A host of Irish MMA fighters have fired back at Sunday Independent columnist Joe Brolly for his criticism of mixed martial arts following UFC 229 earlier this month.
The popular GAA pundit claimed in a piece titled ‘Joe Brolly: The time has come to call a halt to the UFC’s bloody freak show’ that the UFC has ‘placed a respectable veil over savagery’ and asked why not ‘legitimise dog fighting’ if the UFC are trying to normalise MMA through punditry and promotion.
Joe Brolly: The time has come to call a halt to the UFC's bloody freak show@JoeBrolly1993 https://t.co/GRYPxcJKSN pic.twitter.com/yFj2tUjd5Q
— Irish Independent Sport (@IndoSport) October 14, 2018
A number of Irish MMA fighters responded to Brolly with former UFC Featherweight Paul Redmond branding Brolly as an ‘uneducated emptyhead’.
Look at this uneducated empty head 🙄 the "Ufc" he talks about is a private company with its own ethos, rather than mma sport as a whole. Has probably never attented a local or amateur show to see the values and sportsmanship.
Another "lets ban mma" clickbait bullshit 🖕🏼 https://t.co/l2Sc7TXsdw
— Paul Redmond (@RedserMma) October 14, 2018
Callining the sport of mma as a whole "Ufc" is completely uneducated, i wonder does he know the discipline it takes in order to make it to the highest level of the sport. Prob thinks its still free for all rules, and were scumbags that do it. https://t.co/SfMbfNw2VE
— Paul Redmond (@RedserMma) October 14, 2018
Never read comments so stupid in all my life as on this🤣🤣🤣 some ppl need to realise how skilled mma fighters are, love a helmet like him to come down the gym for a day and try and do 1/10th of a morning session…. he wud soon be telling ya how skilled we are soft cunt 🙄 https://t.co/ojceIaC5Wn
— Paddy Pimblett (@PaddyTheBaddy) October 15, 2018
An unqualified outrage merchant attempting to remain relevant. Unfortunately many will buy into this misinformed rhetoric and will remain unaware of the beauty and character building aspects of the sport https://t.co/6evJ6VUeTU
— Will Fleury (@WillFckinFleury) October 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/PeterJLavery/status/1052127640029749254
Brolly makes his coin by being controversial in his sport here. It's such that it's hard to tell if he genuinely thinks what he wrote. he may love MMA.
Either way, you're right. He got what he wanted.— Barry Oglesby (@barryoglesby) October 16, 2018
MMA referees Marc Goddard and John McCarthy also responded to the article with Goddard claiming that his piece was ‘utterly negative’ while McCarthy labeled the ‘veteran’ barrister as ‘close minded’.
For a second I thought the reference of Joe Brolly “1993” was when the article was written! C’mon we’ve moved on (significantly) passed the whole “no rule” ignorance. You can find misdemeanour & misconduct in many sports, ban them? Factually incorrect and utterly negative. https://t.co/ZvYqFCNYHJ
— Marc Goddard (@marcgoddard_uk) October 14, 2018
1/2 I have spent many years speaking with people similar to @JoeBrolly1993 about MMA. I honestly feel every person has the right to enjoy whatever it is they like as long as it doesn’t interfere of negatively effect people not associated with that particular activity. I am sure https://t.co/ErHP54UgA6
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) October 15, 2018
Beautiful response John, but people that wish to take away something from MILLIONS of people usually will never listen to a reasonable response because they are close minded to anything they don’t understand or is outside of their very small world https://t.co/SWyIUmQhDY
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) October 15, 2018
you're of course entitled to your opinion, however if you're interested in learning more about the sport please drop into @SBG_Ireland some time for a coffee and a chat. (PS there's quite a few rules, here's a link https://t.co/0iItkF4lhz)
— Coach JK (@John_Kavanagh) October 14, 2018
absolutely not acceptable but dont let the actions of the few form your opinion on a sport that millions enjoy watching or training in. i dont 'enjoy violence' but i do enjoy the competitiveness of MMA. someone might enjoy boxing but abhor street fighting https://t.co/tg98d00H9V
— Coach JK (@John_Kavanagh) October 14, 2018
Brolly also fired a jab at Conor McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh for what he perceived as a lecture on the culture of respect.
Does the culture of respect @John_Kavanagh wants to lecture me on include mocking another fighter’s religion? “Mohammed wasn’t a fan of summertime fights. Choose your religion wisely young fighters.” he tweeted when Khabib wouldn’t fight during Ramadan. Classy sport pic.twitter.com/ocJbf1yLfG
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) October 16, 2018
