Question about hometown fighters

[G10]

I live in an area where the UFC and MMA aren't very big, and there are very few fighters who have come from here. Of the few guys that have come from here and achieved any kind of success, the only people who know them are people who have trained.

So, for those of y'all that live in MMA hotbeds, are the big-name fighters from your cities or regions major local celebrities? I would think that everyone in Milwaukee knows Anthony Pettis, for example. Or is it the same way as my hometown, and only the people in the MMA bubble know them?

 

[heavyarms21]

Most of my family lives in Vegas now and when I visit from wherever I'm at I'll see the occasional Boxer or Mixed Martial artist . Seen Mayweather and another time I saw Frank Mir near UNLV. Most locals know who they are , but locals don't go out of their way to bother them .


Fight week can be a trip because you got the out of towners hopping around the strip or Freemont Street, Europeans and Brazilian are the most boisterous and if they run into a fighter they know or cheered for usually gets the photo op, according to what my Brother says and most of the locals I know.

 

[FIGHTING TALK]

I’m from Birmingham and I don’t think anybody has a clue who Leon Edwards is tbh.

 

[DaRivv20]

Perth Western Australia. We have some kangaroos that will fuck ya up.

 

[surrealworlds]

I'm from St. louis and remember the entire time Tyron Woodley was champ I would bring up his name and noone would know who he was. Really made me feel how niche MMA still is even with all the successes of the UFC.

 

[Russie]

Maybe in some very small towns these guys can be local celebrities. Larger the town, city or region the less known they are. Its basically going to be the MMA fans and a fighters family & friends.

 

[Espresso]

Miami.... mostly everyone knows and reps Masvidal

 

[M.U.S.C.L.E.]

I see Sugar Ray Leonard all the time. He's usually just reading outside the coffee or bagel shop. People stop and talk to him often enough, but he's very involved in the community, so it's expected.

I was at a bar watching Silva Sonnen II, and my friend introduced me to a former UFC heavyweight. I didn't recognize him. No one else in the bar seemed interested either.

Tito Ortiz was the mayor of a nearby neighborhood. People generally avoid him.

There are quite a few guys currently in the UFC living here, but there are so many hot chicks on the beach, I don't think anyone really notices them.

So to answer your question, maybe only in a small town, could a mixed marital artist get the celebrity treatment.

 

[MrPsychoticKane]

Strangely UFC is pretty famous here in Australia, my local pub got the PPV's & all we do is sit down and drink schooners.

we got a few fighters in Sydney but most famously Bobby Knuckles, Mark Hunt. I think I encounter Mark once. He was riding His bike in Newcastle where I studied. not sure if it was Him but the Tattoo on the neck doesn't lie.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

I live in a city with over a million people. Even hockey, and football players can go unnoticed. Let alone a niche sport like mma.

 

[99]

Only celebs at the events themselves. On the street, barely ever going to be noticed.

 

[G10]

I’m from Birmingham and I don’t think anybody has a clue who Leon Edwards is tbh.

I'm from St. louis and remember the entire time Tyron Woodley was champ I would bring up his name and noone would know who he was. Really made me feel how niche MMA still is even with all the successes of the UFC.

Jeez, this is a bummer, especially Tyron Woodley's case. Maybe it'll be different for Edwards if he becomes champ.

 

[Ares Black]

I’m from Birmingham and I don’t think anybody has a clue who Leon Edwards is tbh.

Holy shit @FIGHTING TALK is banned???

He was a 2006 account!

 

[KID Yamamoto]

I went to a strikeforce event in San jose when I was younger. Gilbert Melendez got a lot of love for fighting even though hes mostly from San fran.

 

[surrealworlds]

Jeez, this is a bummer, especially Tyron Woodley's case. Maybe it'll be different for Edwards if he becomes champ.

Yeah, I was working at a casino around that time so would be small talking the general public all day and damn near noone knew anything about Woodley. Sad really.

 

[Jose Beehive]

Yeah i'm from Nottingham and I don't think many people know of Paul Daley or Dan Hardy.. Hardy got some local news time years and years ago, but I don't think many people gave a shit, i'm sure he get's some attention though.

 

[I Lie To Girls]

I’m from Birmingham and I don’t think anybody has a clue who Leon Edwards is tbh.

All those wasted "likes"

 

[TriangleMonkey]

I seen RDA walking through the outlets after he beat Pettis and became champ and not soul knew who he was. Just me, I simply nodded as he walked by and grinned.

Nobody knows who MMA fighters but a few random people.