Chuck Liddell will grace the cover of the 4th edition of UFC Magazine with a cheeky picture that is sure to put a smile on the face of even Tito Ortiz. The new edition hits news stands in April.
Payout Perspective:
Liddell joins Anderson Silva, Brock Lesnar, and Dana White as cover men for the 9 month-old magazine.
The news on the UFC’s magazine front has been quiet since August, when MMAPayout.com learned the UFC planned to increase distribution of the magazine from 300,000 to 325,000 to meet anticipated demand growth. We should get an update pretty soon as to how it’s faring.
I’ve e-mailed the UFC, UFC mag, MMA Live, MMA Fighting, and numerous others about how unprofessional this cover is. We want our sport to be taken seriously. We must put our best foot forward EVERY time. You would NEVER see a cartoon guy peeing on anything on the cover of ESPN the Mag or SI! If they wouldn’t do it – the UFC should not either!
Is a cartoon shirt really a big deal when the sport is all about punching someone in the face or disabling their limbs?
Sometimes a picture is worth more than words.
I believe it is. Above they only mentioned the facts. I would be interested to hear the Official MMAPayout Perspective and their opinions on the cover.
I didn’t comment on the t-shirt because I really didn’t think it was a big deal.
It’s cheeky and meant to be funny. Liddell, the t-shirt, the little tiny dog, the shit-eating grin – it’s just a light-hearted poke at Tito.
Sure, you won’t see the NFL or NHL do something like that, but those aren’t leagues based upon fighting. There’s always going to be a certain edge to MMA; some people will like it, some people won’t – that’s okay.
The last thing the sport wants to do is take itself too seriously. It can’t appease everyone, and the people offended by Chuck’s t-shirt are just as likely to be offended by the sport. So why bother worrying about them?
That’s my perspective. 🙂
SI and ESPN have both become so iconic that they seldom get to the real feeling an athlete feels about another person he competes with in his applied “trade”! If anyone has watched Chuck & Tito fight and heard them talk one would understand what this picture really repensents.
I’ve been a fan for a long time and have seen Chuck and Tito’s fights more times than I care to remember. I’m not offended in the least bit, nor do I think you said that I was. I understand they cannot appease everyone. Instead of arguing the point further… can you guys answer this question:
If you were in charge of the UFC and needed more casual fans, and sometimes their parents, would you have allowed that shirt to be worn? (Remember, you don’t want to risk turning anyone off)
I’m much happier with that shirt than the one w/ Tito’s big bloodied head as seen inside the mag.