Martial-arts training is portrayed as expensive, and many UFC fighters are described as college wrestlers who went on to college. UFC events are characterized as highly exciting live sporting experiences with intense energy and buzz. Winning and losing are described as having many paths beyond boxing, including striking with punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, as well as grappling on the ground for submissions. Muhammad Ali is used as a benchmark for greatness, with Conor McGregor compared to Ali and Jon Jones compared to Michael Jordan. Jon Jones is described as uniquely hard to beat, including an undefeated record and movement across weight classes. UFC acquisition is mentioned with a low purchase price of two million dollars.
"Martial-arts training isn't cheap. And a lot of these guys were college wrestlers, so they all went to college. Like Chuck Liddell. Do you know who Chuck Liddell is? Sure-tell everybody. The stereotypical ultimate fighter. He's got a Mohawk, big, mean-looking guy with a Fu Manchu. He looks like an axe murderer, if you saw the guy. He graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in accounting."
"And the truth is, if you've ever been to a U.F.C. fight, it is the most exciting live sporting event you'll ever see. There's so many different ways to win and lose, and just the energy and the buzz inside the building is amazing. What do you mean there's so many ways to win and lose? So, in boxing, I punch you to the head or body more times than you punch me to the head or body, and I win, or I knock you out."
"In the U.F.C., you can do all of that, too, but you can also kick, knee, elbow. It can go to the ground where you fight for submissions. So it's non-stop action. I wrote a book about Muhammad Ali long ago. I think we both agree he might be the greatest athlete who ever lived- Or human!"
"Who's the Muhammad Ali of the U.F.C. in your estimation, and why? Well, we have a guy named Conor McGregor, who I would say is like our Muhammad Ali. But, if you're looking for your Michael Jordan, it would be Jon Jones, who is the greatest. And why is that? Jon Jones has never been beat, and he's moved up and down weight classes. It's very, very unique and hard to be undefeated in the U.F.C."
Read at The New Yorker
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