UFC's Global marketing...so why are the ring card girls STILL all white?
MMA is one of the greatest sports in the world and clearly the secret is out. But I think that it was only a revelation to the US market. It seems that the rest of the world has known for quite some time.
Combat sports in general have been part of the mainstream culture in countries and regions like Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, ancient Greece and Rome, Africa etc... for decades, centuries and generations. Fighting sports tested warriors of all cultures.
We Americans are the ones late to the game.
Good old American ingenuity has refined the product and created a US-version that has sold like hotcakes here at home. Now the UFC is aiming for world domination and globalization of this Americanized-product. But a large percentage of the very best athletes are not stereotypical Americans nor is the world at large that this product is attempting to be sold to.
The brain trust of the UFC certainly doesn't need any help from me but a more diverse and inclusive presentation of their product may make for easier and deeper foreign market penetration.
No shows in Brazil or Japan. No Portuguese or Japanese commentators/translators. No promo people (ring card girls) of color. And there is a serious expectation that this lack of cultural awareness will not offend masses of potential fans?
I do not think that the UFC is intentionally racist. I do believe that they are expanding so rapidly and they have so little internal diversity that they just don't get it.
Their productions don't exclude them so what's the problem?
Combat sports in general have been part of the mainstream culture in countries and regions like Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, ancient Greece and Rome, Africa etc... for decades, centuries and generations. Fighting sports tested warriors of all cultures.
We Americans are the ones late to the game.
Good old American ingenuity has refined the product and created a US-version that has sold like hotcakes here at home. Now the UFC is aiming for world domination and globalization of this Americanized-product. But a large percentage of the very best athletes are not stereotypical Americans nor is the world at large that this product is attempting to be sold to.
The brain trust of the UFC certainly doesn't need any help from me but a more diverse and inclusive presentation of their product may make for easier and deeper foreign market penetration.
No shows in Brazil or Japan. No Portuguese or Japanese commentators/translators. No promo people (ring card girls) of color. And there is a serious expectation that this lack of cultural awareness will not offend masses of potential fans?
I do not think that the UFC is intentionally racist. I do believe that they are expanding so rapidly and they have so little internal diversity that they just don't get it.
Their productions don't exclude them so what's the problem?
Posted by Johnny Benjamin MD at 9/25/2009 6:39 AM 
Categories: MMA
Tags: mma Dr. Johnny Benjamin racism UFC
Categories: MMA
Tags: mma Dr. Johnny Benjamin racism UFC
Finally! A new cause to rally behind. With the whole presidential thing out of the way I could feel a certain stagnation in the diversity struggle. But seriously, MMA should probably steal a few plays from the NASCAR book. That fanbase has expanded across several demographics recently. Great blog - luv the way it covers what sports radio overlooks.
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Thank you for a great blog!
Racial issues are always senitive, I will mind my phrasing. I am Swedish, and from my standpoint the octagon girls don't look all that white. I don't feel excluded, but realise that a more southern look is appealing to a large portion of the US crowd. I am sure that other nationalities will share the sentiment, no matter if they are darker or paler than the octagon girls...
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