Why can't I wear Tapout and Warrior Wear to support MMA fighting without being called out as a poser?

Question

The past few days I've been reading all of these posts asking if people who are not full-time fighters can wear MMA clothing. I have been a fan of MMA since I was a little kid. I was always interested in martial arts and have recently been introduced to MMA via the UFC. I love the UFC and I love the fighters who fight in UFC. After watching UFC for a few months, I saw an interview with Chuck Liddell. Liddell was wearing a Tapout t-shirt. Because Liddell was and still is one of my favorite fighters, I decided to buy a Tapout shirt to show my support for Liddell, the UFC, and MMA in general. Now, all I hear when I wear that shirt in public is how I shouldn't wear it because I'm not a fighter. Who said I was a fighter? I sure didn't! I'm just trying to SUPPORT a growing sport in America. I never said that I could whoop anybody who stepped up to me. I'm not denying the fact that if I stood toe-to-toe with Liddell, he would knock me on my *** in SECONDS. I never said I could be on my back against Matt Hughes and not be submitted in SECONDS. All I'm trying to do is support fighters, MMA, and the UFC. I did not buy a MMA t-shirt to feel like a bad *** or tell girls I fight in the UFC. It's all about supporting people and corporations I look up to. Please tell me what the h**l is wrong with that.

Answer 1

You know I have also wondered about this as well. You see a guy wear a Yankee hat , or a LA lakers jersy no one says , so you trying to challenge me to dunk contest? haha , I think I know what it is though , MMA is fighting , and every guy wants to think they can fight. And buy wearing a MMA or tapout shirt I guess its like When a dog shows its teeth , its says to other guys I know how to fight , or I like to fight somesh*t like that. I used to wear my Gracie gym shirt out , but it attracted allot of negative attention , so now I just wear it to my academy. I personally agree with you its just like wearing a nba shirt , but even guys at my gym like to pick fights with people who wear tapout shirts, because they believe they are trying to take a fighters rep with out putting in the black eyes.  

Answer 2

Because EVERYONE is wearing Tapout stuff now.  I have a Wanderlei shirt and a Cro Cop shirt to support fighters but being a fighter myself I don't wear Tapout or any of that stuff out in public.

Answer 3

I do not mind if people wear the clothes, it is how they wear it. some people will throw on an Affliction shirt and walk around like they are one bad mother. its the people that think that if they wear fighter type clothing they can get more chicks to get to bed with. the idiots who buy our gyms shirts and tell people who actually train down there they have tapped out the coaches when they have never set foot in to a cardio center let alone a mma gym. I like that people buy Tapout and others but I do not like the people that act like a fighter, especially when most fighters don't even act like that

Answer 4

I think that clown has given you an excellent answer. It's not that they wear it, it's how they wear it, and how they act. He deserves best answer on this one.

Answer 5

Clowns had a very good answer.

Here's my take on the whole thing;

If you're buying it just to support the sport, show, or fighter(s), that's fine. Again, it's all in your demeanor while wearing the shirt. However, I'd like to mention that there's a difference between wearing a UFC shirt or a shirt with Chuck Liddell on it and wearing a 'full contact cage fighter' shirt.

No matter what, if you don't train, you shouldn't be wearing a shirt that insinuates that you fight. TapouT has become kinda iffy, just because a lot of random douchebags wear it and act like it makes them tough. But still, so long as you carry yourself appropriately, it's easy to overlook.

Answer 6

its bc a shirt cost $40 bucks and a pair of grappling shorts cost $50 from sprawl or whatever other brand u chose, the only grappling shorts i have are from naga they costed me $25 and u probably will never have heard of the brand, people realy dont give a **** about the clothing it might be that the people who wear it act like douchebags, buying that stuff dose not support mma, or fighters brother anyone who told u that is full of c**p, going out and see local mma competitions and joining a gym and trainning in mma is how u help the sport grow  

Answer 7

...Poser. lol, jk.

Why not take MMA or a real martial that way you can just show the people how much of a poser you are by kicking their asses... Or just not wear the shirt.

Answer 8

Just guessing, but you're probably a young guy.  An old guy like me (36) could wear a Tapout shirt to the mall and people that recogize the brand (a small # I'm sure) would think "hey that geezer likes watching mma".  The young guy at the kegger down the dirt road that shows up in "fight gear" may have just as well showed up with boxing gloves and a mouth piece.  Young'ns will always look for something to give other young'ns a hard time about.  I simply tell anyone that makes a comment, I bought this to shirt to support the sport.  nuf said.

Answer 9

I like what the guy above said...take a martial arts class and put a beating on them...no but on the real the next time you wear the shirt just tell them that you like the sport and you're not trying to be a poser just a fighting fan! I do my training in Muay Thai but im not a full time fighter so if i wear an MMA shirt thats going to make me a poser? WRONG!!! Wear your tapout shirt with pride!!!