Will Matt Mitrione Become a Star in the UFC?

Subject: Will Matt Mitrione Become a Star in the UFC? Fri Sep 16, 2011 10:30 pm

Quote :: The components of skill, charisma and controversy are three of the necessary ingredients for UFC stardom. Currently, the three most popular fighters are Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Brock Lesnar. Although they are three very different fighters, the reasons they are popular are the same; they all combine skill, personality and just a little bit of controversy, although in Lesnar’s case it is more than a little bit.

Does Matt Mitrione have the necessary star qualities to make the leap to superstar? Let’s find out.

Skill

Mitrione is trying to become the first former NFL player to be a major success in the UFC (I am not counting Lesnar, who only played a short time in the NFL). He is an elite athlete who moves well for his size and has shown vast improvement in all areas. When Mitrione came on TUF 10 he looked soft and clumsy, and I figured him for the most recent James Toney experiment. I assumed Mitrone would get killed on the ground and end up out of the sport before anyone knew how to pronounce his name.

But I was wrong.

“Meathead” has gotten better—A LOT better—between each fight and has turned himself from a football player with heavy hands and no cardio, into a MMA fighter with precise striking and vicious kicks. If Mitrione continues to get better and develops a bit of a ground game, he will be among the most skilled big men in the UFC. Mitrione looked impressive in his most recent KO of Christian Morecraft, but will need continued improvement to beat Cheick Kongo, who will be his toughest fight thus far.

Charisma

I can say with an unblemished and staunch record of heterosexuality that Mitrone is a good looking guy with an engaging personality, which should take him a long way in the UFC. Mitrone is articulate and humble in interviews and is always the first to admit that he has a long way to go while at the same time threatening to punch holes in people’s faces. UFC fans respond to confidence, but not usually cockiness, especially from a guy who is still a relative newcomer to the sport. Mitrione walks that line expertly. He even hosted his own segment called the “Mitrione Minute,” which brings me to the next point.

Controversy

Mitrione is no stranger to controversy, starting with his stint on The Ultimate Fighter. Whether you thought his antics on TUF 10 were the stupid acts of a “Meathead,” or carefully planned efforts to psych out his opponents, you have to admit it made for compelling television. His weigh-in shoving- match with James Sweeney was one of the highlights of the series. Sweeney eventually beat Mitrione in the octagon, but “Meathead” was the real winner, as he was one of the more memorable members of a TUF season that included Roy Nelson, Kimbo Slice, Rashad Evans and Rampage Jackson.

Since signing a UFC contract, things have gotten even more controversial. Mitrone made some jokes about Jenna Jamison during a “Mitrione Minute,” which started a Twitter war and eventually led to a confrontation between Mitrione and Tito Ortiz. Personally, I think Mitrione’s jokes were funny (so did Jenna Jameson) and that Tito needs to find room in that planet-sized head for a sense of humor, especially if he is going to continue to date porn stars. Tito’s loyal minions hate Mitrione, while Tito haters wish Mitrione had put his fist through the back of Tito’s head. This type of controversy makes people want to watch.

Obviously Mitrione still has a lot to prove, but beating Chieck Kongo would be a huge step...

Source

I'm a fan of Mitrione... I mean he is an ex-Viking and all.. if he can take down Chieck he can control the pace of the fight and should be able to win it... but its one hell of a tough fight for him IMO

I can't see him as a true "star" since he's a bit too much of a hick and I don't see the charisma (or top level talent) for him to become a huge star in the sport

A little early. He's going to have to show his stuff in the top 10. I just don't know yet. Barnett is in some peoples top 10 (sigh) and I think Mitrione would have serious problems with him. Up the ladder I dont think so.

i could see mitrione becoming a star in the lhw division. id love to see him shed 35 pounds and drop a class.

in the hw division its hard to get in that spot light with guys that are so much bigger than you and you not being a wrestler or having a sick ground game imo

Actually bamage, you hit on something there. What is Meathead actually good at? He has some power but he isn't a great striker and doesn't have a great ground game either. He has charisma but how far will that take him?

there are a ton of interesting fights for him at 205

but all those roufus guys are studs and are tough as hell. i love that camp but id like for them to pick up a few more hw wrestlers in their camp.

Im always rooting for the meathead. He's always putting on great fights. He has the potential to become something big.

Where is he training?

butterknifeninja wrote:: Where is he training?

training with Lytle.

With Lytle and Duke Roufus if Im not mistaken...

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