I actually agree with you on this. I thought it was funny, but totally unnecessary. Similar to his earlier comment about how when he fights he's always trying to "break my foot off in they ass." Funny, but it could give the wrong idea to the uninitiated.

That said, Jackson always has been and always will be a walking cartoon.

Thats just the kind of guy Rampage is. You either love him or hate him. Personally, I think he's hilarious and one of my favorite fighters. It is a violent sport and he was just talking trash. It wouldn't be very entertaining if Rampage ended the night with "Rashad is an upstanding gentleman and I can't wait to go out to eat with him before our championship match".

I definitely understand where you're coming from Mark, and I understand that your comments come from a genuine concern for the sport which is admirable. That being said, I think you get that kind of thing in all sports to some degree, and I think to expect it not to happen is kindof looking for a "perfect world" scenario that we're never going to get. MMA has a LONG, LONG way to go before they even approach the stupid, inappropriate things said by coaches and players in the other major sports. To be fair to the participants, when you have a good deal of mic time, especially when it's spontaneous, those things are going to happen. I consider myself a relatively (okay, let's go with the word "somewhat") intelligent person and when I think back on the stupid things I've said in conversation, it makes me want to dig a hole and bury my head...when I think, what if those things were published or put on air...well, let me just say that I understand to a point. I'm already getting longwinded, but let me just make one last point. When you breed and cultivate athletes to be aggressive and violent, you can't be too shocked when those things are said (and maybe even just repeated by someone else). We can't have it both ways, you know? I think MMA or not, sometimes we just have to understand that things just won't be perfect. Okay, sorry for the length of this blog.

You have some valid points and I don't want to come off as "anti-trash talk" because I'm not. I'm all for it. But Rampage can be more creative and he can talk trash without bringing it back to the lowest common denominator of "we're two guys locked in a cage and I'm going to annihilate you!"

I know other pro athletes say stupid things (Kellen Winslow's soldier speech comes to mind, among many, many others) and I'm fine with fighters saying stupid things, but I just want him to use a different connotation.

It's just such an uphill battle for MMA in the eyes of casual sports fans to prove that MMA is more of a sport than it is two guys locked in a cage fighting to the death (any rational person understands this, but there aren't enough rational people). The last thing we need is one of the biggest stars to hype a fight by saying he's going to commit some black-on-black crime. Especially not long after Penn's threats to "kill" GSP in that fight (which were used everywhere to promo that show).

I don't think this is a huge deal but I think comments like this hurt the sport more than his road rage incident.

You're going too far.

I mean, really. I don't think Rampage intends on committing any real criminal act in the ring and I'm sure you'll even see the two shake hands afterwards.

You know that.

Chris,

I agree with you and I'm sure all MMA fans understand that. But when you have casual sports fans (and potential advertisers) out there with the preconceived notion that MMA is just about two guys duking it out in a cage, and then you hear a radio ad for a fight where BJ Penn says he's going to "kill" GSP and then you see Jackson pimping a fight by saying he's going to commit "black-on-black" crime, it's not doing the sport any favors.

It sucks that some people are too stupid to recognize it's a sport that takes years of training and involves highly skilled athletes, but that's reality.

MMA, and the UFC, needs those casual fans and needs those advertisers to really succeed, and this doesn't help.

Actually, the GSP vs. Penn PPV was one of the most purchased UFC events in its history, around 1.3 million buys. So one could easily make the case that the sort of pre-fight hype that you're whining about actually HELPED the UFC gain casual fans. As will this new perceived tension between Evans and Jackson will spur interest.

Increased interest does help the sport. It helps gain viewers and fans, casual and hardcore. You're wrong on that point.

Chris,

I'm not saying tension and trash-talking doesn't do anything, obviously it helps promote a fight. And clearly 94 did huge buys, it was one of the biggest fights the UFC has put together in a long time.

You can have tension and trash-talking without making the sport look poor at the same time. You can get all those benefits without adding more fuel to the fire of the casual fans that think nothing has changed since day 1.

UFC and MMA has been trying to get away from that "two men enter, one man leaves" assumption for a long time. There's no debate about that. Jackson's (and Penn's) comments don't help in this regard.

Mark,
What MMA doesn't need is people taking Rampage's comments too seriously. That is something he always says when he fights another black guy. He was joking around. I'm not an advocate for trash talking but some people get carried away with political correctness. We can't be so sensitive or it gives the PC police more ammo.

So, if it obviously helps promote a fight, which in turn helps gain viewers and fans and that in turn helps acquire and maintain sponsorships, what is the issue?

The UFC makes no bones about the idea these men are modern day warriors. One just has to view the intro to realize that. So I think you're wrong in that assumption also.

Bottom line is you are taking a comment completely out of context and are attempting to make an argument that is neither coherent nor based on factual evidence. It's just become some sort of bizarre, subjective rant on an comment that really warrants more of a chuckle than an analysis.

I've gotta say that this one's a toughy. I absolutely understand what you're saying Mark, I really do and without doing statistical analysis, my next statement is going to be HIGHLY argumentative, but I kindof think that the people who would dismiss MMA because of that type of rhetoric probably will never support the sport anyway. Chances are, they are the same type that can't imagine why anyone would enjoy the violence of football or boxing either (I hold no ill will against these people, my mom's one of them-it's just a different type). Then there are the people who love it, like us. There are probably some that fall in between, but it's hard to beleive that they would either embrace or dismiss the sport over those types of comments. I'm trying to put myself in their shoes and put it in a comparative light, and I couldn't see that affecting me one way or another. Like, I'm certainly not a golf or auto racing fan, but I do watch highlights and such, and when guys get nudged on the track and want to kill the nudger, it really doesn't make me want to watch any more or less (that my be a crappy comparison, but about the best I can do). At the same time, it probably is hard for us to see if from their perspective, because as far as Rampage goes, anyone who sees him a lot and is familiar with him knows that he's about as friendly as they come. I heard him on Bubba the Love Sponge and it was a great interview and part of the reason I love Rampage-he even said then that it's all business in the ring and it's extremely rare that he feels anything but affection for his opponents. As Rashad seems the same way basically, it's hard to believe either hold any real animosity towards one another. However, if I was sitting at a bar and didn't know anything about MMA...well, I'd probably just laugh, but that's just me. It'd be real interesting to know what Dana thought about the comments.

I can agree with your view but i have to stronly dissagree with your opinion that rampages statement could give people a negative view on the sport . if thats the case y be 1 sided wy not say rashad did more damedg to the sports image bay calling rampage a mother fucker wile in the ring an derectly after rampage beat the curent champs teammate that shows his lack of sportsmenship wich is how any hype comment should be judged by . i believe rashads intent was to dissrespect & rampages coment was more 4 hype

As a black man I can say that:
1. Most people know that he's really being over the top silly/trying to sell the fight with a racial dynamic.
2. Most people know we don't need any more black on black crime.
3. Most people probably don't wanna hear such a saying become a trend.

this is the type of "article" we are blessed with when a writer is assigned to a cover a topic to which he has no background in outside a few ucf dvd rentals.

I wonder where this "writer" will be the next time a pitcher hurls a 98mph fastball at the head of a batter and leaves him writhing on the ground in pain and concussed. He will likely conclude that "its traditionally acceptable" as long as the pitcher doesn't make any post game comments that are "a little too much".

Some of you are still completely missing the point. I have no problem with talking trash. I encourage it.

And I agree that his comment isn't that big of a deal.

And Nick, I think you're wrong on the NFL thing too. There are a lot of people that love football, love the violence in the game, but then shun MMA because it's "barbaric."

It's hypocritical. They can go from yelling for a linebacker to "kill" Ben Roethlisburger and then get turned off of MMA because they think it's two meatheads fighting to the death.

When I talk to fighters, the two things I hear the most are "too many casual fans think there are no rules" and "We don't paid enough, especially compared to other pro athletes."

The first thing needs to be fixed before the second can be. And if this is the sound byte that's inserted into radio ads to promo the fight (like Penn's was) then it just makes things harder with the casual sports fan.

A- I know Rampage wasn't serious, I know he's not going to commit an actual crime.

B-I understand the trash talking to hype fights, and I like it.

C- you can do that without giving that one sound byte that will look the sport look bad

D-it isn't a huge deal, it's more cringe-worthy than anything else. This isn't nearly as bad as the whole Kimbo thing.

Alex--I'm fine with Rashad's MFer, I don't think that hurts the image of the sport in the eyes of casual fans.

Okay, I'm sure I'll get lots of backlash for this post, which is what it is, but I think a lot of people here are being really hard on Mark (and Mark, I know you don't need me to fight your battles here and I know you probably don't care what people say about you...nonetheless). I don't neccessarily have the same opinion as Mark in this instance, but I can't for the life of me figure out why that is cause to attack him and question whether he is worthy enough to be a fan or a writer on the subject. For some reason, we as fans always have to feel like we're the "real fans" and everyone else is stupid or ignorant or inexperienced, or...the negative adjectives go on and on. Mark hasn't said anything in this blog that is so "out there" that he deserves to have his "fan" and writer status questioned. I'll be the first to admit that the media often can be as much of the problem as the actual problem in LIFE. This is a sport though-there will be no repercussions that will be life altering from him stating his opinion and I don't know what is to be accomplished by insults. I can never understand why people take part in a forum if they aren't willing to respectfully discuss opinions-this is the point of a discussion blog/forum. I'm not sure if dismissing and belittling another sportsfan makes some of us feel better about ourselves or what, but it really is a growing trend on these types of forums and I just really don't get it. If you feel that way, why are you reading it/taking part in it? I've made similar comments in the past and from now on I'll just ignore it because I've said what I feel twice now, but it's really disappointing to me to read comments that are so bitter and angry that some of us are clearly uncomfortable enough with our own "fan status" that we have to attack others. If you feel like you know more or are more experienced, great, go apply for a job and show your stuff, but until then, we're all sitting back and watching sports and videos and maybe some of us are out there sparring a bit too. Again, that's great, but let's at least show some credentials before we attack others' credentials. Again, please don't mistake me asking for people to be respectful with agreeing with Mark's POV on this one because I do not. However, I respectfully disagree and accept that not everyone is going to have the same thoughts and ideas as I do and that doesn't make them any less of a fan, writer, person, etc. I'm sure I'll get made fun of or attacked because of this post, but if you can really as a human being tell me that attacking Mark in this instance is the right thing to do here, I'd love to hear your reasons why. I apologize for being off topic here and I promise not to post like this again. Respect and peace.

Mark,

I can agree with part of your concerns. The BJ comment was made on a cable channel that casual viewers and non-fans alike can watch and I think there is a need for fighters to know which outlet and which group pf fans they are talking to.

As far as Rampage's comments, that is a repeat of something he has said every time he fights a black a guy. I also think that the crowd watching the PPV at that point were mostly the more hardcore fans that expect this type of trash talk. If any casual fans were watch UFC 96 then we probably lost them anyway.

Joshua,

Solid points and again, not a huge deal. Some of the blame needs to be on marketing types, too. The Spike people should've cut BJ's comment out from the show, instead that was the one comment I heard on every single radio commercial.

I'm just worried they will use this Rampage quote the same way. If it stays in the pay-per-view, then it will be fine. If it's cut up and taken out of context, then it will be filed away with BJ's comments.

I am going to go on a limb and say that I think Rampage saying that creates casual fans. Casual fans don't get BJJ, they want violence. They want to see some guy get kicked in the face, or catch a left hook to the jaw, or power bombed. I think the casual fan just wants the violence. More serious fans that actually understand the training and technique just want to see a quality fight. The black on black part may have not been necessary but he's just a dude from the south.

Actually discussing the potential fight... I hope Rampage destroys Rashad. Rampage would never grab "himself" and blow kisses in the middle of a match. Running your mouth before a fight is completely different from trying to embarass and show up your opponent in the ring. Hopefully Rashad embarasses himself, trains lightly and Rampage knocks him out.

Man, grow a set. It is called hyping a fight and was a joke.

Quit being so gay...He was joking and everyone except you thought it was funny. How the hell did you get your own website anyway?

-sincerely,
Your a nancy boy

Quit being so gay...He was joking and everyone except you thought it was funny. How the hell did you get your own website anyway?

-sincerely,
Your a nancy boy