Joe Rogan on the Regrettable Peculiarities of MMA's Culture

[Headliner]

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/9/19/1037823/quote-of-the-day-joe-rogan-on-the
"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 **** fist un-balled when you’re standing next to Anderson Silva.

Another unintentionally hilarious aspect of the MMA culture is the abundance of (Please Use More Appropriate Word) 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 (Please Use More Appropriate Word) 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 **** 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 bull.
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 (Please Use More Appropriate Word) 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."

[High 5]

Funny read, but am I the only one who puts Joe Rogan in that same category? He thinks he's such a bad ass.

[CPT]

It's funny, but that doesn't mean he's right.

I don't see anything wrong with wearing fight wear T-shirts. Especially if it is a brand that sponsors fighters, or a fighter's signature shirt. I don't understand the people that think you have to be a fighter to wear that stuff. Now, if he's only talking about imitations with no real ties to fighters just trying to use MMA's popularity to make a buck, I agree.

And WTF are you supposed to do when you take a picture with a fighter? It's hard enough to figure out what to do with your arms and hands in any picture, with anyone. How is it better to just stand there with your arms hanging down?

The diamond encrusted fighter glove.....OK, that's (Please Use More Appropriate Word).

You can pick apart the fans of any sport. It seems like if some people had their way, only people with a black belt would be qualified to follow MMA. Some people just seem to want this sport to stay underground.

[4ho5ive]

IAnd WTF are you supposed to do when you take a picture with a fighter? It's hard enough to figure out what to do with your arms and hands in any picture, with anyone. How is it better to just stand there with your arms hanging down?

Abso-fuggin-lutely. I agree with your entire post but this right here is the damn truth. I would call it cliche but honestly what else can you do in that situation?

[Ed Wood]

He's totally off base about the fight shirts. Anyone who can get past how hideous and obnoxious most fight shirts look in the first place is welcome to as many barbed wire wrapped skulls on fire as he can fit across his chest. The hand thing is more goofy than anything else and the fighters do it themselves most of the time anyway so no problem there either.

As for Rogan, praise doesn't come much fainter than this but he's definitely above average for a MMA color man. He does have his unfortunate quirks, every instance of a fighter turning to face their opponents legs in side control is not a twister attempt and I just love hearing his take on the junk in Tyson Griffin's trunk, but at least he's not Tito Ortiz.

[Quiet-Storm]

They have not reached the douchbaggery of the classic barbed wire curling around your bicep tattoo.

[Charcoal Filtered]

Got one photo with a trainer at UFC 102 and he told me to do it. Agree that it beats trying to figure out what in the hell to do for a pose.

I do not wear any MMA clothing, but would not be stupid enough to insult it. Fighters have a tough enough time making money in this sport. If someone feels better by wearing a shirt of a fight brand, so be it. Without merchandising, it becomes alot harder to make an income.

Diamond gloves is outrageous and do not see that as anything mainstream.

Pretty stupid comments and he shows why he was a horrible choice for The Man Show.

[Hilltop]

I see no fault in posing in such a way next to fighters, or wearing their merchandise despite not having a lick of training. Big deal. The article and the play on stereotypes is hilarious though I was laughing just reading through it.

[Quiet-Storm]

Joe Rogan can suck these

[Dry_Fish]

I am not sure some of you are reading the t-shirt comment correctly - he has an issue with what's on some of the t-shirt content wise(the imitator especially)

[cowboyronnie]

MMA brand gear is the worst. So lame.

[jTF2]

I only disagree with Rogan on the fist pose in photos. In photos, you really only have two options that look somewhat decent, the victory sign and the fist pose. Gang signs look straight up (Please Use More Appropriate Word) unless you're an actual member.

[Dry_Fish]

Do people strike a Heisman pose when they get a picture taken with a college football player?

[cowboyronnie]

variables aren't the same. shut up.

[El Hardee]

I prefer the "hang loose" sign, that is the official sign of my gym at our BJJ tourneys. Its cool and not too wannabe tough guy douche bag. I have to agree with Rogan on quite a few points. MMA newbs are extremely annoying, we get these roided out meatheads coming in on their 1st day talking bout "I want to be a cage fighter" like its that easy. None of those douches make it, they dont respect the blood,sweat and tears it takes to fight and they ussually get hurt and quit right away. Then there is the dudes who say "I've never trained but I been watching UFC for years", those dudes are preyed upon by mean people such as El Hardee. Then you got the guy who in his 1st week of training have 2 top notch gi's, and those expensive sprawl shorts with a expensive rash gaurd. They will wear there fight gear to the gym, then change into their gi and never break a sweat in their 80 dollar shorts. I enjoy beating the crap out the people I just mentioned.

[cocktailswith_2short]

That article is so right. Every Wal Mart in america has ten douchebags walking around wearing them (Please Use More Appropriate Word) "Tap out" Shirts.

[pugilistfan]

Joe Rogan isnt a very intelligent guy but hes right on about this.

I'm sorry but people who wear MMA clothing look like god damn idiots. Thats just the bottom line.

I thought the fist thing was stupid until I got a picture with boxers Carl Froch and Jean Pascal and I realized it was awkward as hell to not have a fist up especially when they are doing it as well. So i'll let that slide.

[Blame Rasho]

Don't get me started with the MMA shirts...

The fist thing... well it has always been done. You have pictures from the 50 and 60s with people like Frank Sinatra with a fist pose with Ali and Louis...