Carano vs Young

kaitlinrose · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject:

I have generally been trying to avoid forums and message boards lately. Honestly, people are starting to piss me off and I don't want to have to deal with making a comment and having it end up as a f*cking article again. I have never been a huge fan of arm chair quarterbacks and am becoming even less of one now that I am competing on television. I understand that everyone is going to have their own opinion, but they are often uninformed and ignorant. I sometimes have the overwhelming desire to respond I think that may be unwise, so I try to avoid them all together now.

That being said, JBox I agree with you and my coaches and I have been going over areas where I can make improvements. Something I don't think you are considering, and that many people forget, is the HUGE sponsorship opportunity that a fight on CBS is. I am not going to talk specific numbers here, but I can tell you that I made 10 times in sponsorship what I made to fight. If I hadn't fought, I wouldn't have received any of that money. Did I know that she would likely come into that fight 15 lbs heavier than I was by fight time? Sure did. I'm a full time student and don't have a full time job. I would have fought Fedor for that kind of cash. (Okay, well I would have wanted more for Fedor but you get what I am trying to say, right? LOL)

It was a very bad position to be put in, and perhaps under different circumstances I would have walked. Does that make me a sell out? I don't think so but some of you may disagree. At this point I look back on it as a great opportunity to learn and advance my career as a fighter. I'm glad I went through with the fight and have really only had benefits come as a result of doing so.

GFC · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

it's not about the money issues, nor about being any kind of "sellout"...if $ was not even a factor the only valid reason for not fighting (personally) would be the other fighter not having ample or as much training time, and it would be a buzz kill not to fight Carano (or anyone else) at or near their optimum regardless if they still won or not...

whether it was 3 lbs, 5, or 15 i'd want them at their best condition (lean and fighter ripped not ravioli overweight) and training full time to 'fight specifically' prepare, if i had 9/10 weeks i'd want them to have 9/10 weeks, not 2/3...to me it's about competitiveness, honor and pride, not $ which fortunately is becoming less and less issue for me...but, as i mentioned before the fight, tuition and gas aren't cheap these days so in this particularly case it's totally understandable and certainly not a "sell out" issue...

and as grueling as other projects like giant Q-tip jousting or "dancin with the stars" might be Rolling Eyes

still are not anywhere near the same as pure fight focus training, particularly compared to 10 week "Caveman Training" level...and so, contractually forcing any fighter to squeeze in fight training time on short couple weeks notice because they are needed as a draw doesn't cut it, even tho yes, i think we all needed Carano for the CBS debut still wasn't fair to her either...

so in this case i think it's clear *both* were put in difficult positions in different ways, even tho kinda balanced out which created a good fight for the CBS card...although, by the same token still sucked in certain ways for both Kaitlin and Gina...but hey, sh*t happens and both made good $, both came away with a better experience overall, and think most people still feel both represented well which was the most important aspect in terms of breaking new ground for female fighting in general...

when/if i do fight Carano personally couldn't care less if she comes in over .1 or 3+ as long as it's "quality" weight (not cutting 15+ last minute semi-comatose on pedialyte) and would want to know she is finally at least near or at her conditioning and fighting potential, which she's not been even close thus far imo, and is one of the main reasons i have been so critical about that part...

~L

koolpaw · Joined: 10 Aug 2007 Posts: 304 Location: Japan

So, Kaitlin and Roxy are telling the reality of current (female) MMA businese scene / situation.

JBox was telling the shape what it will be or what it should be in the future or near future quoting established sports bisiness like boxing.

At least we all know as he wrote

defshepard · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:55 pm Post subject:

JDF · Joined: 10 Dec 2007 Posts: 196

Im definately a Young fan after seeing the fight...well actually was 1st impressed by seeing Young on HooknShoot on Youtube...its easy for fans to talk about shoulda...coulda...woulda's.. cause alot of us dont have to make the decisions professional fighters are faced with...we can only 'fantasize' about them..lol. Anyway...I'm glad I got to see Kaitlyn out there...Im a fan of both fighters so i wasnt really routing for just 1...but I do know these are 2 fighters i will always call-off work or whatever need be to tune in to one of their fights. So Kaitlyn I wanna thank you for the weeks of anticipation and 2-hard pounding rounds of solid MMA action. And thanks to all MMA fighters who put in the hours of hitting the gyms and the mats so we at home can see highly-skilled atheletes bearing their heart and skill. And just remember...when fans try and tell you what ya shoulda done on a forum...half of them would have been exhausted from the walk from the locker-room to the cage.