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[Dr. MMA]

I always felt that it was important for MMA athletes to dress more professionally as they gain additional mainstream exposure. You see this in many professional sports including NBA, NHL, NFL etc. I believe GSP was one of the first few to do this on a consistent basis by wearing full suits and he really thrives on the role of being a professional ambassador of the sport. Since then, we have seen a few fighters following this trend: Rashad, Machida and Cote come to mind.

I'm glad to see both Edgar and Maynard do this as well considering they're the featured fighters on the next UFC card.

[Masscore]

I think for press conferences fighters should have to dress in professional attire. You are professional fighter and when you infront of the press who should have to dress and act like a professional. Hell, most of us with regular jobs have to dress in this attire every day so its not a big deal for fighters to do it maybe 6 times a year.

[Pasha K]

Yep I agree.
Actually I dont know if in Japan that is a rule or not but most of the fighters there wear suits in the press conference.

IMO the first one who should always wear suits in a press connference is Dana White, he is the fucking president, sometimes he uses suits but sometimes he uses some t-shirt and jeans.
Joe Rogan is another one who should dress more professionally, he often looks like a bum.

However I remember that some months ago I talked about this and many people said stuff like "They are not models, they can dress how they want" etc.

[HillbillyDeluxe]

I agree with this except for weigh-ins. Press Conferences should be mandatory business casual or suit and tie. Weigh-In's let them wear whatever because they have to take it off anyways so why not let them be comfortable? Koscheck I think was the one that pissed me off in an interview that looked like he just crawled out of bed and showed up after a long night of drinking.

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by Masscore

I think for press conferences fighters should have to dress in professional attire. You are professional fighter and when you infront of the press who should have to dress and act like a professional. Hell, most of us with regular jobs have to dress in this attire every day so its not a big deal for fighters to do it maybe 6 times a year.

That would be hard to enforce when you've got dana desperate for street credibility and fetishing over Skin tee-shirts.

rh

[Xanatos]

Whatever, if Dana White doesn't wear a suit, then who cares. I wouldn't either if I was him, I hate dressing up, I feel uncomfortable.

[Dr. MMA]

Originally Posted by HillbillyDeluxe

I agree with this except for weigh-ins. Press Conferences should be mandatory business casual or suit and tie. Weigh-In's let them wear whatever because they have to take it off anyways so why not let them be comfortable? Koscheck I think was the one that pissed me off in an interview that looked like he just crawled out of bed and showed up after a long night of drinking.

Definitely not for the weigh ins but other times, definitely. It's a part of the job to be professional even if they get beat up afterwards and have to show up in the post-fight press conference.

Originally Posted by Pashak

IMO the first one who should always wear suits in a press connference is Dana White, he is the fucking president, sometimes he uses suits but sometimes he uses some t-shirt and jeans.
Joe Rogan is another one who should dress more professionally, he often looks like a bum.

However I remember that some months ago I talked about this and many people said stuff like "They are not models, they can dress how they want" etc.

Dana White seems like he has a consistent pattern of when he wears t-shirts/jeans and a suit. In the pre-fight press conference, he wears t-shirt/jeans and post-fight, he wears a suit. I have no clue why it's always like that though. I agree that he should be the first person who should wear a suit in all conferences; he is the face of the company.

Rogan definitely should do it it too. He is the one who interviews these guys after the fights and is shown on camera. He should take some lesson from Kenny Florian for that part.

That argument of only models should wear formal attire and not fighters is idiotic. This is a professional sport. I'm no model and I take pride in dressing professionally everyday as I feel I represent my organization. Professional image is part of being a professional.

Originally Posted by Pashak

Actually I dont know if in Japan that is a rule or not but most of the fighters there wear suits in the press conference.

That brings me to this classic pic

[born2kill]

I wouldnt say they need suits. I'm cool with a polo shirt and khakis. Or even a t-shirt if its toned down. But the skin tight shirts with "manly" graphics need to go. They look so unprofessional, flamboyant and not to mention really ugly. Also pants that dont have bellbottoms and look like a 15 year old girl picked them out should be a requirement. Theyre at work, not a club.

[IceCold48]

Originally Posted by rivethead

That would be hard to enforce when you've got dana desperate for street credibility and fetishing over Skin tee-shirts.

rh

actually dana usually wears t-shirts related to mma i think for people to see and want to buy them.

[HillbillyDeluxe]

Originally Posted by IceCold48

actually dana usually wears t-shirts related to mma i think for people to see and want to buy them.

Actually I think that's a damn good assumption. MMA has some of the coolest clothing designs and graphics hands down, so I think its safe to say alot of the time they wear the flashy muscle shirts just for marketing so fans go buy them. I hate the high school kids I see running around town nowadays in the TapouT gear that have no idea what it represents and means. I still have Diego's "Nightmare badboy walkout" tee that I actually wore when I walked out at 8 Second Saloons amatuer fight night they co-promoted with Elite Cage(small promotion in Indianapolis youtube it)