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Win/loss record: does it matter?

by Popham

February 15th, 2012

In the sports world, or the competitive field, there is one commonality that is attached to every entity, a win/loss record. No matter what you are in, wether it is business, sports, picking up women ( or men), competitive people usually like to keep score because it is a way to gauge how good you are in a given occupation. It gives you credentials to say how good (or bad) you are and opens up doors to step to that next level everyone wants to achieve. But the question is, does a win/loss record really matter?

Im going to go with the “yes it does” for now. For example, As a fighter, I have done competitive MMA over the last couple of years and have officially obtained a 3-2 win/loss record. Thats a 60% win percentage. So looking at that without any other information on me would lead you to conclude that I am average competitor with decent, at best, ability. Heck, in UFC if you don’t win you’re cut and go back to slinging tires at the local Havoline shop. Most promoters will look at records to determine if that person gets a title shot or even a chance to fight on their card, depending on how well known their promotion is. And then of course, there are those fighters who use their win/loss record to “impress” their friends or women.

“Hey baby!!! I am 20-0, want to get together??”

So it matters right?? Well, yes and no. While it is required to help you advance your career, and get lucky, I believe there are much more important things to consider than someones win/loss record. For instance, any educated person will look a little deeper into ones record and see how they came to achieve that number. They look at who they went against, how the decision was made to give the win or loss, and any other circumstances that was considered.

A person could look at how you obtained your win/loss record. They look at who your opponents were, what promotions you have fought for, and the outcome of the contest. But in my opinion, there is one thing in perticular that is more important than anything, marketability.

As a promoter, I see things a lot differently than a fighter. Fighters see the MMA world as field and they are merely players trying to win. Promoters see the field in a business sense, looking to bring people to come watch the players in the field. But how do they get people to come watch?

Scenairo:

Joe is a professional MMA fighter with a 6-0 record specializing in wrestling. He has won the majority of his fights by decision, basic lay and pray tactic, nothing exciting at all. When asked to be interviewed for the local radio show, he gives the “Im not into all that trash talking, I like to fight. Bla bla bla.”……………………………ZZZZZz zzzzzzzzzzz…………Wait. are you still talking? I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t pay money to see this guy fight. There is nothing about him that makes me remember him, aside from his record. I hope he stays undefeated forever cause once he loses, where does he go from here? Back to the tire shop! Now…………..

Donald is a professional MMA fighter with 5-6 record, with a aggressive standup style with very little ground game. He loves to be in the cage, all or nothing attitude, been submitted a couple of times, lost a couple of decisions, but everytime he enages his opponent in the cage, he has the crowd on their feet. He has a unique look, colorful personality, and leaves it all in the cage. When he is asked by the local radio show for an interview, you can’t shut him up. He leaves an impression on everyone involved. And last, he tells everyone to come out and watch him fight.

Now, if I had my choice of which fighter to put on my card, I would choose the second, hands down. Of course Joe has a much more impressive record, but Donald has many more tools that you need to put on a successful event, and without successful events, Donald and Joe would be unemployed, or go back to the tire shop!

In conclusion, I would have to say that a win/loss record does matter, because certain parts of the profession require it, but I believe the fans, and myself included, don’t care about someones record, we care about enertainment and excitement. We care about the fighters who we can get behind and will sacrifice day in and day out to bring us the best possible action they can deliver. And most important, we care about the promoters who sacrifice the most to give us and the participants the outlet we need for great MMA action.

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You get what you pay for

by Popham

February 5th, 2012

Its been a while since I have “blogged” on here (It’s hard to sit down and type when there is much to do!) but I wanted to get back to updating this site and “finish” what I set out to do. Anyways……..

One thing that has been ocurring lately, more than normal is the “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free” mentality. In the martial arts business, and especially the MMA business, are the people who come in and want to take classes, the people who learn the sport, the people who want a GREAT workout that MMA provides, and THEN OF COURSE the people who watch UFC from their couch with their beer in hand and say “YEAH, I can do that WHY ARE THOSE GUY JUST LAYING ON EACH OTHER, I COULD DO A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN BROCK”- anyway you get the picture. Now I want to concentrate on the last example.

WWE sounds better and better every day.

I have been around the Martial Arts business for over 20 years now, and the MMA for approaching 5 years, and Let me tell ya, More often than not, I get someone to walk in to the gym wanting to take MMA. I chat with them about their goals and what they want to accomplish and its usually the “I want to get into the cage and fight”. OOOOOOKKKAY!? From there I explain to them that it take time to learn “how to fight”. For example, it takes time just to get into “fight shape” to be able to last the three, 3 min rounds. Also, they have to learn a stand up style, usually Muay thai, which translates the best into MMA, in my opinion. Then there is the ground game, such as wrestling or Jujitsu, to know if the fight goes to the ground, which it does most of the time. Now, thats a lot to take in, especially for someone who had an impulse from watching Ultimate fighting and thought since they fought with their buddies in their backyard and beat all contenders. Still with me? Heck we haven’t even got to the cost of joining the gym yet! So, after my speech they ask “Well, when could I be ready to fight?” Well, my answer is “How ever long it takes.” of course this isn’t the right answer for an impatient backyard champion. How the heck can it take so long just to learn how to throw a few punches and knock someone out?? This gym owner just wants my money and won’t care if I ever fight.

Man, MMA is rough!

This person usually never comes back to my gym and instead goes elsewhere to someone who is using a room in the back of a workout gym. The person who is running this “class” usually welcomes them with open arms, bad mouths my gym saying Im too expensive or will get as much money as I can from you until you wise up and quit because you are a much better fighter than I ever give you credit for. Last they will tell you that they can get you a fight in two weeks cause you are beyond ready. All you need is heart, Right? Wow this sounds much better!!! Its Free (or very inexpensive), I have a coach, and I can fight in two weeks!!!! Im all set!

I don’t know about you but there seems to be something wrong with this picture??

Two weeks later……….

“Man, Im going to kill this harry potter look a like!!!! I went through 30 guys in my backyard and learned a arm bar from GSP watching him on PPV, not to mention all the knowledge that my trainer taught me the last couple of weeks! Wait what’s a guard? Must be guards outside the cage in case I get too rough with my opponent and they can calm me down.

Thirty minutes later……..at the hospital…………..coming out of the coma……

“Doctor, what happened??”
“Well you suffered severe head drama from being hit in the head too many times.”

“Daaaaang that sucks!”

“Yeah, you are lucky it wasn’t worse, didn’t your trainer have you ready for this fight??”
“………”

One month later……….at my gym…..

“Hey remember me?”

“Yeah I remember you, you were in a while back wanting to take MMA but you never came back.”

“Yeah, about that…………

The point of the story is if you are really wanting to learn MMA, make sure is for the right reasons, and be ready to commit A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY to achieve the desired goal. There is no “easy way” to get into MMA and actually be successful, you must learn the Basics, get into shape, and DEDICATE yourself to training five to six days a week for at least a year. OH did I mention that is does COST to have someone TEACH you, I don’t know of anybody worth a crap in MMA who would teach you for free!! YOU TRULY GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!! Get with a reputable gym or training facility that specializes in MMA and has trainers who will BE DEPENDABLE and teach you what needs to be taught so when you are ready to step into the cage, you will be able to step out of the cage the same.and won’t end up like this guy!

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My Warrior Dash Experience!

by Popham

August 30th, 2011

They say warrior dash is the “craziest frickin day of your life” but the question is, is it? Warrior dash is a 5k run with obstacles throughout the way to either hinder you from getting your best time or to make it really fun for the people who just don’t care when they finish(talking to you matt!). The biggest fun for me is getting to dress up in a costume of sorts, mine being the high school wrestler with joker hair. Lauren dressed up as an 80s chick and the rest of the crew dressed up as, well themselves.

As we began the race, it was a typical run through the pasture and woods. I was wondering to myself. ” Where are the obstacles” as they were none in the beginning. We finally came up on a few, one being a bunch of dumpsters to jump over. Toward the middle, we encountered a rope wall and cargo net climbs that made it more interesting.

It wasn’t til the end where it got really fun. In the home stretch, we got to navigate through a muddy swamp and climb over logs. Then on to a another cargo net climb and then to the fire jump(see pic above). The final spot was a mud pit that covered anyone who jumped in from head to toe with mud. Now covered completely with mud, I ran across the finish line, finishing around the 40 minute mark. Not the best time by far but I don’t think I will be starting my 5k carreer anytime soon.

Overall, warrior dash was a fun experience, but it would have been better with lots more obstacles. Maybe when they return to Georgia in May 2012, they will have added many more creative spots to make the day “the craziest frickin day of your life”.

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Zumba®!!!!! at Popham Athletics!

by Popham

August 30th, 2011

On Monday August 15th, The Dancing art of Zumba® Fitness invaded the Popham Athletics facility with great response from the northeast Georgia community. Zumba® is a Latin style dance program that mixes popular dance music with choreograph steps to create a highly addictive fitness class for anyone. Our instructor, Samantha Smith, is officially liscensed in Zumba® instruction, as well as many other fitness and cardio style programs. Popham Athletics will hold Zumba® on Mondays at 5:15pm. For more information, contact us on our contact page or leave a comment below.