Issue 187

January 2020

What does the Logan Paul vs KSI fight mean for MMA?

When YouTube gamers turned entertainment artists KSI and Logan Paul headlined the Staples Center in Los Angeles, a young audience around the world (principally on the internet) watched in their millions, while a ringside guest list that fight promoters could only dream of, filled the padded VIP seats. 

There was more than a degree of discord from the boxing purists, but I suspect it has opened the floodgates to a new phenomenon: The Celebrity Fight, posed as a professional contest. 

Let's be clear that we should see it for what it was: a glorified novice fight, a white collar boxing extravaganza. How long now though before we see the same in MMA? I suspect not too long. A new generation and new ways are unfolding before us. While the skills on show in the boxing match were what we all knew they would be – the American Paul and the Brit KSI were fit physically but technically so poor they were like two playground scufflers who could barely damage each other.

Where a different story emerged was in the number of people watching it and the hysteria ringside. It will almost certainly have piqued the curiosity of MMA promoters. The numbers tracked into the millions for Paul vs KSI, as Justin Beiber, Lil Baby and Rick Ross jumped out of their VIP seats in delirium.

Get this: eleven thousand rubber-neckers, not willing to pay for the privilege of the novice fight between the social media stars, even watched the bout in the reflection of a punter's glasses as he held his screen up to his lenses, broadcasting it on Twitter live.   

Logan Paul even got his wires crossed and his MMA organizations jangled up in the fight week, calling out Dillon Danis, and requesting – with his background in wrestling as his underlying credential – that Dana White "put me in the UFC Octagon." 

No thanks, Logan. I think we have seen enough. At least from this social media celebrity. But look beyond this and there is a line-up of high profile global stars who train in jiu jitsu-and MMA. 

If, say, UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, a black belt in taekwondo, or Guy Ritchie or Jason Statham, both pretty decent practitioners in jiu-jitsu and with previous experience in judo and karate, showed an interest, would it generate leverage? The trio are in their fifties, so it is unlikely, but what about the likes of Ashton Kutcher, recently a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt or Charlie Hunnam from Sons Of Anarchy with an interest in boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (he has a blue belt), or even Demi Lovato, the singing diva, if they decided to have a grudge fight with another actor, singer or presenter. It's not impossible to see it happening. 

We've already seen Brock Lesnar, Bobby Lashley, Jake Hager (aka Jack Swagger) and CM Punk cross codes to MMA from pro wrestling, so why not a celebrity? Beyond that, it may even be two other emerging YouTube stars who we are yet to see, who are squirrelling away, training in MMA right now. 

Personally, I can see fans of MMA being highly critical. But that doesn't mean it won't happen. We know how our fans follow this sport. Should a line be drawn? Can a line be drawn? Should it be a separate event altogether? Look what happened when the aforementioned Punk, with little or no MMA experience, made his way into the UFC. He was universally ridiculed. Just like KSI and Logan Paul, Punk simply highlighted the gulf between those who think they can fight, and the real fighters whom we follow because of their extraordinary skill sets, honed every day with hours upon hours spent in the gym.

Andy Foster, Head of the California State Athletic Commission, who licenced the KSI and Logan Paul event, told me he's convinced the same sequence will play out in MMA, either with 'YouTubers' or celebrities. 

“I think it’ll absolutely happen in MMA, sure. I’ve got kids and they watch a lot of this YouTube stuff,” Foster says. “I think this is the future of entertainment, this streaming stuff. I think we’ll see it sooner rather than later. The profession of the athlete makes no difference but their skill level does. If they’re competent and they pass the medicals, then it’s about who they can fight.” 

There you have it. I'll wager it won't be too long before a grudge between two actors, musicians, or indeed, other YouTube stars, finds its way onto our MMA radar, even with one of the major fight leagues.