Talent being equal, which fighter's personalities are best for getting people to watch the sport and to start training?
GSP. He is a professional athlete, not a fighter. He's articulate and respectful and he's clearly a nice guy. He isn't someone who enjoys beating people up, he doesn't have a whiff of thug/bully about him. :hat
x2 My interest in MMA was a bit down the last 12 months, but Chael has picked me up again, oh and my mate scurla's input on these boards as well :thumbsup
I love Sonnen, I couldn't believe the trash talking he was doing with his fight with Anderson, I couldn't become interested because if a guy talked that much **** he must know what he was doing, and sure enough he walked the walk but came up short. But GSP would be the best guy even though his english isn't perfect he is a gentlemen and respects all of his opponents and the sport in general. Anderson and Fedor as good as they are/were they really arn't outspoken and do most of their talking in the ring. Brock still has that wrestling aura about him and alot of fans dislike him although he has created alot interest and is a big ppv draw. Chuck was a big reason why the UFC grew the way it did and another guy who did his talking in the ring. Jones- a guy who is young says all the right things so far and has the potential to be the best fighter ever. Aoki taleneted fighter but for the most part is an unknown to the north american audience to this point.
:huh Not at all. It's got nothing to do with identifying with GSP. I just think that he's more palatable to the mainstream consumer than any of the other fighters that were listed. He's always well dressed at press conferences and he doesn't appear intimidating like the others. Even when he trash talks, he's still mostly polite. For someone who participates in a very violent sport, he comes across as someone who really abhors violence. What else can be asked for an ambassador of the sport!
anderson silva. the majority of people who know of MMA but are not necessarily "fans" all love anderson.
anyone who isnt a boring midwest wrestler white guy or a guy who looks like a skin head also pretty much 99% of wrestlers are terrible for the sport
Outside the ring i would go with GSP but then the new fans can feel a bit robbed when they watch his fight. Fedor and Andy not so much talking outside the ring but they always deliver
Abilities being equal as per the original post I think GSP is an excellent choice and that's who I voted. If we take into account abilities and reputations though, it's Spider by a long way.
Watch and start training are two different markets imo. Brock for people to start watching, he's an entertainer and knows how to create excitement.
The reason I picked Chael is simple. He knows how to sell a fight and IMO is the best trash talker since Ali. He can make you look absolutely stupid in and out of the octagon and generate enough hate for you to tune in to see him smashed, only for him to batter the guy you hoped to smash him.