Of course, there is great joy in knowing that the fans watched the mauling of their bully-du-jour. There was catharsis in watching his head whipsaw back-and-forth as a mighty immigrant pounded it with 4-ounce gloves. There was more enjoyment in reading the comments of MAGA-Twitter disputing the facts of the fight as it happened in real time. Like their disaffection for all truths they typed angrily into the online portals of self-identity in the desperate hope that the maiming they paid $60 to watch wasn't happening and would soon be uncovered by Alex Jones to be yet another Deep State conspiracy!
It wasn't. The beating, the shattered jaw, and the loss -- they were all as real as impeachment. They happened. Colby now eats through a straw. And something else remained unchanged -- that Usman is an immigrant and citizen of the United States. And while you may prefer other fighters there is no question that his view on the chants that night inspire something more than the normal cud you'd hear running from the mouth of MMA's crassest self-promoters. Usman spoke about ideals, values, and what built our country and highlighted for all to listen, namely that entitlement and privilege is, in fact, actually not what makes this country great.
Take a watch.
Kamaru Usman's response to the "USA chants" at the #UFC245 post fight press conference is FIRE!�"�#Usman pic.twitter.com/GN0oEtD69z
�" Andres Cabrera (@SquadLeaderAce) December 15, 2019
To your questions …
Question of the Week (InterMat T-shirt winner): It seems we have a growing divide between those who support women's wrestling (both high school and college) and those who do not. Personally, I see women's wrestling being a big, if not the biggest, factor in the future of the sport. Many argue that it just isn't as exciting and compare it to women's basketball in terms of viewership. My question is how do we in America grow past this hurdle? We see that programs are popping up all over the country and many are vocal about their support. What does men's wrestling have that women's wrestling doesn't?
-- Robert R.
Foley: I think that many detractors simply haven't spent time watching the sport. The comparison to basketball isn't viable since the hoop is still ten feet, but in wrestling the competition is equalized. There is not much a man can do on a mat that a woman can't. It's really just a matter of acceptance.
The changes are slow, but they are building. The key to future success of women's wrestling is the advocacy of men. They can convince those in position of power to accept the societal changes and implement them at the district, local, state, and national level. I think Tom Brands has been incredible at creating a positive output for women's wrestling. It's far from his main focus, but every time he's asked he makes a comment about underestimating them originally and how he thinks his program is stronger now with them in the room. That's Tom Brands, the head wrestling coach of the top-ranked men's program in the country advocating for women's wrestling. That creates impact.
As the momentum builds and a larger number of coaches in a larger number of geographical areas begin their advocacy a tipping point will occur where we see it as normalized. I can agree that the viewership may never be 1-1, but certainly there is an opportunity to draw nearer to the boys as the women wrestlers of yesteryear become the moms and content consumers of tomorrow.
Men have had wrestling matches promoted for more than 10,000 years. The women are in the 30-something year of international competition. Progress is slow, but it is happening!
Kyle Dake with the American flag after winning a world title in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Q: Kyle Dake posted a video on Instagram of him striking and wrote, "After #tokyo2020 we will see what happens." Any chance Dake transitions to MMA? If so, how do you think he would do?
-- Mike C.
Foley: I think he's stating that there is a likelihood after 2020, and I'd almost bet he takes that opportunity.
I also think he's going to be very, very, very successful as long as he spends time learning to strike and grapple. The wrestling style he has is similar to Cormier in that his upper body strength and positioning would be a nightmare for most people in the clinch. Non-wrestlers have adapted to leg takedowns in a number of ways, but none have really learned to stop upper body clinches and mat returns from the fence.
Oh, and he's an outrageously great competitor who is mentally tough and in it to battle.
Let's see how Dake does this Olympic cycle. If he gets past Burroughs then maybe he sticks around. If he doesn't then maybe there is a stronger likelihood he hits the cage.
Q: Who do you think will make the finals in each weight class at the Senior Nationals in freestyle?
-- Mike C.
Foley:
57 kilograms: Spencer Lee vs. Vito Arujau
65 kilograms: Yianni Diakomihalis vs. Jordan Oliver
74 kilograms: Chance Marsteller vs. Mekhi Lewis
86 kilograms: Alex Dieringer vs. Zahid Valencia
97 kilograms: Kyven Gadson vs. Ty Walz
125 kilograms: Tony Nelson vs. Anthony Cassar
Q: I just saw the format change for the World Cup in wrestling. Sounds interesting. Six teams. Top five teams from previous World Championships and an All-Star team of wrestlers not on top five teams. Do you think this could work for the Division I National Duals? This year's field would be Penn State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Iowa and Michigan, and then a team made up of All-Stars (Jack Mueller, Seth Gross, etc.). Do you think this could work in Division I wrestling? If so, when would be the ideal time to hold the event?
-- Mike C.
Foley: I don't think it would work, based purely on the politics of NCAA wrestling and the difficulty you'd have of convincing stakeholders this was an idea that could grow the sport.
One place it could work is the postseason. After the season you could give a generous weight allowance and invite the top teams and then the national champions and other top finishers to fill out a sixth team. There would be some major politicking for that team, but in the end the result might be another product that the NCAA could distribute
Would be a fun event, but unfortunately I think there just isn't enough steam to make larger changes to the competition format.
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