Thread:

This is genuinely a great thread and nothing he says is wrong here. MMA is a guilty pleasure for its nascent technical development and inherent violence, but it is objectively a corrupt and problematic sport. Our fanbase is problematic:

1/11 https://twitter.com/CaIIan96/status/1248251528101515266

Misunderstandings of the sport w/o active attempts to learn it, complete acceptance and voracious defense of promotional narrative, a lack of media to hold accountability and report over anything besides clickbaiting for the sake of that alone, and outright disrespect and

2/11

misgivings for what these fighters have to do and how they're rewarded economically and by the fanbase. Dustin Poirier has earned every ounce of support and love from fans and more for achievements as a human being outside the cage and for tech. jumps inside the cage,

3/11

but all that matters is that he quit by "tapping" to Khabib Nurmagomedov and is, consequently, not worth watching. This fanbase is an objective embarrassment when they favor mockery & favoritism over empathy. They're like dogs who only want food and would eat their owners.

4/11

Sometimes, you'll see something nice, but it's otherwise endless accusations of bias without critical thinking nor willingness to actually discuss your sport. If you disagree w/ someone's stance, then be willing to talk about it & prove them wrong if they're so wrong.

5/11

I don't even mind the endless bad takes - it's the vicious ad hominem and narrative bandwagon-appeal to authority licking of the boots that really bothers me - on top of depravity and complete disregard for safety and humanity - as long as you're entertained, right?

6/11

@CaIIan96 has a great thread here and there are some slight differences in degree that I have with him towards certain topics & fighters, he is totally and understandably right to be jaded.

7/11 https://twitter.com/CaIIan96/status/1248251559538036737

We need to demand better for our sport in terms of respecting athletes and their skillsets/sacrifices, controlling promotional and media monopolies and malpractice, and actually learn to be human and to love the science and sacrifice - not just the spectacle.

8/11

As Callan says, you don't need to feel bad for liking this sport, but you sure as hell shouldn't ignore what is really happening all the time and how many are okay with it. I can separate my opinion of fighter personality and fighter skills, but I must keep both in mind.

9/11

Personally, I don't see the MMA, especially the way it is now, as a truly mainstream sport, but I think that it can at least become a respectable sport if people actually try. However, I haven't and wouldn't be too optimistic about that happening anytime soon.

10/11

I'll still watch and love this sport and do my best to appreciate it for what actually is, but learning to respect it as something beyond entertainment is so much better for everyone.

I want the best for a sport that I've fallen in love with, so this is frustrating.

11/11