Quote:
Originally Posted by derUbermensch
While something I personally find objectionable, the necessity of "looks" with regard to the marketability of FeMMA is something that simply can't be overlooked. Its not going to go away any time soon and frankly its best for the sport. The crux will be whether promoters have a sense for when to cease emphasizing the point and instead focus on the sheer athleticism involved.
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I don't think attention on the "looks" of a female MMA fighter is necessarily objectionable, it simply relates to the fact that most MMA fans are males.
I've noticed that when female MMA fans discuss their favorite male MMA fighters, the "looks" of the fighter come heavily into the equation (e.g. Shogun, Vitor).
It's entirely natural that when male MMA fans discuss their favorite female fighters, "looks" will play a part, just when female MMA fans discuss their favorite male fighters, "looks" will matter. This fact is a part of our biology and will never go away.
So I do believe that the "looks" of a female fighter will always play a role in how promoters market the sport to male fans, just the same way that as the female MMA fanbase develops, promoters will surely market the "handsome" male MMA fighters to them.
The key is just to find the right balance, so that any attention paid to a fighter's "looks" never overshadows the primary discussion of the fighter's athleticism or expertise.