Quite possibly the worst MMA interview I've ever heard.

[Reaps]

And it doesn't even involve an MMA fighter.

Tom Wright, director of operations for UFC Australia, showed up for an 11-minute "interview" with David Penberthy on Adelaide's FIVEaa radio station.

And instead wound up having to defend the UFC and MMA in general from some of the dumbest and most leading questions (read: accusations) I've heard.

Once he realised he was in an ambush interview, and after getting rid of the stuttering, Tom did very well. How do such completely ignorant dummies like Penberthy manage to land interviews with such extremely busy and top-ranking people?

...god, can you imagine Dana "handling" this, though? Terrifying.








Featuring such gems as "if someone starts bleeding, what happens?" and "the octagon is not as safe as a traditional boxing ring", it's a perfect microcosm of how densely, aggressively ignorant people can be towards MMA.

 

[Smoking TRT]

What a chunt

 

[jonesy23]

It's just soo bloody annoying listening to fools comment on this sport.

I don't like soccer, but I don't go around saying it should be banned, because millions of people love it.

 

[Del1]

This was posted yesterday i believe, but i commented on this.
Totally unprofessional, goes "head to head" with a UFC exec and the only fact he came in with was the 4 names of people who died in MMA fights.
What was it he called people who watch MMA...boofheads?

 

[fdswer]

One of the worst interviews I have listened to in a long time

 

[Raidei le Blade]

boxing is great, judo is great, bjj is great, kickboxing is great, karate is great, but don't mix them together or its barbaric. makes sense.

 

[SuperNerd]

Tom Wright, director of operations for UFC Australia,

Isn't it Canada? Not Aus?

And yes, he's boring as fuck. Whenever people talk about Dana leaving, I tell them this is the type of guy who will replace him.

You do not want to watch those post fight conferences.

But he is very very good at his job.

 

[Reaps]

Isn't it Canada? Not Aus?

And yes, he's boring as fuck. Whenever people talk about Dana leaving, I tell them this is the type of guy who will replace him.

You do not want to watch those post fight conferences.

But he is very very good at his job.

Maybe he does Canada too, but he certainly does Oz. He's constantly butting heads with the media over here. In the nicest possible way, of course.

I can handle his PFP since he doesn't make himself the centre of attention, as it should be. And yeah, I kinda think we'll need someone a little more 'boring as fuck' to take over from Dana if we want to see things get any bigger.

Super-tempted to make an edit of this interview with "Dana-answers"(tm) spliced in..

 

[Kingief]

[YT]gRxDguNMI7w[/YT]

 

[SuperNerd]

Maybe he does Canada too, but he certainly does Oz. He's constantly butting heads with the media over here. In the nicest possible way, of course.

I can handle his PFP since he doesn't make himself the centre of attention, as it should be. And yeah, I kinda think we'll need someone a little more 'boring as fuck' to take over from Dana if we want to see things get any bigger.

Super-tempted to make an edit of this interview with "Dana-answers"(tm) spliced in..

Tom Wright was the major force in legalizing MMA in the parts of Canada where it wasn't.

I'm sure he will kick some ass and get it done down there too. - But I refuse to listen to that interview.

 

[L0ki]

He needs to get back under his bridge.

 

[TheBrownRanger]

Who was that creepy bastard that would always interview Cat Zingano and ask her awkward questions? Anyone?

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

Out of all the Anglophone countries, Australia seems to be the most anti-MMA of the lot. Why is that?

 

[Reaps]

Tom Wright was the major force in legalizing MMA in the parts of Canada where it wasn't.

I'm sure he will kick some ass and get it done down there too. - But I refuse to listen to that interview.

Fair call - the only thing that interview would make you want to do is throw your computer out the window.

..

Or do something that a 'boofhead' would do.

 

[Reaps]

Out of all the Anglophone countries, Australia seems to be the most anti-MMA of the lot. Why is that?

Too self-conscious of our own self-image, most likely. Sort of like a hipster dating the ugly chick at university because they don't want to appear 'shallow'

The irony isn't lost on me, that's for sure.

 

[Ln]

What an ass

 

[Tom Taylor]

That was brutal to listen to. Tom Wright deserves some props for keeping his composure, and the other guy deserves some feedback too. @WrightUFC and @penbo on twitter respectively if anyone feels like reaching out to either party.

 

[dan280zx]

.

Super-tempted to make an edit of this interview with "Dana-answers"(tm) spliced in..

Just the thought of that made me laugh. Do it!

 

[RJK]

Out of all the Anglophone countries, Australia seems to be the most anti-MMA of the lot. Why is that?

Lots of people with knee-jerk reactions, and no critical thinking skills, who reach all sorts of interesting positions in society.

 

[RJK]

They sure set the tone very quickly!

The interviewers were too ignorant to see how soundly their points were being rebutted, but I'd bet that most of the listeners would miss it too. They clearly appeal to a certain mindset.

Tom Wright is a perfect ambassador - polite, well-spoken, and educated. He's going to change a lot of minds with his manner and gentle persuasion. OTOH the drongos who listen to that radio programme are likely to respond more to someone more bombastic like Dana White.