The below is a comment that I received from MMA fluffer and general blind-supporter Tom Robson. Mr. Robson is a defender of the MMA faith, and, as such, he decided in his diatribe below to illustrate exactly what MMA promoters lack: Truth in their comments.

Watch below how he has carefully, and most willfully, tried to manipulate my statements about MMA being the thuggery that it is, to show that, instead, it’s a “sport” and how it’s “regulated”, and even, how its worst ambassadors are champs because of their past wrestling accomplishments.

Tom Robson should be ashamed to espouse such nonsense, but he can’t contain himself–so let’s dissect his ramblings for you.

My replies are contained within parentheses and in bold, interspersed among Mr. Robson’s unending, embarrassing rubbish.

2010/08/21 at 10:29 PM

I must point out to you, Alex, that MMA is a regulated sport (AGT: PROPERLY “regulated” sports do not allow for a beat down after a fighter is out cold–this is still prevalent in MMA–highlight reels are loaded with current examples–and no fines as a result–not to mention referees that are a tad slow to end a fight. Stop trying to spin this), and has been since New Jersey codified the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts in 2000. I am disappointed that you have overlooked this important facet of the sport, even more so in your apparent unwillingness to conduct any sort of research into the sport. I’ve taken the liberty of reading your other article, and my already low expectations were woefully unfulfilled (AGT: because you of course took my comments out of context and created your own narrative–this is typical of the gorilla set that promotes MMA–of which you are a charter member). Some choice excerpts:

“1) If you win ‘on points’ in MMA, it’s an absolute rarity–it’s (a win) usually as a result of a devastating blow to some part of the body, or an opponent ‘tap-out’ (due to a submission hold). ”

Either you’re aware of this contradiction, or you’ve chosen not to proof-read your articles before you post them. FYI, an MMA match does not continue if a fighter taps out from a submission, nor does the fighter who submitted the other fighter gain any sort of points from it; a fact that anyone who had actually watched an MMA match would have learned, as opposed to someone who has merely seen UFC commercials or caught the last few seconds of a highlight reel on ESPN.(AGT: I’m afraid I can’t help you with reading comprehension. You could have taken my statement any of  three different ways–you chose the least likely considering the tenor and context of my general comments. It was obvious that what I meant was that devastating actions result in most MMA wins. I in no way wished to convey or conveyed that MMA continued after a submission hold. Give your head a shake. Perhaps if I had included misogynistic background music and written my words in blood red, you would have gotten them first try)

“But the general point of MMA fighting is to knock your opponent unconscious–to knock him into next century.”

On the contrary. As much as fighters like, say, Wanderlei Silva prefer to stand up and throw punches, other fighters like Randy Couture prefer to take the match to the canvas and grapple. A submission win is just as legitimate as as knockout or a decision win.(AGT: You are shoveling pure bullshit. Highlight reels, statements by fighters themselves, are all consistently about over-the-top violence with you people. Stop trying to spin it. You are defending human cockfighting. So far, you’re batting 000.)

“This is NOT like boxing.”

Forgive me if I’m mistaken on this point, but…. isn’t it? (AGT: Sure, you’re forgiven for being uneducated about boxing. It isn’t.  If it were, every fight would be like Ali-Frazier in ‘The Thrilla in Manila’) The last time I checked, utilizing such maneuvers as a hip toss is illegal in Boxing. As far as I can recall, every Boxing match I’ve ever seen generally comes down to two men throwing fists at each others faces. To “knock him into next century,” as you put it, is more in-line with Boxing than it is with MMA (AGT: Again, you’re wrong. Boxing isn’t about crippling your opponent. Everything from the ethos of the fighters to the pre-fight hype to the statements by MMA fighters themselves lends itself to what I’m talking about. Boxing matches, often enough, turn on body shots, that can prove much more effective than taking to a fighter’s jaw–most are hardly glass and they are boxers for precisely such reasons).

“Oscar DeLaHoya, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Joe Louis, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, were all points experts–all won several title fights on points with the kind of finesse that would leave a ballerina breathless. Name one MMA fighter that’s ever done that. You can’t.”

But I can. Lyoto Machida. Or, shall I go above and beyond your expectations, and name-drop Anderson Silva as well? Both men are masters at dodging incoming attacks. However, since “Best MMA Knockouts” yield much more results than “Best Well-Fought 5 Round Decisions” on YouTube’s search field, I wouldn’t have expected such knowledge from you. (This is quite possibly the most shameful of your statements in support of MMA thuggery. You’ve named two fighters that are defensive experts, NOT POINTS SPECIALISTS ((which requires a skillful method of which defense is not the major part)). Both are known for their devastation, not their “skill”. There is not much skill involved in hammering away at a man, who, because of his severe enough injuries, should have had the fight stopped long before the money shot. Cut the crap Mr. Robson, you’re starting to make it smell…)

“there are always Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and even meatballs, who would never survive without their size, like Neanderthal Brock Lesner to watch over the course of whatever life God grants them.”

Your attempt to bring Liddell and Couture in as a detriment to MMA is confusing- both are sociable and well-spoken individuals, and have well-rounded skills. Unless, in some supremely baffling way, you’d consider these negative attributes (no I don’t, but for the very same reasons you cite, they should be condemning the thuggery that is prevalent in a sport that has made both of them rich). Brock Lesnar, FYI, is a two-time NJCAA All-American, NCAA Div. I, 2000 #1 ranked Heavyweight Big Ten Conference wrestling champion, where he was competing against men just as big, sometimes even bigger, than himself. To say that Lesnar would never survive without his size, although it is a significant advantage, shows your complete refusal to gain the basest of knowledge (AGT: you mean “the most basic of knowledge”–that would have been more correct here. You’re welcome) on the sport (AGT: If I administered even a moderate amount of truth serum to your statements about Lesner, there’d be nothing left to your meandering offerings. Brock Lesner is a THUG; a classless, misogynistic, avaricious clown, whose comportment is an embarrassment to anyone blessed with the descriptive “athlete.” Or perhaps you’d prefer my readers not see, this. Or, this. Or, this beauty. According to your favorite Neanderthal, Lesner, “The icing on the cake was having to get pulled off (opponent Frank Mir after repeated, unanswered punches to the head)) by the referee…” Listen, Tommy, go run along now, please.)

The video you provided at the end of your post, I noticed, contained fights from the early NHB days of the UFC, and the Japanese promotion PRIDE. North American MMA, and mostly around the world, has since adopted the Unified Rules, which prohibit under penalty of fine or suspension, blows after the bell, or biting, amongst other things. Japan has little to no regulatory body over MMA, which is where the “lowlights” of that video come from. (AGT: These pictures are almost all from the modern era you claim is under ‘Unified Rules’. These fights had no business continuing. You’re a complete fool to suggest otherwise.)

And last, but not least,

“How many fighters has boxing attracted like this prize?” [link to fighter who ripped out a man's heart]

Boxing has historically drawn all forms of the criminal element. The same “argument” you present against MMA can also be used against boxing, or any competitive sport for that matter. (AGT: Wrong again, Mr. Robson. The criminal element before, during and after MMA events is unparalleled–everything from the rap music chosen to the hype, to the insane behavior of most MMA fighters. Kids watch that mindless garbage and then want to play that out in the nearest McDonald’s parking lot. Or like former UFC light heavyweight champ, Tito Ortiz, go home and put that bitch in her place. 200+ lb men should always beat up on 110 pound women–particularly if that ho happens to be a retired porn star–no redeemable value to her, right?.  What’s she doin’ outta that fuckin’ kitchen, right Tom?) Sports like Football and Hockey attract thugs and class-acts alike. Since YouTube seems to be the base of your misguided and shallow research on MMA, type in “Soccer Hooligans” and watch the results pour in. But to use a horrific murder victim like a pawn to further the validity of your opinion is not only tasteless, but sickening. (AGT: I actually used the demented, MMA-obsessed murderer and not the victim, but in order to twist what I did to vilify me, you have to lie about what I wrote, because that’s what you are: An MMA liar. Everything you’ve written here proves it. The only thing that’s sickening is that you’re getting away with it–for now.)

I’m not trying to force you to like MMA, rather, I’m trying to inform you of some glaring misinformation and outright refusal of self-education prevalent in all of your articles. (AGT: No, what you’re trying to do is rubbish, and it’s not acceptable here or anywhere else. But here, I provide ignoramuses like you no quarter, as evidenced by my replies.)

Mr. Robson, I could poke holes in your argument(s) all day long.

Bottom line: MMA, as it’s currently constituted, is an illegitimate sport, that has simply managed to legalize street-fighting in arenas, by mixing meagre amounts of locks, holds, head-stands and ballet pirouettes, with the requisite gate-necessary amounts of misogynistic, hate-filled rap music, anti-authoritarian/anti-cop street culture, and inclusive of, the dangerous balance of over-the-top violence and viciousness with slick, crass commercial middle class/trailer park appeal.

Your appearance here is hardly appreciated or understood.

But now that you’re on the canvas, bruised and bloodied, please crawl out of the octagon on your own.

You’ll get no help from me. I gather in your world, that’s fair game, so I aim to please.

Two more opinions, here and here.