For years, we have heard UFC president Dana White speak openly about his love-hate relationship with the sport of boxing. After a controversial ending to a bout between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Victor Ortiz, White did anything but bite his lip about a…
For years, we have heard UFC president Dana White speak openly about his love-hate relationship with the sport of boxing. After a controversial ending to a bout between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Victor Ortiz, White did anything but bite his lip about a boxing event that likely stole viewers from his promotion’s UFC Fight Night 25.
After Mayweather had gotten off to a strong start in the first three rounds of the boxing match, Ortiz came out aggressive in the fourth round. At one point, Ortiz let his emotions get the best of him and aimed what appeared to be an intentional headbutt at Mayweather.
This prompted referee Joe Cortez to deduct a point from Ortiz. When Cortez restarted the fight, Ortiz offered a sign of apology to Mayweather, who took advantage of Ortiz’s lack of defense by landing two legal, but classless punches.
The second punch dropped Ortiz to the canvas. Cortez, who had looked away and missed what had happened, counted Ortiz out and awarded Mayweather the victory. While this wasn’t the ending that viewers who payed a pocketful of money were looking for, there was nothing that could be done. Although he added to his infamy, Mayweather defeated Ortiz within the rules.
Shortly after the result went final, White made a clear point to blame Cortez for the disappointing ending to the bout.
“Was that NUTS or what!?!? Dirty from both fighters,” White said on his Twitter account, “and the most HORRIBLE refereeing I have EVER seen in boxing or anywhere else!”
“Ref never sent a fighter to a neutral corner to take a point,” White continued. “Especially after a intentional head butt! That’s why u have a ref!!!!”
White wasn’t the only member of the UFC brass to have his opinion heard, though. UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta also had some choice words about the ending of the HBO broadcast. The business man that he is, Fertitta made sure to spin the incident into a promotion for the UFC’s next event.
Also speaking on his Twitter account, Fertitta said, “And you really paid 70 bucks for that? September 24th see a real fight jones vs rampage!!!!!!!!!!”
As MMA continues its ascension into the mainstream, boxing appears to be circling the drain. Of course, the Mayweathers and Manny Pacquiaos of boxing will still crush UFC headliners in terms of pay-per-view buys, but ridiculous episodes like this are the reason boxing is not thriving as MMA has in recent years.
White has continually called himself a fan of the sport of boxing. However, if boxing keeps giving the UFC president ammo to work with, White won’t hesitate to bury boxing and reap the benefits in the form of boxing fans making the transition to MMA in hopes that it won’t fail them as boxing has.
Sean Smith is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. Sean has also had his work featured on UFC.com, LowKick.com, and TheMMACorner.com. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter @SeanSmithMMA.
This week I exclusively interviewed Tom “Kong” Watson, BAMMA middleweight champion who recently retired Murilo “Ninja” Rua, about fight psychology, mind-games and the mental aspect of combat sports heading into this weekend’s monum…
This week I exclusively interviewed Tom “Kong” Watson, BAMMA middleweight champion who recently retired Murilo “Ninja” Rua, about fight psychology, mind-games and the mental aspect of combat sports heading into this weekend’s monumental heavyweight showdown. I subsequently compiled his musings on the topic into this MSN blog entry, a fascinating insight into the psyche of a fighter. Enjoy;
Buenos dias amigos from New Mexico,
Having watched, and thoroughly enjoyed, the pre-fight build-up to the most anticipated heavyweight showdown of the last decade, I felt compelled to discuss fight psychology and its significance and potential effectiveness within combat sports.
When I initially entered into the world of fighting, people used to tell me that it was 80% mental. With the benefit of hindsight, I don’t necessarily agree with that statement. I believe that when you first get into combat sports, given the lower quality of opponents that you encounter, the physical attributes can outweigh the mental aspect of the game. The higher one rises within MMA, or boxing, the importance of the psychology begins to increase because the upper-echelon combatants tend to be more evenly-matched in terms of their skill-sets, and so the ability to deal with the mental factors of the sport can prove vital.
When I discuss the psychology of combat sports, I am quick to distinguish between pre-fight mental preparation (discipline, composure, relaxation etc) and the hype. Mind-games, trash-talk, kidology (or whatever you choose to label this particular phenomenon) can all impact upon a fight to a certain degree. The ability to gain any sort of psychological edge heading into a fight should be taken, but I do feel at the elite level of competition, that mind-games only play a small role for the most part.
For example, this weekend, Haye has attempted some extravagant mind-games, and seemingly unnerved the giant Ukrainian to a certain extent, but ultimately Wladimir is a seasoned professional/champion and hence the pre-fight antics will only have a small bearing on his performance and the outcome of the fight. Similarly, Wlad’s patronising approach towards Haye will not factor into the fight as it doesn’t appear to have irritated David in the slightest. Wlad may believe that he is a more experienced veteran in the professional ranks but David also has an extensive amateur background, so the disparity isn’t that vast.
Of course there are other tactics apart from trash-talk that can give you the edge heading into a fight. A fighter’s pre-fight demeanour (at press conferences), the stare-down, a lack of talk etc can all serve to discourage an opponent, but more importantly, can help a fighter himself feel more confident and comfortable as fight-night approaches. Irrespective of whether it actually makes a difference, whatever helps a fighter to believe in himself more prior to game-time is of paramount importance.
If a fighter isn’t naturally an aggressive person, an antagonistic adversary may benefit him by fuelling the fire. This pertains to my team-mate, Gentlemanly Georges St.Pierre, a martial artist who vehemently believes in the respect that underpins our sport, and so refuses to engage in slagging matches, but (as the old cliché goes) would rather “do his talking” in the cage. That’s his approach, his prerogative, and I respect him for it.
For my last fight with Ninja Rua, I was aware of the Chute box traditional intense pre-fight stare-down, so I decided to play right into this by pretending to be slightly intimidated in order to lull Ninja into a false sense of security. This was almost a case of reverse-psychology (see, us fighters are more intelligent than you think). This is also reminiscent of David’s tactics heading into this weekend, by outright rejecting Klitschko’s numerous offers to shake hands, and in fact completely refusing to accede to the imposing will of his opponent, who is evidently accustomed to getting his own way. It’s astute from the Hayemaker, and psychologically David genuinely feels he has got inside Wlad’s head. Furthermore, some quarters have misconstrued David’s lack of verbal assault since the bout was officially signed as nervousness, but again I believe that David is just subverting expectations by being restrained and focussing fully on the task at hand. In an interesting role reversal, David has effectively coerced the customarily stolid Wladimir into being more vocal. If he pulls off the win, it will be perceived retrospectively as a psychological masterstroke.
With me personally, my pre-fight antics (gorilla mask etc) reveal that I’m a fairly jovial guy who likes to entertain the fans whilst doing the sport I love. In terms of trash-talk, it really depends on the fight, and the specific opponent. If I feel it can help, I’ll incorporate some banter into the build-up. Ordinarily, I’m a reactive person, so if an opponent displays respect then I will act in kind. Conversely, if an opponent opts to direct criticism or insults in my direction, I tend to fight fire with fire, and I think most fighters (with the exception of the likes of GSP) behave in a similar fashion.
When I fought Alex Reid, part of the promotion was the back-and-forth mutual “banter exchange”. Sometimes, the element of hyping the fight with trash-talk can surpass the genuine dislike between two fighters. That’s the fight game. It’s a sport, but simultaneously it’s entertainment. I’m a fan as well as a fighter, and I remember from my youth, the excitement and anticipation of watching Eubank vs Benn, due to the genuine animosity exhibited by both men. An atmosphere was created.
My most inspired pre-fight mind-games were implemented against Mark Epstein; the tension had progressively built up during a number of previous Cage Rage shows and after-parties, and I managed to get inside his head to such an extent that the night prior to the actual fight he refused to stay in the same hotel as me, and couldn’t face some of the press commitments due to his lack of desire to even be in my presence. I had successfully managed to antagonise the man to a level that he literally couldn’t stand the sight of me. Mission accomplished. Conversely, I’ve never been overly-perturbed by the comments of a fellow fighter, I choose not to buy into the trash-talk and generally retain my composure.
People often enquire as to my post-fight relationship with Alex Reid, given the level of pre-fight hostility. I always respected Alex as a fighter, and he often receives unfair criticism due to his TV persona. I wouldn’t say there is any existing tension between the two of us, but neither do we go out and socialise. In all honesty, I’ve never really spoken to the bloke outside of the customary cage pleasantries.
I’ll always shake my opponent’s hand following a fight. After all, we are two consenting adults fighting within the rules of a sport. It would have to be an extreme circumstance for me to continue a grudge after the final bell. Whilst I do believe that trading fists increases your respect for an opponent, I don’t necessarily feel that your opinions on a certain person will dramatically alter after a bout. Klitschko may very well respect David as a fighter come Monday morning, but I doubt he will ever respect him as a person given some of his antics over the past few years, not least the image depicting David knocking off Vitali’s head, to which he understandably took great offense.
There were rumours circulating about a prospective fight between myself and Frank Trigg at BAMMA7, but alas it doesn’t seem like this will actually materialise. He has commentated on one of my MFC fights before, and claimed not to be impressed by my performance (said in my best GSP voice). Frank Trigg is entitled to his opinion, and I have been equally unimpressed with some of his performances. If the fight were to come to fruition, I do believe some reciprocal banter would ensue, given that he is a pretty intelligent guy and seems to market himself well. In fact, thinking about it, he and I would be a recipe for banter, and it would certainly rouse interest amongst the fans.
In terms of epic MMA trash-talkers, I would pinpoint Tito as someone who has successfully crafted a public persona and marketed himself. He may polarise the fans, but just take a look at the success of his “Punishment” brand. He is the original benchmark for brand-building within MMA. Within boxing, the vintage hype-men are generally showmen also, who thrive on the limelight and exploit its gaze, such as Money Mayweather, or looking back further, the great Muhammad Ali. There have been other boxers who have acted even more outrageously than these two characters. A successful sportsman, particularly one that exudes personality, can often transcend their respective sport and draw the attention of non-aficionados worldwide. This is the power of charisma and words when accentuated by sport’s intense spotlight. Just look at the attention focussed on this weekend’s heavyweight clash. David Haye, “the Bermondsey braggart”, has created widespread interest through his witty verbal warfare. I’m even being approached by non-boxing fans asking for my opinion on the outcome.
People have asked me whether David deserves the fight with Wlad at this stage of his career and I firmly believe he does. David may have thrust himself onto the Klitchsko radar through his antics of the past few years, but I don’t subscribe to the theory that David has merely talked his way into this fight, because he is also evidently blessed with great ability. Yes, David’s exploits ultimately lead to the finalisation of the agreement, but David has also proven himself a worthy contender. I could possibly talk my way into a boxing match with David Haye but there would be little point in doing so. The reality is that I would get found out.
Regarding my prediction for the big fight, Klitschko obviously enters the bout as the bookies’ favourite, but the Haye camp is very smart, and David seems both mentally and physically prepared. Similar to Lennox Lewis, Haye is aware of his own strengths and will stick to them. Whilst Klitschko junior’s defence may have improved under the guidance of Emanuel Steward, I still believe that Haye could land a trademark hayemaker to the suspect chin of Wlad at some point during this one. If so, Haye could possibly retire on a spectacular note. Let’s just hope that it’ll be nearly as explosive as one of my fights.
Follow me on Twitter @TomKongWatson if you want an input on crucial matters such as the length of my hair and whether I should opt for a burrito or a chimichanga at lunchtime.
This year’s NBA Draft is pretty slim in talent; there isn’t a ton of depth or potential star-power to be had, past the top two picks (and, to be honest, both of those guys are pretty shoddy). However, there are some players projected to be late-fi…
This year’s NBA Draft is pretty slim in talent; there isn’t a ton of depth or potential star-power to be had, past the top two picks (and, to be honest, both of those guys are pretty shoddy).
However, there are some players projected to be late-first round, early-second round draft picks that could become gems if the smartest teams select them.
These are usually players that didn’t get a ton of props because, despite whatever success they may have had, didn’t play in a Division I school; Additionally, these are also players on deep teams in college which saw them as the second-best player despite being crafty as a leader.
Whatever the case, there are always a handful of these dudes in each draft.
(…so Tiny choked his ass…I know. Can you believe he had the nerve to ask ME for ID?)
On the heels of his latest criminal charges — a pair of misdemeanor harassment counts filed against him last week in Las Vegas, NV, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is at the center of new lawsuit.
The suit, filed by a Las Vegas strip club bouncer, alleges that one of the boxing champ’s bodyguards choked the complainant outside of his place of work, Drai’s at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon after he asked Mayweather and his entourage for identification before they were allowed entry into the club. According to court documents obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the plaintiff, Clay Gerling is seeking $10,000 in damages.
(…so Tiny choked his ass…I know. Can you believe he had the nerve to ask ME for ID?)
On the heels of his latest criminal charges — a pair of misdemeanor harassment counts filed against him last week in Las Vegas, NV, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is at the center of new lawsuit.
The suit, filed by a Las Vegas strip club bouncer, alleges that one of the boxing champ’s bodyguards choked the complainant outside of his place of work, Drai’s at Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon after he asked Mayweather and his entourage for identification before they were allowed entry into the club. According to court documents obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the plaintiff, Clay Gerling is seeking $10,000 in damages.
Last week the Review-Journal broke the news that “Pretty Boy Floyd,” was charged in Vegas Justice Court with two misdemeanor harassment counts stemming from an incident that allegedly took place in October in which Maywether told a Southern Highlands security guard that he would get his friends with guns to come over and deal with the official hired by his gated community to look after parking enforcement after he was told to move his vehicle from the street. The incident was separate from earlier charges Mayweather is facing for poking another guard (who had issued him a parking citation) in the face.
Maywether is set for preliminary hearing on felony charges stemming from a September 9 domestic dispute with his baby’s mama, Josie Harris and their two children. Those charges include coercion, grand larceny and robbery.
Mayweather is rumored to be returning to the ring in September against 29-2-2 welterweight Victor Ortiz.
If you missed Manny Pacquiao‘s latest performance on Saturday night, well, you didn’t miss much. The boxing megastar defended his WBO welterweight title by unanimous decision against “Sugar” Shane Mosley, in a bout that was marked by a disappointing lack of action. It’s not suprising that this CBS Sports highlight reel starts at the end of the 10th round. The only notable moments before that were a knockdown that Pacquiao scored in the 3rd frame — which seemed to convince Mosley to quit engaging altogether — and a trip/shove by Mosley earlier in the tenth that the referee decided to rule a knockdown, just to keep things interesting. Nevertheless, two of the judges ignored the ref’s bad call and gave every round to Pacquiao.
As we told y’all on Friday, the Pacquaio/Mosley match was Gus Johnson’s final play-by-play gig for Showtime, and he made sure to trot out his diverse range of knowledge. At the 0:52 mark: “He kinda throws, in the MMA world, it’s a version of the ‘Superman’ punch.” GuJo‘s just keeping the chops sharp until the UFC comes calling, I guess.
After every mechanical victory by Pacquiao over an outmatched opponent, our thoughts always turn to Floyd Mayweather Jr., and what he might be up to right now. Well, get a load of this…
If you missed Manny Pacquiao‘s latest performance on Saturday night, well, you didn’t miss much. The boxing megastar defended his WBO welterweight title by unanimous decision against “Sugar” Shane Mosley, in a bout that was marked by a disappointing lack of action. It’s not suprising that this CBS Sports highlight reel starts at the end of the 10th round. The only notable moments before that were a knockdown that Pacquiao scored in the 3rd frame — which seemed to convince Mosley to quit engaging altogether — and a trip/shove by Mosley earlier in the tenth that the referee decided to rule a knockdown, just to keep things interesting. Nevertheless, two of the judges ignored the ref’s bad call and gave every round to Pacquiao.
As we told y’all on Friday, the Pacquaio/Mosley match was Gus Johnson’s final play-by-play gig for Showtime, and he made sure to trot out his diverse range of knowledge. At the 0:52 mark: “He kinda throws, in the MMA world, it’s a version of the ‘Superman’ punch.” GuJo‘s just keeping the chops sharp until the UFC comes calling, I guess.
After every mechanical victory by Pacquiao over an outmatched opponent, our thoughts always turn to Floyd Mayweather Jr., and what he might be up to right now. Well, get a load of this…
Last Thursday, Money Mayweather was charged with misdemeanor harassment for making threats against two security guards who ticketed a couple of Mayweather’s cars that were parked outside his Las Vegas mansion back in October. According to TMZ:
Mayweather allegedly threatened the guards — who patrol the boxer’s upscale housing community — after he noticed the citations, claiming, “My homies have guns. If you want me to call them, they’d come over here and take care of you.”…According to the complaint, Floyd added, “These are my f**king cars. Don’t touch my f**king cars.”