Military veterans petition Marine Corps to terminate UFC sponsorship

http://www.mmamania.com/2012/7/18/3167668/military-veterans-petition-marine-corps-end-ufc-sponsorship
The Marines are looking for a few good men ... just as long as they don't come from the legions of mixed martial arts (MMA) fans who follow the exploits of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world's largest cage fighting organization.

That's because "the military’s affiliation with the UFC sends a disturbing message to soldiers and civilians alike," according to comments made from select war veterans in a report by Katie Drummond, who also slam the "culture of violence against women, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people."

Having fighters flat-out refuse to train with gays certainly doesn't help.

Lory Manning, retired Navy Captain and Executive Director of the Women in the Military Project, elaborates (via Forbes.com) after the jump.

Quote :

"Why the Marines would turn around and support a group that so openly disparages women and gay people is beyond me. The UFC community is completely out of line with Marine Corps mandate."

This is not the first time ZUFFA, parent company of UFC, has been the subject of this debate.

UFC President Dana White was forced to apologize for verbally berating a female journalist in one of his online video blogs back in 2009, calling her a "c--t" for a report she published alleging shady UFC business practices.

That was followed by rape jokes from Forrest Griffin and Miguel Torres, and this puzzling video from Quinton Jackson, detailing how to kidnap women using chloroform. That was likely the straw that broke the back of blue-chip sponsor Anheuser-Busch, who threatened to act if derogatory and disrespectful remarks continued.

The Marine Corps, meanwhile, has its own issues when it comes to the treatment of women.

It should also be noted the UFC, employer of high-profile combat veterans like Tim Kennedy and Brian Stann, is a big supporter of the military, from its "Fight for the Troops" events to its financial contributions to various wounded warrior campaigns. I guess in the eyes of some veterans, the bad far outweighs the good.