Marek Lieberberg, co-promoter of the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event to be held in Germany, has rounded on German politicians accusing them of “hypocrisy and double-standards” following criticism of the mixed martial arts event.
Before a gloved hand was raised, or a submission enacted in the first UFC event to be held in continental Europe, the UFC has come under fire in recent days from German politicians railing against the ‘barbarity’ of the sport.
Lieberberg responded with criticism of his own, reminding German politicians of the country’s violent past. For UFC veterans, it was a case of Groundhog Day. They have been here before, having slowly convinced US states of the validity and veracity of the sport, its rules, and organisation, after it suffered being banned in the US in the Nineties.
Since then, wholesale changes in the rules, regulations and safety procedures have created a slick organisation with fighting athletes at the peak of their powers.
Rich Franklin, one of the headline fighters here at UFC 99, a former High School Mathematics teacher, who converted to mixed martial arts and has become a world champion in the sport, explained: “It reminds me of a dozen years ago in the United States, when ‘brutal’, ‘barbaric’ and ‘human cock-fighting’ were the phrases being used. It’s a process of education when people haven’t seen the sport before, and critics simply get on the bandwagon.”
Politicians here have whipped up a storm, raising doubts about the influence of the sport on teenagers, and local councillors have sought to make the event an over-18 restriction.
Around fifty of the 13,000 spectators will not be permitted, therefore.
“The critics have never even seen a UFC event. Soft target, simple as that,” said Lieberberg, 63, one of Germany’s foremost event organisers, who has staged promotions for Simply Red, Depeche Mode, Madonna and others across Germany.
“I have been very outspoken at times in my life,” said Lieberberg, the son of Polish Jews, who was raised in a United Nations refugee camp straight after World War II.
“I have been also the promoter of numerous charity events including Live Aid and the Al Gore climate event in Germany; I was a front figure of many anti-xenophobic and anti-Rightist demonstrations in Germany.”
“And, as a son of people who, to put it mildly, suffered under previous regimes and was born and raised in a United Nations refugee camp, I think there is no doubt about my record professionally, ethically and morally. I always speak out when this entertainment industry needs to have a voice.”
“How does that compare to UFC ? I have learnt that, in my opinion, it is a transparent, honest, organisation compared to many I have dealt with in the past. They are amongst the finest I have dealt with. Every step of the way, they are straightforward. They say what they want and they keep their promises. It has been exciting to work with them.”
“With regard to the sport, of course I understand someone can say ‘I am anti martial arts, or anti boxing’. What I oppose is an unbelievable hypocrisy and double standard that has been exposed where politicians in Cologne have had the opportunities to deflect from Cologne problems and the media has built these up.”
“They have also tended to criticise an event that has never happened here. They have said that violence comes from UFC or the glorification of violence. For an event that has never happened here - how it could have influenced violence in Germany is unclear to me.
"And as a historical reference, I must say that Germany has a lot of remarks to make about its own history in reference to violence if I want to return with the same kind of coin.”
Lieberberg added: “Get your impression of the sport, experience the professionalism from the great performance of the fights, change your wrong opinion and your prejudice.”
Marshall Zelaznik, president of the UFC in the UK and Europe, added: “We have had a lot of opinions printed in the media here being based on shaky facts. Sometimes these things have a way of creating an inertia. My feeling is that there is a tendency from government officials to over-regulate some of the things we are accustomed to in the United States.”
“We think the reason they are doing this is based on spurious facts. It all derives from a lack of understanding about fighting taking place on the ground in MMA. With an open mind those watching will see the benefits of the sport.”
“I don’t want to trivialise it, but there was a time in the Fifties when a guitar-playing rock and roller shook his hips and his knees and they would not show it on tv. Now everyone is doing it. Aspects of the sport are not as damaging as they are being portrayed”
Franklin added: “I believe it is safer than boxing anyway. The perception is that a fighter laying on his back is defensive, or vulnerable, but it is often a tactical move.”
Zelaznik believes the sport will grow in Germany. “We want to break down pre-conceptions, we will face new questions, but it’s not about today, it’s about tomorrow, its about the long haul.”
(Source: telegraph.co.uk)
