Speaking English in America (UFC related)

Bushido666 · 07-04-2006, 10:34 AM

I was just listening to the Jon Goulet interview on the Sherdog homepage, and he mentioned that he had tried auditioned for seasons 2 and 3 of TUF but was turned down because he spoke english poorly. Here's my thing, I honestly believe that if you want to move to this great country, then you should learn english as quickly as possible...that being said I think it's total fucking BS to deny him a spot on the show because of his accent. Arlosvski still speaks with a thick accent, and he got his own damn tv special. Anyway, all I'm saying is since they're OBVIOUSLY out of ideas for coming up with TUF contestants, why don't they start bringing in some foreigners? I know that UFC prefers americans, and that's fine, no problem. In the UFC we're not looking for the best communicators, we're looking for the best fighters...

I mean hell, I can understand goulet as well as pointon, so what's the deal?

Sorry bout the lame thread, just gettin it out there...

belly · 07-04-2006, 10:38 AM

The reason UFC is so popular is because shows like TUF expose us to the fighters personality. It's not because there is a fight at the end of each show. If you get to know and like a guy, you're going to watch him no matter what (win or lose). If you only like watching a guy fight and he gets his ass handed to him, then you aren't going to care to watch him again. I think Matt Hammill is as close as you're going to get for a foreigner. Sorry.

I would like to see other fighting styles from aroud the globe, but this isn't going to be venue to showcase it.

BloodierFinger · 07-04-2006, 10:40 AM

Ummmmm, GSP is a COACH on season four dude. Listen to that guys accent......

Bushido666 · 07-04-2006, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BloodierFinger

Ummmmm, GSP is a COACH on season four dude. Listen to that guys accent......

very good point but he sound JUST like goulet, so why tell goulet he doesn't speak well enough? I think both of em speak fine english. Personally, I'd rather have seen Goulet in season 2 or 3 than some of the people that actually made it on the show.

Body_Shots · 07-04-2006, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bushido666

very good point but he sound JUST like goulet, so why tell goulet he doesn't speak well enough? I think both of em speak fine english. Personally, I'd rather have seen Goulet in season 2 or 3 than some of the people that actually made it on the show.

Maybe @ the time his English was worse than what it is now.

DeadlyHobo · 07-04-2006, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bushido666

very good point but he sound JUST like goulet, so why tell goulet he doesn't speak well enough? I think both of em speak fine english

Maybe his accent wasn't the real reason. Did he say whether the accent is the reason he guessed broke the deal or what the UFC actually told him?

Lucky Strike · 07-04-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bushido666

I was just listening to the Jon Goulet interview on the Sherdog homepage, and he mentioned that he had tried auditioned for seasons 2 and 3 of TUF but was turned down because he spoke english poorly. Here's my thing, I honestly believe that if you want to move to this great country, then you should learn english as quickly as possible...that being said I think it's total fucking BS to deny him a spot on the show because of his accent. Arlosvski still speaks with a thick accent, and he got his own damn tv special. Anyway, all I'm saying is since they're OBVIOUSLY out of ideas for coming up with TUF contestants, why don't they start bringing in some foreigners? I know that UFC prefers americans, and that's fine, no problem. In the UFC we're not looking for the best communicators, we're looking for the best fighters...

I mean hell, I can understand goulet as well as pointon, so what's the deal?

Sorry bout the lame thread, just gettin it out there...

If people can't understand what he's saying then it doesn't exactly make for good TV. Granted i would have liked him to be on the show but that's cause i like him as a fighter but I'm not just a random guy flipping through the channels that UFC/Spike are trying to attract.

I think we can all agree that getting rid of Danny Abadi or Mike Stine and putting in Goulet would have been a great thing.

AA got his own all access special but Rachelle did most of the talking.

Bushido666 · 07-04-2006, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky Strike

I think we can all agree that getting rid of Danny Abadi or Mike Stine and putting in Goulet would have been a great thing.

that's what I was trying to say, thank you!

also, guess what? I can read, which means that if I can understand his language, I and READ subtitles. Anyone with a 3rd grade education or higher could do so as well...

B.A. Baracus · 07-04-2006, 10:53 AM

I don't think it should matter whether or not a fighter can speak the language of where the fight organization is based (English for the UFC). It should be based solely on skill level. I know the thread says "UFC related" and I don't really want to make references to Pride, but I think it is important to recognize that Pride recruits many fighters from all over the world and have translators for them. They don't seem to force or expect their fighters to speak or learn Japanese (from what I can tell anyway). Although, learning the language and using it may help them gain some popularity with fans. Personally, I kinda like seeing fighters speaking in their own language just because it adds to the effect that the competition is truly international and that the fighters are fighting for a "World Championship".

Tuf, however, is a different situation. It is a competition but it is also a show. A lot of people are entertained by watching the personalities of the fighters and eventually become fans. I just don't see how it would work if a person could not communicate clearly, in english, on the show. If he acutally was a talented fighter, just put him on as an undercard.