Why do we all watch combat sports? For violence because we're all clearly a bit stuffed up. You can talk about technique and all that stuff, but when it comes down to it we watch it for the violence. We watch to see two people do violent things to each other for some reason. Other sports are violent, but there's a goal besides hurting your opponent. All combat sports are about is causing pain to your opponent.
I'm done with it. For years I've paid money to watch the UFC and all that it's done is make Dana White and his buddies richer while the majority of the fighters remain poor as ****. These fighters leave with broken bodies, damaged brains and very little money to show for it. Meanwhile, Dana White is importing snow to his god damn house that is in a ******* desert.
The reason i fell in love with this sport was a handful of the first fights i watched were brutal back and forth wars and as soon as the buzzer went two guys embraced each other with a ridiculous amount of respect. It seemed to me it was the essenece of man on man, 1 on 1 competition. The violence is apart of it, but its not what made me attracted to the sport.
The whole fighter treatment stuff annoys me, but i dont let it ruin the enjoyment i get out of watching the fights and the storylines that flow on from them anymore.
The fighters have had opportunitys to push back, organise and form a union/organisation.
It hasnt happened but eventually it will. It seems the fighters are to selfish to stick their necks out for one another because they assume their payday will come or there is the risk of repercussions.
If they arnt as concerned enough about it to take action, why should the fans continue worrying about it. Almost everytime you hear a fighter talk about conditions, pay or rights, it is usually to do with them, what they want and what they feel like they deserve as an individual. Not what is good for the collective.
Only a very small handful of fighters have even bothered to follow the PFA on twitter and I can only think of Julie Kedzie as the only fighter to come out and vocally support the cause.
I think you should probably relax about the issue, because getting upset about the treatment of someone like Al Iaquinta, while his fellow fighters and even teammates and coaches dont bother backing him up in public, why should fans.