We at Wombat Sports are interested in hearing from you.
We are starting to take questions from our readers from time to time via our twitter and Facebook.
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This week’s question was given to us by MMA fighter Maragret Bloom. She asks:
Are there “cliques” in WMMA that result in the promotion of some fighters and a cold shoulder to others? Do you have to run with the right crowd to be eligible for advancement in the sport?
It is not unheard of of some fighters being looked over by some smaller independent promotions if a star in their employ has some sort of power in the company. However, that can’t be said of the bigger promotions. InvictaFC in particular has straight out said that if you have the resume, we will accept you.
Before we get into the main portion of Mrs. Bloom’s question, some advice from what I have observed in the sport.
Putting yourself in a good position as an amateur might seem tough, but a lot has to do about where you fight. If you were to fight on a Tuff-n-uff card for example, you are more visible to people who could have a say in your careers. Plus your reputation becomes solid by saying you fought for a well known promotion. Many promotions with TV deals also do amateur pre-show cards which might be a gateway to the pro ranks.
I know that being an amateur you may not be able to travel much, but if you can travel a few times to these promotions it is well worth it.
As a pro, it’s about moving up the ladder in a challenging, but smart manner. Many times I will see a pro debuter take on a fighter with 8 or more fights, which is a decisive mismatch. For the pro debuter, it will most likely be a loss, and not a great way to start a career. For the seasoned pro, it looks like you are padding your record, and it does nothing to improve your position on the rankings.
Remember to pick your battles but don’t be too picky. The whole idea of the sport is to challenge yourself and be the best. Don’t bite more than you can chew, but make sure you are progressing at a reasonable pace.
To Mrs. Bloom’s original question. If you are having problems getting fights, get more involved in the community itself and gain contacts with fighters and promoters. The more contacts you have, the more likely an opportunity will land your way. Also make sure to keep in contact with promoters and look out for opportunities. I see promoters needing fighters on a weekly basis, so there is a demand.
As for “cliques” existing in the sport to make sure you don’t fight, there isn’t one really. The community as a whole has some power, but it’s rare for it to be used in a vengeful purpose. If you do feel you are being singles out in not getting fights, please reach out to me and we will see if we can’t figure out the problem.
It’s also rare for a fighter to be blackballed but not unheard of. Mainly, it’s a fighter who has burned too many bridges with promoters themselves.
In closing, I hope that fighters don’t feel like they are not getting the opportunities they have earned. In order for this sport to grow, talented women are needed and it’s important that even though fighters have different personalities, they should not shunned because of it.
Filed under: MMA
