Issue 075
May 2011
MMA’s a highly subjective sport – and we’re proud of that. Each month we speak with four characters from across the fighting world to find out their thoughts on the current state of play
We asked four different figures from the MMA world their opinions on the pressing matters of the moment
The Fighter
Carey Vanier
Promising Bellator lightweight
(10-3)
The Fan
Damon Gesell
34, St Charles, MO, USA
The Writer
Simon Platt
Regular FO feature writer
The Insider
Daryn Shaxted
Owner of MMA Pundit
Q1 Who can have a better run at featherweight,.Kenny Florian or Tyson Griffin?
Carey Vanier
“Who cares; I don’t know either one of them. The only person at 145 that matters is Leonard Garcia. Leonard wants to fight Kenny, and I would be a part of the camp to make sure he wins. As long as they don’t get in his way, good luck to them both.”
Damon Gesell
“Tyson Griffin. He’s shorter, and would fit in better with the fighters. Kenny Florian would likely be too tall to effectively drop the weight.”
Simon Platt
“Griffin’s had a bad run of late at 155lb but I think his size and style will suit the featherweight division well. Florian is always dangerous but as a former middleweight I think this could be a weight-cut too far.”
Daryn Shaxted
“I’d back Tyson Griffin. He’s an entertaining fighter, has age on his side and is learning all the time. He’s got great wrestling ability too, which, as we have all witnessed recently, proves to be a rather large advantage.”
Q2 After taking two losses in a row, was Fedor Emelianenko overrated or justly revered?
Carey Vanier
“It seems that people love you on your way to the top, but when you get there all they want to see is you fall. Fedor didn’t accidentally get there, and before his loses everyone thought he was great, and in my eyes he all ways will be.”
Damon Gesell
“Fedor was overrated. His management team didn’t pit him against top-caliber fighters. The sport has also evolved: he got possum-ed by Werdum and was too small for Silva.”
Simon Platt
“Fedor’s career has always polarized opinion on account of him never fighting in the UFC, but I’m with Phil Baroni in that his record is second to none. Anyone who can go 31-3 in the cut-throat heavyweight division deserves their place in history.”
Daryn Shaxted
“Justly revered. The guy’s had two recent losses, but he’s 31-3. Everyone loses eventually and it took Fedor ten years before he had two losses in succession. Several UFC Hall of Fame inductees can’t say that but I wouldn’t say they’re overrated.”
Q3 Can you envisage a day where the UFC is reduced to a second-tier company under another promotion in the US or anywhere else in the world?
Carey Vanier
“At this point, no! I spoke with one of their executives and he asked me, ‘How many NFLs and NHLs and NBAs are there?’ I said, ‘One.’ His reply was, ‘Exactly. Why should there be more than one major MMA promotion? UFC is it, end of story.’”
Damon Gesell
“I can’t. Right now there doesn’t seem to be an organization with the necessary top-caliber fighters. Strikeforce is using UFC hand-me-downs, Dream has financial problems and M1-Global pretty much bet on Fedor carrying them.”
Simon Platt
“To many new fans the UFC is MMA. The day they become a second-tier company is the day James Toney is submitting people via gogoplatas. It’ll never happen.”
Daryn Shaxted
“I don’t think I can. Competition is healthy but I can’t see any other promotion with the strategic vision, direction or financial stability to trouble the UFC’s enthusiastic and relentless pursuit to be the global leader in MMA promotions go.”
Q4 There’s often talk of MMA fighters forming a union in order to protect their rights. Would you support the idea?
Carey Vanier
“Yes, I’d be part of that. Every other pro sport has one. I have a family and I plan on expanded it. I need to protect myself so that I can protect them. Whatever I can do to put the odds in my favor I’m in.”
Damon Gesell
“It’s the best idea for the fighters. Who is going to take care of them after they retire? They need a long-term medical plan that will address their future needs. Concussions are serious, and research is proving they are even worse in the long run.”
Simon Platt
“Fighting is a dangerous and short profession, and if fighters feel they need their rights protecting then I’d fully support that. It seems a natural progression and I think it would be particularly beneficial to fighters transitioning to the professional ranks.”
Daryn Shaxted
“I would. It’s an interesting idea and would certainly contribute to giving fighters standardized terms, consistent and tiered rates of pay and stronger negotiating power. But, I think any sort of union is some way off from being a reality.”
Q5 Fighters Only recently launched an off-shoot magazine called Train Hard Fight Easy. If you could start up any magazine what would you cover, and what would it be called?
Carey Vanier
“I like THFE; I think it’s a great mag. I would run with that. When I was up and coming I wanted to know what other fighters were doing to prepare for fights – I still want to know. I’d like my readers to give their input on using the training and diets too.”
Damon Gesell
“I would cover MMA fighters past and present, their hobbies and life outside the ring. There’d be in-depth articles by the fighters themselves (ghost written) about their favorite hobbies. I would call it ‘Octagons and Playgrounds.’”
Simon Platt
“I’m an old-school MMA fan at heart so I’d launch a periodical paying homage to the ‘good old days’ of chest rugs and moustaches. I’d call it ‘Once Upon A Pride.’”
Daryn Shaxted
“It’d be called MMA Pundit and focus on the grass-roots scene. It’d be partly orientated towards young fighters, charting their rise and the challenges they face, and also explore the lesser known MMA promotions and people behind them.”
