I kinda feel bad cos I wear a lot of TapouT gear and I really don't like dissing them at all. I understand all the clowns you guys are speaking about, I totally get it. Tapout were one of, if not thee first MMA company that started sponsoring multiple fighters back in the day when there was no sponsorship and they stood by MMA every step of the way through the dark days of being banned in 48 states and such. If it weren't for Tapout as a brand and their influence there would be very few full time Mixed Martial Artists. 

I can't stand these 'Cage Fighter' types as much as you all but I feel bad when Tapout gets tarred with the same brush. They are more loyal to MMA than any other company in history.

On this subject I think it's appropriate to show you guys an article I wrote on the whole Mixed Martial artist vs Cage fighter philosophy. It was written for my new website, it's not up yet but hey, You guys is like family so you get the sneak preview. Let me know what you think. Once the website is up you can see it in all its glory with pics and stuff.  Enjoy!

Cage Fighter Vs Mixed Martial Artist

The inaugural UFC event showcased a brand new environment for fighters to test their skills and prove their discipline. It was an eight sided enclosure designed so that no single combat discipline would hold any advantage over another. 

It was a stroke of ingenuity when they decided to place fencing around the edges of the octagonal fighting arena. The fencing would help to protect the fighters. If a grappler decided to shoot in on an opponent when they were a little close to the edge then the fence would hold the fighters inside the fighting area, as opposed to a traditional roped boxing style ring where it is possible they could tumble out onto a hard surface area below. The UFC branded the invention ‘The Octagon’, all of the other promotions called theirs ‘The Cage’.

Later, the term ‘Cage Fighter’ was coined, referring to someone who participates in ‘Cage Fighting’. These terms are making their way into general news headlines with increasing regularity. What’s worrying is that in most occasions it is used in a derogatory manner. If a mixed martial arts participant commits a crime the headline usually begins with the words ‘CAGE FIGHTER’. If a council worker, brick layer or I.T assistant committed the same crime I am sure it wouldn’t be sensationalised with the same shock factor in order to sell newspapers.

To the general public this is causing a severe misconception about our beloved sport. Throughout history, cages have been used to confine wild animals and enclose dangerous prisoners and suddenly our sport is being tarred with the same brush. Our athletes will be seen by the general public as monsters participating in some seedy, illegal, underground freak show. ‘Cage Fighting’ is becoming a dirty phrase.

The phrase ‘Cage Fighter’ conjures up images of shaven headed, tattooed, blood thirsty, muscle bound thugs.   

As much as this phrase is threatening to destroy our reputation, some people pride themselves on being called ‘Cage Fighters’. The problem is that most people that call themselves ‘Cage Fighters’ are usually anything but. The phrase is getting another reputation, it is being used by the wannabe fighters and the young folks training in MMA who have either not found their inner confidence, have never actually stepped inside a cage or are looking to impress others. It’s the kind of phrase you would find in a bluffers guide to MMA. By telling people you are a Cage Fighter it will no doubt make some people believe that you are a tough individual, however, as the old saying goes – ‘Pit bulls don’t bark’ they have no need to show how tough they are, they already have the confidence instilled within them.

The headlines very rarely begin with ‘Mixed Martial Artist’. This sounds far too civilised and tame for the journalists looking for the hook to pull in their viewer or readership.   

If the inventor of the Octagon design had thought that the cage may obstruct the viewers vision and instead decided to enclose the edges with a transparent Perspex material then we may have totally different sporting references altogether. I doubt very much that wannabe fighters would be walking around telling people that they were goldfish bowl fighters.  It just doesn’t quite convey the same image. The headlines wouldn’t hook in their audiences so well.

The press thrive on us being savages. By constantly referring to ourselves as ‘Cage Fighters’ we are giving increased leverage to our detractors. If we refer to ourselves as Mixed Martial Artists it reflects a much better image. The Martial Arts are associated with spirituality, inner confidence, discipline, self defence, integrity, self growth, morals and values. 

Even in Japan, the spiritual home of the traditional arts, the top MMA promotion DREAM has experimented by using a ‘White Cage’ as opposed to its usual squared circle.

The Cage is here to stay and that won’t be changing anytime soon but the terms ‘Cage Fighting’ and ‘Cage Fighter’ need not stay. There is no need to use these phrases anymore. Mixed Martial Arts is now a well established expression and we are Mixed Martial Artists. We do not practice mindless violence. There is a plethora of science behind combat sports. We should take pride in the fact that we are MORE than just ‘Cage Fighters’. We are disciplined, conditioned athletes. There is no need to brand us as anything different. The next time someone refers to you as a ‘Cage Fighter’, feel free to correct and inform them that we are Mixed Martial Artists and we can help to eradicate the discrimination towards MMA and change the way our sport is viewed by the general public who are being misled about our sport through press sensationalism.  

Sorry guys, I wasn't meaning to imply that any of you were dissing TapouT. I know a lot of good fighters that continually talk down about tapout and dismiss them as a brand due to the meathead 'tough' guys. It irritates me a bit as they kind of put the blame on TapouT rather than the guys who act like idiots. It's them I was venting my point of view towards. I've even heard fighters say " I'd never wear TapouT because I'd like to be known as a real fighter." That type of thinking is ludicrous to me. They don't want to be associated with the brand due to the small minority of wannabe fighters that wear it and make fools of themselves.The subject just made me think of the situation a bit and I started typing haha.

Thanks Dickey! Glad you liked it.