Triple H Offers Advice the UFC Should Take

In an interview with AOL Moviefone to promote his new film Paul Michael Levesque shared his thoughts on what the UFC could do bolster the entertainment value of their events:

"Give more of an entertainment standpoint. Give more form; they just have fighters who walk in in T-shirts and shorts and just stand there and then they fight and then they win and then they go “thanks, I’d like to thank my sponsors” and then they leave.

The whole world was up in arms when Brock was flipping people off and was cussing at the beer company because they didn’t give him any money and everyone thought, “oh my god, he’s disrespectful,” — the whole world was talking about it. They couldn’t wait to see him get beat up. And then he did well, and he beat some guys and then people jump on his bandwagon going “Brock’s the greatest.”

I’m good friends with Floyd Mayweather and Floyd would be the first to tell ya, “I make the most money in boxing and I have the biggest buyers because I have the biggest mouth.” He’d be the first guy to tell you that. That’s what it’s about. Sports is entertainment."

While I don’t want all kinds of worked shoots in the cage after guys win, I do think that letting the fighters who have a flare for those kinds of theatrics indulge is a good idea.



Look how much attention Chael Sonnen brought to what everyone thought was a nothing title fight with Anderson Silva by repeatedly running his mouth? If more people liked Josh Barnett, his pro wrestling-style monologues at the end of his wins would be quoted routinely. Matt Mitrione made Malki Kawa famous by firing him on live television.

People are clearly paying attention to what these guys say in the cage post-fight, and when one out of five or ten wants to say something more than “I want to thank MusclePharm, Lexani, my coaches, etc.” we should really embrace that.

He’s bang on about Brock Lesnar’s post-UFC 100 remarks. They drew so much attention, not just to that fight, but his next fight, the organization as a whole, and the sport in general. I’m not advocating flipping off the crowd all the time, but adding a little seasoning here and there has to be okay too.

While I don’t think the UFC (or MMA in general) is the place for grandiose post-fight celebrations a la the WWE, I do agree that the UFC is missing a tremendous opportunity to showcase the personalities of these fighters when it comes to entrances.

Guys like “King Mo” Lawal and “Mayhem” Miller are showmen on the way to the cage, with elaborate entrances and choreographed dance routines. Why the UFC put an end to that is beyond me. People remember those kinds of things, which in turn makes them want to see that fighter again to see what they’ll do the next time.

I’m not saying go all crazy pyrotechnics like back in the day or force everyone to have some elaborate production as they come to the cage, but just like the you give the guys with microphone skills a chance to entertain with their words, allow the guys who want to have more than a simple walkout to do just that.

I get that the UFC—and MMA as a whole—does not want to be confused with professional wrestling, but I don’t think this would blur the lines all that much. The true difference between the two is in the actual product; one is real, one is fake, and just about everyone knows that of both by now.

Here’s the rub: while the UFC wants to deliver the most entertaining product possible, but their hands are tied once the cage door closes; sometimes you get Edgar-Maynard 2, other times it’s Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites.

What you can control, however, is the amount of entertainment you deliver before and after the main attraction.

If “Mayhem” wants to breakdance to the cage with a team of ninjas, let him do it.

“King Mo” wants to have one of his salute-to-Stone-Cold, twin Rockstar Energy drink post-fight celebrations, fire away.

I would also suggesting allowing some guys to develop their own signature walk-out songs. Bill Simmons explained why they’re awesome (and important) in regards to wrestling at Grantland a couple months back; give it a read and tell me that it wouldn’t work for the UFC.

The MMA purists are going to hate me for saying this, but there really is a lot the UFC (and MMA as a whole) could learn from the WWE.

source: theprovince.com