Female bouts

noseyparker767

I am a big fan of MMA and attend most events when available. I have realized that there are never many if any female bouts at these events. I have a question There are more and more females taking interest in the sport MMA Muay Thai and both Kickboxing/K1 but yet very few bouts at big promotions why? Should promoters not be pushing to get these showcased too? Especially with the success of our very own Aisling "Ais The Bash" Daly. Just putting this out there.

3hn2givr7mx1sc

Possibly the most entertaining fight I've seen live was between 2 women at Celtic Gladiator 2. Ryan v Magee I think it was. Great fight altogether.

noseyparker767

baz2009 wrote: »

Possibly the most entertaining fight I've seen live was between 2 women at Celtic Gladiator 2. Ryan v Magee I think it was. Great fight altogether.

Exactly! And even the increased interest at 14-18yrs+! So why aren't more female bouts being showcased at these big MMA events? Why not give them some opportunities too?

John Ferguson

This is simply because promoters can only match on what's put before them. It's currently a minute pool of fighters who are competent at show level. No doubt this will change through time but that's how it is today.

00benski

im afraid i would be against this. Maybe just a bit old fashioned but just dont like seeing woman fighting at all. It would put me off going to an event. Dont get me wrong im not saying they should be chained to sinks and all that s hiiitte just not my cup of tea.

noseyparker767

John Ferguson wrote: »

This is simply because promoters can only match on what's put before them. It's currently a minute pool of fighters who are competent at show level. No doubt this will change through time but that's how it is today.

Well that makes sense thanks for your reply :-) Although the majority might not be up to standard there are definitely an amount that are around Ireland, maybe some events should publicise the need for female competitors more, show that the option is there, at both junior and senior level.? Even if it was one female bout per event at least it would be a start. What do you think?

noseyparker767

00benski wrote: »

im afraid i would be against this. Maybe just a bit old fashioned but just dont like seeing woman fighting at all. It would put me off going to an event. Dont get me wrong im not saying they should be chained to sinks and all that s hiiitte just not my cup of tea.

Thats your opinion but i think everyones past the stage of women competitors being a shock, especially when we have Katie Taylor, Aisling Daly, Christina Mc Mahon and a number of competitors with lots potential. There is also alot of talent in the Juniors too.
I'm sure there are lots of people who agree with you but alot have gotten past that frame of mind by now too. That in mind thanks for your opinion.

John Ferguson

noseyparker767 wrote: »

Well that makes sense thanks for your reply :-) Although the majority might not be up to standard there are definitely an amount that are around Ireland, maybe some events should publicise the need for female competitors more, show that the option is there, at both junior and senior level.? Even if it was one female bout per event at least it would be a start. What do you think?

I think there is still not a big enough pool of fighters yet to make that work. This needs to be pushed from grass roots club level, then through the MMA league level the onto shows and promotions. But that will all take time to build a useable pool (i.e X number of competent fighters at X number of weight classes)

On a side note we have Catherine Costigan booked for CCXII and are hoping to announce an match up in the next few weeks

noseyparker767

John Ferguson wrote: »

I think there is still not a big enough pool of fighters yet to make that work. This needs to be pushed from grass roots club level, then through the MMA league level the onto shows and promotions. But that will all take time to build a useable pool (i.e X number of competent fighters at X number of weight classes)

On a side note we have Catherine Costigan booked for CCXII and are hoping to announce an match up in the next few weeks

Thats really good to hear looking forward to it. Wouldnt it be worth it to even put female kickboxers, thai boxers, or K1 fighters on show at MMA events just try and build the idea of it up from there?

John Ferguson

noseyparker767 wrote: »

Thats really good to hear looking forward to it. Wouldnt it be worth it to even put female kickboxers, thai boxers, or K1 fighters on show at MMA events just try and build the idea of it up from there?

Some might think so but it's not for us. If the public are paying hard earned money to attend and watch an MMA event give them MMA.

noseyparker767

John Ferguson wrote: »

Some might think so but it's not for us. If the public are paying hard earned money to attend and watch an MMA event give them MMA.

Fair enough i completely agree. So do you think in time there might be more options for females in the sport? Both senior and junior level. You dont tend to see any at junior level.

Arawn

If women want to compete they'll be able to match them up with other women who want to compete if they're at a suitable level.

noseyparker767

Arawn wrote: »

If women want to compete they'll be able to match them up with other women who want to compete if they're at a suitable level.

Im not sure there is enough demand for female competitors though?

Barry.Oglesby

I think there are only 4 female fighters currently at a level that people should be charged to see:
Catherine Costigan
Charlie Gilliland (not sure what Charlie's plans are)
Shona Maguire (currently inactive)
Amanda English (currently inactive)

With the greatest of respect to other girls I've seen, I think they could do with a few more years in the gym or at MMA League level before people should be asked to cough up money for tickets to see them. It's not that girls aren't as good as boys blah blah blah, but there's not a lot of opportunity for female fighters to develop since there isn't the same participation, competition and so on.

Sure it would be nice but I don't think promoters owe anyone a match just because they're female. It would be condescending to put a fight on just because it was a girl fight. Better to have 2 good female fighters there on merit rather than on some positive discrimination buzz.

SuperWoody101

John Ferguson wrote: »

I think there is still not a big enough pool of fighters yet to make that work. This needs to be pushed from grass roots club level, then through the MMA league level the onto shows and promotions. But that will all take time to build a useable pool (i.e X number of competent fighters at X number of weight classes)

On a side note we have Catherine Costigan booked for CCXII and are hoping to announce an match up in the next few weeks

I hope you can match up Catherine, She is a very entertaining fighter and one of the nicest people in this sport.

SBG Ireland

love the fact that ireland is known as a bit of a nation of fighters...and our greatest ever boxer is a girl...and currently our most recognizable and highly decorated mma fighter is a girl

i think you missed out on one fighter there barry

Barry.Oglesby

I was referring to domestic fighters. Pretty sure it goes without saying that Ais is worth paying to see.

Barry.Oglesby

Also I didn't mention the two girls who fought at Celtic Gladiator. I didn't see that fight so can't comment, but I heard it was a good bout so maybe 2 more to my list.

SBG Ireland

also dont really agree with your approach to this... who are any of us to sit around making a list of girls who are 'worthwhile' watching. have you been to any shows lately?? there's a pretty short list of irish fighters that i think are worth paying to see, the technical level is still very low for 90% of guys competing.
i think there's an unfair burden on girls to produce 'exciting' 'technical' fights....although they usually deliver anyway

Barry.Oglesby

Possibly. I was just giving my opinion. My lost of people who I'd pay to watch is quite short anyway. Male or female. I wasn't judging.

My point is that rushing girls through just for the sake of having female matches benefits no one but the person selling tickets.

Ian Whelan

I watched Ronda Rousey vs. Julia Budd at Strikeforce Challengers 20 and it really opened my eyes in respect of women's mma.

Jason McCabe

Just out of curiosity JK and B.O. When was the last time you paid to watch a show?

Barry.Oglesby

LOL UFC Dublin

Barry.Oglesby

That's me told!

Jason McCabe

In general I only get time off from family duties if we have lads fighting


On topic we don't have any ladies training at our club presently.

noseyparker767

SBG Ireland wrote: »

also dont really agree with your approach to this... who are any of us to sit around making a list of girls who are 'worthwhile' watching. have you been to any shows lately?? there's a pretty short list of irish fighters that i think are worth paying to see, the technical level is still very low for 90% of guys competing.
i think there's an unfair burden on girls to produce 'exciting' 'technical' fights....although they usually deliver anyway

Exactly even some of the junior males aswell as seniors aren't 'all that' and some you wouldnt say are 'worth paying to see' but put on the card for experience and that, and also put on with main event etc that are worth paying for.

Why do these not 'all that' males of not up to standard males should i say, get on these cards ahead of the girls/ladies. In my opinion and i'm sure we can all agree that most female bouts are equally as entertaining if not more entertaining than some male bouts. Not all but there are some.

I think people pay to see bouts they pay to be entertained they pay to see Irelands up and coming stars! but is fair that they dont get to see the potential of the females? I have to agree they do deliver just as well as the guys.

shanesmith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFrq3VZYW-0&feature=player_embedded
McGee vs Ryan

noseyparker767

Thank you for posting that link. That video says it all. Why not get more junior involved? Fair enough some people dont agree with females fighting some people dont agree with fighting at all but does this stop any promotors putting guys on? No! and does the crowd at that event look disappointed? No!

cowzerp

Genuinely I've yet to see a bad girls fight yet-they always leave it all in the cage.

Barry.Oglesby

Quite the humdinger of a fight. Add 2 more to my list.

noseyparker767

You could be adding more to your list but you dont know of them: because they havent had the opportunity to showcase their skills. Hence my whole point..

stevemc01

I'd heard that was a great fight, but its the first time I've seen it. Brilliant fight.

noseyparker767

Wouldnt you like to see more? I'm sure lots more girls would dive on the opportunity to compete at any show.

I've seen some guys junior and senior level that wouldnt have been up to this standard that some call 'worth paying to see'. So that really isnt an excuse!

Barry.Oglesby

I've more to say on this, but Jason's put down was so effective that I feel a little impotent in this argument.

Clive

There are only a handful of female fighters so there are only a handful of female fights. It's not about promoters, it's about the lack of female participation. OP, while you are right that there are more women involved in MMA now, in my experience the proportion of the total they represent has actually decreased.

Pushing to get women in shows will only result in mismatches and people being dropped in a cage before they're ready. One of the best things about women's fights in Ireland at the moment is that you can be damn sure they are well prepared, unlike some of their male counterparts.

cowzerp

noseyparker767 wrote: »

Wouldnt you like to see more? I'm sure lots more girls would dive on the opportunity to compete at any show.

I've seen some guys junior and senior level that wouldnt have been up to this standard that some call 'worth paying to see'. So that really isnt an excuse!

They can though-the same as any male-if we're given there details and they match up well with an opponent there on-i have not been given any females to match on the rumble in ages and if i was i would match them once there ready.

Jason McCabe

Barry.Oglesby wrote: »

I've more to say on this, but Jason's put down was so effective that I feel a little impotent in this argument.

It was a serious question lol

Last show I remember paying in to was actually the Marty walker jnr show in Ballymena

SBG Ireland

fought in the first ever cage fight in uk/ire so that was free...since then never have
...but anyway as someone who coaches one of the best female fighters on the planet i can tell you its a waste of time 'trying' to get more female fighters. they either want to fight or they dont.
my only argument was that if you happen to get 2 of them who are equally matched then i see no problem in them fighting on a 'show'. should that fight alone be worth the price of the ticket? of course not, like i said on most shows ive been to in uk/ire (im usually at 2-3 per month) the majority of the fightcard is painful to watch. But i also understand from a promoters point that these novices bring the most spectators so they're a necessity.

anyway off to aisling's weigh ins now. tomorrow she headlines the states biggest ever MMA event in front of 4000 people defending her world title. go aisy!!!

wingnut4

Theres no point in putting a female fight on for the sake of it. You tend to find people jump in the sport quicker than they should as there isnt many female fighters out there. I myself, fought way too early and it was rather embarassing but non the less I enjoyed it. Now I have 2 years of training behind me, when im ready to compete at MMA again I will be ready and ready to fight. It may just be another while due to health reasons.

There are a couple of good amateur fighters out there, but its hard to tell going by one performance Barry?

Theres more females training now which is great, we have rachael ryan, celine mcgee, myself, shona, amanda, joanne at catherines gym, aoife (not sure her surname) and theres new girls training at our place too. The sport is growing which is great.

Catherine and Ais are great names for female mma and hopefully more to come with amanda and the others

wingnut4

totally agree with nosey parker