Olympics Judo Star On UFC: "It's A Sport Where There Is No Moral Value"

[UptownRilla]

Teddy Riner, considered by many as the best judoka on earth and the favorite to win the Gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, gave his opinion on the UFC & MMA in a French paper:
EDIT: Teddy just won the Gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics, against Alexander Mikhaylin from Russia.

On the UFC:
"It is a sport where there is no moral value. The rules are basic: Do not strike in the eyes and genitals ... It's the least we can require, right? I have two nephews and a niece, and I mainly did not want to see them fight like that. When there are violent sports on TV, it's simple, I zap! "
On MMA:
"Fighting in a cage doesn't appeal to me," said the Frenchman, adding that MMA lacks the traditional respect in a martial art and promotes brutal attacks not allowed in judo. "There is no moral code in MMA. I am a warrior on the tatami, but you always have to respect your opponent."

For information, Teddy has received numerous contract offers to fight in Japan since he's 18-year-old, but he always turned them down. He was offered to fight Satoshi Ishii in 2009.

sources: Teddy Riner, l'image travaillée d'un champion sollicité (4/5) / For some Judo Olympians, MMA an option - Judo News | NBC Olympics

Teddy Riner:
-> Competes in the +100 kg division (220lb+)
-> 23-year-old
-> 6 ft 8 in / 295 lb
-> Won Olympic Bronze at 19-year-old (2008 Beijing)
-> 5-time World Champion: 2007 Rio de Janeiro/2008 Levallois-Perret/2009 Rotterdam/2010 Tokyo/2011 Paris
-> 2-time European Champion: 2007 Belgrade/2011 Istanbul



EDIT: Since a lot of people in this thread talk about how poorly judokas are paid, here are the numbers concerning Teddy: He signed a 4-year/336 000euros contract in 2009 with Levallois Sporting Judo Club (7 000euros per month). He was offered 10 000euros per month from Lagardère Paris Racing Judo Club but he refused. He made 300 000euros in 2009 alone for the Beijing Olympics.
Source right here in French: Riner choisit Levallois

[GuillotineTap]

So a French guy doesn't like getting hit in the face.....is something about this supposed to shock me?

[Soda Popinsky]

edit: ^beat me to it

He's French. It was either this, or "I'd just give up once I got punched in the face."

[PunchFaceToWin]

How misinformed of him.

[LordStanleysCup]

What an ignorant man...

[PunchFaceToWin]

Someone send him a video of Stann vs Sakara.

[JonesBones]

Feed him to Jones.

[Soda Popinsky]

I just realized that Jon Bones Jones sounds like someone named Jon is fucking a guy named Jones. Kinda gay.

[GuillotineTap]

Originally Posted by PunchFaceToWin

Someone send him a video of Stann vs Sakara.

He'd just pull up an old ass Gilbert Yvel video to argue.

[NedDiaz]

someone else who criticizes something they know nothing about