I only found you recently but you resonate with my fandom. I am old and old school- TUF 2 was my first experience of MMA and it struck a chord from my youth as I am an identical twin and it’s how we used to fight - all techniques legal (except punches to the face or mum would tell us off if we bled on things).
So pretty much then to now I have watched it all. Couture vs Sylvia and I was hooked, and Mark Hunt (a kiwi like me) vs Bigfoot, and I became a tragic lifer. So… it used to be better, there was less - but it was more, politics didn’t matter, and we didn’t get Fedor ( I learned my history) but the UFC was best vs best.
Now it’s cheap vs cheaper, hype vs flash , women are second class citizens, and my favourite (well one of them) Damian Maia would be cut instantly…sigh.
But it’s a drug I can’t give up, and when Justin crushes Paddy or old age pensioner Volk teaches a youngster a lesson, I stand a bit taller.
But it could be better, merit could actually matter, grappling and wrestling could be respected, they could try - but until then I have Carl: speaking truth to power and wishing and hoping that this beautiful tarnished sport we love could just be polished a little.
Thank you very much, and it's nice to know the old guard is keeping the faith. I remember Demian's whole early 'why would I hurt someone by hitting them when I don't have to' ethos in the UFC and it's wild to think about how incompatible that is with our 'people get fired for shooting too many takedowns' present. I hope we both manage to keep the passion alive long enough to see the era when the sport reclaims itself.
Feedback to keep you going.
I only found you recently but you resonate with my fandom. I am old and old school- TUF 2 was my first experience of MMA and it struck a chord from my youth as I am an identical twin and it’s how we used to fight - all techniques legal (except punches to the face or mum would tell us off if we bled on things).
So pretty much then to now I have watched it all. Couture vs Sylvia and I was hooked, and Mark Hunt (a kiwi like me) vs Bigfoot, and I became a tragic lifer. So… it used to be better, there was less - but it was more, politics didn’t matter, and we didn’t get Fedor ( I learned my history) but the UFC was best vs best.
Now it’s cheap vs cheaper, hype vs flash , women are second class citizens, and my favourite (well one of them) Damian Maia would be cut instantly…sigh.
But it’s a drug I can’t give up, and when Justin crushes Paddy or old age pensioner Volk teaches a youngster a lesson, I stand a bit taller.
But it could be better, merit could actually matter, grappling and wrestling could be respected, they could try - but until then I have Carl: speaking truth to power and wishing and hoping that this beautiful tarnished sport we love could just be polished a little.
Love your work 🫡
Thank you very much, and it's nice to know the old guard is keeping the faith. I remember Demian's whole early 'why would I hurt someone by hitting them when I don't have to' ethos in the UFC and it's wild to think about how incompatible that is with our 'people get fired for shooting too many takedowns' present. I hope we both manage to keep the passion alive long enough to see the era when the sport reclaims itself.