lazer

? what do you think...

Take a non English speaking UFC fighter.... Would they have a disadvantage over a fluent English speaking fighter in the UFC… that doesn’t need an interpreter??


This one has been bugging me for awhile and I know it is a very touchy subject, but I really want to hear what you think please.

1… Would a UFC fighter have a disadvantage of making more money if he needs an English speaking interpreter??

2… Would Dana and the gang hang with these people as much and give them the proper respect they deserve??

3. Would they get as much publicity as a Champ in their division by major sponsors that are prevalent in the sport itself?

4. Any pros or cons that you think should be addressed with this issue?


My thoughts are... (and not necessarily right or wrong please).

I truly believe that the best fighter should be the biggest superstar, be it black/white/red/ pink/yellow/rainbow… from Zimbabwe to the Cape of South America… everyone is equal in this world… period, and deserve the same recognition for their accomplishments.

What do you think ……………….?

Is it fair game out there???

southpaw447

For Question number 1: NO
For Question Number 2: Yes they don't get the respect they deserve becuase the UFC is based in america and foreign fighters don't get very much respect.

For Question 3: Unfourtunatley No. Take Xyience for example all their products are sponsored by American English Speaking Champions (matt hughes, rich franklin and Tim Sylvia) When A. Silva smashed franklins face, i did't see him on any products. When St Pierre beat the crap out of hughes the only thing i saw him on was Biotest products.

Also a foriegn non english speaking fighter has an advantage becuase during a fight when their corner is screaming out advice, the english speaking guy doesn't know what the hell is going on!!

js9234

Foreign Fighters DO get the same respect as American Fighters. You can't have a guy trying to sell Xyience in the U.S. that doesn't speak English. Wouldn't make any sense. Hughes and Franklin were Champions much longer than St Pierre and Silva(still champ). I doubt Hughes and Franklin got instant publicity until they defended their title a couple of times just to make sure they were gonna be around and have a face or name that is well known. I may be wrong though. I want to see the baddest fighters in the UFC and Pride no matter where they are from and I'm pretty sure most Americans would agree with me but their are an ignorant few on each corner of the globe.

IronMan

I doubt it. Usually a coach speaks both languages and can translate, but even if the UFC had to bring a translator in, they would still pay the fighter the same amount of money. After all, if the guys not getting paid, he's not going to fight.

Alot of people are going to say "no" as an opportunity to bash Dana or just to say something radical about the organization, but look at it like this:

Dana White does give Anderson Silva props, because he deserves them. He has even openly said that Anderson is a monster.

The UFC publicity guys do push Gonzaga, who also doesn't speak english. They also push Kongo.

I think that the UFC doesn't have enough foreign fighters, but they do push the talented ones that they do have.

I think that Anderson's big problem (and it was GSP's problem too) is that it's hard for them to have a big personality when you don't speak the language fluently. You lack a certain degree of charisma.

It's really hard for Anderson to market Xience, or any kind of American product, in America, because all that he can do is be a name and a face, while sponsors want the personality.

I think that the recruiting of non-English speaking fighters should be addressed, but the UFC seems to be doing that.

If there is really any major issue I have with the way the UFC handles their non-American fighters, it's that they aren't as well broadcast on UFC Unleashed. GSP is one of the guys who is, but I'd like to see Kongo on there and I'd like to see Silva on there, because all of his fights in the UFC are worth watching.

If you have the talent, you can get the title. I won't say that the playing field is equal in terms of sponsorships, but in the way the UFC conducts its business I think that they do a pretty good job of pushing the non-english speaking UFC fighters as the great fighters that they are.

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IDL

It wouldn't affect a fighters ability to win a fight, but sure it could affect a fighters ability to make money. A certain amount of the purse consists of how much money that fight can draw. Like Tito, he was able to generate a lot of money that he couldn't have if he didn't speak english.

As far as getting respect, well Anderson Silva got his title shot pretty quickly so I don't think it slowed him down.

LV 2 H8 U

I think we need Rev. Al Sharpton to get involved here!