Why Does It Take UFC Fighters So Long To Learn The Promotion Side Of The Business?

[AP_RESURRECTION]

I feel the UFC used to put more effort into promoting boring people. Rogan would create some story line about their heart rate or how tough they are, or how crazy good their wrestling is etc - Now, I think people dont even think that's a good use of time and you dont even really see promotion for the non-popular fighters. I guess the UFC just feels like the brand will sell itself on those types of fights, and doesnt feel like paying up for the promotion or fighter purse on those fighters. Makes sense I guess.

 

[Apollo33]

It is not apples to oranges at all. The NFL fully appreciates the need to promote star players and this is why they mandate media sessions. While it is possible to sit and say no to every question, very few athletes do so because they also see the need for promotion and understand that fan involvement through the media is a critical part of why they are paid the way they are. The NFL doesn't even wait for guys to shower up and come to the post-game press conference. They send reporters into the locker room while the athletes are showering and getting dressed, because media interaction with the athletes is so critical.

Where the NFL and MMA are different is that self-promotion is far more important in an individual sport than in team sports that can play on regional loyalties.

there's a difference between media obligations and and "self promotion" of MMA, they might as well be a different thing all together. traditional sports media are pretty tame, it's usually a bunch of run of the mill questions about the game, the players are taught to give PR answers, there's usually never any drama unless specific reporters who are known to ask dumb questions show up. Or if someone like Popovich decides give reporters are hard time for laughs. There's little to no trash talk at all between teams.

Self promotion is combat sports does play a role, but it was never necessary. It's a 100% the promoters job. For example I have no idea what Canelo and GGG sounds like, they don't even speak much English, yet I still bought he PPV being a non boxing fan because they convinced me it was like fight of the year. When you look at the history of combat sports, there are popular fighters who talks a lot of shit, there are also popular fighters who didn't peep out a word. Ever since Conor people have this weird idea that you have to act like him in order to be popular, and fighters MUST self promote. Did Fedor talk shit, not really, what about GSP, not really, yet they were immensely popular.

by the way outside of combat sports self promotion is not important in traditional individual sports either. Tennis is a prime example, Federer is like one of the most popular of all time, but he never gives out anything but PR answers in interview, what about Nadal, he barely speaks English and never says anything controversial either. What about Tiger Woods, what did he do to self promote but just play really great golf.

 

[skylolow]

So many guys just tote the line of they'll let there performance in the cage speak for them, biggest mistake ever. Very few fighters in the history of this sport have been able to become top stars of the sport from just there performance in the cage.

Most fans need more to care about than your a great fighter. It's kind of like why you like or dislike a certain team that isn't even in your area/state. At some point in your life something attracted you to that team either positively or negatively. Being just great usually doesn't get you to Conor stardom.


With fighters and people in general we don't like to stir the pot. We aren't willing to put are selves out there for the world to judge time after time. Guys like Conor or Tito don't give a shit if you like them or hate them. Either way your watching them.

 

[Jorge Luis Borges]

And he still didn’t say shit lol. Lynch built a brand on hating the media and it worked.

Yeah, he got a Pepsi commercial based on that. The key is that he built a brand.

 

[Jorge Luis Borges]

there's a difference between media obligations and and "self promotion" of MMA, they might as well be a different thing all together. traditional sports media are pretty tame, it's usually a bunch of run of the mill questions about the game, the players are taught to give PR answers, there's usually never any drama unless specific reporters who are known to ask dumb questions show up. Or if someone like Popovich decides give reporters are hard time for laughs. There's little to no trash talk at all between teams.

Self promotion is combat sports does play a role, but it was never necessary. It's a 100% the promoters job. For example I have no idea what Canelo and GGG sounds like, they don't even speak much English, yet I still bought he PPV being a non boxing fan because they convinced me it was like fight of the year. When you look at the history of combat sports, there are popular fighters who talks a lot of shit, there are also popular fighters who didn't peep out a word. Ever since Conor people have this weird idea that you have to act like him in order to be popular, and fighters MUST self promote. Did Fedor talk shit, not really, what about GSP, not really, yet they were immensely popular.

by the way outside of combat sports self promotion is not important in traditional individual sports either. Tennis is a prime example, Federer is like one of the most popular of all time, but he never gives out anything but PR answers in interview, what about Nadal, he barely speaks English and never says anything controversial either. What about Tiger Woods, what did he do to self promote but just play really great golf.

Lol. Sure, there are differences between media obligations for team sports and self-promotion for MMA fighters. But you are completely wrong about the nature of those differences.

Your statement that self promotion in combat sports being unnecessary and 100% the promoter's job is laughable. it's the opposite. Self promotion is much more necessary in combat sports than in the NFL of NBA. In the NFL for NBA, even when fans may not care about the individual athlete, but they still pay to watch the team. In combat sports, if fans don't care about the fighter, they won't pay.

You are right that promoters are responsible for promoting fighters, but they can only work with what the fighters give them, and this includes fight performances and also working with the media and fans.

As far as Tiger Woods promoting himself, it's hard to think of an athlete who spent more time in front of cameras.

And finally, you keep mentioning talking shit or being controversial as if this is the only way to promote yourself as a fighter. Perhaps your narrow view on what self-promotion entails is why yo are so unrealistically opposed to it.

 

[High Altitude]

The ufc can only work with what you give them.

If you want to make the big bucks you have to bring in the casuals. Self promotion and building your brand so you make a connection to the point the casuals want to support you or watch you lose is critical.

 

[executionermma]

Of course you have to win but the difference between not promoting yourself and promoting yourself and making those emotional connections with casuals is the difference between making millions per fight and making 70k/70k.

false if you keep winning you won't get only 70k, Stipe is not doing bad money, he's doing like 600k+ for fight, at the end of the day what matters is winning, trash talk promotion is totally optional, GSP didn't and always was a draw to some extent, same for Spider etc

 

[GSP_37]

They were sleeping during the UFC Fighter Summit presentation about that topic?

 

[High Altitude]

false if you keep winning you won't get only 70k, Stipe is not doing bad money, he's doing like 600k+ for fight, at the end of the day what matters is winning, trash talk promotion is totally optional, GSP didn't and always was a draw to some extent, same for Spider etc

Promoting yourself doesn't always mean trash talking.

 

[executionermma]

Promoting yourself doesn't always mean trash talking.

true, but fighters who keeps winning a lot doesn't need to promot themselves to make cash too, UFC can't just ignore guys in crazy streaks

promoting himself would make it easier to get opportunities, but it's not something really necessary

 

[justbetter]

Whittaker has been putting in the time to promote himself in Perth. Was in the paper yesterday for training with one of the local football stars, and today was in the paper for meeting some kid that almost died. He didn't talk trash to either person.