Comments on: MMA Fighters and Why Personality Matters (Or Does It?)

By: UFC 132 Fight Card Premonitions and Wishful Thinking | Mr. James Ryan

UFC 132 Fight Card Premonitions and Wishful Thinking | Mr. James Ryan — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:16:14 +0000

[...] Read: MMA Fighters and Why Personality Matters (Or Does It?) [...]

By: The Coach vs. The Villian: Has the Tito-Bashing Finally Gone Too Far? | Mr. James Ryan

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:13:15 +0000

[...] MMA Fighters and Why Personality Matters (or Does It?) (MUST READ) [...]

By: Eric Bradley: Re-defining the Mould of an MMA Fighter | Mr. James Ryan

Eric Bradley: Re-defining the Mould of an MMA Fighter | Mr. James Ryan — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 05:21:02 +0000

[...] In other words, this kid has personality, and we all know that in the business of MMA…personality absolutely matters. [...]

By: Brock Lesnar: Surpassing Fedor’s MMA Legacy in Three (Not-so) Easy Steps | Mr. James Ryan

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:12:53 +0000

[...] fans refuse to believe that Lesnar is as good as he is because they don’t like him as a person. They refuse to root for a guy who behaves so [...]

By: Brock Lesnar: Surpassing Fedor’s MMA Legacy in Three (Not-so) Easy Steps | Combat Soup

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:24:22 +0000

[...] fans refuse to believe that Lesnar is as good as he is because they don’t like him as a person. They refuse to root for a guy who behaves so [...]

By: Tony V

Tony V — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:40:59 +0000

Personality could arguably be as important as talent. Personality has opened the door for several fighters who skills, or lack thereof, wouldn't even have gotten them on the property otherwise. Trick is personality will only get a fighter so far without the skills to back it up.

In my humble estimation the majority of Kimbo Slice's appeal is story and personality. There is no doubt the guy can fight but between his diminishing physical state (note his one kick leg), lack of high level MMA experience and age he can't be considered a contender in the UFC.

Junie Brown spawned 14.5 minutes of fame for himself that the UFC capitalized on with his TUF antics yet his fight game left something to be desired.

It is also important to note a lack of personality can torpedo a fighters career too. Talent only gets some fighters so far. If fans don't care to watch a fighter fight a promoter isn't going to promote a fight card for an empty arena.

Jake Shields comes to mind. Talented but puts together bland make everyone look bad fights and finishs with terrible interviews smacking of arrogance thus removing any likable qualities. But thats just my take.

By: FH

FH — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:40:36 +0000

Great article.

Interesting point about the whole personality thing. Yeah, I think fans are definitely drawn toward certain athletes based on personality. In high school, there was this talented, yet extremely cocky kid on the football team who was obsessed with Deion Sanders. Go figure.

But even more than that, I think proximity is the main thing. Basically everyone who lives within 200 miles of Boston cheers for the Red Sox. Fighters are no different. GSP's most loyal fans, other than maybe Dorothy, are from Montreal. BJ's my favorite fighter because we were born relatively close to one another (albeit 8 years apart) and because he gives his people something to cheer about.

By the way, I still think it's kinda funny when I see white people wearing Team Hawaii t-shirts. I don't know. It's like when white people wear FUBU. Just doesn't look right.

By: KK

KK — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:40:14 +0000

was gehts heir hilter?

Great Article!

P.S. learn to spell my canadian neighbor

x favourite.. correct spelling: favorite

x humour... correct spelling: humor

x harbour... correct spelling:
harbor

x flavour ... correct spelling: flavor

when will you canadians give up on that u already?

lol

By: gary

gary — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:39:53 +0000

I agree, good article. although I think its a little scary that so many people love and identify with guys who are complete tools. The other night some guy started shooting through the doors at a bar in my home town because he was pissed he got kicked out so he was gonna hurt or kill just anyone because he was mad. Hmm wonder which fighters he would be a fan of, talk about lack of respect and the direction society has been heading for some time. Just scary. On another note I dont know what the deal is with people. The whole lesnar thing is a sham and yet everyone eats up dana's crap. the ufc tells the media the guy is near death from diver's clitoris or what ever and then aaah aaah! a sudden miricle and he is good to go and better than ever. Im suprised they didnt use the six million dollar man footage to boost that one. Wake up sheep. This one has been over done. The guy got sick and they milked it for a variety of reasons which Im sure only a small percentage of the fans would have even thought about. Good timing to give the health care thing a little kick in the ass. Hey lestnar you ard not smardt enuff to be political so dont try ok. Stick to fighting, at least thats convincing so far. The other thing to consider is that maybe when brock was afflicted it was compounded a little by chicken shititis when he saw carwin coming. Dont kill the cash cow dana, ya thats right. Hey stoker hows it going bud, fedor rules….

By: Robert D

Robert D — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:39:32 +0000

Great article James! POTD! You make some great observations in this piece and I like how you apply it to the fight game. It's a shame your coming off back to back deletions, that's a bunch of crap and the b/r office should be ashamed of themselves. Keep up the good work and keep your head up. God Bless!