Trash talking stare down makes UFC look more like WWE
If you caught the very end of the UFC 96 event you probably saw the stare down and trash talk between Rashad Evans and Rampage Jackson, two big scary men, who both are at the top of their games, and both big trash talkers with dialogue that went down something like this:
Rampage: I'm gettin' that belt back.
Evans: I'm a knock you the fuck out.
Rampage: I'm not gettin' knocked out, baby. I'm gettin' that belt back.
Evans: You're gettin' knocked out.
Rampage: Think about it. Know it. See it.
Evans: Let's do it.
Rampage: Rampage gettin' his belt back. See it, Rashad.
Evans: Gonna send you back cryin'. Cryin' like a little bitch.
Rampage: I'm gonna be a hundred times better than I was today. Watch.
Evans: You can't beat me.
Rampage: ALL I HAVE TO SAY... THERE'S GONNA BE SOME BLACK ON BLACK CRIME HERE!
Talk about a page out of the book of the WWE.
I am all for trash talk and getting into your opponents head, the fight game is as much mental as it is physical and it means a lot come fight time when you have that psychological advantage over your opponent. The line should have been drawn here though.
While I think it's fine that Rashad and Rampage were in each others face as they were expected to face each other at UFC 98, (which will now not be happening due to Rampage having a hand injury) I think it's wrong that Joe Rogan, the UFC colour commentator threw his microphone in there to broadcast it to the crowd and the world.
We know these fighters aren't soft, if they were they would not be in the UFC. The problem that exists though is that the sport is still looking for validation and acceptance in many mediums and in many places around the world, including North America.
Though this will help build up a Rampage/Rashad fight when and if it does happen, what it doesn't do is help lure in the big wigs who want a clean, fair sport that they want to have in their state or city. It essentially stunts the growth of MMA when you have a bad image cast on the sport, and one reminiscent of professional wrestling.
The trash talking can continue but before you know what's exactly going to happen, maybe Rogan should think twice before broadcasting it to the world.
Rampage: I'm gettin' that belt back.
Evans: I'm a knock you the fuck out.
Rampage: I'm not gettin' knocked out, baby. I'm gettin' that belt back.
Evans: You're gettin' knocked out.
Rampage: Think about it. Know it. See it.
Evans: Let's do it.
Rampage: Rampage gettin' his belt back. See it, Rashad.
Evans: Gonna send you back cryin'. Cryin' like a little bitch.
Rampage: I'm gonna be a hundred times better than I was today. Watch.
Evans: You can't beat me.
Rampage: ALL I HAVE TO SAY... THERE'S GONNA BE SOME BLACK ON BLACK CRIME HERE!
Talk about a page out of the book of the WWE.
I am all for trash talk and getting into your opponents head, the fight game is as much mental as it is physical and it means a lot come fight time when you have that psychological advantage over your opponent. The line should have been drawn here though.
While I think it's fine that Rashad and Rampage were in each others face as they were expected to face each other at UFC 98, (which will now not be happening due to Rampage having a hand injury) I think it's wrong that Joe Rogan, the UFC colour commentator threw his microphone in there to broadcast it to the crowd and the world.
We know these fighters aren't soft, if they were they would not be in the UFC. The problem that exists though is that the sport is still looking for validation and acceptance in many mediums and in many places around the world, including North America.
Though this will help build up a Rampage/Rashad fight when and if it does happen, what it doesn't do is help lure in the big wigs who want a clean, fair sport that they want to have in their state or city. It essentially stunts the growth of MMA when you have a bad image cast on the sport, and one reminiscent of professional wrestling.
The trash talking can continue but before you know what's exactly going to happen, maybe Rogan should think twice before broadcasting it to the world.
