Grandstand Smack

In recent weeks some notable names in the MMA community have issued challenges to fighters that have gotten the media talking.

Kurt Angle and Daniel Puder have been playing the verbal chess match back and forth to possibly foreshadow an eventual battle between the two. Angle is accusing Puder of trying to make a name for himself off of Angle’s celebrity. The truth is, Kurt was the one trying to broker a deal for a fight in the UFC.

Wanderlai Silva at Pride’s Real Deal pay per view challenged UFC Light-Heavyweight champ Chuck Liddel to no doubt start rumors of a potential match between the MMA stars. But, you gotta ask. Who stands to benefit the most from that match should it happen?

Talking trash and issuing challenges to big name stars is nothing new. Fighters, wrestlers, and even promoters have tried to raise their celebrity profile by calling out the biggest name on the block. In most cases the fight never materializes and the story dies a quick death. The art of grandstanding will not go away and when done well is a powerful tool for self-promotion.

However, the man who usually makes the challenges is the mediocre guy languishing somewhere between last place and stardom. In wrestling vernacular, he is the midcarder who is trying to find a way to break through and become a main event star. Sometimes the grandstander gets his wish and ends up being programmed with the big star. However most of the time, it doesn’t work. It leaves the man making the challenge look weak and pathetic.

This was the case when Eric Bischoff challenged Vince McMahon to a match at a WCW pay per view. Bischoff went as far as to waste a segment of WCW Thunder to show himself sparring at a gym trying to get over how much of a tough shooter he was. Vince obviously declined the offer and Eric came off looking low rent.

I’m not sure where I stand regarding a lot guys who make these ridiculous challenges. In a way I respect the fact that part of this business is being a good self-promoter and challenging the biggest dog in the yard will get you noticed. One the other hand, I don’t want to see a bunch of Ontario indy wrestlers challenge John Cena to a shoot fight in hopes that he’ll respond.

With regards to Wanderlai Silva it’s funny. A lot of people think Silva would beat Liddel whether it is in UFC or Pride. But, for Silva, just getting mentioned in the same sentence as Liddel is a big deal right now. Silva and Pride are trying to make headway in the overcrowded MMA market in North America. Being a better fighter than Liddel doesn’t mean anything when The Iceman is perceived by the general public to be the bigger star and the better fighter.

If grandstanding is the way to get noticed than let me be the one to challenge Dave Meltzer and Big Daddy to a Triple Threat match. My guess is even if they answered my challenge I would lose quickly and be left in the same position as I am now.

So what do my fellow O-sters think? Is grandstanding a great way to get noticed or does it come off as cheap?

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