Welcome to If I Did It, the show where we look at PR kerfluffles from the world of MMA and beyond. This week we discuss Floyd Mayweather’s IRS issues, Amanda Nunes’ controversial 213 drop out and Gegard Mousasi going to Bellator.
Alexei Auld is back with a brand new book available 7 Secret Sources of Inspiration: A Snappy Guide for Creative Procrastinators to grill Eugene S. Robinson (who’s pushing OXBOW’s new record THIN BLACK DUKE) and I, Kid Nate with some PR stumpers from the world of combat sports.
For the audio only version check us out on SoundCloud and be sure to subscribe to MMA NATION on iTunes and subscribe to MMA Nation on YouTube so you’ll never miss an episode. This week’s kerfuffles include:
You’re WME-IMG. You were forced to cancel your UFC 213 main event hours before it began, because your UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes didn’t feel right to fight, despite being medically cleared to compete. How should you handle the fallout from this modern-day, MMA Onan, who, when faced with doubt, pulled out?
You’re Showtime. Less than one day after Brendan Schaub posted an image of his involvement as “part of the Showtime Boxing team for #MayweatherMcGregor press conference pre and post shows” along with MMA Reporter Ariel Helwani, Helwani tweeted, “Not working for @SHOsports anymore on the May/Mac tour. Just learned UFC specifically asked to have me removed. Incredibly disappointed.” Is it better PR to address or ignore your involvement in UFC vs Helwani 2: Dana White’s Bugaboo?
You’re Floyd Mayweather. Last week, you petitioned the Tax Court to wait until your Conor McGregor mega fight check clears before you cough up the cash for unpaid taxes from your 2015 Manny Pacquiao pugilistic pukefest. What is your PR response when this inevitably arises from the press that despises having to advertise this Mc-May payday?
You’re the UFC. For the past year, you’ve encouraged fighters to be like Conor McGregor. Gegard Mousasi took that to heart: finishing fights, talking trash, and re-making himself into a fighter with a presence as marketable as his impressive international resume. Yet, you allegedly stopped negotiating once you learned he was talking to Bellator. What PR lesson were you making by refusing to re-sign Gegard?
You’re Fighter Gabi Garcia. Last week you “won” a fight, live and in public, if you will, by illegally soccer kicking an opponent you outweighed by one-hundred pounds. Is it better for your career to continue your can-crushing, freakshow fight mismatch tour OR take on real competition and risk becoming a female Bob Sapp?
What can Jay-Z learn from MMA in wake of being charged with anti-Semitic rap lyrics?
TEACHABLE MOMENT: You’re Rob Kardashian. Last week you were so angered at your baby mama Blac Chyna’s cheating, you posted private images of her privates and plastic surgery secrets on Instagram, who shut down your account. So you reposted the pics on Twitter. And in return, you received a restraining order from Blac Chyna, are facing revenge porn charges that could result in up to six months in jail, and could lose custody of your daughter. What can we learn from your horrid handling of baby mama drama?
KID NATE’S HEEL TURN
EUGENE’S LOST BATTALION
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“We’ll be back next week with another installment of If I Did It and we don’t know what we’ll be talking about yet because the PR mistakes have yet to be made.”