Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping doesn’t often mince words. In a recent episode of his Believe You Me podcast, Bisping and co-host Anthony Smith discussed Facebook CEO and “f****** nerd” Mark Zuckerberg’s recent appearance at the UFC Apex, and how it could potentially bring new fans to the sport.
“Mark Zuckerberg was in attendance. Pretty cool to see.” When Smith brought up how Zuckerberg’s enormous influence and wealth could help expand MMA, Bisping agreed.
Bisping Believes “f****** nerd” Zuckerberg can Can Bring New Fans to MMA
“They’re all good points, and this isn’t meant as an insult to him and it sounds like a meathead comment, but [more fans can get into the sport because of] someone that’s as nerdy as him. He’s a tech genius. You’ve seen him, and he can be described as, quote unquote, a bit of a nerd.
But to see a guy like him who does have that influence, who does that wealth, who does have that power, and I don’t know what to think about Mark Zuckerberg, he’s a f****** nerd, let’s be honest, but he’s awesome because he’s there and he’s watching the UFC.
I believe this will open up, potentially, another realm of people because MMA is hugely and wildly popular, but there’s still skeptics, there’s critics, and there’s still people that won’t give it a shot. But seeing someone that’s clearly wildly intelligent as he is, to be an admirer of the sport, and his wife is there enjoying it, it’s only going to bring in more fans.”
Bisping continued, discussing how acceptance from a wider audience than traditional MMA fans can only be a good thing for the sport. MMA is still a very young sport, and has continued to expand aggressively in recent years. In particular, the explosion in popularity of stars like Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey helped promote the UFC, and Michael Bisping pointed out that this expansion is exactly what the sport needs.
“[It’s] that acceptance from a wider audience, because he’s not typically who you would think [is] the ‘just bleed’ MMA fan. My mother-in-law isn’t the typical MMA fan, but she fell in love with it straight away, and I think when people watch with an open mind, they will [too].”
Whether the likes of Mark Zuckerberg can help promote MMA beyond the typical “just bleed” fanbase remains to be seen. Do you think that sporting acceptance among “f****** nerds” is what MMA needs to move up to the next level? Let us know in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l58JAMb4q0I
