Media Tom Aspinall to Chael: "I Won't Sell Myself Out and Act Like a Clown"

[USA!USA!]

He's knocking people out in every fight, is that not entertaining enough for you?

It's hilarious, "you gotta be more entertaining like Chael", meanwhile the guy can't finish a sandwich.

Some of you should just be watching trash talk, without the fights, just dudes being classless for entertainment.

Entertainment isn't just about what you do in the cage. Sell your fights. Sell PPVs. That is what the UFC values most.

 

[savemgs]

That is fine, he just won't ever be paid as well if he doesn't want to talk. Business decision. No one is asking him to be a bad person - just be entertaining.

This.

 

[HHJ]

"Be entertaining! Dance for me you clown!"

 

[ThrowDown]

Aspinall's humility is one of the things I like about him. He's actually become a little more... brash and self-confident in his last several media appearances even before beating Volkov, albeit not to the point of being arrogant. Really coming into his own and getting comfortable with who and where he is. It's been a pleasure to see.

Watching him try to play into some kind of unnatural heel act would be painful. I understand Chael is probably genuinely trying to be helpful, but he should stay in his lane.

Yeah because shooting up the Heavyweight rankings with a 100% early finish rate, playing up his connections to Fury, and headlining a card in his country where the people went crazy for him just reeks of stale boredom.

Agreed.

The whole idea that you have to have a "persona" is ridiculous.

The #1 thing any fan wants to see, is the true desire and ability to finish fights. If a fighter can't do that, nobody cares. All that talk is just hot air. (Think Colby.)

But if a fighter, like Aspinall, can do that, that is all they need to do to put asses in chairs and get people to watch their fights. (Think Ngannou.)

I personally think Aspinall is better than both, because he's a finisher in both grappling and striking. Colby is a finisher in neither, while Ngannou is only a puncher not a grappler.

 

[HHJ]

Agreed.

The whole idea that you have to have a "persona" is ridiculous.

The #1 thing any fan wants to see, is the true desire and ability to finish fights. If a fighter can't do that, nobody cares. All that talk is just hot air. (Think Colby.)

But if a fighter, like Aspinall, can do that, that is all they need to do to put asses in chairs and get people to watch their fights. (Think Ngannou.)

I personally think Aspinall is better than both, because he's a finisher in both grappling and striking. Colby is a finisher in neither, while Ngannou is only a puncher not a grappler.

Being a finisher helps but it's not everything. You can have entertaining fights without finishing. GSP is beloved the world over,and he didn't have a contrived character that he played. He was just himself. The fans chose him. He just happened to be a unique guy who was open about himself and the fans loved him for that,found him relatable. It could happen this way for Tom too.

 

[wookie brawl]

Great champion fighters like GSP, Pacquaio, Fedor, Aldo never resorted to be "entertaining"

 

[Deleted member 110072]

Honestly though most sucessful personas grow out of performances in the ring/cage, even the likes of McGregor and Rousey were impressive finisheers their before their persons took off.

 

[ElZid]

Hats off to him, money and fame aint everything.

 

[Tatra]

Good. We need a HW champion we can really get behind and be the people's champion.

 

[ThrowDown]

Being a finisher helps but it's not everything. You can have entertaining fights without finishing. GSP is beloved the world over,and he didn't have a contrived character that he played. He was just himself. The fans chose him. He just happened to be a unique guy who was open about himself and the fans loved him for that,found him relatable. It could happen this way for Tom too.

Fair enough. GSP projected a "good guy image" — and, just as importantly, he was extremely dominant as well as athletic.

People can forgive lack of finish, if utter domination + extraordinary athleticism are displayed.

 

[ilfirin]

Skills will always beat talking shit. Fedor didn't talk shit, and he's the GOAT.

 

[GeraltOfRivia]

Tom is the man. Great fighter and extremely humble. Can’t wait to see him destroy some more of these bum HWs

 

[sonhow]

If he truly feels that way then hey good for him. Better be real than fake especially if you don't have thew chops for it. I trust he's the kinda guy who wont complain about the pay either.
Feels like more and more try to change themselves just because of money. "
Money changes everything" like Dana would say

 

[Deleted member 110072]

Fair enough. GSP projected a "good guy image" — and, just as importantly, he was extremely dominant as well as athletic.

People can forgive lack of finish, if utter domination + extraordinary athleticism are displayed.

Earlier in his career as well GSP was actually a pretty good finisher.

 

[ThrowDown]

Earlier in his career as well GSP was actually a pretty good finisher.

You don't have to sell me on GSP — GOAT.

 

[dittohead84]

Tom Aspinall

A real man's man

 

[Koro_11]

Entertainment isn't just about what you do in the cage. Sell your fights. Sell PPVs. That is what the UFC values most.

Ok the UFC and their investors… but we’re talking between you, me and a bunch of other hardcore fans here. Why the fuck do YOU care about that? If you follow the sport, and you know what each fighter brings to the table than the fight sells itself.

Chael was boring and Anderson Silva was exciting, it doesn’t matter that one guy never talked and the other guy couldn’t shut up, I always knew which one of them is more likely to give me an entertaining show.

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

Ok the UFC and their investors… but we’re talking between you, me and a bunch of other hardcore fans here. Why the fuck do YOU care about that? If you follow the sport, and you know what each fighter brings to the table than the fight sells itself.

Chael was boring and Anderson Silva was exciting, it doesn’t matter that one guy never talked and the other guy couldn’t shut up, I always knew which one of them is more likely to give me an entertaining show.

Yeah but even with Chael's less exciting style, people were excited to see him fight because of his ability to promote himself and his fights

I can't say for you or anyone in particular, but I just don't buy all the people on here that claim they have 0 interest in fight promotion and it has no effect on how excited they are to see a fight... 99% of even hardcores were more interested in Chael's fights than they would have been if he never promoted himself or his fights

 

[Koro_11]

Yeah but even with Chael's less exciting style, people were excited to see him fight because of his ability to promote himself and his fights

I can't say for you or anyone in particular, but I just don't buy all the people on here that claim they have 0 interest in fight promotion and it has no effect on how excited they are to see a fight... 99% of even hardcores were more interested in Chael's fights than they would have been if he never promoted himself or his fights

Sadly you’re right.

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

Sadly you’re right.

Wow.. this might be the first time someone has told me I'm right on Sherdog lol.