There's quite a lot of friction between the old school UFC heads and the Johnny-come-latelys that rocked up on the back of the Conor McGregor hype train and disrespected everything that has come before. From essentially destroying the legacy of Jose Aldo to riding roughshod over Frankie Edgar's title hopes, McGregor has come in and changed the established order and what's worse, he's brought a load of newbies with him.
The UFC media machine has changed mixed martial arts remarkably from the 'no holds barred' arena of the 1990s. The promotion initially revelled in the lack of rules and brutality was what set it apart from the mainstream. However, slowly but surely the money came in an increasing mainstream appeal was the goal. Fans, fighters and administrators alike wanted MMA to be recognised as a legitimate (i.e. marketable) sport. That goal has been achieved but, now that the mountain top has been scaled you can't help but wonder if some of the fans in particular are longing for the days of Ken Shamrock, Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture.
Actually, judging by this, it might be best to scratch Chuck Liddell from that conversation.
We are getting into the Octagon with the @ufc this morning for #UFConGMA! pic.twitter.com/R90G5swYoU
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 27, 2016
Even if you don't fully buy that it's all about the excess promotion, which it's not, Conor McGregor's decision to bite the hand that feeds him has to be lauded judging by what went on on the set of Good Morning America yesterday. The UFC 'took over' the pinnacle of family friendly programming and they set about turning MMA into some good old fashioned wholesome entertainment for the masses.
The masses may have ate it up but MMA fans were having none of it and, Conor McGregor's decision to throw in the towel on the promotional end of things was looking like a masterstroke.
@GMA @ufc conor didn't die for this
— Finnian Rogers (@finnianrogers) April 27, 2016
@GMA @MMASupremacy @ufc Why would the UFC want to sanitize McGregor & Diaz with that crap?Find it hard to see them takin part in that anyway
— Philip Hughes (@philiph80) April 27, 2016
@GMA @ufc Oh man. What is that.... All the company peeps. @ChuckLiddell not you too. How mainstream...
— Sean Shanahan (@thedudeinc) April 27, 2016
@GMA @ufc Hahahahaa all of them look like they are on yokes at a rave! @TheNotoriousMMA you need to sort em out!
— gerard walsh (@GerTGWTC) April 27, 2016
@ClarityDelivery @GMA @ufc @TheNotoriousMMA yeah but he's not entertaining to watch, that gma stuff is cringeworthy as fuck!!
— gerard walsh (@GerTGWTC) April 27, 2016
If some of the worst shadowboxing you've ever seen wasn't enough to make McGregor look like a PR clairvoyant then how about Paige VanZant, Miesha Tate and Bruce Buffer partaking in the the latest dance craze to sweep the nation, the running man.
Okay, we won't lie, Bruce Buffer is absolutely hilarious there but the point remains, if Dana White and co. keep up with these shenanigans, McGregor is looking more and more justified in his criticism of the media engagements that really are wildly removed from what is still a fairly brutal sport.
Who knows, perhaps if they were paying him enough, he might happily go up there and do the running man on Good Morning America, but judging by the fan response to those couple of clips, he might be best served by steering clear altogether.
