The world of professional sports is marred by a situation that doesn’t involve action within the realm of play. Domestic violence allegations have swarmed the National Football League and other professional organizations. Ultimate Fighting Championship has not been able to escape criticism as it has been mentioned in multiple incidents as well. Whether it is the allegations surrounding Anthony Johnson, Thiago Silva or Will Chope, UFC has shown a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to domestic violence.
The stigma surrounding professional athletes and heinous situations such as domestic violence is that the alleged individuals are given a “pass” because of their celebrity status. The NFL’s handling of the Ray Rice situation caused a firestorm that led to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell admitting to making a mistake in how he punished him. Since then, the league has had the opportunity to retrace its steps and suspend him indefinitely due to the release of videotaped evidence (via NFL.com).
Still, UFC can learn much about how that situation was handled and seems to have started with steps in the right direction.
Johnson was recently suspended amid reports of a restraining order filed against him by the mother of two of his children (via Sherdog). According to UFC President Dana White, the issue is not a positive one for the developing star.
“He’s not in a good position right now,” White said in a report by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. “(An indefinite suspension) doesn’t mean he’s definitely going to fight here. Even if (the latest allegations) go his way. We’ll see what happens.”
This article also mentions UFC and its zero-tolerance policy toward domestic violence. In recent months, the organization has had the opportunity to flex that muscle. For example, Chope was released mere hours before a scheduled fight in the Octagon when it was revealed he was discharged from the military in 2011 due to charges of assault (via MMA Mania).
Unfortunately, the question will still arise as to what will happen if a big-name fighter is caught up in these allegations. Silva, who is far from being a mainstream headliner, was recently welcomed back to the organization once the criminal charges he faced were dropped. However, the UFC re-released him as more evidence was made public (via MMA Fighting).
The company should still go forth and make its policy public for fans and media alike to show that the organization is transparent in a time when most major promotions are not. If a situation arises in which a major star, such as a current champion, is caught in a similar situation, UFC will have to respond with the same severity that it has in the cases of Johnson, Chope or Silva. At the same time, the company has to be careful in allowing due process to proceed before making any concluding moves.
It is often forgotten that the athletes who make up the professional sports world are human beings who make mistakes. When their names cross the police blotters, many media members and fans want to see them dealt with in a harsh manner. The UFC has stepped up and created a zero-tolerance policy for its fighters when it comes to domestic violence. Here is to hoping the company will not have to enforce it at any point in the future.
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