INFAMOUS: The Art Of Talking Sh%T
INFAMOUS: The Art Of Talking Sh%T
Do nice guys finish last? Why these high-level competitors choose to play the villain.
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"I prefer to be the bad guy. I think the bad guy is way more charismatic than the good guy." –GSP
Muhammed Ali, Conor McGregor, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Chael Sonnen, and Gordon Ryan are some of the greatest trash talkers in sports history. Throughout their careers, they have made headlines by mentally destroying their opponents and have cashed major checks as a result. Today we break down why some of the best in the world intentionally choose to become the villain.
"George is the main reason why I started talking shit to people." –Gordon Ryan
In jiu-jitsu, few can talk trash better than Gordon Ryan. The self-proclaimed "King" embraces being public enemy #1 and has an army of haters waiting to tear him apart 24/7. It's clear that Gordon enjoys being the bad guy of jiu-jitsu, but how did it all start? After seeing humble fighters like GSP getting trashed on social media, Gordon thought, what's the point of being good?
"People are going to talk shit anyway, I might as well do what I want." –Gordon Ryan
A major part of the fight business is drama, there's no way around it. Genuine aggression between fighters is one of the best ways to hype fights and sell tickets. So is there a way to use hate to your advantage? Humble MMA legend, Georges St-Pierre believes there is. He reveals why he enjoys being the bad guy and breaks down why being the villain is good for your career.
"You can sell yourself a lot easier if you're arrogant, a prick, because you make a lot of noise. It's hard to sell yourself if you're [humble]." –GSP
Today, we are seeing a new wave of fighters beginning to embrace this cocky mentality. Conor Mcgregor took the fight game by the balls after mentally steamrolling his competition and intimidating some of the best martial artists on the planet. This was clearly illustrated leading up to his fight against Jose Aldo. Mcgregor got inside his head so deep, the fight was won before they even stepped into the cage.
"You actually have to have the skills to back it up." –Gordon Ryan
While being the villain might sound like fun, you will look like a clown if it backfires. Gordon and GSP urge everyone to consider this before blasting fellow competitors. While stirring the pot might gain you more attention in the short term, a poor record will make you less intimidating than a yapping chihuahua. Want to hear the full conversation? Check out the first episode of The King Ryan Show linked below.