By: Monte Perez

I grew up a die-hard fan of the UFC. Watching fighters like Royce Gracie, Dan Henderson, Georges (Yes, spelled with an S) St.Pierre, inspired me to take Mixed Martial Arts. I am all for players and athletes expressing themselves, politically, and speaking out against injustices. I do not believe in the radical right-wing theory where they want athletes to, shut up and dribble. I am all for players showing their personality with touchdown dances, sack celebrations and doing a move after a player hits a 3-point shot. It makes the game more interesting. I love the Home Run celebrations too. It brings fun and excitement to the game.

Trash talking has always been a part of fighting. Muhamad Ali was the master at it. But, Chael Sonnen crossed the line when he talked about Tito Ortiz ex-girlfriend Jenna Jameson when he said she used her mouth for money. Dana White should have fined Sonnen and brought him into his office and said, wives/gf’s and kids are off the table at these press conference. He did not do that.

What I am seeing now by the UFC is utterly classless and the lowest form of entertainment. Here is Conor McGregor below making fun of the Showtime promoter’s looks. Conor says, he looks like a weasel. Instead of people booing Conor, they  laughed and cheered. What does attacking someone’s look, who you are not fighting, have to do with promoting a boxing match?

Colby Covington is the new loud mouth of the UFC. He just fought and won against Jorge Masvidal. This was one of the most boring Main Event Fights I have seen in decades. Covington went on National TV and said Masivdal cheats on his wife. Laughed at Masvidal because he has to pay his wife money. Colby called Jorge, “2-pump chump, like his ex-wife used to tell me“. What does this have to do with fighting?

Dana White continues to support this type of rhetoric and encourages it. I do not expect fighters to be angels but when they start talking about people’s wives, families and girlfriends, that is a red flag. The UFC has the most talent fighters in the world but these press conferences and interviews have become unwatchable and quite honestly, disgusting to see.

Once I found out that Floyd Mayweather had 7 women accuse him of domestic violence, I never paid for any of his fights again. I was not going to put money into the pockets of a serial abuser. The UFC is a sport I loved, but their toxic masculinity and classless fighters is a huge turn off. I have not paid for a UFC fight in years and I do not see myself supporting them anytime in the near future. White has become Vince McMahon. He does not care about anything, other than money, click bait and trying to sell his product at all cost.

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