Lesnar’s Classless Celebration Was Unacceptable

Broke Lesnar is talented, there’s no denying that. With his second round technical knockout (TKO) of Frank Mir to retain the heavyweight championship belt on Saturday, Lesnar showed just how good he is — and how much potential he has in the UFC octagon.

Lesnar, using his incredible strength, took Mir to the ground easily, and landed numerous elbows and punches that left Mir’s right cheek bloody and swelling at the conclusion of the first round.  Mir, who had defeated Lesnar in their first non-title fight less than a year ago, looked helpless in this fight. In their first meeting, Lesnar mostly dominated until he left his leg unguarded — Mir capitalized and submitted him with a knee bar. Lesnar had no trouble with Mir in Saturday night’s fight, however, as once again took Mir to the ground in the second round. He reeled off a string of 14 consecutive punches, forcing referee Herb Dean to stop the fight.

Lesnar had won by a TKO, but the real excitement of the night came immediately after the fight. Once Dean stopped the fight, Lesnar yelled at Mir, “talk all the [expletive] you want now.” See, Lesnar and Mir had been engaging a good amount of trash-talking leading up to the fight. Mir was mostly the instigator, and it clearly frustrated Lesnar. When Lesnar barked at Mir, Mir looked ready for another fight — as did Lesnar — but security guards and members of their respective camps held them off. Because of his remarkably confident and cocky attitude, fans in attendance already did not like Lesnar. The fact that he was trying to anger Mir, a Las Vegas-native, caused them to boo Lesnar incessantly. Lesnar, who was as fired up as could be, decided to give the entire crowd the middle finger.

To cap it all off, Lesnar gave a post-fight interview for the ages with UFC analyst Joe Rogan. About the antics of the crowd, Lesnar said: “I love it, I love it, Keep going, keep going.” This, of course, only made the crowd boo louder.

The reason why he was so fired up after the fight: “Frank Mir had a horseshoe up his [butt] , I told him that a year ago, and I pulled that son of a [expletive] out and I beat him over the head with it.” All of the trash-talking truly had gotten to him, and it was as clear as ever based on those comments.

On his plans for the rest of the night: “I’m gonna go home tonight and I’m gonna drink a Coors Light, that’s a Coors Light, because Bud Light wont pay me nothing.” Bud Light is a sponsor of the UFC, and UFC president Dana White — and Bud Light, for that matter — surely wasn’t happy with that comment.

And to finish it all of: “Im gonna sit down with my friends and family and hell I might even get on top of my wife tonight.” The fight was on pay-per-view, yes, but it was an inappropriate comment nonetheless.

Lesnar’s behavior was rude, classless and unacceptable behavior from a UFC champion. One of the great aspects of the sport of of mixed martial arts is the incredible amount of respect fighters show for each other. Sure, there have been numerous feuds in the sport, but the fighters have usually found a enough respect for each other to shake hands after pummeling each other for however long. For Lesnar, however, respecting an opponent is not an option. He has repeatedly stated that he has no respect for anyone he fights. As a result, his antics Saturday night were not surprising, but they were disturbing.

This was UFC 100, quite possibly the biggest night in the company’s 16-year history. Many great fighters of the past, including pioneer Royce Gracie, were in attendance. Of all the night’s to show no class, this was not the night. With all of the hype surrounding the fights, many new mainstream viewers were going to tune it to watch the UFC for the first time. If they had a bad perception of the sp0rt, fans minds likely weren’t changed after watching Lesnar. If fans thought that it was a blood-bath sport with fighters who had bad tempers, Lesnar fit right into that idea. While every other fight was what MMA truly is about, Lesnar vs. Mir was the main event, and Lesnar should have known better.

After the fight ended, all Lesnar should have done was shake hands with Mir, answer all of Rogan’s questions, conduct his post-fight press conference and leave the Mandalay Bay Events Center. While he did do the latter two in a nice manner, the former two went a little bit differently, and not in a good way. Lesnar had decisively won the fight — he took absolutely no punishment from Mir. At no point in the fight did you get the feeling that Mir had a chance to win. Because it was such a seemingly easy victory Lesnar, he should have been gracious and acted like a professional. He was anything but a pro on Saturday night.

For his part, Lesnar did use the post-fight press conference to apologize for his antics. “Well, first and foremost, I want to apologize,” he said. “I acted very unprofessionally after the fight and I’ll leave it at that.”

He also apologized to one of the UFC’s biggest sponsors: “I apologize to Bud Light. I’m not biased — I drink any beer –and tonight I’m drinking Bud Light all night.”

White surely was not pleased with how everything went down after the fight, and Lesnar discussed what was said between himself and White afterwards, and he also gave his final apology. “Dana came back and we had a ‘whip the dog’ session, and I screwed up and I apologize. The only thing I had against Frank was that he beat me. We both talked a lot of crap, and in the end I was just amped up.”

Sorry, Brock, but being “amped up” is not a good enough excuse. Ones temper can always rear its’ ugly head, but on a stage like UFC 100, Lesnar had to know how to contain himself. Lesnar could learn a thing or two from welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, who is always gracious and classy after fights. Did we see St. Pierre yelling obscenities at Mir? Absolutely not. Did we see Lesnar giving the crowd the middle finger? No way. What we did see, however, was St. Pierre shaking Thiago Alves’ hand, giving him a bow and praising him in the post-fight interview. Lesnar needs to realize that St. Pierre is a perfect example of how a fighter should conduct himself. Lesnar, however, has no filter. He doesn’t seem to realize that what he is doing is way out of bounds until after the fact. That quickly needs to change.

While Lesnar’s antics did get everyone talking, that is certainly not how White and co-owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta want to sell the UFC.

Lesnar alluded to the fact that he is “used to selling PPV tickets” and that he “come[s] from a business that is purely entertainment.” Lesnar is referring to his former employer, the WWE. That is a business based on fake wrestling, ridiculous storylines, and as Lesnar said, entertainment. MMA and the UFC are not the same thing as WWE. The UFC sells incredible athletes with an extraordinary ability to use different fighting styles and techniques. They also sell fighters who show class both after wins and losses. Lesnar is one of the most remarkable athletes on the planet, but no one seems to be talking about that. Instead, people are discussing what happened after the fight. He needs to understand that his boss in no longer WWE’s Vince McMahon.

Lesnar’s actions Saturday night were flat-out classless. When he doesn’t display his temper, he actually has a fun personality. With that, and his fighting ability, he has a chance to propel the UFC to even greater heights. He needs to take the time to realize his mistakes, and come out in his next fight a better, more mature man. Anything less is unacceptable.

Their Centennial Was A Hell of A Lot Better Than Anything Boxing Could’ve Put Together ….

If there’s any doubt as to why UFC now resonates with more young males aged between the ages of 18 and 35 . Then last night’s events at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas , Nevada, should be an indication as to the reason why.

Brock Lesnar pins challenger Frank Mir during UFC 100. Lesnar would win the bout emphatically thereby winning the undisputed heavyweight title. The centennial promotion was held at the Mandalay Resort in Las Vegas , Nevada. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ @ copyrighted material All rights reserved .........

The organization’s centennial promotion lived up to its billing , with an exciting series of bouts. And with UFC World Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar defending his title against Frank Mir the UFC Interim Champion . And with the undisputed title said to be at stake. This was just but one of a number of bouts that Dana White , UFC’s CEO & President felt would be a fitting way to celebrate their one hundredth promotion in MMA(Mixed Martial Arts).

George St-Pierre of Canada, the UFC World Welterweight champion seen here at the weigh in with his opponent Thiago Alves , the Brazilian ju-jitsu specialist. St-Pierre would defeat Alves in a unanimous decision to retain the undisputed welterweight title.

UFC 100 came with all of the pomp and ceremony one would’ve come to expect from a sport that now resonates with more with young males than the noted Marquis Of Queensbury rules art form of boxing now has. Slowly but surely the popularity of boxing is on the decline. Whilst the sport of MMA is on the ascent like a phoenix rising from the ashes. However the genre was never really had its death knell questioned to begin with.

Dan Henderson and British fighter Michael Bisping , who faced off in a non-title bout in the middleweight division at UFC 100 .

Lesnar gives his opponent Frank Mir a few choice words, after having just won the undisputed heavyweight crown at UFC 100 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Complex in Las Vegas, Nevada,. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Josh McCartney ..............

As quickly as this sport has found its niche . It can be said that its popularity is unquestioned amongst its peers and fans alike. And what has transpired is a multi-billion dollar business , whose tentacles now spread across the globe. And should you be of the opinion that the elite fighters aren’t making a living from the sport. It is alleged that Lesnar’s payday for this defense is said to be in the region of $3m for the defense against Mir.

St-Pierre makes sure that his Brazilian opponent Thiago Alves having been taken down remains on the canvas during their welterweight title bout during UFC 100 held at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Complex in Las Vegas, Nevada,. St-Pierre would win the bout with an emphatic unanimous decision. picture appears courtesy of getty images @ copyrighted material All rights reserved ..........

So if there’s the belief that the sport has yet to find its financial footing. Then clearly those who’ve been opining to the opposite have yet to attend an MMA event and witness all the excitement created in and outside of the octagon.

Michael Bisping obviously didn't see this one coming . Dan Henderson's knockout of his British opponent Michael Bisping at UFC 100. picture appears courtesy of getty images @ copyrighted material All rights reserved .............

As to the future of the sport . It continues to grow in leaps and bounds. And its presence on the international arena now gives it a a global presence that’s far beyond anything that perhaps Dana White or the Fertitta brothers believed possible. Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta through their holding company Zuffa LLC has made UFC the powerhouse we know it to be today.

St-Pierre inflicts a choke hold on his opponent Thiago Alves during their world welterweight title bout at UFC 100 at the Mandalay Hotel Resort & Casino Complex in Las Vegas , Nevada,. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Jon Locher ..................

The future of the sport bodes well and the immpact that it has made in the lexicon of the sports environment cannot be quantified. But if anything we know that after last night’s extravaganza it’ll be long time before we’re led to believe that we’re speaking of the demise of the sport. Unlike its counterpart professional boxing . The mess that particular sport now finds itself in , were made from their own naievete’ and self inflicted wounds. They would do well to learn something from the likes of MMA. They’ve set the template as to how a sport should be professionally ran and marketed. That has been one of the primary strengths behind the sport’s continued popularity and their willingness to make the most favorable matchups that’ll be amenable to the fans and public alike.

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There’s A Certain Irony To Life As There Is In Death

I’m finding it all the more inexplicable to understand the meaning of life as there is to its meaning in death . Having read about the tragic loss of Steve McNair . It’s now even more tragic to read of the death of former light welterweight champion Arturo Gatti .

Arturo Gatti (left) takes it to Micky Ward (right) in their bout held at the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The trilogy of fights would leave an indelible mark on the sport. picture appears courtesy upi.com/photo/ John Angelilo ........ @ copyrighted material. All rights reserved

Any of you who are avid boxing fans will know of the exploits of this renowned fighter over this decade. His trilogy of fights against Micky Ward were about as exciting a series of bouts that you’re ever likely to see. And when speaks of a series of bouts . Think the Ali vs. Frazier ‘Thriller In Manila’ series . And you can understand the legacy no doubt as to how historical those bouts were. And now place those in context of the Gatti vs Ward series . And you can understand what it is that I’m trying explain to you. There are fights and then then are a series of fights. And then there are just fights. What emanated from the Gatti vs Ward series are the type of bouts that makes the the sport of boxing extremely exciting when there’s something there to relish.

Gatti and Ward in the second of their trilogy of bout that that took place on May 18th 2002 .

Yahoo Sports:

Former boxing champ Gatti found dead in Brazil

By Stan Lehman, Associated Press Writer

SAO PAULO-(AP) Former boxing champion Arturo Gatti, whose epic trilogy with Micky Ward branded him one of the most exciting fighters of his generation was found dead in a hotel room in the posh seasie port of Porto de Galihnas early Saturday.

Police investigator Edilson Alves told the Associated Press that the body of the former junior welterweight champ was discovered in his room at the tourist resort, where Gatti arrived on Friday with his Brazilian wife Amanda and his 1 year old son.

Alves said the police were investigating and it was unclear how the 37 year old Canadian died.

“It is still too early to say anything concrete, althoug it is all very strange”, Alves said. He declined to provide any additional details.

A spokesman for the state public safety department said Gatti’s wife and son were unhurt . The woman declined to give a name in keeping with department policy.

“There were no bullet or stab wounds on his body, but police did find blood stains on the floor”, she said.

Brazilian boxer and four-time world champion Acelino ‘Pop’ Freitas told the G1 website of Brazil’s largest tv network Globo that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife, and that he knew that ” he knew that they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate.”

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Arturo Gatti (left) seen here facing Floyd Mayweather Jr in their World Super Lightweight title bout held at the Atlantic City Boardwalk , Atlantic City , New Jersey. Mayweather would win the bout in defeating Gatti. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo/ Phil Mayhew ..........

And while we can only speculate as to the cause of death in the case of Gatti. It’s far too early to suggest foul play at this juncture.

At the age of 37 and seemingly his life ahead of him , having retired from the ring with his health in tact. The death of Arturo Gatti has sent shock waves across the sport. Bearing in mind that recently we also had the loss of former four time weight division titlist Alexis Arguello to a homicide in his own home in Managua, Nicaragua.

As to Gatti’s place in the sport. It will be one of a rich legacy and the respect of his peers. However the fighter will if anything will be remembered for those trilogy of fights against Micky Ward. His heart and bravado never could be questioned. As Gatti’s way when it came to fighting was to become an allout warrior in the ring. His first thought was to entertain the fans make sure that they paid for what they came in attendance to see. That was for two fighters to go toe to toe and not give any quarter in the ring. This style was Gatti’s modus operandi in the ring from the get-go . And not once did he ever fail to deliver.

Fans were always appreciative of Gatti’s endeavors in the ring. And he was appreciative of their support and reciprocated that with his efforts outside the ring with his charitable contributions in his native Canada. And where resides in New Jersey.

Gatti in many ways was viewed as an everyman of the sport. And the fans could identify with the fighter. In many respects that may well have been the reason why he was so beloved by the fans. The loss of Gatti and what he meant to the sport cannot be fully appreciated. Fighters of Gatti’s caliber don’t come along that frequently. Especially those that’ve shown his extraordinary bravery and resolve inside of a boxing ring.

As we now ponder this loss. Let’s also remember what he brought to the sport. And at the same show our appreciation for one of the truly great exponents of the art form over this last decade.

My heartfelt condolences to the immediate members of the Gatti family !

Arturo Gatti : Chronology
D.O.B: 04/15/72 D.O.D:07/11/09 Age: 37 Ht: 5′ 7 1/2″
Weight:147 lbs/66.8kgs

Fight Record: Wins 40, Losses 9, KO’s 31, Draws 0.

IBF Super Featherweigth champion
December 15th 1995-1997 vacated

WBC Super Lightweight champion
January 24th 2004- June 25th 2005