Yesterday, Shine Fights held a pre-fight press conference for its Mayorga-Thomas fight scheduled for next month on May 15th. During the session, things got pretty tense between Mayorga and Thomas. Watch for yourself:
Payout Perspective:
There was something about the dynamic of Mayorga talking so much trash, the old lady translating, and Thomas visibly seething that made the press conference highly entertaining. While I don’t condone the language or discriminatory remarks, I will admit that I am now very interested to see this fight. Shine may have something here; it’s just a matter getting this clip enough exposure to generate significant interest in the show.
My only hesitation with press conferences of this nature – or the whole trash talking to hype fights strategy – is that if it happens too often, it will eventually lose its value. I also tend to think there’s a bit of credibility pulled from the sport when something like this happens – it sort of feeds or perpetuates the stereotypes.
Enough of my thoughts, though. Who’s watching on May 15th? If I can get enough guys together, I will.
Boxing has been doing this for years and 90% of its staged. Its got to the point i will avoid any fight that hyoes a fight this way. Most people dont believe its real even though those same people might be more interested in the fight after seeing it. There is just no credibility and the sport loses respect. It gives the individual fight s shot in the arm but hurts the sport. You are selling a side show and thats maybe why 2 million people buy 1 fight with the champ but the 10th ranked guy cant get 50 people to watch him.
This approach probably works in boxing where the fighters are all out for themselves and could careless about the sport and keeping interest up for other fighters. MMA promoters need to build a fight that keeps the sport respectable and at the same type showcase the star. Its counter productive to have drama like this and make 2 million people watch Brock Lesnar but the fans leave the fight with zero respect for the sport and the other 200 fighters in the UFC.
IF it is real you dont want to hide it. But at the same time everyone sees what the real drama did you popularity and buy rates and then every fighters tries to fake the same thing. Then you get a bunch of copy cats watering it down. I cant help but to think how much respect i lost for boxing when i saw Rahman and Lewis “wrestling match” during a ESPN interview. Is the sport that lame that this is the only way people want to watch it?
Also about this video. Its fake too. noone wants to se fake grudge matches. These fighters know nothing about each other except they are fighting. So they start making comments about each others wives and families to make people think they have a legit reason to dislike each other. LAME. I will watch this because its MMA verses Boxing. OUtside of that what is there? Din will fight like a idiot if he stands with him. Mayorga has 50 lbs on him by the looks of it and Din winning verses a fat chain smoking boxer will be meaningless.
Interesting take.
No doubt there’s exaggeration on both their parts, but I also think there’s been a certain amount of animosity that’s built up for the last few weeks in a “boxing vs. MMA” kind of way.
Your comments also bring us back to my point, which is when something like this happens ALL the time, it loses its value. But the MMA world hasn’t seen a lot of this, so it’s probably going to draw more interest than usual. Not to mention the fact that there is the boxing vs. MMA element that should intrigue people. If this doesn’t become an overwhelming trend, we’ll be okay.
I still crack up watching the old lady talking shit to Din. Apparently she removed 75% of the profanities Mayorga used – thankfully so, I suppose – but it was still very fun to watch.
To me, it start slow. Both were awkward(sp) if trying to get the drama started. Like both knew and agreed to talk trash but not sure on how to go about it and when to pretend to finally get mad at the others comments. Din was even looking around the rooms trying to gage the croud as to when to get mad. Once they got off the family insults and started attacking each others you can see them get more into it and you start to believe it. But i wouldnt be suprised if they didnt talk afterwards and laugh about it.
As for mainstream attention i dont see this getting any. Noone is going to have any respect for this fight and the fighters simply because Mayorga has gained so much weight that EVERYONE would question what he has left. But once he lights up a cig you almost cant even consider it an athletic event. Mayorga not only is out of shape but making no effort at all to be inshape. I cant remember the last time i saw an active athlete from any sport light up a cig. Im sure mainstream media would be blown away as much as i was. Then you ask yourself, If Mayorga isnt taking the fight serious why should anyone else. Its just a paycheck. I want Din to stomp him in the ground. But with the condition of Mayorga what would it prove? BTW i wouldnt be suprised to see Din get KOed. He dont have very good takedowns and he is giving up a lot of natural size. IF it stays on the feet i dont think Din has the power to do much. SO it will be him hoping to pick at Mayorga with mant different strikes and hoping not to get hit.
I want to see James Toney vs X because it answers questions and its interesting. This Mayorga vs Din is just a Useless fight and it really dont matter who wins.
your missing the point intentionally…mayorga hit thomas and thomas was wobbly..he was dazed.and a lot of internet obsevers are saying the same….also din thomas is not used to being confronted by a street guy from nicaragua lol…and claiming that this happens in boxing more..i disagree how bout tito and ken shamrock..and brock and all the TUF fighters…but common with those cats its all talk and drama…but with mayorga he did really hit DIn thomas…and thomas was wobbly..period