The world of professional
athletics is often ruthless and unforgiving—any given sport is riddled with
has-beens and also-rans. One poor performance in the heat of the moment can be
as devastating as an embarrassing faux paus during a press conference. Star
athletes are forced to walk on eggshells as they tread the fine line separating
mediocrity from superstardom.
Mixed martial arts is no
different.
Cage fighters must juggle
sponsorships, media appearances and their own, public perceptions—all the while
striving to increase the number of digits in their win column.
An elite few overcome the odds
and somehow manage to secure the illustrious title of champion. Then, of
course, begins the struggle to keep contenders at bay—giving birth to the
expression, "It's harder to keep the belt than it is to get it in the
first place."
Some UFC champions—both past
and present—have managed to handle it admirably. But as I've said before,
there's a clear line of demarcation separating a mere champion in a series of
many from one who propels the sport of MMA to lofty new heights. We have yet to
see the ideal superstar that extols the traits of a champion for the ages.
Which ingredients would we
need from some of MMA's most iconic figures and, more interestingly, what if we
were to throw them in a melting pot in a quest assemble the archetype of an MMA
superstar?
Start with a Full Serving of
Georges St. Pierre's Signature Professionalism
The French Canadian sets MMA's
standard for suave and sophistication—he's practically synonymous with the
suit-and-tie look. Always respectful of opponents and attentive to company
needs, GSP would represent the core of our dream superstar. All the crucial
traits would have to carry over: professionalism, business-oriented attitude, work
ethic and even self-promotion.
The ideal MMA athlete would
need the right stuff both inside and outside the cage.
Mix in a Good Batch of Sheer
Athleticism Courtesy of Jon Jones
Top-tier athletes tend to look
the part. This mixture would result in a physically impressive fighter a la Jon
Jones. Reach and height would enable nothing short of blinding speed and
dexterity. Victories would have to be highlight reel-worthy, with each finish
acting as a firm declaration.
Jones knows this to be true—he
tends to end his fights in ways that guarantee water cooler talk.
Stir in Equal Amounts of BJ
Penn's Raw Talent
There's something to be said
for a fighter that has the natural it factor.
Movements would have to be so
fluid and natural that even the most casual MMA fans could feel like they were
witnessing something special. Penn was not only the first American to win the
World Jiu-Jitsu Championships, but also the first to be simultaneously ranked
No. 1 in two, separate weight divisions.
Our star would need to be a
replicate of the innate talents of "The Prodigy" in order to break
such boundaries.
Add a Hint of Ronda Rousey's
Magnetism
Enormous media coverage,
polarizing interviews and a willingness to cull fans from untapped resources
would have to be second nature to a superfighter of the next generation. Ronda
Rousey managed to introduce UFC fans to entirely new subset of mixed martial
arts—nearly half a million pay-per-view buys isn't too shabby for your first time
at bat.
Season it with a Dash of Chael
Sonnen's Wit and Intellect
Arguably the most interesting
figure—though certainly the most quotable—in all of MMA, Chael Sonnen has
mastered the the art of selling a fight. Fans can squabble over his fight game,
but few would be foolish enough to argue his skill at self-promotion. Sonnen
knows just how to use his mouth to achieve a desired result—so would our
superstar.
When the lights shine bright,
the camera gains focus and all ears are directed at what our fighter might say,
nothing is more promising and pivotal than the delivery. Sonnen has proved it
time and time again.
And Then Let it Marinate in
Anderson Silva's Aura
The recipe wouldn't be
complete without adding Silva's preternatural ability to evoke awe from the
crowd. He lost interest in mere victory long ago—cementing his legacy is at the
forefront of his mind as he inches toward the conclusion of his record-breaking
career.
Our dream combatant would need
a certain overwhelming characteristic that words fail to accurately describe.
Each fight would need to reverberate throughout his or her career—a special
place in history would be reserved for when the curtain closed.
There's little to no doubt
that we'd be left with a crazy concoction.
But those individual
ingredients—if adhered together as part of a complete package—amount to the
epitome of a superstar. Winning streaks would serve as mere stepping stones on the
path to the title. And even then, the next-generation champion would be
unwilling to rest.
Casual fans would associate
his or her name with the entire sport of mixed martial arts—akin to Michael
Jordan's effect on basketball or Tiger Woods' impact on the landscape of golf.
Boundaries would be broken because this fighter would consider no feat too
daunting to attempt.
Sounds like crazy, wishful
thinking, doesn't it?
Well, before you toss the
recipe aside, just consider that we never saw Jon Jones coming—nor did we see
Anderson Silva before him.
The ebb and flow of mixed
martial arts is less like a gentle river and more like a violent white-water
rapid. Ordinary fighters are routinely swallowed by the rushing tides, whereas
the truly extraordinary manage to stay afloat.
Somewhere, somehow and in some
random suburb, there is a young, hungry fighter training relentlessly. Posters
of MMA's greats adorn his or her walls.
That novice could potentially
mature into the realization of this ideal recipe—a genuine superstar in the
making. (Source)
