Morning! Since last week’s “Ask the Nose” segment was such a hit, I’m going to do it all over again on today’s episode of “The MMA Hour.” So, fire away below. I’ll answer a few today live on air. Thanks in advance, and see you at 1 pm et / 10 am pt / 6 pm gmt.
When it comes to fighter’s pay, we’ve seen some attempts at collectives coming together with the intention of tackling the subject. GSP was a high profile member of the MMAA. These groups just seem to whimper away and die. What do you think stops any momentum or movement created by these groups? Are they scared off? All but slowly any fighter standing up for the cause distances themselves and you never hear of it again.
What do you make of Eddie Hearns ambition to make Matchroom boxing more like the UFC, with greater control over fighters so he can make more elite matchups? The trade-off between fighter pay against seeing the best vs the best matchups is an interesting debate. You rarely/infrequently see best vs best in boxing (Fury/Joshua case in point) but pay is better. Thoughts?
👃🏻 You mentioned that Brock is the most intimidating individual you’ve ever had to interview. What fighter or personality completely exceeded or surpassed any expectation you had of them, prior to meeting and interviewing?
Your infamous interview with the Undertaker at UFC 121 is one I can think of where viewers got to see the man behind the persona.
Baaaccckk in your LIFE! From the sounds of it with Gable Steveson the UFC hasn't been out front trying to secure him. Do you have any thoughts on that? Coming off an Olympic Gold Medal win like his, and the popularity he's been gaining this would be a huge get for the UFC and heavyweight division. Wouldn't he be easier to negotiate with now, before he goes to WWE or another organization and becomes a bigger star? Keep up the awesome work!
I think the best answer to fighter pay is a contract based salary similar to the NBA, as well as a show and win payment. If not this, what do you think is the ideal way to solve the issue of fighter pay?
What happened to boxing? It's always been the guy who pushes forward and lands the bigger punches wins. Just because one guy lands 70 and the other guy lands 50 doesn't mean anybody won. Who pushed forward the whole time? Those are points. Who landed the biggest punch of the whole fight? Those are points too. If they would have called T Wood the winner it would not have surprised me at all.
Ariel - You are a scholar and a gentleman. You are also the reason I am a relatively-new combat sport fan. Thank you for your work. I am a policy nerd and former Netflix and YouTube exec who lives in DC and have this one question: WTF is going on with the governance of the UFC? Who picks these judges? Why are the US states even involved regulating UFC fights? There is precedent for federal judging/safety standards that preempt the more goofball state judging decisions that seem to be coming out of the states. How can we improve judging in combat sports?
Hi Ariel, gotta call you out on the tattoos and Jewish cemetery myth. There's nothing in the old testament that says you can't be buried in a Jewish cemetery with a tattoo. In the old testament, there's a passage about not desecrating your body, but no prohibition about cemeteries. If you read the old testament strictly, women shouldn't get their ears pierced either. But it is not connected to burial. If you don't want a tattoo, and it's because of your religious beliefs, that's your prerogative. But please stop pushing the cemetery myth.
With UFC partnering with ESPN do you feel that it has affected the path to the title for fighters that may deserve it over more popular athletes? And is that good or bad for the sport?
With UFC Fight Pass having a lack of care for their library, losing what is one of their best promotions in INVICTA, cancellations that often mean no exclusive prelims and just going on ESPN+, I feel like the value of Fight Pass is significantly decreasing, do you agree?
What fighter do you think you have the greatest chance beating in a 3 round fight?
👃🏻
When it comes to fighter’s pay, we’ve seen some attempts at collectives coming together with the intention of tackling the subject. GSP was a high profile member of the MMAA. These groups just seem to whimper away and die. What do you think stops any momentum or movement created by these groups? Are they scared off? All but slowly any fighter standing up for the cause distances themselves and you never hear of it again.
What was it like to be in that ring between T Wood and Jake Paul? That is a dream!
What do you make of Eddie Hearns ambition to make Matchroom boxing more like the UFC, with greater control over fighters so he can make more elite matchups? The trade-off between fighter pay against seeing the best vs the best matchups is an interesting debate. You rarely/infrequently see best vs best in boxing (Fury/Joshua case in point) but pay is better. Thoughts?
What would your nickname be if you were a fighter/wrestler?
What’s the greatest risk you’ve taken in your career?
👃🏻 You mentioned that Brock is the most intimidating individual you’ve ever had to interview. What fighter or personality completely exceeded or surpassed any expectation you had of them, prior to meeting and interviewing?
Your infamous interview with the Undertaker at UFC 121 is one I can think of where viewers got to see the man behind the persona.
Baaaccckk in your LIFE! From the sounds of it with Gable Steveson the UFC hasn't been out front trying to secure him. Do you have any thoughts on that? Coming off an Olympic Gold Medal win like his, and the popularity he's been gaining this would be a huge get for the UFC and heavyweight division. Wouldn't he be easier to negotiate with now, before he goes to WWE or another organization and becomes a bigger star? Keep up the awesome work!
I think the best answer to fighter pay is a contract based salary similar to the NBA, as well as a show and win payment. If not this, what do you think is the ideal way to solve the issue of fighter pay?
What happened to boxing? It's always been the guy who pushes forward and lands the bigger punches wins. Just because one guy lands 70 and the other guy lands 50 doesn't mean anybody won. Who pushed forward the whole time? Those are points. Who landed the biggest punch of the whole fight? Those are points too. If they would have called T Wood the winner it would not have surprised me at all.
Ariel - You are a scholar and a gentleman. You are also the reason I am a relatively-new combat sport fan. Thank you for your work. I am a policy nerd and former Netflix and YouTube exec who lives in DC and have this one question: WTF is going on with the governance of the UFC? Who picks these judges? Why are the US states even involved regulating UFC fights? There is precedent for federal judging/safety standards that preempt the more goofball state judging decisions that seem to be coming out of the states. How can we improve judging in combat sports?
Ariel, how's it going man?
Hi Ariel, gotta call you out on the tattoos and Jewish cemetery myth. There's nothing in the old testament that says you can't be buried in a Jewish cemetery with a tattoo. In the old testament, there's a passage about not desecrating your body, but no prohibition about cemeteries. If you read the old testament strictly, women shouldn't get their ears pierced either. But it is not connected to burial. If you don't want a tattoo, and it's because of your religious beliefs, that's your prerogative. But please stop pushing the cemetery myth.
https://jewishfunerals.com/buried-jewish-cemetery-tattoos/
https://www.jcam.org/Pages/Foundation/Education/articles/tattoos.php
https://jewishaction.com/religion/jewish-law/what2/
With UFC partnering with ESPN do you feel that it has affected the path to the title for fighters that may deserve it over more popular athletes? And is that good or bad for the sport?
That guy from "Popeye' - is his name Bluto, Pluto or Luke?
With UFC Fight Pass having a lack of care for their library, losing what is one of their best promotions in INVICTA, cancellations that often mean no exclusive prelims and just going on ESPN+, I feel like the value of Fight Pass is significantly decreasing, do you agree?