Gina Carano v Cris Cyborg...does anyone really win?
Women's MMA (WMMA) continues to struggle to achieve acceptance. Admittedly, I am not a fan. Not because I think that women shouldn't compete in MMA, quite to the contrary. But because a true fan can't get enough and will overcome obstacles to watch despite the quality of the match up (kinda like me and the Philadelphia Eagles..I don't care who they're playing. It could be Archbishop Ryan High School...I'm watching). Many people may be a fan of Gina Carano (and probably more specifically her body) but they truly couldn't care less about WMMA.
I don't qualify as a WMMA fan because I only want to see Cris Cyborg and Gina Carano fight and in that order...anyone else, not so much.
Currently, there are not enough good female fighters to consistently make compelling contests. And the sex appeal angle doesn't do it for me. I'm not watching MMA to get aroused. And I think that it is disrespectful to female athletes. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE to see a beautiful woman. But there is a time and place for everything and I watch sporting events to enjoy a high level of skill and competition...not to drool or make demeaning comments.
The fight (if it ever happens) that I will watch with great interest is Carano v Cyborg. Now that's a fight!! But there is a dilemma.
If Carano wins (and that's a BIG IF in my book) who can she fight after that? Any of the other names are 25-30 lbs. lighter. If there is nothing to quickly follow this fight up with the momentum is lost.
If 'Cyborg' Santos wins WMMA just lost its only marketable face. Cris does not speak English and she is not the American version of beauty; therefore she will never be marketed heavily in the states. Without the ability to market sex appeal, WMMA may go the way of ladies professional boxing after the retirement of Laila Ali.
I am eager to view the Carano v Cyborg fight but despite the outcome the aftermath for WMMA may be a bit harsh.
Well ya gotta love an Eagles fan!
Interesting blog. It seems that all female sports have difficulty being successful - think women's soccer, the WNBA, boxing - so it's not surprising WMMA would have issues. Don't underestimate the power and draw of sex appeal. Women's soccer got the most media attention after one of their players ripped her shirt off and showed her sports bra. That image replayed on all mainstream media channels for weeks and weeks. But you are correct - true fans are drawn to a consistently high level of competition and skill.
Maybe it's a combination of issues - education (or lack of) about the sport, societal prejudice about women and their physical abilities, and poor promotion and recruting techniques by the WMMA. Is it possible that society isn't ready to see women in such a physical sport?
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