The Savage Truth: Fractured Plans and Octagon Couture

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Now that we have conclusive evidence of Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight titleholder Jose Aldo’s busted rib, there really should be an about face from the many people who have questioned the sincerity of one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in our sport. With that said, I am doubtful we will see it.

Listening to Conor McGregor spin a yarn about a man who has defeated every notable 145-pounder being terrified to step in the cage with him will certainly help sell more pay-per-views should the fight eventually happen, but it is nevertheless disrespectful.

I get it that the UFC is frustrated; it is forgivable after all the promotion it put into this fight. I even get McGregor being aggravated after setting his sights on knocking off Aldo. What I can’t understand is the fact that the UFC seems to be upset that one of its champions is unwilling to potentially sully his legacy by entering the Octagon well below 100 percent. UFC President Dana White, perhaps unaware of the latest scans showing Aldo’s broken rib, was quick to note that other fighters have chosen to fight with similar injuries.

By questioning Aldo’s reluctance to contest his title while injured, the UFC and its president seem to be backing up the rhetoric of the challenger; and that obviously doesn’t sit well with the champion. He issued a blistering statement that vehemently disagreed with the decision to hang an interim title on the winner of the newly minted McGregor-Chad Mendes main event at UFC 189 on July 11. The champion explained his decision not to fight, despite the fact he would have made an enormous amount of cash:

“My decision was made in respect to the UFC and the fans that today see me as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. I couldn’t fight without being 100 percent physically and with a rib injury that could get worse if I got hit in the ribs. Many people told me to fight anyway because of the money I could make, but I wouldn’t sell myself for any money, no matter how much. I fight for love, and I do it for my country. Money comes in second place. It’s like a shadow: When you try catching it, you can’t, but when you move forward, it follows you. Money ends someday, but legacy and things you do becomes part of the history, and that’s what I value the most.”

His withdrawal despite the piles of greenbacks ticketed for his bank account speaks volumes about his decision. I thought it would be the determining factor last week when speculation was rampant that he had been injured and was prepared to pull out of the fight. Aldo has allegedly not reached the pay-per-view sales plateau that triggers additional compensation in any of his previous fights and was expected to be part of one of the highest-selling cards since UFC 100 set the high-water mark in 2009. He was set to earn a bonus well into the seven figures, and one insider told me he was offered even more money and an automatic rematch had he decided to remain in the fight; that was still not enough to entice him into the cage on July 11.

On the brighter side of things, despite Aldo having previously dropped out of four title defenses, as stated by White, he has always faced the man he was initially scheduled to fight. So, it seems, we should expect a showdown with McGregor to eventually happen.

In the meantime, McGregor is going to have his shot to quiet the detractors that claim he has not beaten a wrestler en route to his crack at UFC gold; and he won’t just be facing any wrestler. Mendes is one of the top wrestlers in the game and will provide the stiffest test of the Irishman’s career. Should McGregor ace this exam, the sky is the limit for him. Nothing would make the UFC happier, in my opinion.

McGregor has captivated fans and media alike throughout his meteoric rise in the promotion, and it is hard to see a better outcome for MMA and the UFC than him strapping up, even if it is only an interim belt. The confidence and swagger he has brought to the promotional side of things has been nothing short of amazing. This is his chance to have the fighting side catch up with the public relations side of his resume.

In other news, I can honestly say I never thought I would be writing about a UFC fashion show, but that went out the window when the company unveiled its new uniforms on Tuesday. If you weren’t lucky enough to catch the awkward launch, you really should take a gander to see exactly what you missed.

My main takeaway was that despite being told fighters would have the ability to customize their look to create individually tailored uniforms, there seemed to only be a couple options for the 600-plus fighters on the UFC roster. There were champion’s uniforms, which distinguish titleholders with their all-black clothing and golden Octagon emblem on the sleeve. Everyone else is left with black- and grey-hued apparel or country-specific color patterns. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for fighters to carve out an individual look.

The other thing that remains curious to me is the ginormous UFC logo across the front of the gear. I have heard time and again how this deal aligns the company with other leading leagues by bringing in a big-time clothing brand to do its uniforms. Maybe I’m forgetting something, but I can’t remember a football team sporting the NFL shield as the primary logo, and I don’t recall seeing an NBA team with Jerry West’s silhouette splattered across the front of its jersey.

The fighters are the teams when it comes to MMA, and there is nothing distinguishable about these uniforms in terms of a fighter’s personality. That is a shame. Save a generic nameplate descending down the left shoulder blade of every shirt, there really is nothing to set apart each individual.

In the end, the cleaner look of the product is a big plus for the promotion and its television partners, but has the cost of fighter branding and the extra sponsorship money that came along with it been worth it? Only time will tell.

Greg Savage is the executive editor of Sherdog.com and can be reached via email or on Twitter @TheSavageTruth.