Physical Appearance in MMA
by Damon O. on Nov 1, 2009 6:10 PM EST
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HT: Esther Lin
Ever since I was a kid watching Pro Wrestling, I've noticed that men and women are held to different standards when it comes to their appearance in Combat Sports. We usually assess a man on his skill in the ring, but women usually get judged by their appearance more than their skill level.
This became very evident to me during the lead up to Carano vs. Cyborg. Gina was hailed (by both fans and the media) as the beautiful # 1 Female fighter in the world, while Cristiane Santos was delegated to play the role of the Beast in a battle of Beauty vs. Beast. Now I'll admit that I've said less than respectful things about many a fighter (Cyborg included), but it seems as though women have to have model-esque looks in order to garner any form of respect in MMA. Men on the other hand can look like Ogre's and we will still give them our respect. In the video below, Lana Stefanac gives her opinion on the matter around the 2:20 mark.
HT: Pro MMA
I'd like to hear your opinions on the matter.
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My grammar is horrible.
Sorry in advance.
"Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity." - Bullet Tooth Tony
@deowade
it’s this way in all pro sports though, not just combat sports. the prettier girls in tennis, golf and racing(danica) get the most attention and the better ad deals than the lesser attractive females. the more attractive ones can also come under more scrutiny from the press and fellow atheletes as well. looks can go alot farther in womens sports than mens, but eventually performance wins out. fair or unfair, it is what it is.
No offense, but I don’t think your article is relevant. Athletes are successful in their sport based on their skill and success, they are MARKETABLE and made stars by their looks.
Gina gets the commercials and video games, Cyborg gets the title.
Here’s a really random example: Christopher Cross (I know, random). Really ugly guy, very successful musician. Was he in movies, and selling shaving gels? No, but he was still successful because he music is good.
"In Russia, Hell comes to you!"
Lana has some good points though on promoters
"In Russia, Hell comes to you!"
by actionbastard on Nov 1, 2009 7:57 PM EST up reply actions
Meh.
I think it mostly sour grapes. Lana can’t get fights because she is 200 pound beast of a woman with a chip on her shoulder. Nobody can find opponents her size or if they can, they have no interest in promoting a fat girls division (though Lana herself is not fat).
Lana is basically in the same situation that super-heavyweight guys are in. Nobody wants to promote them and they either have to radically alter their body composition (to get under the HW limit) or accept that they are going to be relegated to the fringes of the sport.
by Steve4192 on Nov 1, 2009 10:04 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Good point (I love "Sailing" by the way) but
Christopher Cross became big in the age when artists faces weren’t plastered everywhere. His picture not being on the cover of his Debut Album says alot.
If Christopher Cross was to come out today, he wouldn’t even break the top 300.
"Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity." - Bullet Tooth Tony
@deowade
by Damon O. on Nov 1, 2009 8:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I hate Christopher Cross
I will never forgive him for stealing the Grammy that should have gone to The Wall.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Anthony Pace on Nov 2, 2009 3:03 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Gina makes money, Cyborg gets the title?
It was ridiculous how often looks came into the discussion in the lead up to their fight. It came up all the time; nobody is worrying about who is cuter, Fedor or Rogers. Nobody comments on how GSP is much prettier than BJ Penn or something.
It’s a nonissue with men. It’s a big deal with women. And people were also acting like Cyborg was an elephant woman or something, when she clearly isn’t.
It’s certainly there and to it’s very unfair to female athletes. At least ugly men don’t have to hear about how ugly they are all the time.
"an excellent example of why most MMA "journalism" is a joke. Pseudonyms like "toxic" and shitty writing like that dopey article"--- Joe Rogan.
by toxic on Nov 2, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Not really
It is also an issue with men, for some people. Recently there was quite a discussion on whether or not Roy Nelson should be able to fight in the UFC, because he doesn’t have a nice enough body. Sadly, for some people, aesthetics is everything.
"Why am I here? Why does my mind have wings? Why do blue midgets hit me with fish?!" - The Tick
Sure, but there are some male fighters for whom appraisal of their appearance never enters into it. I don’t think the same can be said for any female fighter, anywhere, ever. So the extent to which it’s an issue for men is pretty limited in comparison.
by JRN on Nov 3, 2009 3:48 PM EST up reply actions
Forrest and Wandy are butt-ugly but are liked because they can kick the living **** out of people. Tons of fighters are ugly but loved.
With girls, I think their fighting is sloppier than TUF fights. If both girls suck, I’ll personally root for the better looking girl just so she stays good looking. Fight well and I’ll respect you.
Carano is actually a more technical fighter than most of her male counterparts.
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 1, 2009 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
Isn't that always a trait of fighters lacking physical strength?
You can’t have a 145 lb Tank Abbot. The weaker fighters need to be incredibly technically proficient, because they can’t rely on muscling their way through average technique to finish a fight
Cyborg relies on power a lot.. She isn’t tank abbott in terms of talent, cause she is really skilled and well rounded, but she is a 145er who relies on her strength and power to bully people around.
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 2, 2009 2:33 AM EST up reply actions
Yes
and Carano took advantage of the gift position by standing up.
"Why am I here? Why does my mind have wings? Why do blue midgets hit me with fish?!" - The Tick
Mistake of the Year Award Winner
"Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity." - Bullet Tooth Tony
@deowade
I actually think Forrest is cute
In a lovable oaf kind of way…
I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
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Why does that photo of "Snowflake" make me uncomfortable?
I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
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I’ve always thought it was interesting that Fedor, Anderson Silva, and BJ Penn are at the top of the P4P rankings, but you wouldn’t be able to tell that by looking at them.
lol
i loved him in robocop
when they covered him in acid………
"he's the best punchy face man in the buisness"
by blubber_guard on Nov 2, 2009 2:22 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
does anyone here watch Leverage?
there’s an MMA episode there with Lindland in it.
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 2, 2009 2:34 AM EST up reply actions
Ed Herman has been on it a few times
I love Leverage! :)
I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
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cyborg santos
looks like wanderlei silva’s dad*
*see my avatar
by masteroftheflyingguillotine on Nov 1, 2009 10:24 PM EST reply actions
nah, not really. It does have some extent of influence of fighter, but only little bit
IF it’s a female fighter then yeah, call me a shallow dude or whatnot. I like me some GINA CARANO~
I like both Wanderlei n Nogueira despite of the fact that they don’t have the most astonishing faces on this earth.
You have to beat the legend, in order to become the LEGEND
-Melvin Manhoef (after his destruction of Sakuraba)
wanderlei looks like a psycho killer..
so maybe that counts as plus points in the physical appeal too..
Kimbo looks scary as well.. If he looked like mclovin do you think he’d be that famous? imagine Hazelett or Barn Cat beating on some chumps in youtube. haha.
by Anton Tabuena on Nov 2, 2009 3:07 AM EST up reply actions
Btw
Lana Stefanac is awesome!
I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
--------
Join the DC Area UFC Meetup Group
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the best looking female ever in sports was anna kournikova (tennis)
she never won a major championship by herself. she won a couple as a doubles player with martina hingis. she used her beauty to get many endorsements. it worked out well for her. if i was in her shoes i would have done the same thing. as for men, i don’t care what they look like. the only color i see is green considering i bet alot of mma in lake tahoe. pretty boys like roger huearta did not do well in ufc. wanderlei silva is fighting sexyama. i hope the axe murderer does a serious beatdown on his face. i had gray maynard vs huearta and i will have w.s. vs sexyama. peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 2, 2009 1:38 PM EST reply actions
A side issue on this – all that hype around Carano might have actually played a part with her inability to make weight. Also, there’s all those reports of her slacking off during training because of all the media attention etc. She might have the looks and the attention but it’s hurting her as a fighter.
Then again, she’s probably laughing all the way to the bank.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Nov 2, 2009 2:14 PM EST reply actions
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