In the past six months, I have been quite critical, either in article or in comment, of the following four fighters: Diego Sanchez, Tito Ortiz, Frank Mir, and more recently, Thiago Silva.
I know that a lot of “fans” don’t like various athletes for a multitude of reasons without ever truly trying to understand why. Sometimes an athlete just “rubs you the wrong way” and that’s good enough.
Well I know exactly why I have a problem with each of these guys. But rather than simply complain, which is all too easy to do, I am going to attempt to break down the reasons that I don’t care for them and offer these legendary fighters some helpful advice along the way.
Let’s begin…
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Diego Sanchez—Ridiculous Aggression
I figured that I would start with the easy one first. For all of his antics, Diego Sanchez still somehow manages to be the least intimidating fighter that has ever lived.
In my article, A Better Understanding of the Intimidation Factor, I had attached a poll giving the readers various options and asked them to choose whom they felt were the “least” intimidating. It should be of no surprise that Diego won convincingly.
To me, Diego really sealed himself as a troubled young man at UFC 107 when he failed miserably in his attempt to beat the lightweight champion, BJ Penn. As humorous as I find Diego’s attempts at intimidation, I genuinely felt sympathy for him. He had psyched himself out so badly and to such a point that it ended up putting him at a serious disadvantage mentally.
My advice to Diego would be simple: Learn to enjoy it brother. It’s not everyday that a person gets to live out their dream. Don’t ever let the pressure get to be so great that you can’t enjoy it. Chillax bro…stop and smell the roses. Other than that, you’re doing great. Keep it up—your time will come.
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Tito Ortiz—Brutal Sportsmanship
Tito, Tito, Tito…what can I say man? The list is just too long.
I really ripped on Tito in my article Pathetic Tito Ortiz Begs the “Iceman” for a Third Beatdown. I figured that any guy who can dish it out the way that he does, should be able to take it as well.
Sportsmanship has always been a very high priority of mine when coaching youth sports. I have zero tolerance for bad behaviour from my players and I have less of a tolerance from those (professional athletes) that may be in a position of influence over young, aspiring athletes. Not everyone is going to be a great role-model, but sportsmanship is more indicative of overall character than I think a lot of people are willing to give it credit for.
With each and every grave-dig, trash-talk, and finger-shoot that Tito Ortiz can muster, he is telling the world that he is a contemptible character with serious insecurity flaws.
My advice to Tito would be this: Get yourself a mentor—someone who can coach you in the ways of interpersonal relations. Not someone to handle or represent your public relations, but someone who can teach you to handle it yourself…with class. You’re a legend in this sport—people want to like you. Start giving them a reason.
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Frank Mir—Psychological Fowl-Play
In the fight game, any advantage over an opponent is an intelligent strategy to use, whether it is physical or mental. I get that.
Frank likes to get into people’s heads. He likes to play mind games. I suspect that he thinks that it is a lot of fun and believes that it gives him a significant advantage in any fight (and it very well may). After all, emotions can be very distracting.
The problem that I have is, for a guy who can’t stop bragging about how great he thinks he is, I find this entire tactic to be more indicative of a lesser fighter and not someone who in my opinion should be so confident with his own abilities that any psychological pandering would be deemed as completely unnecessary.
Does Frank Mir lack so much confidence in his own fighting capacity that he must resort to “distraction” in order to win?
Why all of the games and how long until his opponents stop taking his immature jabs so personally and realize that he is just trying to cover up his own feelings of insecurity?
It bugs the heck out of me when a person has to resort to making other people look bad, just so that they can make themselves look good. Or make constant excuses… that’s Frank.
My advice to Frank is harsh, but necessary: Be a man. And I mean that with all due respect Frank. You are possibly the greatest fighter on the planet right now. Let your fists do the talking and stop being such a douche to your peers. The fans will appreciate you more for it.
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Thiago Silva—Mocking is for the Birds
I’ve never seen such odd behaviour in the ring as I did this past weekend.
Where does a fighter come off mocking and taunting his opponent, using up more energy in 30 seconds than he did in the entire first two-and-a-half rounds of the fight? That’s just strange, dude.
Sources have since informed me that Thiago was competing with a bad back, which has been bothering him for over the past year.
It makes sense that if he had a back injury then that would have affected him, not just in the fight, but in the training leading up to the fight as well.
Certainly this would explain his poor conditioning.
Silva must have been extremely disappointed. This disappointment and frustration no doubt contributed to his odd behaviour in the third round. My guess is that he was angry and disappointed in himself knowing full well that he was going to lose that fight (and that if he had been healthy—Rashad would have been beat).
My advice to Thiago: No worries from me bro. I admire the courage that it takes to enter into a fight when you’re not feeling 100 percent. Next time, just make sure you knock him out early. Cheers.
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These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. Check them out at www.mrjamesryan.com
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I know…I know…right now you’re all asking yourselves, “but James, what about your favourite whipping boy, Dana White”?
First read: MMA Q&A with Hector Lombard: Attract Bigger and Better Sponsors
Then get back to me with your own thoughts on the subject….
…and for those of you who hopefully don’t think that I am just trying to be mean, all I can say is…
Coach for Hire! haha
Article Links:
A Better Understanding of the Intimidation Factor
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/273383-inser…
Pathetic Tito Ortiz Begs the “Iceman” for a Third Beatdown
http://mrjamesryan.com/2009/11/06/pathetic-tito…
MMA Q&A with Hector Lombard: Attract Bigger and Better Sponsors
http://mrjamesryan.com/2010/01/04/mma-qa-with-h…
Thanks
Really great article James, I really enjoyed it.
Solid explanations as to why these guys get under your skin, and I have to agree on a couple of them.
Diego – I want to like him but I just never have; his little tough guy routine and constant “Homie” talk border on ridiculous. Add getting a public speaking coach to your suggestion of chilling out and there may be hope for him yet.
Thiago – I can kind of understand what he was trying to do to goad Evans but it was a poor decision.
Tito and Frank – I see where you are coming from on both I guys but I love the way they hype fights. I could do without Tito's post fight antics but the guy knows how to put on a show.
I have given up on passing too much judgement on fighters. While I harbor my opinions, and have vented them in the past, I truly want to make something of myself in this industry. I feel that aspiration hinges on respect in and of the sport. Now I know our subjects dont always employ that aspect as they are already “in” MMA. I have to be careful as I have put myself in the position where it is very likely I will engage some of these fighters in my efforts to make a name for myself. Bumping in to Junie Browing is a perfect example. Not my favorite mixed martial artist, but meeting him was unique. When I told him where I wrote, “Oh, I love BR, I read it all the time” At that moment I was thinking to myself, Oh shit, what have I written about this live wire. Point being, while I do hold my opinions, I am careful to let them fly just for the sake of sharing. Who knows if someday I may have to meet these guys face to face. Not that your not man enough to back up your words by any means, you strike me as a very stand up guy, but I just cant get into knocking these guys, were all human. Regardless, great read on your take on these fighters. And believe me I have my own contempt for more than one fighter Id love to run through the ringer for their actions in this sport, I just find something positive to talk about instead. Just my style.
The redeeming factor for Thiago is that Sugar Rashad is da king of showboating – so nothing wrong with stick it back to the man.
And after his best Rashad' imitation he almost got the job done – 3rd round was only time of that fight I really paid attention
Nice stuff, bro.
I think you probably coulda made four different articles here, and gone a bit more in depth, but I like that you're working on themes.
Agree about Thiago Silva, disagree about Mir and Diego a bit.
I'm not exactly sure what to do with Diego, because on the one hand, I think that he needs a better gameplan, and needs to add some skills, but on the other hand, I think that his strange mentality sometimes helps him do things, while a normal mentality would have led to doubt and internal confusion.
With Mir, he does what he does to get a rise out of people, and to market himself. If people get annoyed by Mir, then he's being effective.
Keep it up.
Dana just needs his ass kicked! I know it must suck having a girls name but his wanna be tough guy persona is just not working!
Thanks Robert!! Glad you liked it! and I would totally agree with you about Diego. The dude needs an image consultant or something.
What's unfortunate is that guys like Lebron and Crosby have a team of P/R people helping them as they transition into the pros. MMA fighters simply don't have that luxury and if they didn't learn it from their parents/coaches, then they just don't know any better.
Someone needs to help MMA fighters. I see that as a necessary in order for the image to start appealing more to the masses. Just a thought.
Thanks Todd and I agree completely (even if it doesn't seem like I do). Part of my motivation for writing this article was because I have been tough with opinions on these guys but rather than just say “you suck”!!, I felt it important to add a bit more context by breaking down my feelings on certain key issues (i.e.sportsmanship)
But make no mistake, my priority is one thing… our young athletes. If I see something that I feel is setting a bad impression, I plan on being the first one to say so. Sometimes, you just gotta stand up for what you believe in.
I'd like to think that makes me a man of principal.
This past summer, one of the coaches on the other team threatened one of my players on the field (he was 12) and then shoved him while we were lining up to shake hands at the end. He was about 300-lbs with flame tattoos all over his head and certainly looked like a big, mean biker dude.
F$^*& that!!! I thought! I marched straight up to the guy and he totally apologized and backed off. I made it very clear that in no uncertain terms that that level of behaviour would not be tolerated.
It's no different here. If my son and his friends and my players are going to watch MMA and I am going to encourage them to do so, the reputation of MMA and how they conduct themselves then becomes a reflection of ME.
Kinda like what I talked about in my Hector Lombard article. Image Association!
Thanks a ton Todd. You're a great guy and I always appreciate your feedback.
Cheers
Thanks Darren, I was originally going to make this a series, but changed my mind. I felt that each would fit together better to highlight my point and could be lost if someone didn't read them all (as was the case in my last series).
Diego's strategy may have worked well for him at one time, but now that he is a contender, I think it's time for him to mature a bit.
Did you see that video that Stoker had posted of Diego when he was behind the stage at the weigh-ins?? He just doesn't look like he's enjoying this process and he should be. He's taking his “character” a bit too far imo.
Thanks again for your support Darren. Much appreciated!!
Good read James.
The best part of B/R is the ability of the common man, to write, and intelligently debate his opinions. While I may not completely agree, I respect that you put your thoughts out there, to be read and critiqued, by us, your supposed “peers”. It is a good article in that it highlights that we all should not agree on everything mma.
The assesment of Silva/Sanchez reflects what I was thinking to the letter. One time I watched as George Foreman was doing the commentating on the Wladimir Klitschko v Corey Sanders boxing match. Klitschko came in with a lot of hype, and was profiling and posing, and Sanders, a southpaw, walked out, and pumped his mouth shut. It isnt a direct quote, but as Klitschko walked out to the ring, not in a sweat, Foreman said, before the match even went down…”There is more to this than coming out here and looking mean.”
Sanchez and Silva both look mean. No doubt. But fighting angry at the highest level, has never worked for any fighter, for any length of time. The greats are patient, and hardworking. There is no other way. Silva goading Evans, I think, was a s a result of watching game film on Evans, and being pissed that he was losing so badly, to a known showboat, who, also could have been on this list, with nipple tweaks, groin grabs, and arrogance galore. ( he still has no answer for Machida in his arsenal)
As for Mir, I feel your assesment is too harsh. I am a Mir fan mind you. The mind games idea is a bit much at times, and I felt that he was faking supreme arrogance towards Brock, simply because he had beat him once. It cost him. It made Lesnar train, and learn that much more, just to shut him up. The loss stung a helluva lot more after all of the talking and nonsense. The mind game strategy can fail too. Frank doesnt need that sort of stuff. He is talented, and imo, on his way to a solid spot in the HOF. His record, including wins over Nog and Lesnar, and his comeback from the bike accident already speak volumes about what he is really about. I tell myself, it is how he hypes fights. He is presently doing it, by publicly calling out Lesnar at every turn. My only comment to Frank is, worry about the big grizzly bear Carwin for now, and Lesnar later, dude.
LOL No doubt it works with handling some of the young “tough guy” fighters. I'm sure his personality has developed because of his need to display dominance over his fighters, but he needs to find another strategy.
His image, but more importantly, the image of MMA is suffering because of it.
Thanks Monty! I love that quote!!!
Completely agree with your takes on Rashad and Silva. I'd like to see Rashad use his new and improved head-bobbing against Machida!! LOL No chance!
Perhaps we agree that if Mir had not taunted and disrespected Lesnar in the way that he did, Lesnar may not have prepared as hard and likely this would have improved Mir's chances of beating him again??
I know I was tough in my opinion but only because like you, I don't think Mir needs to behave in such a way. Just fight his fight and everything else will work itself out – including a tripled fan base!
Tough love LOL
Great comments Monty. Thanks as always!
The UFC wants to compete with the likes of the NBA, MLB, and NFL in terms of viewership then they need to take notes on how they got to where they are today.
It's all about image and PR, every rookie that comes into the different leagues must take part in a conference/symposium that advises them on how to act and how the transition is going to change their lives.
If the UFC were ever to really take something like that on (they already do a little) the mainstream opportunities would become more visible.
Good stuff! There is a lot that goes into my choices of fighters to back with all the loyalty in my arsenal, and personality is a key factor.
I couldn't agree more on Sanchez and Silva.
Frank Mir is a little more of an interesting topic. To put it straight out there, I am a huge fan of Frank Mir. Frank comes across as confident to the fault of arrogance as he's hyping a fight. Honestly, Case Lesnar is somewhat an anomaly for Frank's typical MO. Usually, his serious talking only comes on the road to a fight.
I can't really argue with his method on Lesnar, though. By the time they get to the rubber match, people are going to pay to see him cash the check with his skill or get his a** handed to him. That's good business.
What I noticed about Mir after a fight, however, is that he is a true class act. He checks on his fallen opponents and, when all is said and done, says great things about each man's capabilities. Even as he angles towards a rubber match with Lesnar, he's honest about Lesnar's talent. Not to mention that, unlike Lesnar, he was completely willing to admit what he did wrong in the fight.
The moral of the story? Don't judge a book by it's cover and don't judge Mir by how he hypes a fight.
Great read!
Great points Mina. I will definitely take them under consideration when constructing opinions about Mir in the future. Thank you.
I DO want to like Mir, but what I don't think is appropriate is when he disrespects his competitors and then thinks that by offering praise afterwards that he somehow makes it all better.
Reminds me of something that I once read:
“Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm Your Victim: One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones. Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people. Once your selective honesty opens a hole in their armour, you can deceive and manipulate them at will.”
That's how I feel every time I hear him speak – likes he's trying to manipulate and project himself in a way that deceives.
“Open-hearted gestures of honesty and generosity bring down the guard of even the most suspicious people.” This statement clearly does not include myself LOL
I would like to think that he's only hyping the fight like you say.
Thanks again Mina. Cheers and thanks for the read/comment.
the only thing worse than a tito fight was tito calling a fight, stick to fighting tito you only have to look like an ass at one thing. great read james
And that is the beauty of what were doing here isnt it? I agree that the reflection on the sport is everyones responsibility, even if we have to call people out on their actions. And believe me, Im not knocking your approach, your a true standout, and have my respect.
I was just sharing why I try not to get into these types of articles, as I have intentions of earning their respect even if they dont have mine. I hope that makes sense. I lead by example, if I lead at all.
That is not by any stretch of the imagination meant to pass judgement on your approach. In the end, we could all do top ten lists all day long, with a lead up and a recap. But its fingerprints that truly set us apart, and yours is unique and quality.
I would love to had been in your shoes for the bully incident. I have a knack for dealing with those types without ever getting near as hostile as they might like me to bevlieve they are capable of being. I have a way about me, and in cases like those, I use it to the fullest. Ive coached a lot and cant stand those types, the ones who cant see the bigger picture. Who in their right mind lets a game amongst 10 year olds get them so built up that they have to show their asses? Not me, I detest that shit.
Thanks for getting back to me bro. I didnt want to step on your toes, I know we dont always agree, but I just wanted to chime in without jumping on board if that makes sense.
Thanks Todd, I appreciate the compliments
It's always nice to get praise from someone that you respect.
And I totally understand where you're coming from (I think
. You never want to offend the wrong person. I get that.
My thinking has always been that you can't please everybody no matter how hard you try. So I might as well raise my flag nice and high and maybe the right people will take notice. And maybe those that don't like what I have to say will take notice as well LOL I'm all for positive change and I would never back down if I felt that my intentions were true.
It makes me feel like I'm the kinda guy who will fight and stand up for what he believes in. I like that about me LOL
I admire the fact that you know what you want and you seem to have a very good idea on what you need to do to get there. That's awesome!!!
Thanks again Todd.
THEY ALL HAVE ONR THING IN COMMON…THEY ARE LOSERS
[...] refuse to accept bad behaviour as a natural part of this [...]
[...] refuse to accept bad behaviour as a natural part of this [...]
dude, by your logic Ali was a bad fighter.
[...] Sanchez, Ortiz, Mir and Silva: A Rational Explanation of Bad Behaviour [...]