Whenever talks about a super fight between Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, or George St Pierre surface, just the possibility of either of these men meeting in the Octagon is a modern cultural triumph worth noting.
Boxing super fights such as Ali vs. Foreman and Hagler vs. Hearnes, defined past generations and gave fight fans something to think back on and say, “Where were you when the Rumble in the Jungle went down?”
Of course I can only speculate, I’m only 28, and I’ve never seen a culturally defining super fight in the history of my generation. But I’ve watched old video recordings and read about them. Maybe now it’s our turn. Sure the best we have been able to muster has arguably been Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen. That’s far from Ali vs. Foreman but it’s a positive step in the right direction.
Unfortunately after a sport gains a significant audience and large amounts of money become involved, things change. What we have noticed over time as fight fans, is a great divide in combat sports which occurs once they reach a certain level of competency.
People will pay these days to watch Floyd Mayweather dance around for 15 rounds without the single occurrence of a strong flurry or decisive finish. Even worse, aside from a couple main draws, the sport has lost the star power it once had in abundance.
I believe there is a strong fear in the back of every die hard mixed martial arts fan. It’s fueled by the greatest fear of all, in the unknown. I don’t think MMA fans are angry with Greg Jackson himself. I think they are worried MMA is heading in the direction of boxing.
MMA is no different than boxing in some sense, therefore those in the proverbial driver seat must keep the sport pure and honest. It must stay a fighter’s game, not the sweet science it has potential to become.
It’s interesting because I don’t hear fans complain about boring fights, as much as they express fear of MMA becoming the disappointment boxing has become. Boxing used to be great. It used to be what MMA is today and that is why people worry and make the mistake of losing perspective.
Simply put, Greg Jackson helps his fighters win fights. In a couple high profile situations he has been strongly criticized for his advice to fighters training under his banner.
When Jon Jones recently decided not to fight Chael Sonnen, apparently Jackson had informed him that it would be the greatest mistake of his career if he took the fight on short notice.
Listen to the video below as Greg Jackson responds to Dana White’s comments and explains his reasoning for advising Jon Jones to not fight Chael Sonnen at UFC 151.
VIDEO COURTESY OF ALLSPORTSTALKNOW..
Clay Guida danced around for five rounds and appeared to avoid engaging with Gray Maynard altogether and everyone blamed his actions in the cage on ‘the Greg Jackson strategy.’ Even though many of Jackson’s fighters were on the same card and won that night in dramatic and brutal fashion.
Dana White even called Greg Jackson, “A sport killer,” in a conference call where he had to announce the cancelation of UFC 151 recently. The problem with our society is we rely on symbols to validate what we already feel inside. We end up viewing Jackson and the way he approaches the fight game as the definitive problem. Inadvertently we identify our fear of MMA winding up in the state of boxing in Greg Jackson himself.
This is ridiculous. Jackson takes care of his fighters in the way every other trainer should. It’s up to the fighter to go out and win.
Jon Jones could’ve decided to fight Sonnen and Jackson would have trained him for the fight. Personally I don’t believe Sonnen deserves a shot but apparently he is able to talk his way in to one at will these days.
Instead we should look at what we do know to be true since most of us can agree that the strongest fears rarely come true. Despite all the negative aspects surrounding mixed martial arts at the moment, don’t forget what the sport has become overnight. Which is to say, focus on the positive.
The top brass in MMA have accomplished one thing, of which is subsequently the only cure for making mistakes. They have learned from boxing and the past, and made conscious decisions along the way to adeptly avoid the same mistakes.
Hats off to Dana, the Fertitta’s, all the fighters, and to trainers like Greg Jackson who help turn great fighters in to great champions.
