Where do the "duck" arguments come from?

[dipstickjimmy]

I just think it's hilarious (and ignorant) when people make comments about pro fighters "ducking" somebody else when they have never even sparred before or have never seen how hard fighters work in the gym. I have never turned down a fight but I have actually had plenty of opponents either decline a fight with me or pull out after accepting. I have never known the reasons why and I don't ask the promoters when they deliver the news. I always assume it's an injury, personal life issues or maybe it was their coaches' decision.

Yeah I guess I can appreciate that of you are a fighter but I don't believe anyone owes a fighter a fight until you are Champion and they have become the number one contender.

GDR clearly Ducked Cyborg at FW for example.

Tito Ducked Chuck back in the day.

Henry Ducked Benavidez at Fly W and is currently Ducking both Yan and Sterling while calling for Faber and now Aldo.

I don't train or fight but a Duck is a Duck.

 

[Shaddows]

Read about it A LOT on Sherdog, how can someone in their right mind argue fighters would avoid do their fucking job out of... fear? Of fighting? Never really understood if this is trolling or just a Sherdog trope or whatever.

Has there ever been a proof of this? Like someone admitting it later or something.

Most of the time, fighters would avoid someone who's strong point is their weaker point, if they can fight someone else that is higher in the rankings and, in their perception, an easier matchup.

A good example for instance, is Conor. He "ducked" most top ranked FW fighters because they were wrestlers. That's while looking for a fight against Aldo.
While it was easy to see why he would avoid wrestlers, it would be hard to imagine he was "afraid" of them.

However, you can't really argue with haters... they tend not to be all "logical" and such...

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Bisping ducked Whittaker

I didn't have any problem with Bisping fighting Dan Henderson as Hendo was retiring and Bisping had been wanting that rematch for 7 years and that was his last chance. He fought him 4 months after winning the title. And then the GSP fight was available. How could any fighter refuse that payday and you can't say GSP wasn't as big or bigger challenge than Whittaker.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

See my edit, he was addressing a rumor and said he hoped he wasn't fighting him. I remembered the situation incorrectly and admitted to it in my post.

No worries. I wasn't sure if they were linked to a fight that I hadn't heard of or something. Jon's rise to the title was so fast, it was something to admire.

 

[PAPERCLIP30]

Forrest openly ducked jon jones. I remember hearing him in an interview saying he didn't want anything to do with that after what anderson did to him

tbf he didn’t duck him, he said something like “I hope im not fighting Jon Jones”

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Can't Duck a fighter in the weight class above yours. DJ fought everyone at his weight class and he even fought and did very well at 135 when there was not 125 division.

 

[SuperNerd]

I didn't have any problem with Bisping fighting Dan Henderson as Hendo was retiring and Bisping had been wanting that rematch for 7 years and that was his last chance. He fought him 4 months after winning the title. And then the GSP fight was available. How could any fighter refuse that payday and you can't say GSP wasn't as big or bigger challenge than Whittaker.

Almost every example in here has some context like this. Money, age, weight, ect.

I remember Nick Diaz saying, during one of his rants, how he has no interest in letting low level guys making a name off him. I don't think that makes him a duck.

and by the UFC hands out interims and title shots, there isnt real mandatory contenders. Champions just fight when ready.

 

[RockyLockridge]

What top fights did Woodley avoid? He won the belt then defended it 4 times in 18 months. He asked for money fights but didn't get any. He fought who the UFC told him to.

He didn't but, boy did he try. he talked about EVERYONE but the top guys in his division. Conor, GSP, Nate, ect. I'm only calling him a duck because of the fights that he fishes for (the easiest fights for him to make the most money in his mind)

 

[SuperNerd]

He didn't but, boy did he try. he talked about EVERYONE but the top guys in his division. Conor, GSP, Nate, ect. I'm only calling him a duck because of the fights that he fishes for (the easiest fights for him to make the most money in his mind)

Meh. He tried.

I think the greater criticism, or complement, is Woodley sat out almost the entirely of Robbie Lawler's WW run, over a year, and still got his title shot... Tyron sat out while Robbie went to war with Condit, Hendricks and Rory. Then picked him off 7 months after his last fight.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Almost every example in here has some context like this. Money, age, weight, ect.

I remember Nick Diaz saying, during one of his rants, how he has no interest in letting low level guys making a name off him. I don't think that makes him a duck.

and by the UFC hands out interims and title shots, there isnt real mandatory contenders. Champions just fight when ready.

They used to actually have Title Eliminator fights and actually follow thru. The first Bisping vs Hendo fight was for a title shot and Hendo went on the fight Anderson.

If you are champion and there is a clear number one contender you have to fight him or her or it is Ducking. Imagine Khabib saying Tony needs to earn his shot while fighting Conor again? That would be Ducking.

The UFC used to make fighters defend vs the number one contender. Maybe not each and every time but on a fairly consistent basis and with a less than clear number 1 Matchmaking comes into play. (Bisping vs Hendo 2)

 

[Mal Intentions]

He ducked Makachev though

he probly doesnt even know who that is

 

[felmmando]

Hooker coming off a beheading by Barboza fought a higher ranked Iaquinta then used the excuse of rankings to blatantly duck Makhachev. Also held out for an easier fight against Felder.

I don't see any inconsistency in Hooker's choice of opponents. To me it seems obviously desirable for a fighter to fight an opponent ranked higher than he is. Iaquinta and Felder qualified but Makhachev didn't. Why is that an excuse?

 

[daltonames]

It's a risk vs reward thing simply. Take Ryan Hall for ex. There's really no promotional advantage to fighting him or beating him, but he's a terrible match up for a ton of guys so the risk is high. Not that hard to understand really.

 

[bigconan]

Read about it A LOT on Sherdog, how can someone in their right mind argue fighters would avoid do their fucking job out of... fear? Of fighting? Never really understood if this is trolling or just a Sherdog trope or whatever.

Has there ever been a proof of this? Like someone admitting it later or something.

a few people on this forum claim that conor was somehow afraid, that's why he's only coming back now. these people are complete and utter morons....

 

[HHJ]

I GAVE you two textbook examples. Do you not have the capability of doing a simple Google search?

You’re being disingenuous by acting like you’re being objective on the topic yet calling anyone who states a fighter ducked a “troll”.

Sounds like you don’t want an answer to your question but rather just to validate your point.

Brasil Wand just wants to exercise his right to say "Quack Quack" whenever he feels the need to do so.

 

[AP_RESURRECTION]

Like most stupid topics/arguments, its a mix of trolls who want to give any fighter a hard time about anything, and over zealous fans who dont understand how rankings/money works and also genuinely believe that fighters fear each other etc. I think it makes them enjoy the fights more though, so good for them to think whatever they want.

Back in the day, Tito was actually afraid of Chuck, it wasnt all about positioning yourself/making the most money possible, so it was fun to talk about it back then.

 

[Ackmed]

I don't see any inconsistency in Hooker's choice of opponents. To me it seems obviously desirable for a fighter to fight an opponent ranked higher than he is. Iaquinta and Felder qualified but Makhachev didn't. Why is that an excuse?

First Duckman Dan claimed he wanted an opponent who will sell more - which made no sense because he's fighting in his home country where he's the draw regardless of opponent.

Then when Islam/Ali called him on that BS he next claimed the reason was Islam was ranked too low.

Felder also ducked Islam after UFC 242 but that's no surprise because he literally said "I don't want to fight this guy!" when commentating on Islam vs Arman fight earlier in the year.

Felder also ducked Barboza trilogy.

Basically Dan vs Felder is a duckers' main event.

 

[Ackmed]

It's a risk vs reward thing simply. Take Ryan Hall for ex. There's really no promotional advantage to fighting him or beating him, but he's a terrible match up for a ton of guys so the risk is high. Not that hard to understand really.

Agree - but then Contards claim guys are ONLY avoiding Islam because of his ranking, when it's actually his ranking relative to their RISK OF LOSING to him. Its the latter factor that makes it ducking.

 

[ncboy]

whenever i see a fighter has only fought one type of style then i think they've ducked bad matchups.

 

[Bluntforce420]

Pretty sure GDR ducked Cyborg