Nunes claims UFC only promotes ‘cute little blondes,’ doesn't believe she fits championship mold

[La Paix]

Reigning UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes is never going to be as popular as Ronda Rousey and that’s okay. But considering the 135-pound queen is dismantling each and every title challenger thrown her way, maybe it’s time for UFC to promote her like she could be “Rowdy.”

Unfortunately, UFC has not done its best to boost Nunes’ notoriety and push her like they would other fighters. That’s not a knock on her fighting ability, especially after seeing her finish Rousey in 48 seconds back at UFC 207, but more so the image “Lioness” believes the promotion is looking for.

"There's a point where, sometimes, I'd rather wait a bit and get a fight that sells," Nunes told FloCombat. "It's all about pay-per-view, everything revolves around that and I don’t really get a part of that. I don’t really fit the profile of a UFC champion, but they have to do [business] with me, even though they're never going to promote me to a level like they did Ronda Rousey or Holly Holm. They want blondies, cute little girls who fight and take pictures. Let's face it, I have to face the girls who sell best."

Nunes Claims UFC Only Promotes ‘Cute Little Blondes’

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

They kind of pushed JJ. Of course she was a talented fighter that had a fun personality and didn't pull out of fights or have a ridiculous mullet.

Obviously they're going to push what's easy to push but when you're not very endearing to the fans they're not going to work very hard to push you.

When Anderson stopped murdering people they stopped promoting him until he went nuclear on Forrest.


It's not their job to make you marketable, it's their job to give you a platform to be bigger than you would otherwise be.

 

[1031]

She blatantly and repeatedly fouled her last opponent and put on a lacklustre performance in doing so. Prior to that she was marketed as much as they could given the interest level in non-Rousey women's mma.
If she got that figured out then perhaps she could see the forest for the trees.

 

[Papi Chingon]

She blatantly and repeatedly fouled her last opponent and put on a lacklustre performance in doing so. Prior to that she was marketed as much as they could given the interest level in non-Rousey women's mma.
If she got that figured out then perhaps she could see the forest for the trees.

In fairness, do you recall the marketing for her fight with the undefeated champion ronda rousey? Amanda was the challenger and had not accomplished anything in her career, so the marketing and buildup was all about ronda, her immaculate record, and her shiny belt. My facts might be slightly off.

 

[SickEye]

Go up and fight Cyborg if she gets past Holm. I'd pay to see that.

Other than that, what competition does she have these days? I've admittedly lost track of what's going on in the division.

 

[member 3289]

In fairness, do you recall the marketing for her fight with the undefeated champion ronda rousey? Amanda was the challenger and had not accomplished anything in her career, so the marketing and buildup was all about ronda, her immaculate record, and her shiny belt. My facts might be slightly off.

They're gonna market what sells the best, which they know is Rhonda. They would have done the same thing if the champion had been Holly Holmes or anyone else.

 

[Papi Chingon]

They're gonna market what sells the best, which they know is Rhonda. They would have done the same thing if the champion had been Holly Holmes or anyone else.

The issue wasn't over the champion receiving 40% promotion, it was over just about none. The ufc picks and chooses who to promote, I get it, but don't be surprised when champions are disgruntled. The ufc is digging the hole they are sitting in, not the fighters. Their marketing has little to do with skill, and more about looks and short time gain. This is what sponsors do, not the league.

 

[1031]

In fairness, do you recall the marketing for her fight with the undefeated champion ronda rousey? Amanda was the challenger and had not accomplished anything in her career, so the marketing and buildup was all about ronda, her immaculate record, and her shiny belt. My facts might be slightly off.

and so what? Was Ronda a pretty blonde face? No. Ronda was the face of women's mma to the majority of the general public at that time (still) your facts are on the money and I hope your perspective is as well.

 

[Papi Chingon]

and so what? Was Ronda a pretty blonde face? No. Ronda was the face of women's mma to the majority of the general public at that time (still) your facts are on the money and I hope your perspective is as well.

She was sold as pretty, @Atto thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, the media ate it up, ronda ate it up, and so did patent shampoo. Some disgusting perverts even paid her to pose nude. Though I would not rate her as a blip on the radar on a hotness scale, people like Joe rogan wouldn't shut up about how pretty she was. If amanda wants to lump her into that group, the ufc certainly cannot disagree.

 

[jason73]

Cyborg could beat the fuck out of every single female fighter on the ufc roster but pvz gets the promotional push.cyborg could probably beat the fuck out of all of them in one weekend.she looks like wandy so she will never get the attention.if the ufc was about fighting cyborg would be a star but the ufc is really about selling ppvs instead

 

[crowbar]

Maybe she needs more see through dresses like Ronda.

 

[BJTT_Pella]

Well she does kinda look like Miguel Torres in the top pic.

 

[1031]

She was sold as pretty, @Atto thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, the media ate it up, ronda ate it up, and so did patent shampoo. Some disgusting perverts even paid her to pose nude. Though I would not rate her as a blip on the radar on a hotness scale, people like Joe rogan wouldn't shut up about how pretty she was. If amanda wants to lump her into that group, the ufc certainly cannot disagree.

What point are you trying to press here?
I'm saying Ronda was sold as the face of mma and that kind of (by "kind of" I mean "totally") explains why the UFC pushed Ronda in the buildup to the Nunes fight.
Are you saying that was because of Ronda's looks?

 

[Papi Chingon]

What point are you trying to press here?
I'm saying Ronda was sold as the face of mma and that kind of (by "kind of" I mean "totally") explains why the UFC pushed Ronda in the buildup to the Nunes fight.
Are you saying that was because of Ronda's looks?

I'm saying that the mullet has a point, if you base that on the goods that were being pushed. If aldo during his reign happened to be a blonde honky, something tells me how the ufc handled him would have been different.

 

[SickEye]

There’s a vid floating around from when Jake Shields was gonna defend his Strikeforce belt against Dan Henderson of Dana White talking shit because they didn’t even mention Jake Shields in the promos. Then the UFC turns around and does literally the same thing in the Ronda/Nunes fight.

Oh the hypocrisy!

 

[Papi Chingon]

Maybe she needs more see through dresses like Ronda.

That picture was unnecessary. None of us needed to see that. Dear lord.

 

[SickEye]

Here it is:

 

[1031]

I'm saying that the mullet has a point, if you base that on the goods that were being pushed. If aldo during his reign happened to be a blonde honky, something tells me how the ufc handled him would have been different.

Like how Anderson was under-marketed during his reign? Or Jones? Or Cain?

I'm not saying I don't see your point of view but Nunes is not looking at this objectively. She's atop a stale division. She put on a poor performance in her last fight. It's true, she's physically not very "feminine" and doesn't have any charisma but how is that anyone's fault?
She has a lot of things going for her, maybe she'd do better to focus on those than cry out loud about what she isn't?

 

[Papi Chingon]

Like how Anderson was under-marketed during his reign? Or Jones? Or Cain?

I'm not saying I don't see your point of view but Nunes is not looking at this objectively. She's atop a stale division. She put on a poor performance in her last fight. It's true, she's physically not very "feminine" and doesn't have any charisma but how is that anyone's fault?
She has a lot of things going for her, maybe she'd do better to focus on those than cry out loud about what she isn't?

We can get into plenty that weren't marketed despite being killers. We can also get into those that deserve no marketing, yet got great contracts and the push.

In reference to it being a stale division, I don't see the logic. It appeared stale when ronda cleaned it out. Now that it is competitive it's stale? I disagree.

Though I would agree she is not very feminine, especially with the mullet, I disagree that she doesn't have charisma. Perhaps not what you're looking for, but it's hard not to like her personality, at least from what I have seen.

As far as focusing on the things going for her, I don't see how this interview takes away from her training or skillset. People have a point of view, and often times express them.

 

[1031]

We can get into plenty that weren't marketed despite being killers. We can also get into those that deserve no marketing, yet got great contracts and the push.

In reference to it being a stale division, I don't see the logic. It appeared stale when ronda cleaned it out. Now that it is competitive it's stale? I disagree.

Though I would agree she is not very feminine, especially with the mullet, I disagree that she doesn't have charisma. Perhaps not what you're looking for, but it's hard not to like her personality, at least from what I have seen.

As far as focusing on the things going for her, I don't see how this interview takes away from her training or skillset. People have a point of view, and often times express them.

Well Ronda didn't clean out the division, she got knocked unconscious in an attempt to defend the title....but I guess we'll continue to agree to disagree on just about everything here so I'll leave you to yours and wish you a pleasant day.

 

[Papi Chingon]

Well Ronda didn't clean out the division, she got knocked unconscious in an attempt to defend the title....but I guess we'll continue to agree to disagree on just about everything here so I'll leave you to yours and wish you a pleasant day.

There are always fighters within a division that don't face the champion when consensus is that the division is cleared out. You seem upset.

 

[1031]

There are always fighters within a division that don't face the champion when consensus is that the division is cleared out. You seem upset.

Not sure where you've got that interpretation; I simply deem the conversation fruitless and not worth the effort.

 

[Papi Chingon]

Not sure where you've got that interpretation; I simply deem the conversation fruitless and not worth the effort.

Fair enough. Don't be mad though.

 

[Judobill]

Maybe she needs more see through dresses like Ronda.

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

I'm saying that the mullet has a point, if you base that on the goods that were being pushed. If aldo during his reign happened to be a blonde honky, something tells me how the ufc handled him would have been different.

I think it had more to do with Aldo not playing the game. The UFC was all about trying to promote Lyoto and JDS who deserved it less than Jose. But those guys learned to speak English because they knew it would help.

Obviously the promotions should do more to boost their champions and try to build them up. But it's also on the fighters to give the promotion something to work with.

From what I've seen of Amanda she's a cool chick when she's not trying hard and is just being herself. But when she's been in the spotlight she whines, makes excuses, attempts to talk shit like a 3rd rate Mike Perry, and wears a silly mask that looks as much like a goat as it does a lionness. The latter is never going to get fans on her side.


And above all, let's not forget that the fans are a picky bunch that randomly picks and chooses who they're going to care about regardless of promotion. Chris Weidman and Luke Rockhold have both been pushed hard and are fantastic fighters and they have 17 combined fans. Clay Guida has put on a ton of shitty fights and he gets a HUGE pop every time he fights even though he's never been pushed.

You either have it or you don't and there isn't much that Dana and Coker can do to change that.