In Blatant Attempt to Attract Latino Viewers, Zuffa Misses the Mark

Uhh. no.

So if Cain Velasquez is an American, why do we have the Mexican flag flying in the background? At this point, we are identifying the country of his racial heritage, not the country he is actually from. Should we be flying the Nordic flag behind Brock Lesnar then?

Does Brock eat breathe and live as a “Nordic”? Does Munoz being born in Japan make him any less Filipino? Like Cain, his parents are both 100% Filipino (Mexican for cain) and he has embraced, lived and practiced, his Culture throughout his life. Just cause he was born in America, it doesn’t make him any less of a Mexican.

Comparing him to Brock, who lives a hell of a lot like the “true American” in Matt Hughes is just plain silly. Completely bad analogy, and it’s not even remotely close.

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by Anton Tabuena on Sep 22, 2010 4:25 AM EDT reply actions

I doubt that he is wearing a sombrero and riding a donkey around San Jose.

by SilverNBlackZach! on Sep 22, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Cain Velasquez was born and raised in America, just like Brock Lesnar. “True America” is not some mid-western, working class white thing. This is a multi-cultural nation. That’s what makes it such a great country. Cain Velasquez is just as uniquely American as Brock Lesnar and Matt Hughes, or Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans for the matter.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

by Brian Mayes on Sep 22, 2010 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I was being sarcastic with the "True American" line.

hence the " "

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by Anton Tabuena on Sep 22, 2010 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m totally agree with you… Promote a fight as a clash of nationalities, with the only aim to get more money is wrong!

by Alessandro Paradisi on Sep 22, 2010 5:40 AM EDT reply actions

I too agree with the post, this is a really silly way of promoting it. Also Ricco Rodriguez is a former UFC HW champ, American but born of Mexican and Puerto Rican parents (guess that doesn’t count).

By the way, there is no common “Nordic flag”, unless you’re just talking about the general design of a sideway cross (or if it’s just a figure of speech).

by Horselover Fat on Sep 22, 2010 7:54 AM EDT reply actions

Figure of speech, playing off the “Brock is a viking” meme.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

by Brian Mayes on Sep 22, 2010 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Gotcha.

by Horselover Fat on Sep 22, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Ricco Rodriguez is a former UFC HW champ, American but born of Mexican and Puerto Rican parents (guess that doesn’t count).

I thought Ricco was 1/2 Italian, 1/2 Puerto Rican.

The hype is… a bit heavy-handed

by Tommy Hackett on Sep 22, 2010 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Why are Americans obsessed with America?

To say that MMA fans will cheer for all good fighters is ridiculous. Americans will always cheer for the American in a fight whether he is good or not. The childish chants of “USA” whenever an American fighter is fighting a foreign fighter is ridiculous. Are they really that narrow minded?

The above comment of “true American in Matt Hughes” is somewhat laughable. The USA is a nation of imigrants FACT! The only true Americans are the Native Americans FACT! Your president is black, how much of a “true American” is he? The term “real American” or “true American” seems to be reserved for those who achieve exceptional things. If Barack Obama, Brock Lesnar & Matt hughes were factory workers I bet my life no-one would ever refer to them as “true Americans”

Please do tell us what a true American is, or is there no criteria just opinion?

The fight is between two of the best mixed martial artists in the world, and should be viewed as such. Do we not live in an age where we can appreciate quality irrespective of nationality>

by toonymma on Sep 22, 2010 9:37 AM EDT reply actions

What fight are you referring to in your last statement?

And c’mon be realistic. If a fight is taking place in the US between an American fighter and one from say, Brazil, an American fan who doesn’t know much about either fighter is naturally going to root for the guy from his own country. Since when is being nationalistic and proud of your country a bad thing? Yeah the “USA! USA!” chants are annoying, I’ll give you that, but a good percentage of American MMA fans, and MMA fans anywhere in the world for that matter, root for fighters based on their style of fighting, not nationality.

by exzacht on Sep 22, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

You can’t take anything from crowd chants. It’s a bunch of drunk people. They also get into fist fights with each other and flash the cameras. Not a great barometer to measure social commentary by. Drunken idiots are going to act like drunken idiots.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

by Brian Mayes on Sep 22, 2010 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

your sig

is one of the best quotes Ive ever heard,and I wish all MMA fans would read this,and think about it. MMA is the sport of self-proclaimed experts,who hate and downplay everybody who is not their favourite fighter,and often dont even watch fights,just judge fighters by their records.

In reality,they are the absolutely noones of the sport,and the guys who they label “noones” (just because they arent in the top5) are the true heroes.

"Its not about the size of the dog in the fight...its about the size of the fight in the dog"

by SoulBrotherNo1 on Sep 22, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks! I’ve loved that quote ever since I first heard it read on the radio a few years ago. Theodore Roosevelt was certainly one of America’s more interesting and colorful presidents, and if he was around today he would most likely be a fan of MMA. He was a fan of boxing and supposedly did a bit of catch wrestling in his spare time. BTW, I believe Ryan Bader has some version of this quote on his signiture Tapout shirt.

And you are absolutley correct, it speaks to a problem that a lot of MMA fans have. Either a guy is the best, he is going to be the best, or he’s a bum. People can’t accept fighters simply for who they are – human being’s like anyone else, just out there trying to do their best. Not everyone is going to be a champion. You have to apprechiate a fighter for who he is. Everyone has a place in the sport, from the dominant champions to the guy fighting in the opening fight of a local show. They are in there trying to make a living doing what they love.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

by Brian Mayes on Sep 22, 2010 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

So if Cain Velasquez is an American, why do we have the Mexican flag flying in the background?

If Cain Velazquez is an American, then why does he wear shorts with colors that represent the Mexican flag?
If Cain Velazquez is an American, then why does he take a small Mexican flag and wrap it around his gloved hand at the end of the fight?
If Cain Velazquez considered himself an American shouldn’t he have red, white, and blue trunks and an American flag wrapped around his hand?

by stak on Sep 22, 2010 10:03 AM EDT reply actions

That’s a good question, and one that I can’t answer. One would have to ask Cain Velasquez that question. I would presume it would have something to do with him being proud of his Mexican heritage. Personally, I have no problem with that. If he wants to wrap himself in the Mexican flag, or the American flag or no flag at all, that’s his choice to make. I just don’t care for the way Zuffa is chosing to promote the fight. That’s my only issue. Cain Velasquez can do whatever he likes.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

by Brian Mayes on Sep 22, 2010 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Cain Velazquez is legally American. The Mexican paraphernalia is for marketing purposes.

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by FloydJoyMayweatherSR on Sep 22, 2010 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Of course the next obvious question is then: Why is Cain Velasquez in the US if he doesn’t consider himself American?

Being proud of your heritage doesn’t mean you aren’t American. Cain will cease to be American when he stops embracing the fact that he lives here, it gave his family a myriad of opportunities that he would have never gotten in Mexico and his life continues to be better because of those opportunities.

Answer? Because he was born and raised IN THE USA. His parents couldn’t create a good life for their family so they MOVED TO THE USA and BECAME US CITIZENS. They are Americans jack ass. He just happens to be proud of his heritage. I’m proud to be of German and Norwegian decent and celebrate many of the same old customs. That doesn’t make me any less American. Sheesh.

by fisttoface on Sep 22, 2010 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Marcus Davis still acts like he’s Irish. Everyone reps a little bit.

by cyke on Sep 23, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

More like a blatant attempt to meet a deadline.

Cheick Kongo’s official shirt bears the flag of the Congo. Where was he born again? France.

The kilt-wearing Irish Hand Grenade was born and raised in Maine.

Roger “El Matador” Huerta was born in LA, and insists on wearing the Mexican flag as his shorts.

Joey “The Mexecutioner” Beltran is from San Diego.

Seems as though these fighters are being blatantly mistreated. Is there no one there to make sure that each fighter is a representative of his birth country? I must have missed all of your articles coming in to defend the helpless professional fighters. Then again, I think you missed the BROWN PRIDE tattoo across Cain’s chest.

by Justin Juice Williams on Sep 22, 2010 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

while I dont think that this is the correct way to market the fight...

…dont tell me that Cain is just as much of an american as Brock. Its really hard to judge things like that,if you havent experienced,but for example:

I was born in Slovakia,I live in Slovakia,but if somebody tells me that Im a slovak,I protest. Im a Hungarian. I dont care if I live there,thats my first language,thats the first language of everyone in my family,thats my culture,my friends are hungarians,just like me,100%. Im not the one who takes pride in these things,but these are just the facts,I have nothing in common with the Slovaks,only that I was born there,and live there. But Im not one of them.

I bet if you asked Cain that if he wants to be marketed as a mexican or not,he would choose yes.

"Its not about the size of the dog in the fight...its about the size of the fight in the dog"

by SoulBrotherNo1 on Sep 22, 2010 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

But should we automatically identify a fighter by the country of their heritage? Why does the Mexican flag have to be used? He is not from Mexico. If he was, I would have a little less of an issue. I loved the poster for UFC 94, with BJ Penn draped in the Hawaiian flag and GSP draped in the Canadian flag. I don’t have a problem using flags when they are appropriate. Cain Velasquez isn’t from Mexico. Using the flag is identifying his race, not his home country. And why in the world should we care about his race? The fact that I’m more excited for the Cain Velasquez vs. Brock Lesnar fight than I was for the Shane Carwin vs. Brock Lesnar fight has nothing to do with the fact that Cain Velasquez is a Mexican American. It has to do with Cain being a fantastic fighter with a real chance of beating Brock Lesnar and becoming a dominant heavyweight champion.

That’s what people should care about, not what race the guy is. That’s silly and panders to the lowest common denominator.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

by Brian Mayes on Sep 22, 2010 6:14 PM EDT reply actions

…unfortunately, most marketing is directed at that same lowest common denominator. It’s as true in MMA as it is in television commercials and in politics. Spin it so it sells. That’s just how it is, no matter what we think about it. Is it silly? Well, yeah, kinda. Will it get the casual fan pumped for the fight, and sell more PPV’s? Yeah, probably. And that, ultimately, is all that is considered in marketing. But we still get to see the fight, and those casual fans buying more PPV’s are ensuring that we get to see lots more fights we want to see, even if we have issues with how they are marketed.

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by Jackie Maden on Sep 23, 2010 10:21 AM EDT up reply actions

What's the big deal?

Boxing does these country vs country fights all the time. Especially Puerto Rican vs Mexican fighters around Puerto Rican day.

Most recently, the Mosely-Mora fight was billed as a “mexican independence” fight with Mosley repping the US. I can see where you’re coming from, but its just a way to promote the fight.

by cyke on Sep 23, 2010 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

You, sir, are right on the money, in so many ways. Sadly, even after reading this, and even in 2010, you’ll still have readers who completely miss the point and want to argue with you.

by Ric Gillespie on Sep 23, 2010 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

What’s shocking is that in 2010, there is still some level of interest in marketing a fight like this, both from the promoter’s point of view and from the fans. If the main reason someone is interested in seeing Cain Velasquez fight Brock Lesnar for the UFC heavyweight title is the fact that Cain is of Mexican heritage, I really don’t know how to respond to that. It’s such a compelling fight that promoting it purely on a race angle is absurd.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

by Brian Mayes on Sep 23, 2010 7:30 PM EDT reply actions

I don't like it but it's what Cain would probably want anyway

I can love anyone that is an American as my brother, regardless of race or ethnicity. But he doesn’t want to be an American so let him be Mexican. He carries around a Mexican flag and proclaims his brown pride. If I proclaimed my white power I would rightfully be called a racist. An American carrying a flag of another country is dispicable and disgusting and should be a crime. He takes from the freedoms of America only to spit in her face. If he wants to be a Mexican he should go to Mexico. Fuck him and Fuck Marcus Davis. My family is from Ireland but I’m an American, not an Irish-American, just an American. I don’t like Michael Bisping, but atleast he is loyal to his country from what he said about Hardy, so I respect him more than any American who trys to seperate themselves from his country because he’s a racist.

I wish he could love America like me, but if he doesn’t he should leave.

by shane454 on Sep 23, 2010 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

There’s nothing wrong with someone being proud of their heritage. If Marcus Davis or Cain Velasquez or whoever want to wave a flag and talk about their heritage, that’s cool. This is America. You can fancy yourself a Mexican-American or an Irish-American or just a plain old American, or you can just can just be completley neutral if that’s your thing. That’s what makes it such a great country.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

by Brian Mayes on Sep 23, 2010 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed with Shane.

Also, shane454, you owe me that vid of the Barnett-Sylvia match!

by mountaineers101 on Sep 25, 2010 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Soooo, what your saying is that it’s wrong and actually immoral and evil to be proud of your heritage? Dude, your entire post REEKS of the whole “AMERICA RULES FUCK YEAH!!!” mentality.

by doomrider7 on Oct 13, 2010 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude, I’m hispanic and most people I’ve met don’t mind or even seem to care about this whole and accept Cain as Mexican whether he was born in the US or not. The only people that seem to mind this whole thing are the PC heavy jackasses.

by doomrider7 on Oct 13, 2010 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

One of the recent PPV’s had USA vs Brazil written all over it (every main card fight was a US fighter vs a Brazilian fighter) but they didn’t market it as such. Why go that route now, I wonder. One would assume BROCKLESNAR vs Cain would need no such tacked-on promotion.

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by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Sep 24, 2010 12:40 PM EDT reply actions