A quick glance at comment threads for MMA articles reveals numerous spitball fights concerning which fighter deserves to be labeled GOAT (the Greatest Of All Time). Some fans fire off salvos of statistics to canonize their favorites, others fall back on more emotional, wishful ‘reasoning.’
Finally the bottom feeders, disdaining Musgrave’s Rules of Debate, aim for the verbal jugular and just ground-and-pound their internet opposition into dust with invective and sarcasm. Probably not all that different from the old Roman Coliseum crowds… Without a doubt, GOATS talk ramps up interest in matches, increases PPVs and pours money into the promotions. But how much sense does it really make to argue about any GOAT at all?
After some time, all this faith-driven theoretical sparring begins to sound like medieval theological quarrels, passionately debated at the Council of Trent (1545-1563). Ever since Thomas Aquinas penned the question “can several angels ever be in the same place?” this mushroomed at Trent into “How many angels can dance on the point of a needle?” (Likewise in MMA : “clearly the #1 P4P (pound for pound) on the planet”, “In his prime, he could have…”, “Had he faced the same competition, he would have…”, “baddest man on the planet.” – would’ve, should’ve, could’ves.)
Colorful trash talk fuels GOAT discussions and can also be lots of fun. We all enjoyed the hilarious bon mots of Chael Sonnen and now, Conor McGregor is combining the promo techniques of Muhammad Ali with the flair of professional wrestling to work up excitement. Not every fighter can be as entertaining, but McGregor’s fight predictions and lively blarney have worked wonders for promotion. In case you were wondering how “real” all their bare-fanged pre fight “hate” is, just observe how quickly most fighters will drop their guard, smile and embrace once the fight is over.
A major monetary result of all this is the betting, of course. In some parts of the world, people kill time wagering on how many pigeons will alight onto a high telephone wire. They say Joseph Stalin used to browbeat his cowering Moscow apparatchiks to guess the exact temperature – each degree missed to be penalized by one big slug of Stolichnaya 80 proof or whatever the heck they guzzled then.
Today, on Paddypower.com you can bet the house on “sure things” – like which year Nessie the LochNess monster will be discovered, or who will be Kylie Minogue’s next boyfriend, or the name of the second Kardashian baby. You can even get 100 to 1 on “When Alien Life Will Be Proven” (only settled if the sitting US President confirms without doubt the existence of alternative, intelligent life beings from another planet.) Hey, who needs LOTTO?
But make no mistake – it is all about money. (If promoters could make more by selling shoes or refrigerators they’d certainly be doing it.) And the global success story of MMA is pretty spectacular; last year Dana White whispered in an interview with the Financial Times that the net worth of the UFC is something close to $3.5 billion. Co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta claims UFC is the world’s most valuable sports franchise, worth more than the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys.
Many professional musicians and fans would acknowledge Jascha Heifetz as “King” of all violinists. But GOAT?.. me-e-e-e-h!… That discussion also never arises for any number of fantastic pianists, singers, conductors, not to mention composers. Aside from Standing-Room fanboys kicking and scratching over Maria Callas, I really doubt many concertgoers would perspire their tuxedo shirts over which performer, symphony or opera is the Greatest Of All Time.
Having said all this, I will still lay down $10 on Conor McGregor to flatten out Chad Mendes on July 11 in Las Vegas. Why? Well, I dunno – I just have this “feeling”….
