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Cain Velasquez, Brian Stann and the Top 10 Role Models in the UFC Today

2K views 23 replies 21 participants last post by  M_D 
#1 ·
"I am not a role model." NBA Hall Of Fame basketball player Charles Barkley made that statement famous.

Today's sports arena is filled with selfish, entitled athletes who believe they are above the law and do not need to abide to society's standards of living.

Being a professional athlete is a blessing, not a right.

As such, with the enormous paychecks, fame and the ability to participate on the world's largest stages comes responsibility.

Charles Barkley could not have been more wrong in his lack of accountability as a role model.

Whether or not an athlete wants to accept the moniker of role model does not eliminate the fact that professional athletes are role models.

These athletes need to adhere to a standard of living that represents not only themselves but their sports in a manner that positively influences millions of people worldwide.

With the explosion of MMA globally, fans worldwide emulate their favorite fighters.

These fans mimic fighting styles inside the Octagon, and some lead their lives in a fashion similar to their favorite fighters outside of the cage.

To be a role model is a tremendous privilege. Knowing that your actions shape and mold the generations to follow and may provide a blueprint for how fans develop their fight games and lead their lives is an honor.

Being a role model encompasses a fighter's actions both in and out of the cage, including how they represent themselves, their sport, interact with the fans and perform service above and beyond what may be expected.

The talent competing for the UFC contains dozens of virtuous and genuine fighters who utilize their position within the UFC to better those who need help.

This article is not about the championships and titles earned inside the Octagon. In all reality, this article should not be quantified on a list system. All 10 fighters described here are deserving of unlimited praise and adoration for their acceptance as role models.

Rather, this article is dedicated to the selfless work and diligent devotion provided by the top 10 role models in the UFC today to provide positive changes and an altruistic script for those less fortunate.

I welcome your comments.

Todd Seyler
Nice little article. You can see his list here. I can't think of a bad thing to say about anyone on it.

I definitely agree with his top 3.
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#2 ·
Pretty good list to be fair. No big complaints at all although I'm not a huge fan of Hamill, but I can see why he is as he overcame alot being deaf and is the only deaf MMA fighter as far as I'm aware.

Good top 3, with Forrest, Franklin, Guida and Edgar being there also, pretty awesome.

After that street fighting business where Huerta demolished some asshat that flattened a girl, I'm more than happy seeing him at the #4 spot. He taught that guy a lesson all of us would of wanted to do ourselves.
 
#9 ·
I find it funny Randy Couture is on the list as his out of ring life is chaotic and a horrible lesson to most. He has stated several times that he never calls himself "Captain America" and in his book he admitted to several affairs and other "non-role model" type behaviors. In the gym, in the ring, in MMA he is a role model, outside of it, not so much.

This is coming from a huge Randy Couture fan.
 
#11 ·
A little weird GSP isn't on the list, but lets face it, role model is pretty subjective. Different people place importance on different things.

I think it's a little premature to put Stann on there, not because of his character, which I'm sure is great, but you could argue a minimum amount of exposure is necessary for someone to qualify as an MMA role model. How many mainstream fans could tell you who Stann is? Obviously profile isn't the only criteria, but he is pretty anonymous outside hardcore fans. But thats just my opinion, like I said, the list is obviously very subjective.
 
#17 ·
I can respect the fact that these guys train hard earn their bread and respect other fighters , i just find it slightly funny that people who get paid to beat the crap out of each other are considered "role models" of any kind.

Id say things can be learnt from their mentality but as role models seems kind of silly.
 
#19 ·
Yeah I don't quite get putting Cain on that list. Putting Belfort on that list is just :sarcastic12:

My top ten list would include (in no particular order)

Wanderlei Silva
Paulo Thiago
Mirko Cro-Cop
Brian Stann
Tim Kennedy
Roger Huerta
Georges St. Pierre
Forrest Griffin
Randy Couture
Frankie Edgar
 
#22 ·
Charles Barkley was right, incidentally.

"I'm not a role model... Just because I dunk a basketball doesn't mean I should raise your kids."

-- Charles Barkley

"I don't believe professional athletes should be role models. I believe parents should be role models.... It's not like it was when I was growing up. My mom and my grandmother told me how it was going to be. If I didn't like it, they said, "Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out." Parents have to take better control."

-- Charles Barkley
 
#24 ·
the guy seamed to put some of the people on the list for namesake alone,

so called role models that i would pick
Rich
Forrest
Hamill
thats all i can think of off the top of my head

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As or the brown pride tat talk, we had to close and delete many threads dealing with this and if you guys want to continue talking about it we will have no problem closing and deleting accounts as well.
 
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