No, I Did Not Celebrate The Cancellation Of UFC 249

Or If You Think I'm Anti-fighter You Need To Work On Your Comprehension Skills

Welcome to the latest C’mon Now newsletter. This is the place where I’ll share my thoughts on all the goings-on in MMA. Those thoughts could range from media criticism to advice for folks looking to get into MMA writing to why certain fighters or managers are not good for the sport.

Today I discuss the idea that I am anti-fighter and that I was out celebrating the cancellation of UFC 249.

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I’m lucky enough to have space in my house to workout. I have a power rack in what’s supposed to be the garage and enough barbells and dumbbells that I can get a good workout in. In the basement I also have an Aerodyne (fun!). Anyway, so that’s where I spent about 90 minutes on Friday afternoon. When I got done with the workout I sat down to eat and look at Twitter. What I found out was that I had celebrated the cancellation of UFC 249. 

That was a surprise to me. Mostly because it wasn’t true, but that’s what some folks were saying. 

What I did when the card hit the scrap heap was say that it was good and that now the UFC could concentrate on getting the fighters some financial help, like it should have been doing since the fight card postponements began in March. Somehow that comment was construed as a celebration that the fighters weren’t getting paid because they weren’t competing. Never mind the fact that most of my tweet said just the opposite. 

What made the whole thing more frustrating was that the folks who said I celebrated don’t follow me on social media. So, I did not understand where they got the idea that I was out dancing in the street. 

I asked those who said that about me to show me where I celebrated. They answered me with silence. Surprise.

Here’s the thing. I’ll gladly take any heat and defend anything I’ve written or said and if I fuck up I’ll own that, which I recently did. But to accuse me of being against the fighters, well, that’s just asinine and it made me angry. 

I’m critical of the UFC for a reason and that reason is because its business practices are often anti-fighter. Most what I write is in favor of fighters and against their mistreatment. I don’t know how anyone can say otherwise. It’s frustrating to get painted as anti-fighter when I know that to be a total fallacy.

Anyway, yes, I am glad UFC 249 was scrapped and that is because it will keep fighters and their families (and anyone else who would have worked that event) safe and healthy. That’s the only reason I am happy the cancelation. 

I shouldn’t have to explain this, it should be clear, but I guess, since I take an adversarial approach to the UFC, I must also be against the fighters. Which is dumb and baffling. 

Anyway, thanks for listening and allowing me to get that off my chest. 

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LISTEN:

Moving Targets “A Thousand Times”

You ever have a favorite band and wonder why they never made it big? That’s how I feel about Boston’s Moving Targets. This record came out in 1993 and it does not contain a single clunker.

READ:

“The Last Angry Woman” by Tom Junod - Life Magazine 1991

Tom Junod is someone you should know. He wrote the “The Falling Man” about 9/11 and many other great stories. This piece is the first thing he wrote for a national magazine, which is hard to believe.

WATCH:

Melancholia (2011) 

Probably not the best movie to watch right now, but one of the best movies to watch right now.