Issue 119

September 2014

Following a number of high-profile sports stars recently deciding to open up about their homosexuality, we ask...

WILL THERE BE AN OPENLY GAY MALE UFC FIGHTER WITHIN THE NEXT DECADE?

Yes

LORENZ LARKIN

Former Strikeforce and current UFC middleweight

14-3-1

I believe so. There have been a few gay fighters who are pretty good but they weren’t able to make it to the big show during their careers for whatever reason. 

I’m from California and there’s an openly gay fighter there called Shad Smith who has been fighting in MMA for years. He’s fought a lot of top guys, too, like Dominick Cruz and Duane Ludwig, real quality fighters.

We’ve even got an openly gay fighter at the gym right now. He’s an amateur and he’s really good, as tough as nails.

I think it’s going to happen, for sure, and I just hope that if they do it that they can be accepted for who they are and not feel as if they need to hide it. 

From talking to people I know, the hardest part about being gay is holding it in and hiding it from everybody.

No

AUNDRE JACOBS

Fighters Only Assistant Editor

Sadly, as much as I’d like to see an openly gay male fighter compete inside the UFC, I don’t see it happening any time soon. 

We’ve seen significant progress in terms of acceptance for homosexual sportsmen recently with the likes of St Louis Rams defensive end Michael Sam feeling comfortable enough to come out.

However, we also still live in a world where prospective NFL coaches decided to judge Sam on his sexuality and not his talents during the NFL draft.

With all the hard work fighters put in during training camps and press tours, MMA athletes deserve to have the spotlight shone on them for what they do in the sport, not outside it – especially if it’s not illegal and no one is being hurt.

If more gay athletes decide to take a stand and come out then it’s a possibility in the UFC, but until it stops being a rarity, and people accept homosexuals for the athletes they are, it’s unlikely to happen.

What you had to say on the matter

“You would hope so, we live in a age where (most) people really don’t care. So in the next 10 years no question about it yes!”

@THE_BEASTMMA

“It’s certainly possible, I wouldn’t care at all about his preference, I just hope he has talent for fighting.”

@AJONESUFC

“Quite possibly as other ‘macho’ sports like American football & rugby have seen this in recent times. Helps erode prejudice.”

@ADAMJECURRAN

“Absolutely. I think there are a few who don’t make a huge effort to hide it, but just don’t vocalize it.”

@LAMACHINE21

WANT TO HAVE YOUR SAY? follow us on Twitter (@FightersOnly) And look out for our monthly ‘big debate’ question