MMA: The 10 Meaningless Things Fighters Say

Fighters talk a lot of trash, and in the process of marketing themselves, they tend to say a lot of ridiculous things.

Chael Sonnen, in particular, is known for his nonsense statements about Lance Armstrong giving himself cancer, or a Nogueira black belt being equivalent to a toy with a happy meal.

Those are only the most obvious and blatant statements worth ignoring.  Aside from them, there are often repeated phrases and ideas said by MMA fighters that really aren't worth taking seriously in the least.

10. "I Think I'm The Best Fighter In The World"

It's not that some fighters are cocky, or unrealistic.

Well, sometimes it is, but fighters need to be supremely confident in their own abilities.  Some fighters go as far as saying that if you're not out there to become the best, then you're in the wrong business.

I'll disagree with that particular sentiment and say that there is enough room out there for fringe contenders, gatekeepers, and even journeymen.

But even if a fighter doesn't truly think he's the best, or if his opinion is delusional, he's likely to say he thinks he's the best anyway, because that's what marketing oneself is all about.

9. "I'm Looking For The Knockout"

I'm sure that all fighters would prefer to win their fights by stoppage.

Doesn't mean it will happen, and it certainly doesn't mean that they won't take be content in a decision victory if the knockout doesn't come.

8. "I'm Going To Shock The World"

This is what virtually every heavy underdog says before the fight.

And why not?

Certainly beats "I'm going to go out there and try not to look too bad when I get taken down and out-grappled for 25 minutes."

7. "There's Too Much Wrestling In MMA"

Who says that there is too much wrestling in MMA?

Fighters who can't wrestle.

6. "I'm Going To Box Ricardo Mayorga Maybe"

For some reason, MMA fighters keep talking about wanting to fight elite professional boxers (in boxing) as if they think they could win.

I'll believe it when it actually happens.

Until then, it's just all talk.

Nick Diaz, you had trouble out-boxing KJ Noons, a boxer who has no notable victories in the sport of boxing.

You might just be a top 10 welterweight in MMA. A top 10 boxer you are not.

5. "I'm Going To Try Out For The Olympics In Wrestling"

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 14: MMA Fighter Georges St-Pierre arrives at the 2010 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images for ESPY)

In fairness to Georges St.-Pierre, he backed off talk that he was going to try to compete for Canada in Olympic wrestling.

That said, he probably wouldn't even make the Canadian national team, never mind winning a medal.

It's one thing that he's become perhaps the best functional wrestler in MMA. Wrestling when you can't throw jabs, kicks, and superman punches is a whole other ballgame.

4. "I'm 100% Healthy"

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LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 01: Mixed martial artist Tito Ortiz arrives at the third annual Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards 2010 at the Palms Casino Resort December 1, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Before a fight happens, a fighter is always 100 percent healthy.

After the fight, there are often excuses.

Yes, I'm talking to you guys, Marlon Sandro, Tito Ortiz, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, etc.

This also goes out to all the fighters who blame a loss on a bad weight cut, fighting in the wrong weight class, etc.

3. "I Feel Much Better At This Weight Class"

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LAS VEGAS - MAY 28: UFC fighter Diego Sanchez weighs in for his fight against UFC fighter John Hathaway at UFC 114: Rampage versus Rashad at the Mandalay Bay Hotel on May 28, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

When a fighter switches weight class, he'll often do so in a way that blames previous lackluster performances on issues in the previous weight class.

Some of those excuses may be legitimate, but for the most part, they're nothing more than excuses.

Did Diego Sanchez lose to BJ Penn because he was too drawn out at 155?

Did he lose to John Hathaway because he is too small for 170?

In both cases, the answer is no.

But a fighter will still tout the virtues of a weight class move either to convince himself, or to convince the public in an attempt to sell himself as a viable contender once again.

2. "I Want To Fight The Best"

Then why are you fighting Evangelista Santos?

1. "I Think I Won The Fight"

Fighters aren't judges, and will obviously have a natural bias towards themselves.

More than that, when you ask them who won right after a fight, they might not even remember the moments when they got hit.

Don't even ask a fighter if they thought they won.

And if they think they did, don't blame them.

Even if it's Leonard Garcia.

Next page is an honorable mention.

Honorable Mention: Anything Dana White Has To Say

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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 13: Dana White, UFC President, speaks during a press conference to announce commitment to bring UFC to Madison Square Garden and New York State at Madison Square Garden on January 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Cohen

Sometimes Dana White is right, and sometimes he is wrong.

Whatever the case, his opinion might have far more to do with what is good for his business than what he honestly thinks.

So don't get your panties all in a bunch when he says that Fedor isn't a top heavyweight, and that Stefan Struve is in the mix.

He's just doing his job.