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[Pasha K]

Move this to Noobjack if neccesary.

Everytime it is more frequent to hear things like "He is a big friend, I would never fight him" coming from a fighter.

What is your opinion on that matter? Some people say "It is understandable. They are on the same team, they are friends. It is OK that they do not want to fight". Other people say "They should be professionals and fight eachother".

IMO it is OK to not wanting fight someone but only if indeed that person is a very very close friend. For example Wandy/Shogun, Big Nog/JDS etc.
And still if there is a title match, I think they should fight. And the end they still can be friends.

It looks that some fighters are now using that as an excuse to not fight somebody. Jon Jones said that he would not fight Anderson or JDS because they are friends. WTF?? Maybe they have talked to eachother a couple of times, that suddenly make them big friends that would not fight eachother???

What do you think?

[Bearded Big Country]

Shake hands, smile, hug, put on an amazing fight and get paid.

[Pasha K]

Originally Posted by Bearded Big Country

Shake hands, smile, hug, put on an amazing fight and get paid.

Crocop vs Barry comes to mind.

[The Sword]

Originally Posted by Rocky>Fedor

Move this to Noobjack if neccesary.

Everytime it is more frequent to hear things like "He is a big friend, I would never fight him" coming from a fighter.

What is your opinion on that matter? Some people say "It is understandable. They are on the same team, they are friends. It is OK that they do not want to fight". Other people say "They should be professionals and fight eachother".

IMO it is OK to not wanting fight someone but only if indeed that person is a very very close friend. For example Wandy/Shogun, Big Nog/JDS etc.
And still if there is a title match, I think they should fight. And the end they still can be friends.

It looks that some fighters are now using that as an excuse to not fight somebody. Jon Jones said that he would not fight Anderson or JDS because they are friends. WTF?? Maybe they have talked to eachother a couple of times, that suddenly make them big friends that would not fight eachother???

What do you think?

I think it should only happen if something is on the line. Meaning #1 conteder spot of a title. The guys on your team become like your brother. you know everthing about each other, you help each other( in and out of the gym), you help coner each other. You seen each other at there strongest and weakest times. No matter what people say or think fighting is a team sport. If you did not have your team fighters would not be as good as they are today,

[GangGreenWarrior]

At the lower rankings, it's ok to dodge a friend if it's avoidable. Once you crack the top 10, friendship goes out the door. Especially when you factor in that your refusing to fight a friend could potentially cost you over six figures a year that your family could be getting. If you really don't want to fight your friend, don't be in the same division as him or change careers. Boxers have fought friends, MMA is no different.

All other athletes play against their friends. Hockey players go from teammates to rivals with one trade and will be expected to play their fullest against them. Same with any other contact sport. Imagine a linebacker not wanting to hit an RB at full speed cause they are friends. Or a baseball player not running full speed to the plate cause his friend is the back-catcher. If you want to be an athlete as a career, you have to live with certain realities, such as fighting a guy you're friends with.

[Cat--Smasher]

Originally Posted by GangGreenWarrior

At the lower rankings, it's ok to dodge a friend if it's avoidable. Once you crack the top 10, friendship goes out the door. Especially when you factor in that your refusing to fight a friend could potentially cost you over six figures a year that your family could be getting. If you really don't want to fight your friend, don't be in the same division as him or change careers. Boxers have fought friends, MMA is no different.

All other athletes play against their friends. Hockey players go from teammates to rivals with one trade and will be expected to play their fullest against them. Same with any other contact sport. Imagine a linebacker not wanting to hit an RB at full speed cause they are friends. Or a baseball player not running full speed to the plate cause his friend is the back-catcher. If you want to be an athlete as a career, you have to live with certain realities, such as fighting a guy you're friends with.

Boom. Bang on.

[Rise]

Originally Posted by Rocky>Fedor

Crocop vs Barry comes to mind.

This fight comes to mind why some people shouldn't fight. Barry idolized Mirko at the time and was hesitant to pull the trigger when he did have a chance to finish him.

[The Sword]

you can compare fighting sports to other sports. ball players arent trying to KO each other.

[MIZjitsZOU]

Originally Posted by The Sword

you can compare fighting sports to other sports. ball players arent trying to KO each other.

This and your other post is spot the f### on IMO.

Some people are fine fighting friends and some aren't. I have no problem fighting my Jits or Judo friends in competition, but it would be a different story if we were trying to ko each other. MMA is brutal. It is a competition, but your goal could be to take someone from their consciousness. Exhibit A) would be Hendo and Bisbing. In no other sport can you legally follow a guy to the ground and crush his head like a coconut. Boxing you sure the heck can't do that. I know they weren't friends, but if they were that would sure damage a friendship.

I am ok with fighters that won't fight close friends or training partners.

[Sniggles]

I honestly don't care.

I do care though when a fighter refuses to fight in another weight class because his teammate fights there, as it is an excuse rather than a reason.

If you are scared you will overshadow your ~-`-`-~ BFF `~-`-`-- then perhaps you should be the one holding the title instead.... especially when Machida has lost 3 out of his last 4. Did you finally just now get I was talking about Anderson Silva?