During last week’s lead-up to UFC 124, Dana White announced that the UFC would be heading to Toronto in April 2011. It will be the first event held in Ontario since MMA was legalized this year. Although the news created buzz within the MMA community, the CBC report on the announcement was tempered.
Via Cagewriter:
CBC News covered the announcement with a business reporter, Amanda Lang, who had a predictable take on the sport. Lang tried to cover both sides, pro and con, but the constant images of blood and violence probably makes this three and a half minute report nearly intolerable for those who have watched MMA for years.
Payout Perspective:
One inaccurate statement I noted was that the report stated that prior to regulation it found Toronto lost out of the economic rewards of MMA and it let “tens of millions of dollars slip away to Quebec and New York.” As we know, New York does not regulate MMA.
The news report seemed to glorify the violence of the sport by depicting bloodstained mats and bleeding fighters. Although that is a part of the sport, the report played up the images. While MMA fans expect non-MMA fans to understand that there are rules governing the matches, the B reel footage dredged up the stereotypical beliefs of the sport. To its credit, the report attempts to remain neutral by including Dana White’s comments to questions after the press conference. It was interesting that the reporters attempted to compare the UFC’s worth to that of NHL’s Maple Leafs or soccer’s Manchester United to show viewers that the UFC is a money maker.
The Toronto event should be a success based on the potential card (GSP v. Shields and Cain v. Dos Santos). I expect that the UFC will embark on an educational campaign for Ontario citizens showing that the sport isn’t all about breaking bones and bleeding.
On another note, it was interesting to hear Dana White say that GSP is “the most famous athlete to come out of Canada.” Obviously, hockey’s Wayne Gretzky was brought up in the report. Hyperbole? Only time will tell.
Wayne Gretzky was popular in Canada and the US, but I doubt his appearance would have drawn the crowds GSP did in the Philippines. Hockey as a vehicle for fame is always going to be limited by the fact that hockey, unlike fighting, is not a global sport. I’m willing to bet that in terms of global awareness GSP is as famous as Gretzky ever was – if not more.
Money wise, it’s better to be famous in North America than in the Philippines, but if GSP keeps going the way he has been, I’m sure he’ll get there too.
Anyone who thinks GSP is as famous as Wayne Gretzky is fooling themselves.
Hockey is played everywhere that there is cold weather, not just in Canada and the United States. Anyone who has even a passing familiarity with that sports knows who Wayne Gretzky is. Gretzky has been on Wheaties boxes. In Saturday morning cartoons. In the Olympics. On broadcast TV around the world.
Gretzky is FAR more well known that GSP. It’s not even remotely close.
The pictures were a little over the top but other than that I thought the piece was OK. When they were editing they left in the part where Dana gets to say that MMA is safer than cheer leading. I didn’t think it was a drive by smear job. The typical watcher of the CBC is not going to want to watch MMA any ways. The demo skews way old and rural.
“The demo skews way old and rural”
jv you are too kind. And incomplete:
Urban, liberal, elitist, is more like it.
Make no mistake, consumers of the CBC (outside of hockey) would ban MMA in a heartbeat.
The angle of their segment is greed. This is part of their narrative and consequently, no surprise.
It’s pretty embarrassing how the CBC reports. No one cares about the CBC, firstly. Secondly, the CBC reporting on MMA, *correction- on sports in general* is like trying to get your grandfather to use the iphone. It’s new, unorthodox and something that old people shouldn’t be analyzing. They have a mascot, a 70+ year old man with the worst fashion sense and attempts to be controversial by speaking his mind but is actually just lack-luster and is bordering on having Tourette’s syndrome. Don’t watch the CBC, no one else (that is actually in the conversation) does.
Yeah, mainstream media will always compare the UFC to gladiatorial sports of years past. MMA is what it is. It’s a violent sport, and I’ll be the first to admit it. That’s why I watch and a lot of people watch. I don’t even bother convincing people that somehow this sport is not violent. Two guys or two girls punching, kicking or stretching each others limbs is violent. But the difference is that these are professional athletes who have trained long at what they do. On top of that, the referees are also trained to protect the fighters. This is not some kind of bar room brawl, this is a CONTROLLED sport which just happens to be extremely violent.
EVERYBODY glorifies the violent aspects of MMA, including the promoters. Why anyone would fault CBC for presenting an accurate depiction, I don’t know. They’ve been one of the more balanced outlets concerning the rise of MMA in Canada, which obviously can’t be said for the cheerleaders in the sports TV world. People inside the MMA bubble need to accept that it is bloody, violent spectacle.
smoogy:
I don’t see how anyone could disagree that MMA is violent and bloody.
I fault the CBC for focusing on greed. It appears the CBC believes the only reason why MMA has been legalized in Ontario is because of the money it generates.
The economic aspect is important…but to the CBC generating profits is evil in their warped collectivist view.
ufc wont go global…its getting a lot of obstacles..banned in german tv,not legalized in nY..now canada has a lot of negative news on it….its been existing for 17 years and still is not allowed in some places….it would forever be a strong niche sport not mainstream
kop
The obstacles have always existed. In 1993 almost every state in the US banned NHB and the entire country was against it. There was zero positive press. The same goes for other countries. But the UFC and MMA have torn down those barriers one at a time. All it takes is the pressure of “everyone else doing it” for a state to cave in or a fan to get in a position of power. Yes NY is against it. But it is just a matter of time before they cave in. Its all political and in time the right politician will be in charge in the right places or the MMA fanbase will get to big to ingnore in NY or the people become so used to the sport they dont see it as a threat. The same is the case in other countries.
If people just give up because there is opposition then the UFC or MAM would not be where they are today. Hell, nothing would ever be accomplished in any part of life. You fight for what you believe in and the stronger side wins be it stronger in numbers or stronger in desire.