Quote of the Day: Joe Rogan on the Regrettable Peculiarities of MMA's Culture
by Luke Thomas on Sep 19, 2009 2:17 PM EDT
in MMA News
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"Some folks will want to get their posters signed by their favorite fighters, but this the age of the internet, and when it comes to fan requests the digital photograph has far surpassed the autograph. These days everyone’s phone has a camera, and everyone wants a picture of them holding their fist up standing next to Randy Couture on their facebook page. That is easily one of the weirdest and goofiest things about MMA fans; the fist-up pose with the fighter. I can’t think of another sport that has a pose that the fans take when they get pictures with the athletes where they mimic the activity they enjoy watching. It’s not just a few guys striking this dopey pose, either. It’s the majority. I can completely understand if you’re a fighter yourself, and you want an image of camaraderie with one of your sporting idols, but if you’re an overweight short order cook who’s never even taken a tae bo class, do the world a favor and keep your fucking fist un-balled when you’re standing next to Anderson Silva.
Another unintentionally hilarious aspect of the MMA culture is the abundance of retarded macho "fight wear" T-shirts. The enormous financial success of enterprising clothing companies like "Tapout" have given birth to a rise of ham-handed imitators where each one tries to out retard the next. Images of chained up pitbulls and skulls are the norm with shiny foil letters to make sure you can clearly read the "Break my dick off in your ass – fight wear" label. At the last UFC in New Jersey I actually saw a guy in the audience with a shirt that said, "Some guys are strikers, some guys are grapplers… I’M BOTH!"
Good lord. Someone please find that poor fuck and give him a hug.The doucebaggery isn’t limited to T-shirts, either. I had one guy email me that actually wanted to sell me an pendant that was an MMA glove smothered in diamonds. The name of his company? "Hard as diamond – for those who are."
No bullshit.
Could you even imagine the near fatal levels of meathead you would have to be infected with to walk out of your house with a diamond encrusted fighting glove around your neck? On paper it doesn’t even seem possible.
You would think that if you were that retarded there’s no way you would be able to scrape together the kind of money you would need to purchase such an expensive monstrosity. The only way I could see it happen is if maybe the buyer in question won the lottery, or possibly won a huge settlement in some brain damage inducing accident at the local toilet factory or something. Talk about your small target markets."
-- Joe Rogan speaking truth to power. To each his own, but personally speaking, the counter-culture gimmicky nature of modern MMA's imagery and identification is positively embarrassing.
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I don't mind the "fist up next to a fighter" pic...
That’s been done 2.3X10e23 times in the boxing world. Everything else I agree on….
i think that's rogan's point..
just cause he’s a fighter, you don’t have to put up your fist when taking a picture with him..
by Anton Tabuena on Sep 19, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, no kidding. It’s not like you see hockey fans mimicking a slap shot when you pose with a hockey player.
I love me some Sexyama!
Every time I’ve had my picture taken with a Pro or College football player I always uses the Heisman pose, is frowned upon?
by BSurely on Sep 19, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, I agree with everything else, but I think Joe is overthinking that one. He makes it sound like guys are asking fighters to pretend they’re getting KO’d or something. Of course there are the morons out there who are pretending they’re badasses, but I think most people aren’t even thinking about it when they put their fist up.
All they are doing
Is imitating Goldie.
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
by dedstrk316 on Sep 19, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
That’s reason enough not to do it…
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Sep 19, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
No kidding
His fist at the end of unleashed always bugs the hell outta me.
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
i think it’s good that he’s open about this because i feel not all mma fans like ‘affliction’ type shirts
by cagefightonacid on Sep 19, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions
I don’t know how so meny “fight culture” clothing companies survive. MMA fans dont’ really support them.
because there are more wannabe mma fans than real mma fans.
What would do more for your meathead/tough guy image, wearing an Affliction shirt? or knowing who Fedor is?
You mean the 150 guys at the bar during a UFC fight aren’t really sponsored by Tap Out? You gotta be shittin me.
by bleve_ on Sep 19, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Finally
Someone is saying exactly what I’ve been feeling for awhile now. I hope the world listens, and I hope I don’t encounter said douchebags tonight.
BTW, I’ve played the game Tekken for a considerable amount of time now and TapOut came out w/ shirts for them. I think they’re cool BUT I dont want to the stamp of Douchebaggery. Plus I’m not diesel, so I’ll pass on it.
ROFL...
Speaking against retarded fight shirts… THANK YOU JOE ROGAN.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Maybe the Machida era will be known for a change of fashion as well =D
…I can hope can’t I?
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
I have thought about buying some “fight culture” brand clothing, but realized that I would look much more like a giant douche than a guy supporting my favorite sport. And of course, as Joe mentions, most of the stuff looks absolutely rediculous, like it’s from the album cover of a really cheesy deathmetal band.
But if you are stupid, you will be beaten with a stick - Proverbs 10:13
Let's be realistic here
It could also be from a metalcore band.
and a shitty one at that.
"Well... You're damned if you do, and You're damned if you don't."- Bart Simpson
by poundnground on Sep 19, 2009 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
The singer is the only problem I have with the band. His whiny, nasally voice makes me sad. The rest of the band is pretty talented. They just need to ditch the frontman.
Back in like 02...
My old band played like 2 shows with them at the chain reaction in Anaheim and they were actually pretty nice dudes. Then came their big break and turned into total douche bags and I think they had a huge line up change too.
"Well... You're damned if you do, and You're damned if you don't."- Bart Simpson
by poundnground on Sep 19, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Those shirts are horrible and the reason people where them is because they think it makes them look tough.
I think only fighters that are sponsored should wear those things.
'Ello G'vnor!
But…
What’s the point in sponsoring fighters if nobody is buying your product?
by Screwface on Sep 19, 2009 2:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Hilarious
I totally agree with Joe. And by the by, why are you hiding your fanny pack in that picture, Joe?
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Ben Franklin
Is he resting his arm on a hernia in that pic?
I agree with most what he said, though. I must have fallen asleep when fight gear became metro-wear. I see guys in tight jeans, Affliction shirts, rocking Bruno Maglis and it kinda makes me sick. The kinda guys that could bench a Honda and their self-assuredness comes from barbed wire tattoos, Jager bombs, and a blonde chick with an IQ of 64.
I’m generally irrated by the guys that think MMA should be nothing more than K-1 kickboxing, too. Up until recently, fans didn’t cheer for guard passes our gaining the mount by reversal. We’ve all heard the boos coming from the crowd when someone’s dirty boxing or throwing short elbows from inside someone’s guard, until the casual meatheads can learn to appreciate every aspect of the sport, we’ll always be part of the “counter culture.”
/rant
by Screwface on Sep 19, 2009 2:44 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I know, I was looking for a cheap laugh.
by Screwface on Sep 19, 2009 8:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
"Some guys are strikers, some guys are grapplers… I’M BOTH!"
I want that.
"Well... You're damned if you do, and You're damned if you don't."- Bart Simpson
You gotta love Joe.
"Well... You're damned if you do, and You're damned if you don't."- Bart Simpson
by poundnground on Sep 19, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
i saw a pic on somebody’s Myspace one time, where they were taking a pic with Arianny (no fighters were present) and he had this Carlos COndit scary face and his fists in the air. Why somebody would do that when your next to arianny….i don’t know
It was that or the shocker
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Sep 19, 2009 2:54 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
LOL @ Joe Rogan
That’s funny stuff. I am not a fighter, I’m strictly a fan. I have practiced with a couple of friends/relatives who are into martial arts, but that’s all. So, no, I do not wear the Tapout or Affliction clothing (not to mention that, in Affliction’s case – holy shit I would never pay $60 for a T-SHIRT, who the hell does that?), or Silver Star (most of their shirts, in my opinion, look like gaudy, shiny pieces of crap)…
So in other words, I draw the line and I make it clear – I am a fan of the sport and of the fighting arts, not a practitioner, and I am not willing to pretend I’m something I’m not.
God knows I’ve seen thousands of these kids wearing MMA clothing who aren’t fighters or even practitioners themselves. Pretty pathetic. To each their own but I personally won’t do that.
My favorite bar where I live, has a sign over the bar. It says, “Only one Affliction shirt per group allowed” No kidding.
"Negative, negative. I gotta stay lean and lightning and ready to fight." Capt. H.M. Murdock
I wear fight wear its basically all i wear but every thing i have is a sig shirt, i like to support fighters so i do that by wearing their walk in shirts and what not, bt yeah there are guys at my Jiu jitsu class who think just cuz they watch MMA they are as good. They walk in and say stupid shit like “i wish i could box with rampage i bet he would think i was good”
the trend
What Rogan says it all true and is embarrasing but what happens when the trend ends and somes hyper-skull shirt isn’t getting him the stink finger anymore? Will his love for mma go with it?
Perhaps the skulls and macho adorned shirts will continue and become normal for mma. But with the UFC trying to makes it push to become on peer with the likes of MLB, NFL, etc, will it have to find a clothing style that families with dignity can wear?
Yeah Joe
I’d much rather be wearing a fanny pack and some gay ass expensive dragon jeans. In my opinion that’s really bad.
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
Worse: wearing Affliction shirts and posing with your fist up, or dedicating a large portion of time to studying hallucinogens, parallel dimensions, and fanny packs?
I see it as a toss-up.
BOOSH
Fanny Pack
= a manpurse. haha
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
haha
whatever makes you feel better about it.
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
Haha. One thing I don’t get though is why is it called a fanny pack? Doesn’t the fanny refer to your rear end? Doesn’t make much sense to me.
well
back in the day everybody wore it back there. Now, the few people that still don the fanny pack wear it in the front for the most part. My roommate has one and I bust his balls about it all the time.
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
The fanny pack aka the belt pack, belly bag, buffalo pouch, hip sack, hip pack, bum bag or man satchel may be the most useful article of clothing ever invented (second only to the beer helmet). No matter what profession or hobby a man may find himself engaging in, the man satchel is sure to provide the extra space needed to carry that one extra tool, without which mastery of their craft would prove impossible. To all those with the packs I say keep fighting the good fight.
by HarryBolsagna on Sep 19, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
That's what
Cargo pants and shorts are for.
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
by dedstrk316 on Sep 19, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
whoa
Looks like an old Black Sabbath cover.
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
Aleksander Emelianenko has this tattoo on his body.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
I just REC'd this for TROOF
"Well... You're damned if you do, and You're damned if you don't."- Bart Simpson
the fist in pics is awesome!
"I’m not going to stop yelling because that would mean, I lost the fight!"-Kenny Powers
shooter/cutter for AllElbows.com
Shaw is as hard as melted butter
Stephen Quadros: Where do you see yourself in three years.
Quinton Jackson: Let's see, I'm 22 right now. In three years I see myself being 25.
by RealIrish on Sep 19, 2009 3:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Don't you mean
$kala.
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
They were actually playing rock, paper, scissors. Kevin Fergilicious Ferguson still wins with his mean mug.
by HarryBolsagna on Sep 19, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I would never even ask for an autograph, I think it’s lame and annoying for them, the billions of people doing it make it look ok, but it’s not. You want a souvenir? Take a picture, no flash, walk away.
You don't look like a Tanaka.
not me….i live for the autographs and pics or even just the chance to shake a fighters hand as he walks by….its an awesome feeling beeing in the presence of greatness
"The most used phrase in my administration if I were to be President would be "What the hell you mean we're out of missiles?"
The Glenn Beck Program, January 12 2009 lp.org
What he's saying is totally true...
But Jesus Fucking Christ Joe Rogan, let’s not act all high and mighty about everything. So a guy wants to wear an affliction shirt? Who cares? As long as he’s not running around being a douche about it, let him do his own thing. I mean, all of this stuff is annoying – but don’t bitch and moan about it like it’s ruining your life.
by Kaibo on Sep 19, 2009 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
About that. I’m not saying this for anyone but… no matter how douchy those shirts make you look, if you hate a guy for a stupid fight shirt, you’re the douche bag.
You don't look like a Tanaka.
by spectaa on Sep 19, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
i think that is his point kaibo
the people that wear that clothing are douche bags and walk around acting tough and douchy. i have one affliction shirt that i refuse to wear because i live in vegas. i refuse to be lumped into that group, so i laugh at it in my closet, but it will never see the light of day…because i am not a douche.
ufc fan boy all the way
Right, EVERY person who has ever worn one of those shirts is a douche. So I guess some of our favorite fighters are all douches- GSP, Randy, Chuck, all D bags.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Sep 19, 2009 5:28 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The point of all this is
A douche is a douche is a douche. It doesn’t matter if he’s wearing Gap, Affliction, Wal-Mart, or A&F. The shirt doesn’t make the douche the guy makes the douche. It’s like disliking somebody because they drive a Ford instead of a Chevy or something ridiculous like that.
"I will do nothing lightly. When I walk, I will walk heavily. When I fight, I will fight with conviction. When I speak, I will speak strongly. When I love, I will love with everything"
exactly correct
its the douche in the shirt not the shirt on the douche. its just that the douche wearing the shirt has a much higher propensity to be a douche.
double douche sandwich, douche-opolus, doucheville, doucheitius, dom della douche, to douche or not to douche that is the douche
ufc fan boy all the way
My gut tells me that your fist is up in the photo that you use for your avatar and that is a silverstar or affliction t-shirt you are wearing. We just can’t see it. Uniforms are not a new idea though. I could care less what people wear or how they pose in a photo. It just doesn’t matter. I think the real bullshit is feeling like we can judge others based on their shoes and hairstyles.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
"I think the real bullshit is feeling like we can judge others based on their shoes and hairstyles."
Thank you.
I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
--------
Join the DC Area UFC Meetup Group
http://www.meetup.com/DCUFCGroup
by funnytiger on Sep 19, 2009 8:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Only fight shirts I have
are my Chute Boxe shirt I got at the last Pride in LV, and a UFC 100 shirt I will never wear.
I bust my Chute Boxe shirt all the time but no one ever has any idea of what it is.
by TennesseeTopTeam on Sep 19, 2009 3:49 PM EDT reply actions
Joe Rogan knows everything
I’ve never seen him in a fight-related shirt… nevermind one that’s a few sizes too small.
He just wears non-sports related shirts that stretch neatly across his manly chest JUST right…
I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
--------
Join the DC Area UFC Meetup Group
http://www.meetup.com/DCUFCGroup
by funnytiger on Sep 19, 2009 8:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
LOL, this isn’t truth, it’s just opinion.
News flash, there are slightly retarded people everywhere, not just MMA. How about the dingleberries that support %90 of the dross I hear on the radio? Nascar racing? Indie Rock? Even football and basketball. The ironic nostalgia T-shirts that promote vintage tv shows or cartoons? You can sit around and make derisive comments about the tastes of any pop industry.
And if it bugs him that people are pretending to be fighters should people not wear sports jersies unless they’re striving to be a professional? And really, little things like fisting your hands when you’re getting your picture with a fighter bug you? What about people who throw up the peace symbol and have never been to a peace rally?
Life must be pretty good if you’re sitting around with opinions about this stuff (But I guess comedians make a living sitting around doing just that). While I’m not into the shirts etc, I realize that everyone has a reason for their particular tastes.
Life must be pretty good if you’re sitting around with opinions about this stuff
You seem to have many yourself.
by Simco on Sep 19, 2009 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
...says Joe while wearing a PLANET JIU-JITSU shirt!
What he forgets is that most of these companies sponsor the fighters. Those of us who buy these clothes allow the sponsors to do this. I love Joe, but he is dead wrong on this issue.
I thought Rogan actually trained with Bravo and 10th Planet jiu-jitsu, his problem would seem to be with guys wearing the shirt that hadn’t trained in that style at all. Meanwhile the sales of that T-Shirt would probably translate into proftis for his friends and training partners at the gym so I don’t really see what his gripe is. And I personally love it that douche bags label themselves in the wild with Affliction T-shirts, it makes it quite easy to avoid them.
by HarryBolsagna on Sep 19, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s not even the guys that don’t train and wear the shirts, it’s the guys that wear the shirts and act like assholes that give everyone else a bad name.
Purely hypothetical example. If you’re a 40 year old man, with spiked hair, earrings, roger huerta tattoos up and down both arms, and an affliction shirt 2 sizes too small, and you’re acting like an asshole at a 2-4 limit hold’em table in a casino. Maybe you need to rethink some things in your life.
It’s a stereotype that gets applied to all mma fans, and that sucks. Stereotypes suck, but they exist, and people like my hypothetical asshole tend to give all mma fans a bad name (especially those that wear the shirts).
The point isn’t “don’t buy the shirts” it’s “stop being douchebags in the shirts”
by Phildo on Sep 19, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
REC'D...well said!
The point isn’t "don’t buy the shirts" it’s "stop being douchebags in the shirts"
Wearing this shirt doesn't make you a douche bag...
it makes you guilty of nothing more than bad fashion sense.
What's wrong with him wearing a tenth planet shirt?
He’s been training with Eddie Bravo for years.
BUT, if you wore a 10th Planet shirt - you would be a douche bag - according to Joe.
That is sad since you would be supporting Eddie, one of Joe’s best friends.
How am I reaching?
Only an MMA fan would know what 10th Planet even is. Thus, a 10th Planet t-shirt would be a ""retarded “fight wear” T-shirt"". Granted it is not a gawdy, foiled dragon screwing a skull with a black rose in its mouth in front of a cross of Samarai swords with a backdrop of some nonsense latin phrases, but it is fight wear nonetheless.
Could you even imagine the near fatal levels of meathead you would have to be infected with to walk out of your house with a diamond encrusted fighting glove around your neck?
Phil Baroni could totally pull of that look.
by WanderleiNoooooo! on Sep 19, 2009 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, but he’s the best. Eva.
Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.
by ufc4 on Sep 19, 2009 5:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Rogan FTW
The strange thing about Rogan is that his standup comedy isn’t funny at all, but he is funny as hell when he just talks normally.
I've got this Christian girlfriend now and she's trying to get me to be a better man and reconnect with my son and I'm trying to get her to renounce God and [bleep] me and I just want to prove to her that I'm worth it.
UH-OH...
I’ve got tix to see him in October! Say it isn’t so!
He can be hit or miss. He’s pretty hilarious when he hits though.
Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com
Ok Joe...the thing is, though...
…to a lot of people, MMA is the most exciting thing to come along in a loooong time. A lot of fans are just looking for a way to be closer to the sport. Same reason why people buy NFL apparel.
To a guy like Joe Rogan, who is, for better or worse, FAR more ingrained in the MMA scene than any of us will ever be, he’s kind of on the inside looking out. I’m sure that a lot of the DBs who wear this stuff would take a different approach if they were in Rogan’s position.
I don’t own any shirts with skulls on them, or even anything that has the TapOut label. That stuff does not fit my personality at all. But this is what I see.
From reading his blog, it’s clear he genuinely loves the sport and his job. Man, I’d give my left testicle to have his job!
I love me some Sexyama!
Crocop would make that trade with you
█♣█
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who -- Jay-Z
by thetakeover on Sep 19, 2009 6:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Also, is it bad that I don’t have/never worn any fight gear(by that i mean MMA-associated branded clothing) at all but train? Does this make me a rebel or in a niche? Will Joe Rogan like me more?
No, it puts you where everyone started back in the day. Fuck this “fighter lifestyle” stuff. You can’t recreate the lives of fighters with clothes, and accesories.
I applaud you for not wearing MMA brand clothing and training…theres alot of gyms that bring in guys who are all part of the MMA fad, rather than in it to win it, you know what I mean?
"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate
by Kaleb Kelchner on Sep 19, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
At the last UFC in New Jersey I actually saw a guy in the audience with a shirt that said, “Some guys are strikers, some guys are grapplers… I’M BOTH!”/blockquote>
i go to school in Jersey, i totally believe this.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
Jesus Christ I'm terrible with the blockquotes.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.
by Anthony Pace on Sep 19, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I hope that some of these companies would actually come up with such and earth-shattering idea that actually, having a one or more skulls or skeletons is not completely mandatory for every design. I appreciate the aesthetic but having a skull in every single shirt is getting a bit boooooo-ring.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Sep 20, 2009 7:05 AM EDT reply actions
whats worse....?
ed hardy or affliction?
i train like a freak, and the ONLY shirts that i wear is triumph united.
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