Gus Johnson: 'My job isn't to promote the sport -- I’m paid to give my opinion and to describe what I see'
by Jesse Holland on Apr 21, 2010 12:23 AM EDT
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Props: Cage Potato
Quoteworthy:
"I take a lot of criticism, but I try my best to try to help promote this fucking sport, when nobody else, including television executives could give two shits because they think it’s barbaric and it’s filled with a bunch of hoodlums, which is exactly how it looked to everyone watching the show Saturday night. The problem with MMA is that these Internet guys ruin the sport because they’re negative 90 percent of the time. I try to say as many good things about these athletes in this sport on a network level — not on an underground level or a Spike TV cable level or a pay-per-view level. My job isn't to promote the sport. I’m paid to give my opinion and to describe what I see and it’s my opinion that the guys they had Jake fight were supposed to beat him. That's how I see it. I said it, so I believe it. That’s disrespect. Do you mean to tell me that Strikeforce didn’t bring a former Pride champion [like] Dan Henderson in to beat Jake Shields? Come on, man. I'm also not blaming Miller for what happened. Mayhem didn’t do anything that Shane Mosely hasn’t done, or other fighters who aren’t a part of the main event of the card who get in the cage or the ring to hype a future fight haven't done hundreds of times before. It always happens. That’s not a big deal. The reaction from Gilbert and Jake and all these guys was what was the big deal. It was improper, and to be honest, it was shameful."
Strikeforce: "Nashville" CBS broadcaster Gus Johnson retaliates after getting slammed by the majority of mixed martial arts pundits, including Mike Russell, who came down hard on the talking head for his comments during (and most memorably after) the main event between Jake Shields and Dan Henderson at "Saturday Night Fights" back on April 17. Is Johnson getting too much flak for his reaction to a televised melee? Or did he speak out of turn with his on-air comments? What side are you on Maniacs?
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What a fucking dick!!!
Dude just got on my shit list, we need an AGM!
But a true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above. A man fights, and fights, and then fights some more. Because surrender is death, and death is for pussies. - Kenny Powers
What an ass clown!
But a true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above. A man fights, and fights, and then fights some more. Because surrender is death, and death is for pussies. - Kenny Powers
fucking sexy
you know you're having some good sex when you start planning what you're gonna say in the 911 call afterwards...
by HellaHectic on Apr 21, 2010 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions
I'd hit that
Never tell your problems to anyone...20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them.
by Jamie The Peach Hunter on Apr 21, 2010 2:29 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Boy's got a pretty mouth...
wonder what else he can use it for.
Fedor played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won... but still avoids the UFC!
I try my best to try to help promote this fucking sport
Fail
If you knew the sport you would uunderstand that the undergoround Spike TV audience that loves MMA would be a large portion or the audience that watches network MMA. The fact your trying to talk to mommy’s and daddy’s like a little kid makes more sense now. Rememberthe reason CBS wanted to try MMA is becasue the undergorund is just away of saying younger generation and if CBS wants more of us they better get a a “underground commentator”
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson
True
I agree 100%
Although he may have a point about SF bringing Dan in to beat Jake. Still a moron though.
"Remember men, we are all winners in the eyes of Christ...except for the guy still bleeding on the canvass"
yea I agreed with him on that
And the fact that Jake’s camp was to blame for the fight.
But he’s still a douche and horrible commentator…
he is right in that Dan was supposed to beat Jake, and Mayhem didnt really do anything wrong! Not a big Mayhem fan, and I love the ceaser Gracie camp, but I stopped being so Biased in the past couple months so I gotta call it like I see it....
Ceaser Gracie BOys were in the wrong for basically rolling on Mayhem on National Television. I mean, how Focking stupid can you be! Thank god that didnt happen on a UFC card, or it would be a lot worse for mma!
Funny to read this as him talking like a normal person.
This guy really has no buisness commentating another MMA event. It’s just a pay check, and a bad gig his agent set him up with. The whole production at CBS needs to be shit canned. The fights I love to watch (UFC or not), but it is the commentating and production value of SF, that makes it hard to watch with the volume on.
You Don't Pay A Hooker To Stay. You Pay Her To Leave.
Agreed.
And i’m usually one of those people that does not care who the hell is commentating but this guy is just hot garbage! SF or CBS must get rid of this guy before he kills the entire show!
But a true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above. A man fights, and fights, and then fights some more. Because surrender is death, and death is for pussies. - Kenny Powers
who the hell is he and where did he come from?
you know you're having some good sex when you start planning what you're gonna say in the 911 call afterwards...
HellaHectic - banned from over 30 sites and counting...
He's right
His job is there to announce and that’s what he does… Why do you guys keep bashing on CBS? All they are doing is trying to promote the sport…. I have been watching the UFC since I was 7 yrs old when UFC 1 came out and I am sure half the people on here never even heard of it untill it appeared on Spike… Strikeforce has been doing an ok job but they are new to the sport.. You could have said the same about the UFC back in 93. But the guy is right with what he said… I mean read all of your comments on everything. 90% negative
We have and I'm one of the underground guys that watch Spike TV, how about you?
I read everything he said and basically he was hired because he a better commentator for the CBS audience over the underground audience who happens to be the majority of peaple 18-34 who CBS is trying to reach? Does that make sense to you? CBS is trying to promote the sport? Really if so the yare failing and should leave a sport that they have no idea about to those that do. His opinion is fine but doesn’t stop the fact that it was very ignorant compared to those underground commentators.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson
Agree'd Puck
Whether you agree on his views on not, there was no need for him to be so classless and a douche in his response. I hope the athletic commissions/Strikeforce suspend some people.
The sport is only young, sooner or later the commentators will all be knowledgeable on what they are seeing and saying. Until then we are going to have people like this trying to hawk the product to the masses.
Unless it turns out like american commentators during hockey, those fella’s still have no idea what’s on the go, they are horrible!! No wonder you yanks hate hockey so much.
Amen RayRay
I can’t stand watching the American hockey broadcasts listening to the commentators, guess they just refuse to hire Canadians to commentate for them…
Also, I agree there need to be some repercussions for the fighters (and trainers) involved in the post fight melee (even if it’s as simple as a fine to send a message).
As for Gus, the Strikeforce commentators and the cheap production value that Strikeforce brings to the table, Scott Coker needs to step it up (and maybe watch a couple UFC events to get a clue). You’d think with the sport on a stage as big as CBS that they’d put more effort into production, not the (to quote Dana) “bush-league” effort they gave us.
fuck if dana said this or rogan you guys would be singin his praises
What he said in this quote is the exact way I saw it. The gracie camps morons, and he called it like he saw it.
swear to god i fucked em all except the 2nd one in from the left. choke on it
by daniel worby on Apr 21, 2010 2:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Agreed daniel
People are whining about this way too much. Gracie camp are morons and Henderson was obviously brought in to dethrone Shields.
Lesnar > [Carwin] ---> Lesnar > [Velasquez] ---> Lesnar > [JDS]
Overeem will NOT show up on May 15th! Mark my words. Sig stays til then.
The problem is that Johnson is a great announcer for sports that he knows something about, but MMA is not one of them. Brawls happen in basketball all the time. Anyone see Garnett throw not one but two elbows at a Miami player a couple nights ago? Was there any hand-wringing about how the NBA no longer has a place on network television?
I'm a pan-handlin', man-handlin', post-holin', high-rollin', dust-bowlin' daddy
no of course not but isnt that Gus's point? lol
3 SF title fight decisions is somehow "embarrassing garbage", but 3 UFC title fight decisions isn't?
by daniel worby on Apr 21, 2010 10:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He shouldn't have a point when he doesn't understand the sport Worby
He did a horrible job, I never complained about any announcer ever until now.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson
never complained about an announcer??
you must have never seen the first few ufc shows. jim brown and that chick were terrible. over a 3 hour show that woman said like 4 words. none of them knew anything about martial arts or combat sports period, they didn’t even know correct terminology. joe rogan would kill to have gus johnson’s gig on cbs. gus gets praised by millions of people every sunday during football season! i doubt he really gives a shit about a few thousand mma fans
No, he's wrong
This wouldn’t have happened period if the UFC was on CBS instead. When was the last time you saw this kind of crap from a UFC PPV? The promotion, the production value, the commentary is light years ahead of SF. The only other promotion that’s decent is WEC and that’s under Zuffa. Face the fact, what you saw on Saturday night was a poor product as a result of the wrong people running the show.
MMA NEEDS TO BE UNDER ONE BANNER = NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL!!! The UFC seems to be the only one capable to taking MMA mainstream. What’s so hard to understand??
I hope we never see the UFC with that much power.
Any fighter who doesn’t want to kiss Dana’s ass will not be signed. Any fighter he has an issue with will not be signed or kicked out regardless of wether it makes business sense or not. All fighters having to work twice as hard as the fan favourites or Dana’s favourites to get a title shot. And him basically having all fighters bent over a barrel, knowing they have no where else to go.
where's a labor union
i’m ready for a fighters union, like the NFLPA and the MLBPA. i’m ready for some collective bargaining agreements where the rich don’t get richer, but the people who put butt’s in seats get rich!!! the fertitta’s are broke, i don’t care what u read about their net worth, they’ve been getting their asses handed to them for the past decade by steve wynn and donald trump casino’s, and they’re doing even worse now since the economic “recession” of a few yrs. ago. station casino’s are second rate, down n out casino’s that are bleeding money daily. THIS is why they don’t pay fighters what they’re worth, because the fertitta’s need all the net profit the ufc brings in to save their own asses! i don’t pay $50 a ppv or $350 to catch a live show to get a glimpse at Lorenzo or Dana, i pay it to watch someone get the shit beat out of them and sent to the hospital. the ufc management is barbaric, greasing their own pockets off the blood, sweat, and tears of young men. in some countries they’d be hanged in public for such attrocities!!!
When the fighters pool together their first $45 million to lose to start their own company, call me. What? Most fighters are happy makin $6k to show and $6k to win?
$12k + endorsement money is better than most of these guys can make in half a year with their highly marketable skills.
The world is a dangerous place to live - not because of the people who are evil but because of the people who don't do anything about it. - Albert Einstein
those are all pro leagues yes...
but hockey isnt under one banner anymore. the NHL is known worldwide at the elite league, but there are now a lot of overseas leagues that are trying to compete. like the KHL in russia is the next best thing and are stealing NHL players
There are pro basketball leagues all over Europe (Turkey, Italy, Spain, Israel, etc.) but everyone wants to be in the NBA because it’s the best league. Same with UFC. If they can stockpile ALL the best talent instead of just most of t it will benefit MMA as a whole and give us more good fights in the meantime.
I'm a pan-handlin', man-handlin', post-holin', high-rollin', dust-bowlin' daddy
no you cant at all
back to hockey – think of the leagues and steps you have to take before you get to the nhl.
minor hockey, junior hockey, all sorts of leagues (AHL, OHL, ECHL, WHL…..)
people like Kimbo slice can make some videos and hop right in
no other sports association works like that
nfl, nba, mlb, nhl, all have unions. good luck getting a fighter union in ufc.
That’s why SF is important for the fighters we love. If you love mma then a dana white momopoly should scare the shit out of you. I would rather miss out on a few dream fights then have every fighter have there options limited…
I get my ass kicked for money, all you gotta do is talk motherfucker.... Rampage Pride GP03
by DrewMoney$$$ on Apr 21, 2010 10:30 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
exactly
strikeforce and the UFC both bring great fights to us, and they’re helping the sport as well. Does anybody REALLY want the UFC to monopolize MMA? Then they don’t have to do a damn thing to please the fans…….
think about it. We need strikeforce, and shows like it.
by LeeroyJenkin$ on Apr 21, 2010 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions
totally agree, it drives me nuts...UFC is NOT the NFL, the nfl will take ANY talent that can be managed.
UFC…dana wont let people fight if he doesnt like them…its lame, and they shouldnt have a monopoly when its ONE GUY making the decisions for the most part…
I think dana is being WAAAAY possessive over UFC yet not MMA, its unfortunate…I love to not pay FIFTY BUCKS for 3-4 fights…cmon now
Team Pioli/Haley
Tom Arnold?
What do you guys think about Tom Arnold? I think Tom would be a pretty good one. He was great on The Best Damn Sports Show..
Like like Tom.
He’s a funny guy but I’m not sure how seriously people would take him.
Fedor played Russian Roulette with a fully loaded gun and won... but still avoids the UFC!
Kevin James gets my vote
He’s at most of the events anyways so he might as well get paid while he’s scarfing down the nachos.
Tough Gus??
Whhhaaat?!?!!? Gus is tryin to get raw?!?!?dude is actually a good basketball/football announcer…not mma, he makes alot of ignorant comments on air. he has to expect negativity from hardcore mma fans for his amateur mma broadasting. any unqualified football/basKetball announcer would get blasted the same way by hardcore nba/nfl fans if they made ignorant comments on air. dude is smart he has to know that. what a dumb comment..the sport was built thru the underground, spike and ppv.
Goldberg is better?
Goldy takes a lot of flak too. My guess is that they hire these announcers for their on-air manner and not for their knowledge.
Goldie is better. Name a better hype voice or sidekick commentator.
by MMACrossfire on Apr 21, 2010 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Goldy was top notch when he first started. He has mailed it in for the past 2 years. Rogan has been consistent from day 1 (despite being a biased fan boy on occasion).
Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty. Only enemies speak the truth.
-Stephen King
Agreed OJR
We make fun of Goldie and Joe all the time, but we sure notice the difference watching other promotions. The SF production this weekend was very bad. in general, it was just boring. The fights were ok, but the production and announcers were very far behind the UFC in terms of entertainment.
I hope SF improves quickly, because I do not want the UFC (specifically Dana) to have a monopoly.
by MMA Junkie 1 on Apr 21, 2010 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions
of course
of course it was shameful; of course it was improper. but it is not standard behavior of mixed martial artists and that is what you are taking flak for. “sometimes this happens in MMA…”
formerly JB, trying to figure out this whole new SB deal. oh, and another thing; i'm not impressed by your performance.
He said sometimes, not standard
And fights do break out among guys who practice MMA. I mean, let’s be real. Guys who do MMA like to fight. Guys who like to fight are more likely to get into brawls.
It was a throwaway line, I don’t see why people keep latching on to it.
what i dont understand is that people on this site bash all announcers...sf and ufc
they bash frank..mir…all the guys on sf…and yall also bash goldie and rogan…
can u guys even name commentators that you like??
you know you're having some good sex when you start planning what you're gonna say in the 911 call afterwards...
HellaHectic - banned from over 30 sites and counting...
i meant frank shamrock, and frank mir..not just frank mir
you know you're having some good sex when you start planning what you're gonna say in the 911 call afterwards...
HellaHectic - banned from over 30 sites and counting...
I like Rogan he understands the sport even though sometimes he does sound like he is hypeing one fighter over another but that is becasue he's a fan of the sport
In every sport commentators have bad moments but in most or educated and were either players, fighters or long time fans. Here it sounds like he had the back ground check done on these fighters and recieved commments from others but had no education himself. So he was voicing other peaples opinions more than his own. I have never once voiced my dislike for any commentator until now.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson
It's true
No one seems to like anyone, I like Joe Rogan and Goldie the best, but I don’t have a huge problem with any commentators, except a bit with Frank Shamrock, as he likes to rehash old glories rather then commentating on the fight at hand.
Also, I agree with him, Hendo did get brought in to beat Shields, shields popularity isn’t high, he’s not a liked guy or an exciting fighter.
I also agree about Team Gracie’s action in the ring.
Shogun lost a close decision! Everyone get crazy!
Ok lets get this right you agree with him about the Hendo comments but is that anything a commentator should say about a fighter that is a free agent after the fight?
He not only said Hendo but he made it sound like SF is trying to find someone that can beat him, not compete with him but beat him like they didn’t want him to be the champ or something?
Another thing there is different complaints tha tI see about different commentators but if you noticed there are different fans complaining about different commentators. It’s not like the same guys bitch about all the commentators. Some guys don’t like Fran Mir most could care less and some like him, some don’t like rogan, some do and againn most don’t care. Noiw with Gus how can you not care he made a good card sound horrible?
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson
Well
The good card made itself look horrible with lackluster fights.
But yeah, I agree with what he said, but you’re right it probably wasn’t very prudent of him to say so.
I personally don’t mind him saying it, because it’s true, but I don’t think SF appreciated it, it did lack professionalism, and I can see them requesting someone else next time.
Shogun lost a close decision! Everyone get crazy!
oh completely...I mean, the elbows to a grounded opponent may be a reason but...
to have an aoki fight go to decision…..crazy…
shields on the other hand is a BORING fighter.
Team Pioli/Haley
I hate the Aussie on HDNET Fights!!
Good Night Irene!
…ugh
"Remember men, we are all winners in the eyes of Christ...except for the guy still bleeding on the canvass"
heh
Mike Schiavello isnt so bad, but ya pretty corny.
I like when they have him with Mayhem for Dream.
Shogun lost a close decision! Everyone get crazy!
yep, love mayhem on the broadcast
Team Pioli/Haley
Lol
I love that guy he’s that bad he’s good.
Never tell your problems to anyone...20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them.
by Jamie The Peach Hunter on Apr 21, 2010 6:39 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Not the Big Kabosh!
"I thought I was getting raped by Freddy Mercury." – Tank after losing a decision to Dan Severn
In the mean time, and in between time
Schivaello reminds of of Ed Whelan back in the Stampede Wrestling days. On second thought, Whelan was hell of a lot better that this guy.
hes the dick vitale of MMA
Team Pioli/Haley
The voice Michael schivelo =D
Gus is just doing his job but he’s terrible at it & duznt know mma at all. Rogan is ok. Goldy is hilarious! His greatest hits on Utube R funny as hell. Pat militich & frank Mir R gud. I guess Gus is the only 1 I can’t stand =D
by d*locc on Apr 21, 2010 1:43 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Rogan is the best
Him and Goldie provide the perfect balance and humour to the table – I never really find myself bored when watching a UFC event with them commentating (even between fights – though the production value plays a big role as well). Watching the Strikeforce card on the weekend, I found myself changing channels between fights because it was so brutal.
Ya it was but this was the 1st time the fights weren't exciting in SF IMO.
Besides hendog almost ko’ing sheilds in the 1st & the melle after it was pretty boring. The next sF card shud make up for this 1 tho. Reem vs. Grim, AA vs. Bigfoot. & it was free =D got my $’s worth.
by d*locc on Apr 21, 2010 2:00 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
But that's kind of the point...
Strikeforce just doesn’t have the depth of talent that UFC has… for a promotion as young as Strikeforce one or two anticlimactic cards can spell the end. There is no way that Strikeforce can provide more than 2-3 relevant cards a year as is.
lol @ internet punks
Dana White was the first person to talk shit about what he said lol
Detroit Red Wings = next Stanley Cup Champs. Howard for Vezna
I dont mind johnson
Shamrock is turable in the words of barkley and mauro does get annoying but johnson is alright besides his mma testosterone comment
Yes terrible
Havent you ever heard charles barkley talk, turable
lol, and lance armstrong is only riding a bike!
The world is a dangerous place to live - not because of the people who are evil but because of the people who don't do anything about it. - Albert Einstein
First thing you need to do is learn what's up and show some respect
I try to say as many good things about these athletes in this sport on a network level — not on an underground level or a Spike TV cable level or a pay-per-view level.
Gus Johnson, in case you are reading this and are unaware, network TV is in big trouble. Their numbers and profits are down. Meanwhile the audience and revenue for cable grows. There is talk of network TV going the way of cable.
So stop looking down your nose at cable. And your comment about the fight “Gentlemen we’re on national televesion” was nowhere near professional.
by Swedish Chef smerdy herdy verdy on Apr 21, 2010 2:11 AM EDT reply actions
MMAMANIA U LEFT SOMETHING OUT...
There is also a transcript of this on BE, where he talks about himself training in BJJ 3 times a week. – Just him trying to point out that he’s not all talk when it comes to MMA.
You Don't Pay A Hooker To Stay. You Pay Her To Leave.
Rogan n' Bas Ruten Best of All of em'
I also liked Frank Trigg as an announcer and Goldie is the only knucklehead announcer I like because he works well with Rogan. Frank S. is getting better I have never like Ranallo much, but he’s tolarable and knowledgable. Gus may give it his best effort but we just call it like we see it… MMA just has a different standard because fans have been acustomed to by watching the UFC announcers and they’re Good!!
They need to make all MMA systematic, kinda like they have in Bellator where the sport (mma) performance dictates what’ll happen, right now there are idiots making things up left and right on who should be brought in to fight who to make more money, that’s not sport, it’s not competition either it’s someone making pure entertainment out of the sport just so he can fill his pockets..
It’s causing a ton of BS having different ppl trying to run their own version of MMA… the three most fair combat sport events are probably the TUF tourney, Bellator tourney and the K-1 GP.
NHL Playoff Hockey!!! Champions League football!! NBA playoffs!! good time to be a sports fan.
Gus is right, he's not a promotor of the sport. I don't care if he sucks as a commentator or not. bottom line is his opinion doesn't affect the sport
.
NHL Playoff Hockey!!! Champions League football!! NBA playoffs!! good time to be a sports fan.
You guys know Gus is a blue belt in BJJ under Renzo right?
All in all, I think he’s right. Maybe it wasn’t the best thing for him to say “We’re on national television!” and for him to point out that he’s paid to do his job and just commentate, not promote the sport. But whatevers, he keeps at it, he’ll eventually get it
by Nameless on Apr 21, 2010 2:43 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
id really like to see kenflo do more commentary..he does a good job on espn live
its always great to get a fighters perspective..thats why bas was so good…and mir would be good too if he wasnt so freaking biased and nuthugging all his favorite fighters…i never will forget how heartbroken and sad he was when faber or torres got ko’d i forget which one it was..but he sounded like a kid who woke up christmas morning and didnt receive anything for christmas…
bonner is also a great guy…he does good on espn live…he has the fighter’s perspective and isnt afraid to be honest and give his opinion and seems to be pretty fair and nonbiased…i think thats why randy was so good…its the fighter’s perspective..except randy just had no charisma…he was like a limp bored…just couldnt get the viewer into a fight although he was always the most knowledgable person at the commentator table…he just had no personality…
kenflo and bonner are good at educating and breaking things down for the casual fan…and i think with some experience they’d both be good…
i think with bonner’s losing streak i believe thats why hes getting so many appearances on espn live…hes being groomed to be a broadcaster and color commentator….hes obviously no longer a contender but hes great at commentating and i thinking hes being groomed to work fights maybe a year or so down the road…
you know you're having some good sex when you start planning what you're gonna say in the 911 call afterwards...
HellaHectic - banned from over 30 sites and counting...
Mauro Ranallo is the worst of them all
The guy has by far the most annoying voice I’ve ever heard and is such a nerd. He’s terrible.
is he the "this sometimes happens in mma" guy?
i dont know all the announcers names…i just watch the cards..but if thats him than yea hes a dicksheep
you know you're having some good sex when you start planning what you're gonna say in the 911 call afterwards...
HellaHectic - banned from over 30 sites and counting...
It F**lin CRAZY....
How quickly people on here jump ship!!!! This time last week this site was full of comments on how SF has better commentators…better walk ins..the fighters were as good as any in the UFC…this card was as good as any UFC card etc etc etc and any1 who said otherwise was a “UFC NUTHUGGER”!
How quickly things change!! I havent seen one positive comment on SF since!
I hope they fold!!
I
then u should read more buddy
All you fuckin posers hop on and off another league due to one big highlight then back off the next time there’s a decision. Waaaah. So much easier to always bitch. You hope sf folds, I hope someone punches you and you fold.
Here’s to hoping dreams come true.
3 SF title fight decisions is somehow "embarrassing garbage", but 3 UFC title fight decisions isn't?
by daniel worby on Apr 21, 2010 10:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Worby u sound like a complete tool...
you fuckin look like one too “buddy”…what you talkin about I should read more what?
by do work son on Apr 21, 2010 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions
I love drama (as do most viewers) and That was real drama for me.
Miller showed a lot of balls going in the ring (enemy territory) and causing Mayhem. This sport always gets me pumped up. I love Strikeforce, Bellator and UFC of course. The more the better. I was only upset that the show ran late and my DVR didn’t catch the brawl. Who wouldn’t want to see Shields vs Miller again now? This announcer needs to cover golf or tennis.
i got the brawl pvr'd luckily i taped an extra 1hr to be safe
And I agree with your entire post. Well done.
3 SF title fight decisions is somehow "embarrassing garbage", but 3 UFC title fight decisions isn't?
by daniel worby on Apr 21, 2010 10:06 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
happened before
I missed the Rogers – Fedor last round because it ran late. Always setting in now for an extra hour.
i would've died if i missed that lol
Mine was a wec card that cut off during a ratcliff fight. Not nearly as suicidal for me. Lol I still have that rogers decapitation on pvr and if anyone that comes over hasn’t seen it, whether they like mma or not they’ve seen it now lol. Close to, if not, my fave KO of all time.
3 SF title fight decisions is somehow "embarrassing garbage", but 3 UFC title fight decisions isn't?
by daniel worby on Apr 21, 2010 10:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
100% True
Whats so bad about saying SF took in Henderson to beat Shields… IF they didnt then it would have been FIXED.
Hes just saying they SF were trying to replace him…
Better than protecting the Champ… A.S/Maia GSP/Hardy Really what is the sense in those match ups?
The Gracie camp is a disGRACIE…
exactly finally some posts from ppl with their heads on straight thank u
3 SF title fight decisions is somehow "embarrassing garbage", but 3 UFC title fight decisions isn't?
by daniel worby on Apr 21, 2010 10:09 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
D-Town
Gus Johnson is from Detroit! He grew up there and if u ever watch BB and FB with him announcing he always mentions the Detroit kids. He has a little tough and hard in him. So I can see why he is acting like this. Some of his comments may be a little off base but some r exatcly on point. Strikeforce brought Hendo to knock off Shields. Mayhem(RED DRAGONS!) did what everyone trying to promote a rematch would do. He didnt go in there throwing punches. I do agree though he should stick to football and especially BB because he is a great if not one of the best BB announcers.
I don’t fault Mayhem at all in this!!! The Diaz brothers are a bunch of punks, and I lost a lot of respect for Shields after he threw some punches at Mayhem he they were holding him back. If you saw the video Mayhem just asked and then you saw Shields push him then the rest is history… Half of you guys don’t even like Goldy and he is very good at what he does. Rogan is good as well. Frank is good and you could understand him better if he got rid of those damn braces!!! SF will get better as time goes along, I mean they have some very good fights that I want to see as a fan. People can’t blame this guy for how the show turns out now can they?
more sensible posts
Took me 75% of the comments down before the ppl with brains couldn’t take the stupidity of these other morons and finally started telling it how it is.
Good posts boys.
3 SF title fight decisions is somehow "embarrassing garbage", but 3 UFC title fight decisions isn't?
by daniel worby on Apr 21, 2010 10:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It's a mixed bag
I normally go out of my way to make fun of Gus Johnson … strictly for the … pauses … he takes … in between … phrases during post-fight … interviews. Really annoying.
I also fault him for his bashing keyboard warriors like most of us on here who have kept this sport growing for the past 15 years (although he’s not the first to lash out at “these Internet guys” … even Dana’s done it).
Gus should also recognize that saying things on the air like he did (about sometimes brawls happen in MMA because of the level of testosterone in the cage) is not only reckless, it’s ignorant and inaccurate. It’s true, this sort of thing would never happen in the UFC. Could you imagine if this would have happened at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi? Dana would have cut every fighter who was involved, even if it was a champion, he woulda been so pissed off and embarrassed (especially when trying to break into a new market overseas). The fact that 3 of SF’s 5 champions were not only involved, but started the brawl is a TOTAL embarrassment, much much worse than anyone is admitting.
While Gus’ response above isn’t the most graceful response, there are some things he’s right about. SF likely brought in Hendo as insurance in case Shields bolted to the UFC after the fight. They were betting on Hendo (who wasn’t :) and I give the Gus Monster credit for speaking his mind about it.
I also give him credit for not faulting Miller, as this is an unpopular position. Don’t get me wrong, Miller should have allowed Shields his moment of glory. It was terrible timing to pull that kind of stunt, and I don’t fault Team Gracie for feeling disrespected by Miller.
But that doesn’t mean you should react by starting a bench-clearing brawl in the middle of the cage on national television. First off, it was like 6 or 7 guys vs. Miller. That’s just stupid. You can’t allow mob mentality to regulate your emotional reaction to a situation. That’s how you get looters during natural disasters. You’re not doing your community any good in those situations — and in this situation, you are harming the MMA community’s reputation by participating in the brawl.
So while Miller shares some blame, he didn’t go in there to start a brawl, and i guarantee if he would have known that it would result in a brawl, Miller would never have stepped foot in Shields’ cage. He was trying to promote a future fight, and trying to get a little TV time in the process (figures). it was stupid, but not as stupid as Team Gracie’s reaction.
Team Gracie has never looked more wrong. They’ve never looked dumber than they do right now. I am a big Nick Diaz fan, and I also like Nate and Gilbert, but this is a disgrace. They should be ashamed of their antics. Caesar was right to apologize, and I was glad to see it.
The question I have is how you feel about Gus saying, “Gentlemen, we’re on national television…” I feel like he took a lot of flak for that, and I don’t understand why. I saw it as the lone voice of reason during an embarrassing moment for MMA (although Gus made that stupid remark about “sometimes things like this happen in MMA” right before he tried to calm the brawlers, so maybe that’s why people are giving him crap for it).
sorry for the long post.
Great post.
Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty. Only enemies speak the truth.
-Stephen King
Agreed. Very good post. Considering the circumstances I thought Gus handled the situation in a reasonable manner.
We all cringed when we heard him say, “Sometimes this happens in MMA…”, but really he was in the middle of the cage while a brawl was going on and was clearly trying to save face for everyone involved. So while his wording was poor, given the circumstances I think he did a fair job. No need to demonize him for it. I’m not a Gus Johnson fan, even for basketball, because of his corny voice. He knows his stuff, but I’ve personally never liked hearing him call games(although he is much better than some others). In this case though, his backlash is understandable, IMO. I also believe you’re spot on about where the blame lies regarding the brawl. When I first saw it I said to my friend, “Yeah, Miller was a little out of line, but no way that should’ve escalated like that. Shields’ camp should’ve rolled with it and let them hype a big fight in the future.” Unfortunately something dumb that could’ve turned good, turned into something very ridiculous.
"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man." -Dr. Johnson
WTF are people blowing on about, Melendez started it, plain and simple.
If he did nothing , it would of been cool imo, and anyone with a set of eyeballs could see he made the first ‘move’ so to speak…watch it and watch it again…and then watch it again. It is Melendez fault, not the Diaz Brothers, they just took advantage of the situation, as you do.
All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.
Let me add to that : Melendez started it and the others should NOT have "taken advantage of the situation." The End.
Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty. Only enemies speak the truth.
-Stephen King
right, just because one guy jumps in they all do? IF mayhem had backup like King Mo, thats different, but its still 2 on 6.
Team Pioli/Haley
These guys are fighters were talking about, not teachers, or doctors, or Petrol pump attendants......
So what do you expect, and even worse it’s the Diaz Brothers, talk about the perfect recipe for what happened on sat night. People need to chill.
All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.
i know they are fighters, but ....
i know these guys are fighters but they are also athletes. Well-disciplined athletes at that. I don’t think their reaction had as much to do with the fact that they are fighters as it did with the fact that they can’t control their tempers.
I don’t see GSP reacting like this. Or even guys with hotter tempers like Brock Lesnar or Chris Leben. I honestly don’t think they would do this. They might get in the guy’s face and talk trash, but they’d control themselves. Look at Rashad stepping into the cage after Rampage beat Jardine (although admittedly that was a little different because Rashad was asked by the UFC to step in).
So what do I expect? Although I expect more from 90% of fighters (especially those who have made it to the UFC level), I do NOT expect more from the Diaz Brothers. And maybe that’s the problem.
I love the Diaz Brothers, but they are thugs. I was not surprised in any way they reacted like this. I was surprised that Gilbert and Jake started it; but not that the Diaz Brothers joined in. That was obviously going to happen.
Dana's right, Turds like this don't deserve to be anywhere near MMA
He’s just there to collect his hefty check and be the simon of the commentators. ’cause I tells it how it IZ!
For everyone who says "THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN ON A UFC PPV"
Well, it has. It happened in 2003. It was UFC 45: Revolution. It was after the Tank/Cabbage fight. A brawl broke out between the two camps. AND it happened on a special night, too. It was the UFC’s 10 year anniversary, and it was inducting two hall of famers (Gracie, Shamrock).
But does anyone bring that up? I haven’t seen anyone mention that yet. I remember at the time, Dana was embarrassed, and fans were saying “what an embarrassment!” and “this is terrible for the sport!”
But no, this would NEVER happen in the UFC. Right?
I’m sorry but too many people are arguing non sequiturs: a post-fight brawl happened in StrikeForce, therefore, it was Strikeforce’s fault that it happened. Not exactly. Just as the post-fight brawl happened in the UFC between Tank and Cabbage’s people BECAUSE both sides acted like idiots, so, to does the combination of Mayhem and the Cesar Gracie camp — acting like idiots — result in a post-fight brawl.
I’m not a Strikeforce fanboy, but nor am I a UFC fanboy. I’m simply an MMA fanboy, as, I assume, are most of you.
I think people’s partisanship towards the UFC and/or Dana is blinding everyone to the most obvious explanation why this happened — a group of fighters that acted poorly. This has nothing to do with StrikeForce — this has everything to do with Mayhem and the Cesar Gracie camp’s behavior and over-reaction.
Be Careful what you ask for
If Dana really LOVED mma then why have counter programming? Why can’t I watch a replay after I watch gegard? (The NFL doesnt try to sqaush the SEC) Second, while UFC is more polished and hasn’t allowed an in ring fight I wouldnt call them perfect. The things that go on @ TUF arent the best examples of MMA. And the whole Evens VS Jackson beef is predicated on the after UFC 96 confrontation and so was the Rua/ Coleman rematch (and do i even have to mention Lesnar @ UFC 100).
I really dont have a problem w/ dana, he is what he is, an UFC promoter. He was against Kimbo and Elite XC untill he signed Kimbo. He is against Fedor unless he is in talks with him.
Whether you like it our not you need SF on CBS. Competition is good for the fans and good for the fighter’s bank accounts. Do I think Gus Johnson is the best at what he does? Nope. But if you listen closely to UFC you have to be insulted. They hype up everything, Rogan talks candidly to espn but the rest come off as haters.
Honestly CBS could have cut away to a commercial and not shown the brawl. UFC would have. They always cut away when a guy is knocked out badddd and getting seen by a medic or has a horrible gash that won’t stop gushing.
Why cutaway?
I dont agree with CBS cutting away and going to a commercial. I live in Detroit and we had a brawl at a pistons game everone knows about. (by the way I was one section over where the brawl happen but left early because the stones were losing real bad and had to get home to work in morning, shitty!) Anyways when the brawl happen u didnt see the network go to a commercial. Why would they? That was a huge story and was talked about for a long time. Its not the networks job to control what happens during an event. When KG just got in a lil pussy brawl u didnt see the network go to a commercial. If anything I thought they should have never cut away to that zoomed out cage shot. Thye should have showed the entire thing. As far as Dana counter programming I am with u on that one, I think u nailed that point. But I disagree with u on competition is good. Why is competition good? Does the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR have competition? NO!! They seem to be doing fine without competition. IMO competition only dilutes a sport. By having different belts in boxing ruined it to a point. Not only reason but one of them. Why have mutiple champs? Have 1 and 1 only and he is the BEST. Can u imagine the NFL or NBA if they had multiple leagues competing with them. U never would see the absolute best compete against ewach other. Take Fedor as the perfect example, IMO he is not the best P4P, but we MAY never ever know for sure. If there was no other legitimate competiton, we would probably already know if he was the best cause he would be in the UFC. Now competition is GREAT for the fighters, it gives them options. But for the fans it only creates unanswered debates.
why boxing sucks
the fact the best boxers arent forced to fight each other blows. so a league is better than a bunch of independent promoters and boxers. and i hate that we didnt see fedor versus a younger couture. but the mlb does have competition, its self. the yankees are forced to compete with the mets at home and the bo-sox. the celtics had to sign KG and them to compete with the other teams. teams can either chose to pay for good talent or loose their fans. what im saying is if there was only one show in town we would be force fed what ever zuffa feels like. dont think there is any worthy opponent for gsp? f-u pay me! think our last few PPVs are boring? f-u pay me!
by pretty simple on Apr 21, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Good Point
I never thougt of it in those regards of teams competing against other teams. We would be fed what the UFC gives us but if we start to dislike what the UFC gives us and we stop buying ppv they will look into it and fix the porblem. I do feel like zuffa gives us pretty much what we want though. They r in business to see make money. We the fans pay to see the best fights and fights we want to see. So its in their best interests to put on the fights the fans want. Not saying they one league system would be perfect but i think it would be better than what it is now.
He sucks..
at announcing football and basketball games too..
Undisputed Sig Bet Champion on the TitoOrtiz/Fight Pros forums!!
BJ Penn, best P4P fighter on the planet. I'll still stand by that all day long, bitches.
R.I.P. Dime.
While I think that “Sometimes these things happen in MMA” was a terrible choice of words, and he should be held accountable for that, he is absolutely right that his job is not to promote the sport, the same way his job with March Madness is not to promote college basketball. The UFC employs announcers that are clearly pro-Zuffa, and it works quite well for them, but as a general rule in sports broadcasting an announcer is a journalist, and as such their job is to report what is happening.
So, fault him for not being informed enough to know better (and for the “armbar” business) but not for the fact he doesn’t feel he has to do everything in his power to spin everything in the best possible light. His job is to be factually accurate. The only problem here is that “sometimes these things happen in MMA” is not as accurate a statement as “sometimes these things happen in sports.”
As for this phone call business, they’re both behaving pretty unprofessionally, though honestly, it only surprises me from Gus.
Just Blog Guy - http://JustBlogGuy.wordpress.com/
what a idoit....
some people just don’t get it..
by montanafrombama on Apr 21, 2010 5:19 PM EDT reply actions
IMO
Gus Johnson offering his opinion about a sport he is a novice in, is more negative for the sport than the brawl itself. There was a “brawl” during the Ottawa Senators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins game last night…all players on the ice were locked up, the refs were wrapped up on the ice struggling to regain control…but this doesn’t hurt hockey. What hurts MMA?
“Nothing is More Frightening Than an Empty Vessel in Power”
by Jon-Michael Herlth on Apr 21, 2010 6:05 PM EDT reply actions
First Post
Normally, I just read all the comments and agree and disagree in my head. I know, weird thread to start chiming in on, but I just had to say that; I’d rather punch myself in the ear than listen to Mauro Renalo and Gus Johnson. Worst commentating I have ever heard. I don’t even know where to begin with these two!
by Thunder Biscuit on Apr 21, 2010 6:55 PM EDT reply actions
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