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Celtic Gladiator VI "Day of War"

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    #122
    RoboRat
    Registered Users Posts: 2,553 ✭✭✭RoboRat


    No he has not.

    Fair enough, have reread his statement and he has not.
    More pictures of him have surfaced. This time doing security for a gig with high-profile Swedish Nazi band Saga back in 2010:

    See this is why I am not 100% about AFA and why I have a niggling feeling that although he might be an iffy character, they seem to be blowing it up massively... He is doing security at a gig, this might be his job. They also posted a picture of him beside a guy with a white power t-shirt and a picture of him at an MMA club with a load of lads, one of whom is an NN activist - in both cases he might not have thought of the repercussions.

    I am not debating that the pictures paint him in a bad light and detract from his statement that he is not involved, but they could also be circumstantial.

    Just to clarify, I am not defending the guy and I absolutely abhor Racism, Neo Nazism, Sectarianism and any such movements.


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    #123
    GRMA
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,417 ✭✭✭GRMA


    He has the groups name tatooed on his chest, was that an accident too?


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    #124
    Mario Laois
    Registered Users Posts: 113 ✭✭Mario Laois


    07/01/2013


    Dublin

    Celtic Gladiator Company Statement regarding Niko Puhakka

    Due to the controversy surrounding the fighter Niko Puhhaka, the organisers of Celtic Gladiator decided to cancel the fight that was scheduled to take place on 9 February at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin. Celtic Gladiator have signed the contract with Niko Puhakka basing only on his performance and achievements in sports. We as an organization do not judge our fighter by race, color, religion or beliefs.
    Unfortunately, the amount of negative feedback regarding the fighter forced us to make a decision of removing his name from fight card. This, however, does not mean that the fighter Wesley Murch will not appear on the event, he will be assigned a new opponent shortly.

    Best Regards
    Board of Celtic Gladiator


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    #125
    Teferi
    Registered Users Posts: 6,320 ✭✭✭Teferi


    darced wrote: »
    This post has been deleted.

    Nonsense.

    The poster said the that the holocaust was far fetched not that there would be one because some Nazi came over.

    By the way, knowing his views and allowing him to fight could be seen as legitimising them.


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    #126
    El Guapo!
    Registered Users Posts: 12,433 ✭✭✭✭El Guapo!


    cowzerp wrote: »
    To add my 2 cents, the fact public opinion does not bother them is worrying

    I think it's to late now to win over the fans by removing him now, they've messed up this 1 and underestimate public outrage.

    I agree, it's too late now to win over the fans. If they pull him now it'll just be because they are getting so much grief and not because they actually care.
    But he should still be removed from the card, if for nothing else but to save the guaranteed shít storm that's gonna be made four of this by the media. This could do untold damage to the sport in Ireland.


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    #127
    El Guapo!
    Registered Users Posts: 12,433 ✭✭✭✭El Guapo!


    Mario Laois wrote: »
    07/01/2013


    Dublin

    Celtic Gladiator Company Statement regarding Niko Puhakka

    Due to the controversy surrounding the fighter Niko Puhhaka, the organisers of Celtic Gladiator decided to cancel the fight that was scheduled to take place on 9 February at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin. Celtic Gladiator have signed the contract with Niko Puhakka basing only on his performance and achievements in sports. We as an organization do not judge our fighter by race, color, religion or beliefs.
    Unfortunately, the amount of negative feedback regarding the fighter forced us to make a decision of removing his name from fight card. This, however, does not mean that the fighter Wesley Murch will not appear on the event, he will be assigned a new opponent shortly.

    Best Regards
    Board of Celtic Gladiator

    The right decision but a bullshít reply in my opinion.
    That basically says the promotion is only pulling him due to the negative feedback but they were happy to have him fight as long as it brought money in.
    As a promoter, you should be looking to do everything you can to increase the sports popularity and boost its image in this country. Not just getting anyone to fight to earn a quick buck and then blaming the fans when the fight falls apart.


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    #128
    magicherbs
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 182 ✭✭magicherbs


    Well Ireland's Freedom of Speech laws are quite different to the US which are protected by the first amendment but I really don't see any logical / rational/ reason to censor this individual or prevent him from fighting. He is not expressing any dogma or reiterating any hate speech. His tattoos would be impossible for anyone to decipher. I don't see any reason to block him fighting, it all sounds like the typicadl up in arms backwards thinking we are becoming famous for.


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    #129
    RoboRat
    Registered Users Posts: 2,553 ✭✭✭RoboRat


    He has the groups name tatooed on his chest, was that an accident too?

    How the **** do I know? He said that the tattoos were done years ago and they were a mistake or in his own words 'never meant to offend anyone'. Who the **** knows what happened, maybe he went through a phase, maybe he was drunk, maybe he is a Neo Nazi, maybe he was and is no longer??? I don't have the answers but all I wanted to do was just to make the point that we all make mistakes and that sometimes people should be allowed to move on. Obviously some people don't feel the same.

    I still think that this has no place in an MMA forum which deals with the sport and sport alone. This is a political discussion and should stay in the political forums.


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    #130
    GRMA
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,417 ✭✭✭GRMA


    Success :D

    He's been pulled from the card.

    His opponent will be given a new fight


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    #131
    GRMA
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,417 ✭✭✭GRMA


    Dean09 wrote: »
    The right decision but a bullshít reply in my opinion.
    That basically says the promotion is only pulling him due to the negative feedback but they were happy to have him fight as long as it brought money in.
    As a promoter, you should be looking to do everything you can to increase the sports popularity and boost its image in this country. Not just getting anyone to fight to earn a quick buck and then blaming the fans when the fight falls apart.
    Well, said, it beggars belief tbh.

    Should have just said they made a mistake, sorry, sin é.


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    #132
    Stillweak
    Registered Users Posts: 168 ✭✭Stillweak


    There is an upcoming female teen mma match which we should all boycott.
    The promoters and sponcers should be ashamed of themselves.
    It features a girl who hates plebs, povs and people who earn €10 an hour or less.
    Her dad works for kpmg and she thinks youre all losers.
    Don't give her a platform to spread her hate.


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    #133
    cardshark202
    Registered Users Posts: 5,434 ✭✭✭cardshark202


    Stillweak wrote: »
    There is an upcoming female teen mma match which we should all boycott.
    The promoters and sponcers should be ashamed of themselves.
    It features a girl who hates plebs, povs and people who earn €10 an hour or less.
    Her dad works for kpmg and she thinks youre all losers.
    Don't give her a platform to spread her hate.

    fail


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    #134
    danlen
    Registered Users Posts: 630 ✭✭✭danlen


    Can't help but feel that the public backlash people have made against him fighting (regardless of initial good intentions) has given both the fighter himself and neo-Nazi ideologies even more exposure than if nothing had been said and the fight went ahead as scheduled.


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    #135
    riffmongous
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,715 Mod ✭✭✭✭riffmongous


    danlen wrote: »
    Can't help but feel that the public backlash people have made against him fighting (regardless of initial good intentions) has given both the fighter himself and neo-Nazi ideologies even more exposure than if nothing had been said and the fight went ahead as scheduled.

    But most of that exposure consisted of people saying that those views arent welcome here, which is a positive thing imo.


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    #136
    danlen
    Registered Users Posts: 630 ✭✭✭danlen


    riffmongous wrote: »
    But most of that exposure consisted of people saying that those views arent welcome here, which is a positive thing imo.

    Oh yeah, absolutely. But I would imagine most rational people would have realised that anyhow, regardless of the fact some dude was fighting here.

    While I don't support this guy in any way, I still feel the whole thing was a bit of an over-reaction.


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    #137
    riffmongous
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,715 Mod ✭✭✭✭riffmongous


    danlen wrote: »
    Oh yeah, absolutely. But I would imagine most rational people would have realised that anyhow, regardless of the fact some dude was fighting here.

    The people who would have been reporting this story, the tabloids, Joe Duffy brigade don't specialise in rational reporting though.


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    #138
    dreadskin
    Registered Users Posts: 25 ✭dreadskin


    This whole sad sorry episode leaves a whole lot of questions about the people involved in organising this event. As mentioned by the moderator, Celtic gladiator didn't care about the public outrage. They only acted when their money and venue was threatened. It asks questions about the club that invited niko over for a seminar in July last year knowing full well what his background is. About the same club who chose to have their team rashgaurds designed and made by another neo Nazi owned fightware company. Nazis and their sympathizers have no place on this island


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    #139
    darced
    Registered Users Posts: 7,056 ✭✭✭darced


    This post has been deleted.


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    #140
    dreadskin
    Registered Users Posts: 25 ✭dreadskin


    darced wrote: »
    This post has been deleted.

    Not at all. This does raise questions tho


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    #141
    RoboRat
    Registered Users Posts: 2,553 ✭✭✭RoboRat


    Not at all. This does raise questions tho

    I used to train in that club and I can tell you hand on heart that there is no affiliation with Neo Nazism or Racism there. The guy who runs the club is a very nice guy and he welcomes everyone, regardless of their skin colour - If you don't believe me then drop in and ask some of the African lads that train there.


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    #142
    dreadskin
    Registered Users Posts: 25 ✭dreadskin


    RoboRat wrote: »

    I used to train in that club and I can tell you hand on heart that there is no affiliation with Neo Nazism or Racism there. The guy who runs the club is a very nice guy and he welcomes everyone, regardless of their skin colour - If you don't believe me then drop in and ask some of the African lads that train there.

    Good to hear!


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    #143
    GRMA
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,417 ✭✭✭GRMA


    All over the papers today, examiner, star and a few others I think


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    #144
    El Guapo!
    Registered Users Posts: 12,433 ✭✭✭✭El Guapo!


    GRMA wrote: »
    All over the papers today, examiner, star and a few others I think
    I haven't seen them yet. Did they tear into the sport or what way did they tackle it?


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    #145
    pablohoney87
    Registered Users Posts: 1,707 ✭✭✭pablohoney87


    Dean09 wrote: »
    I haven't seen them yet. Did they tear into the sport or what way did they tackle it?
    Examiner didnt seem to anyway. Pretty Bland but informative article.


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    #146
    El Guapo!
    Registered Users Posts: 12,433 ✭✭✭✭El Guapo!


    pablohoney87 wrote: »
    Examiner didnt seem to anyway. Pretty Bland but informative article.

    Well that's good news anyway. I was full sure they'd try rip the sport to bits as usual.


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    #147
    GRMA
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,417 ✭✭✭GRMA


    Dean09 wrote: »
    I haven't seen them yet. Did they tear into the sport or what way did they tackle it?
    http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/show-cancels-martial-arts-fighter-over-neo-nazi-links-218878.html

    http://sportsnewsireland.com/other_sports/dublin-mma-promoter-pulls-neo-nazi-fighter-from-bill-after-protest-but-fighter-says-he-has-changed-2013-01-07/

    Star:

    543115_471478769579111_544076464_n.jpg


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    #148
    TF1975
    Registered Users Posts: 17 ✭TF1975


    Just seen this posted on Facebook.

    "If anybody has interpreted AFA Ireland's campaign as against MMA's interests, you ought to consider the protection from media backlash they've granted us.

    Peter Irving, UK MMA fighter

    http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Peter-Irving-7323
    http://www.peteirvingmma.co.uk/#!bio/c157q

    Full statement here:
    https://www.facebook.com/afaireland/posts/471701812890140


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    #149
    pablohoney87
    Registered Users Posts: 1,707 ✭✭✭pablohoney87


    TF1975 wrote: »

    "If anybody has interpreted AFA Ireland's campaign as against MMA's interests, you ought to consider the protection from media backlash they've granted us.

    I dont think anyone was interpreting it as that


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    #150
    RoboRat
    Registered Users Posts: 2,553 ✭✭✭RoboRat


    I wonder who tipped the AFA off about this fight and the fighter involved, its hardly main stream stuff? Could it have been someone from the MMA community? Surely not! This kind of publicity could only harm MMA in Ireland... but perhaps it was someone who may have an axe to grind with the fighter or the promotion. It would be interesting if it transpired to be exactly that.

    Anyhow, the fight is off but its worth taking a look at the AFA's page and what some of their 'supporters' think of people who watch or partake in MMA. For all their huff and puff they are quite narrow minded themselves.

    Kudos to Peter Irving for writing an excellent statement, perhaps some people might take note that MMA is not meatheads and thugs. Some of the nicest and most genuine people I have met are fighters - There are a hell of a lot more scumbags playing football and GAA than there are fighters. Its like rugby, its a tough sport but there is a LOT of respect.


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    #151
    pablohoney87
    Registered Users Posts: 1,707 ✭✭✭pablohoney87


    RoboRat wrote: »
    Anyhow, the fight is off but its worth taking a look at the AFA's page and what some of their 'supporters' think of people who watch or partake in MMA. For all their huff and puff they are quite narrow minded themselves.
    Couldnt be arsed in fairness. Took a look at some of their stuff and they remind me of youth defense placing facist where abortion would be.


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