Quote of the Day 2: The Greatness of Mixed Martial Arts

by Luke Thomas on Nov 7, 2008 4:00 PM EST in News Comment 23 comments

Rome_medium

"For those of you who have not jumped on the MMA bandwagon yet, this is exactly what they're selling and what you're missing...Any fighter can win at any given moment. It's not any given Sunday, it's any given shot. Faber was and probably still is a top 5 fighter, pound-for-pound. He's definitely the best thing the WEC has going, and while Brown had won his last seven fights coming in, nobody expected to see the ref pulling him off Faber last night, let alone the first round. ...

"That's what makes MMA so electric. There's no margin for error, the stakes are that high every second of every fight. ... This was not a case of Faber underestimating the opponent, or not being ready for that fight. He was a world champion at the top of his game, and he got caught, and it was over before it even started. That's MMA. Get on board because you can't get that sort of thing anywhere else."

-- Jim Rome on ESPN's "Rome is Burning"

HT: reader Steve U.

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Rome can be addicting.

by dmayeda on Nov 7, 2008 4:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ESPN + MMA = GOOD?

Who knew? I always thought they were critical.

I’m glad he was smart enough not to write-off Faber. A critic might have said that the unpredictability is a problem because of the (perceived) lack of skill and triumph of luck.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Nov 7, 2008 4:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

been critical of the sport. He has championed the sport for years. People just choose to blow him off as another loudmouth when he says things about Rashad/Chuck rather than say “boy..he’s actually TALKING about our sport”

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 7, 2008 5:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m getting a little tired of this “anything can happen” refrain… its a sport, not the lottery. Faber got cute, stuck his neck way out there, and Brown took a clean shot. Luck was not a factor.

by smoogy on Nov 7, 2008 4:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

This adds credence to Anderson Silva’s approach during UFC 90. If he started swinging with reckless abandon, he’d be another one on the bad side of a “shock the world” headline.

by INGO B on Nov 7, 2008 4:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Did I miss the part where Rome mentioned luck? I thought he made his point quite well.

by TexMMA on Nov 7, 2008 4:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

I think what he was saying was exactly right. The sport is so multidimensional and the athletes are so well rounded at the highest levels that any small mistake can end a fight in a flash.

Anything can happen BECAUSE it isn’t a simple one-dimensional sport

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 7, 2008 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its about time ESPN throws some love. For sports analysts I feel like the people there know embarrassingly little about MMA. Half the time they are equating Kimbo with the UFC. The rest of the time you hear guys saying that the sport isn’t about being skilled. Meanwhile they will ride Mayweather’s nuts even though boxing is just one of many skills you need in MMA. This is one of the few informed opinions I’ve heard of on the network.

by EazyEismydad on Nov 7, 2008 4:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

See -- Rome ain't sooooo bad.

I told you I can't build your candy house! It will fall apart, the sun will melt the candy, it won't work!

by mma_dude on Nov 7, 2008 4:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

WAR Jim Rome.

Phenomenal.

"I'm a man who discovered the wheel and built the Eiffel Tower out of metal and brawn. That's what kind of man I am." - Ron Burgundy

by monkeyfightclub! on Nov 7, 2008 5:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe you meant to say “Phe…nomenal”

by Day Man on Nov 7, 2008 5:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

rack em’

by ithinkiknowMMA on Nov 10, 2008 5:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rome can be a bit annoying — but he’s one of the best mainstream sports show hosts in terms of talking about mma news and giving mma a fair shake.

by Andy R on Nov 7, 2008 4:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I feel like Jim Rome is actually somewhat of a Urijah fan because he seems to give him a shout out of some sort each time he fights. For example, after the kimbo-thompson fight I remember he commented that everyone watching that fight should have watched the faber-pulver fight to see real legit mma.

by zparkerdc360 on Nov 7, 2008 4:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just a little background on Rome

Just to help clarify the situation:

He is a nationally syndicated radio host based in SoCal. He became extremely popular and as such ESPN gave him his own TV show to talk about whatever he wants. Its basically the same as his radio show except without the callers and in prepacked quick segments.

Rome knows and enjoys MMA and talks about it on his show a good amount so its no surprise that his ESPN show reflects this.

The brain trust at ESPN, including the majority of its on air talent, knows little about MMA and cares about it even less, so while it is good to see Rome out there making intelligent MMA related points this is not to be confused with ESPN as a network becoming more MMA friendly.

by Day Man on Nov 7, 2008 4:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This guy isn’t related to Michael Rome is he?

I see so many similarities!

(Just kidding haha)

by DirtyML on Nov 7, 2008 5:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

um...

Unless I’m remembering incorrectly…yes he is. Mike would have to clear that up though…

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 7, 2008 5:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We’re related but not close.

by Michael Rome on Nov 7, 2008 7:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve been listening to Rome ever since he had the balls to call Jim Everett ( QB For the Rams) Chris to his face on T.V. I believe Jim kicked his ass or was in the process of doing so, but nonetheless it was classic..

by asmiley420 on Nov 7, 2008 6:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

YES!

I was just gonna do that bit… CHRIS

by skwirrl on Nov 7, 2008 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

thats some big ol balls too cause Everett said he’d step over the table and kick Romey’s ass if he did it again. OK… CHRIS

by skwirrl on Nov 7, 2008 8:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

omg!

holy crap Jim Rome said something that made since. I can’t stand the way this guy bashes on every athlete or team. But I’m glad he’s not bashing on mma

by TruthSeeker1223 on Nov 7, 2008 6:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs