Klartext from UFC Expert Thomas: "Americans Gotta Check Their Arrogance About MMA"
Inthe realm of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), American attitudes often lean towards arrogance.
By Mike B. Facebook* * Twitter * Whatsapp * Email * Print * Copy Link**
The road to the pinnacle of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a brutal journey for combatants. Once you've cracked the UFC, you've made it to the big leagues. European fighters often face a steeper climb, and UFC expert Din Thomas has a theory on why that is, attributing it to an, let's say, overconfident attitude from American MMA enthusiasts.
In the current landscape, there's a scarcity of top-tier German MMA competitors in the big leagues like the UFC. Thomas, who served as an expert for UFC and ESPN, doesn't see that as a sign of a dearth of talent in Germany but rather as a consequence of the actions of both athletes and organizers.
Sports Cage-fighting not suited for high society? MMA fights for a second chance in Germany Thomas argues that Germany has untapped MMA talent, emphasizing the need to discover and support these fighters. That involves taking a chance on them, even when they have the potential to make mistakes. The 48-year-old has a personal connection with Germany, having spent considerable time training at MMA Spirit in Frankfurt am Main back in 2014. He admires the vibe and the hospitality he encountered there, encouraging this supportive environment that now exists through Oktagon. Sold-out arenas, boisterous crowds, and a TV product on par with the UFC are bulletproof proof of Germany's thriving MMA scene.
However, it's not that easy to gain traction in the U.S. Thomas speaks to an American bias that, for some inexplicable reason, overlooks and dismisses anything that doesn't have a U.S. connection. He feels compelled to shine a spotlight on the exciting developments happening in Germany's MMA space.
The numbers Oktagon delivers rival those in the U.S., Thomas points out, citing the record-breaking event in Frankfurt's stadium with 58,000 attendees. "It's a start. But the American market wants to see German athletes competing in top leagues. Until that happens, it will be challenging to say: "This is one of the major organizations"." Once that happens, Oktagon is bound to make a splash on the U.S. MMA scene.
Live events and highlights of Oktagon MMA...... are available on RTL+*.
Oktagon needs persistence to achieve that standing. "We've seen how quickly organizers come and go," warns Thomas. "Only by building trust over a long period of time can success and respect be achieved."
European or German fighters bear some responsibility for breaking into the U.S. market, according to Thomas. American organizations won't fly in a German fighter as a substitute, but if they're already training in the U.S., they can be placed in fights there. Another option is to compete in Cage Warriors or Brave FC, both organizations with a reputation stateside. However, these opportunities aren't generally financially lucrative, a risk many are willing to take but then decide to fight where they get better pay.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) has a smaller representation of top-tier German fighters in the UFC, and UFC expert Thomas attributes this to an overconfident attitude from American MMA enthusiasts.
Thomas encourages discovering and supporting untapped MMA talent in Germany, stating that the vibe and hospitality he encountered during his training in Frankfurt am Main is a testament to Germany's thriving MMA scene.
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