WMMA Press Response: Where To Go From Here

SportsGeeks December 22 article was a resounding success in provoking discussion on a journalist’s role in current-day Women’s Mixed Martial Arts. As with any hotly-debated topic, opinions varied widely, emotions surfaced, and lines were proverbially drawn in the sand. Ultimately, the community’s awareness on the issue has been heightened, and no doubt dialogue will continue.

The WMMA Press Association’s Marq Piocos issued this official statement via Twitter in the aftermath of the article:

“I love the fact that more websites are popping up dedicated to WMMA or expanding their WMMA coverage.

Several people have approached me asking why they haven’t been invited to be a part of the WMMA Press Committee. The reason is the committee itself doesn’t want to expand that rapidly because we want educated WMMA journalists on the panel. The idea of the awards is to recognize some of the top talent on the planet, be it local amateurs, nationally recognized pros, and international fighters. This isn’t about being a popularity contest or a “hot list” or “only nominating friends” – it’s truly about the best fighters on the planet. Period.

Though many fine journalists are out there covering the sport, many haven’t been around long enough to gain a foothold in the community or even cover the sport outside of Invicta and the UFC. Five of the seven committee members have over 5 years experience covering the sport from all angles and the other two have over three. All of us cover the sport from the up and coming talent to the top fighters on the planet. When I say top journalists of WMMA, I really mean it.

This doesn’t mean we won’t consider you for membership eventually. What I recommend:

Show a dedication to covering WMMA news, and not just the major promotions like UFC and Invicta. Reach out to ammy and pro fighters that are maybe not known to the main stream MMA fans or are international and haven’t had much coverage here. Remember, it’s about the body of your work and what you have done to help promote the sport.

Also be patient. Don’t expect the first year or two covering the sport to get on the panel. We all earned our stripes in the trenches before the sport was “main stream” and have shown a devotion to the sport and its fighters. We want to see you make a sizable contribution in covering the sport.

Do this and we will be more than happy to consider you for the committee. Don’t think it’s a cake walk. We want you to work your butt off like the rest of us.”

The WPA’s Tim Peterson made several statements on Facebook:

“Sometimes MarQ likes to ‘toot his own horn’ a bit to loud. lol Basically, we’re the same group that we started with, we’ve only added 2 people since and its not like this is some “official” association, we just do this fun and for the fighters.”

Mr. Peterson also notes:

“The ‘WMMA Press Association’ was formed 6 years ago, its not something new. The ONLY purpose of the WMMAPA is to acknowledge the fighters that excelled during the year with year end awards. That’s all, no more, no less.”

The WPA appears to exist for fun and awards purposes, yet the qualifications for entrance are strict. The group’s growth has been slow by its own hand, seemingly oblivious to the explosion of the women’s divisions the past several years. Other groups, relatively small in nature, also issue year-end awards. Several small entities, including SportsGeeks, publish monthly fighter rankings. With all this fragmentation, lack of organization and leadership, journalists are not relevant as a caucus in today’s WMMA climate.

Here are some pertinent facts:

•The UFC celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

•The last few years have seen increased stability in other major promotions.

•Huge MMA television deals have been made.

•Large regional promotions are generating talent at lightning speed.

•Ronda Rousey has become a household name.

•Women now share the canvas on the largest stage available.

•Women appear on the reality show, The Ultimate Fighter.

•Invicta Fighting Championships is poised to enter its 3rd year as an all-female production.

The landscape of WMMA has changed and will continue to do so. This author contends WMMA needs a large, legitimate press contingent comparable to those seen in all other major sports. The purpose of such an organization is to encourage high standards of professionalism among WMMA media, gather and publish collective information on the women’s divisions, generate monthly rankings from an expansive and accurate sampling of those currently covering the sport, and issue year-end recognition in multiple categories to athletes that excel.

The challenge posed to sportswriters and other media involved in WMMA is to abandon egos for the benefit of the sport. All journalists are urged to make a commitment to focus their efforts on the sport and its athletes. Eventually, MMA will house a sport-wide press association; meanwhile, a WMMA group could be making strides internationally in service to the women’s divisions. The proposed WMMA Media Organization (WMO) is capable of making a tremendous and positive impact for the future.

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