last minute hitch, meaning he had to find a new gym to use to complete his preparations.
Hardy spoke about the owner of the gym he had found: “This guy has alot of knowledge and alot of experience in this (GSP) field,” and added that he has some “Inside information.”
The camera went into slow motion as Hardy reversed his 4X4 up to the entrance of the gym. He walked into the gym shaking hands with the owner of... Serra Jui Jitsu.
Matt Serra clutched the Brits hand with an approving nod as the frame froze for the end of the episode.
OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF:
-Mick Swick has been quick to do a 180 on Dan Hardy and his pending title shot. Swick has gone on record to say that Hardy is a worthy challenger and that he can defeat the Champion.
-Frustratingly the UFC does not look like making a UK return until the back end of 2010. With main shows being all but confirmed for as far away as July, additional “Fight Nights” were a possibility. Despite this leaving the UK without a show for roughly a year; the plus side is that all UK fighters are due to compete between now and early May, meaning they would all be available for an autumn event in London.
- James McSweeney looks set for his (Non TUF) UFC Debut. McSweeney has reportedly agreed to face Travis Browne at the Finale of The Ultimate Fighter 11.
-Despite a great card of fights and a broadcast time that came in line with American TV, UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia, reportedly hit somewhere between 210,000 and 250,000 pay per view buys. The card, that starred Michael Bisping vs. Wanderlei Silva in one of the co-main events, was a far cry from the average half a million plus PPV sales that UFC events were hitting in 2009.
- UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik has stated that UK Lightweight prospect Terry Etim could be only a few fights away from a title shot should he overcome Brazilian Raphael Dos Anjos when the two square off in Abu Dhabi.
-FightDVD.co.uk has released UFC 105 recently, without Andre Winner vs. Roli Delgado. Winner knocked out Delgado in spectacular fashion in Manchester. “Legal Reasons” have been blamed for the fights exclusion despite the fact that Winner was the only Brit to make it from the pre-lims to the televised card on the night.
Thanks for checking in on this weeks round up of “The UK Scene”. It was nice to hear Mike Swick finally giving Dan Hardy some credit. After all, Hardy did beat him decisively. Primetime is back on ESPN: UK this Saturday with Episode 2 airing at an earlier time of 10pm.
I have something pretty cool up my sleeve for next weeks column so make sure you stop by.....
Chris Park is the MMATorch UK Specialist. Please email any comments or questions to Chris at; mmatorchuk@gmail.com or look us up at http://www.facebook.com/mmatorchuk our new MMATorch Facebook home for UK Fans!
[Dan Hardy art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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