When It Comes to MMA and the UFC, It’s Still the 90’s in Germany
(Wandy and Rich can't even get an open workout in without being bothered by this crap.)
Oh, Germany. Your fashion sense and taste in music aren't the only things that often trend about a decade behind the United States. Your media coverage of the first German UFC event this weekend is equally outdated, raising all the same arguments and accusations that our media did back in the dark days of MMA. The only difference is, when our media blasted the UFC for putting on brutal, bare-knuckled brawls with a dearth of rules to protect the competitors, it was actually true.
Apparently the German media coverage of UFC 99 this week has been not only ungenerous, but also completely inaccurate. Some media outlets are claiming that the fights are done with bare fists and even go to the death, and even normally cool-headed dudes like Rich Franklin are starting to get pissed off at having to answer all the same questions we thought we put to rest years ago in the USA:
"We got asked these kind of questions in the USA like, ten years ago," said Franklin. “It has surprised me to see some of the negative reactions in the German media over the last week, if I am honest. We didn't get those reactions the first time we came out here to promote this show. It seems like since then the media have gone away and read a couple of things and have developed preconceptions. It is a bit frustrating to have to once again be defending my sport and myself as a sportsman, but I suppose that is what happens when you move into a new territory that maybe hasn't been exposed to the sport [of MMA] before."
I understand the part about not being exposed to MMA, but how about being exposed to fact-checking? At least when John McCain called MMA “human cockfighting,” he was kind of right. It’s a completely different sport these days.
It’s especially ironic to hear Germany (who you might remember from such World Wars as I and II) complaining about the violence found in the UFC. But it’s kind of uncool to keep bringing that up sixty years later…unless you get a German dude to do it for you. Oh good, here comes Marek Leiderberg, the UFC’s local promotions partner in Germany:
"[Politicians and the media] have also tended to criticize an event that has never happened here. They have said that violence comes from UFC or glorification of violence. I must say for an event that has not happened, how this could have influenced violence in Germany is unclear to me. And as a historical reference, I must say I think Germany has a lot of remarks to make about its own history and references to violence, if I want to return with the same kind of coin."
Oh. Snap. It’s like you kill a few million people and nobody ever lets you forget it.
Look, German media, how about just give this thing a chance and actually see what it’s about before you criticize it? Or at least criticize stuff that is factually accurate. For instance, did you know the UFC ownership is connected to casinos?
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Comments
Meohfumado Says:
There is just something wrong with some Germans these days.
They also want to outlaw all violent video games...period! As if violence didn't exist before Pong!!!
And yes, this from the same goose-stepping morons who brought you two world wars.
Hypocrisy, thy name is Germany.
BM2 Says:
For all the troubles that have cropped up, I wonder if the brass are wondering if maybe even Japan and Brazil wouldn't be as hard as initially thought...
Savage Says:
When will people realize this is a damn SPORT! damn lay off the "human cockfighting" thing! every time i hear some one compare it to that it just pisses me off. i guess thats just people though in general, judging things that they know absolutly nothing about
831 Son Says:
People are just idiots. They deserve to die.
Daddy_jeffy Says:
Every time I hear someone refer to MMA as human cockfighting, it makes me want to peck and scratch their eyes out.
Shatski Says:
Not entirely sure and it is just a guess, but maybe Germany is overdoing it a bit to distance their country from the time when their leading political parties did the things that were done in World War I and II. It could be misinformation, of course and it probably is, but they may just be taking steps to distance themselves from their country's bloody and violent past. I mean, even when KISS goes on tour there, the band has to modify the logo of the band name because of the font. The two S's at the end of the word in the usual logo is the same as the pins that the Nazi party's S.S. used in World War II and those were the hardcases and not the rank and file. The average German soldier might not have agreed with the party, but when faced with the death of you and/or your family, you go to war. The S.S. were the guys that carried out the threats of death and were in the simplest term, "evil." So now decades later if a band has to change their name so the German population isn't reminded of that history, I can see why they might be apprehensive about a sport with violent and unregulated beginnings, though it has evolved far past those days. Like I said, it is probably just misinformation. Maybe even leaked by Ol' Bob Reilly, the sneaky devil.
Art Gibs Says:
I doubt there will be a day when MMA doesn't have critics. Sometimes their criticism is thoughtful and informed, and other times it's retarded. I feel for Franklin. It's actually difficult to enjoy MMA when you have to defend the sport. Has anyone else had friends over to watch some MMA and then been forced to argue about why MMA shouldn't be illegal, isn't human cockfighting, or isn't a real sport. I have, and it sucks. That's why I don't invite dumb friends to watch MMA with me anymore; it's much more enjoyable that way.
Art Gibs Says:
@ David_jeffy:
LOL. Well done, sir.
Shatski Says:
I agree Art Gibs. I have friends that think boxing is still the better sport, but they think the rules aren't put together as well they are in boxing, which I guess they mean aren't as universally recognized, and the point system, but they also haven't had much experience in even watching it or seeing what the rules are as they have in boxing, which has had fairly established rules for a while now. That may change, though. One of them just got Undisputed, which may give him a bit more appreciation for how diverse the sport actually is in comparison to boxing. Plus the sport is still I guess you could say a toddler, past its infancy, as far as the rules, refereeing, and a point system being universally accepted, but there are good building blocks there already and I don't think they need much more work.
ktfo Says:
i hope all the fights end in brutal fasion, just like the last fight for the troops that took place in december. spike tv wont even show a replay of that one.
Dmonicideals Says:
Fuck them. After 99 gets done, and the fighters leave the country, I say we fucking Nuke the whole eastern block, then drop a few more on NK on our way by, come home, land the bomber, and watch a replay of 99. They want to know violence? They don't know shit.
PingPong Says:
Holy Shit Karl Rove reads Cage Potato!
Phenylalanine Says:
maybe wandy will switch it up and come out to some Ace of Base
PurplePickle Says:
I'm not surprised by the lack of facts in the German media's reporting. Especially about a combat sport from a promotion based in America.
I also think over aggressive militaristic Germans are a thing of the past (not that that is a bad thing). Read Mark Steyn's 'America Alone'. Like most of Europe, the Germans are bending over and waiting for the forced conversion to the religion of peace.
I have a bet, let's see what takes root in Europe first; the UFC, or compulsory daily prayers in a certain geographic direction.
Smeewa Says:
A history of violence.
Germany is in denial.
Shatski Says:
By PurplePickle "I have a bet, let's see what takes root in Europe first; the UFC, or compulsory daily prayers in a certain geographic direction."
Oof!! That's a hell of a shot! I don't think the fundamentalist Muslim world would hate that after those little squabbles between them and the Holy Roman Empire. Whatya call 'em? The Crusades! Let's hope it's the UFC on that one.
Some expansion into Brazil and Japan would be sweet, too, though. Again, I mean the UFC, of course.
Poo Flinger Says:
@ Daddy_jeffy
LMAO. Comment of the week!
Shawn Says:
You know, the Germans always make good stuff.
ScrambledEggs Says:
How did I know clicking on taste in music was going to lead to David Hasselhoff. Hasn't that fucking joke ran it's course. I mean really does that stupid shit still get laughs.
Sponk Says:
Listen guys, as much as you think germans are uneducated about this sport, u seem to be uneducated about Germany.
First of all, we have MMA Shows in Germany since the Mid 90s, so this is not a new thing. And nobody gives a shit, what the boullevard-media and some boxing-promoters have to say about our lovely sport. You know, newspapers like "Bild" cant be taken serious and dont reflect the common attitude towards mma. Many polls have shown that most germans have nothing against MMA-Events and are exited to welcome the UFC.
I am feeling sad for you guys, trying to bring up old stereotypes about this country, like germans are all into trashy music and fashion. That only shows me one thing : You have never been here, you dont know jack about what you are talking.
Sure, we ve got enough dickheads in our country, but what about you guys ?
And talking about WWII, you should educate yourself and check some facts, like, who financed the funny guy with the moustache and who took all the high-ranked nazis home in order to let them build up their intelligence service and army.
You shouldnt judge Germany by reading crappy articles and listen to your 89 year old Grandfather who lost his leg here. Learn to make your own experiences, it doesnt help us both if you re stuck in your trailer park and talk BS about a country you ve never visited and ppl you never talked to.
Jesus, get educated, its 2009 !!!
Btw, i am not german, i live here for about 36 years and visited the US several times, so i might know, what i am talking about.
MyFightWiffaCheeto Says:
Highly doubt it dude.
Art Gibs Says:
Sponk said: "Sure, we ve got enough dickheads in our country, but what about you guys ?"
Is that a rhetorical question?
robthom Says:
There is something kinda cool about fighting with bare fists to the death though.
I wouldn't mind if that was my undeserved reputation.
831 Son Says:
@ Sponk: By grandpa killed so many of you pathetic faggots. I am very pleased with that by the way.
Lets fight if you got a problem with CP.
Shatski Says:
Like I said, man, it was a guess. As far as the state of Germany and the country's attitude towards MMA, yeah, we are uneducated, unless we've been there. If I had been there before, maybe I'd have a better idea, but I haven't. That's where the word "guess" came in.
It sucks that the source, like you said, "cant be taken serious and dont reflect the common attitude towards mma." If something gets picked up in another country by a newspaper or some other form of journalism, it's usually taken as that source knows what it is talking about and is reported elsewhere as reliable. I know there are news sources here that don't get things straight or know common distinctions between simply known things that could be learned with a tiny bit of reading. So if that source was unreliable, then it's little fault to the readers here and even CP. I'm sure they don't regularly read German news sources, either, to know what's reliable and what isn't.
It also doesn't help that you make assumptions yourself, either, with the U.S. trailer park association, since you "might know" what you're talking about. Two wrongs, teapot calling the kettle black, there's a few sayings about all that.
We have enough of our own trashy music, too. After Hollaback Girl, the U.S. deserves any musical ridicule from anywhere else in the world. That song is to the music world, like the E.T. videogame is to the game world. Should be buried and forgotten.
And yeah, there's dickheads all over the world. There's something we can agree on for sure. No, that is not directed at you just in case you start getting defensive.
saku Says:
@Dmonicideals: So you want to nuke Germany to let them learn about violence. I recommend to you to visit the frontlines of WW1. Yeah, thats the one without hiroshima. Compared to most people in the USA, europeans not only know war from news reports. Read about Verdun and if youre not impressed go visit it.
I think germans know very well about violence and this is why they avoid it. If the UFC wants to have success there they have to teach the technical aspects of the sport. They need to highlight fighters which are examples for dedication and respect. Boxing wouldnt be as big as it is over there if people didnt know who the Klitschkos are. In fact they know almost nothing about boxing as a sport but they know the fighters quite well.
@831 Son: Do you even realise, that your comment makes you no different to a nazi? You think you can decide who is worthy to be alive and who isn't. Yet you don't even know who the people where that were killed by your grandpa. Im very sure he didn't only kill SS members but also people who were forced to serve in the military. You probably never thought of the difference.
All those hate comments make me wish the UFC doesn't return to Germany. It is very insulting to the german readers of CP.
I think the problem with UFC 99 is that it's just the wrong time. There are elections in 3 months and nobody wants to burn his fingers on this. That's why people stick with what first comes to mind when they see UFC. And let's be honest: someone who's new to the sport has to think its barbaric. Ofcourse they know nothing about the sport. What's even worse is that they dont know the guys who fight. There was no good coverage. Guys like Wanderlei of Crocop are great but to the german public those names are meaningless. What's the point in having all those superstars if they aren't recognized as such.
Shatski Says:
Good suggestion, saku. He could visit any number of places throughout Europe from the Atlantic Ocean into Eastern Asia. It doesn't end there, but if were talking Europe, the history of violence goes back well before the Earth was thought round and revolved around the sun and even was thought to be a god in ancient Roman and Greek times. The opening video for the UFC is a gladiator preparing for battle so there's tribute to the history of violence in Europe right there. If a technical and dedicated fighter is a good ambassador to the sport over there, then rich Franklin is a great choice to headline.
I agree with the nazi comment, too. Some of the people killed could very well have been poor people with no choice whether or not they were Germans or even Polish people forced to put on a uniform.
They probably wanted some big or more recognized names there to pull in spectators from all over Europe, especially with Cro Cop and to a lesser extent, Kongo (France), Struve (Holland), Stojnic (Bosnia), and the various British guys even though half of those countries are quite a distance away. Local fighters are good, but if they are new and internationally unheard of, Dana doesn't want to fill his card with them and I agree from a business standpoint. Aside from Sobatta and Siver, I don't think there are any local guys on there.
Sponk Says:
@ Shatski - You re right, mentioning the trailer parks wasnt very gentle, but i couldnt believe, that educated ppl talk like this ( Meohfumando, 831 ). I wasnt assuming, all you guys live in parks, i know better.
One more thing about german newspapers & sources. I dont blame you for getting information out of "bad" sources, but it doesnt take much time to check, how reliable and biased some of them are. Especially the newspaper "Bild", which was mentioned in many articles, is well known for writing BS all the time. Saying "Bild" reflects the german attitude is like believing Bill O Reilly reflects the american. But anyway, i wasnt attacking CP or its readers for that, just wanted to set some things straight.
@831 - Listen Dude, i told you, i am not german. Our grandfathers fought on the same side against the nazis and a lot of my family members were killed or tortured by germans.
And still i have no problems with germans today, cause this is a thing of the past. Your comment confirms, that you are an uneducated low life. And btw, who said i ve got a problem with CP ? I love the site, so no need to fight and ruin your monkey face.
Btw, UFC99 was nice to watch, unfortunately most fighters are unknown to the larger audience here, so Dana has to put up some good PR Campaigns in the future. But i have no doubt that Germany is ready for the UFC, it will explode at some point like it did in the USA.