Fightin' Words

I wanted to say that this is a good blog, and that I'm a reader. Keep up the articles and the good work, Joe. Other readers: CHIME IN!!!

This has been a great TUF season overall. I've been completely addicted, though I missed an episode a couple of weeks ago (the brawl).

I like the hardline stance that Dana White has made on personal conduct throughout his career with UFC. I think it's made UFC the model of professionalism and sportsmanship in pro sports.

Capitalising on this brawl, IMHO could be a symptom of my greatest fear with MMA: getting lax on unprofessional conduct, a fraction of which would get any of us fired from our jobs.

They're good guys, and they're in a tension-charged atmosphere with a lot of pressure. They might deserve another chance, but being awarded a season-hallmark fight as a prelude to Pulver/Penn for choosing not to settle their differences in the ring is not the right decision. If this happened in my line of work, or even if I chose to use my professional salesmanship against one of my fellow salespeople in a non-competitive environment (i.e. a co-worker), I would not only face termination, but I would enforce the negative reputation of salespeople. The UFC can't afford this, and it should never be so self-assured that it can. Otherwise, it's just boxing or wrestling.

Yeah, I missed the episode, and I tried like hell to catch it on a rerun. Yeah, they are hard-working good guys. They messed up, and they shouldn't be rewarded for messing up when Nate Diaz and Corey Hill are ballbusters who played the game, and the show, fair and straight. Dana didn't miss the episode, and he's the one who either orchestrated or allowed this perversion of the sport to happen, in the name of ratings. I watch MMA for the purest, fairest competition possible. What's going on?

Pulver/Penn is easily enough, and this didn't need to happen. Neither of those guys would have the lack of integrity to impliment their skills outside of competition, or resolve their differences in a brawl. I think most MMA fans recognize this, and it's a good reason why we'd rather follow MMA over other sports in the first place.

During TUF5, I've gained a great respect for Jens Pulver. I'm like other MMA fans, in that I still see him as the underdog vs. B.J. Penn, due to Penn's enormous reputation, skill, and integrity, but Pulver has repeatedly surprised me with his ability as a coach. Having been a manager and sales coach in the past, Pulver's philosophy of being the hardest-working team member, and of busting-ass on behalf of the ballbusters has rewarded me with brilliant teams who were willing to bust-ass. Not only does it remind me that I had the right idea, but it makes me wish I had managers who weren't so solidly in the Penn style: We picked you because you were good. You provide your own motivation, and I'll give you the guidance. (I also know I only see what they show, and no disrespect to B.J.)

Teambuilding is more than that, and Pulver realizes it. His philosophy, and his team (especially Hill and Diaz, and Penn's Grey Maynard), have helped refocus and reinforce my own work ethic, regardless of my coaches/managers.

In closing, I've said what I wanted to say. I hope that Dana excercises his power in ensuring that MMA doesn't revert to "spectacle" status, when its integrity and sportsmanship are currently the best in professional athletics.

Sincerely,

Ghrankenstein

This fight is off! Dana White is still sour over the backyard brouhaha and has said that neither Sims nor Thomas will never fight under the UFC banne. Ever. Here's the finalized card for TUF 5 Finale: http://kodiakmma.blogspot.com/2007/06/tuf-5-finale-card-finalized.html