You can always rely on British fighters to speak their mind. Open, honest, with no need for any kind of filter, they more often than not wear their heart on their sleeve, shout loudly for what they believe is right and also feel no way about running down the credentials of a peer. Not all British fighters are like this, of course. But, on the whole, few would label the nation’s fighters as wallflowers.
So it proved yesterday when a trio of British mixed martial artists engaged in an online slanging match for the best part of the day, the result of which could be a fight or two later this year.
Lightweights Stevie Ray and Marc Diakiese initially went at it.
I notice @Marc_Diakiese ducked u @felderpaul I don't don't that! we will put on a crazy fight Infront of 13,000 scots. Let do it man 👊
— Stevie Ray (@StevenRayMMA) May 2, 2017
So ur saying I'm begging for sponsors but u won't fight what they offered you haha bit of a contradict are we? Go fight someone I know 👍
— Stevie Ray (@StevenRayMMA) May 2, 2017
Ur patters pish buddy. U already have a fight lined up u just concentrate on that.
— Stevie Ray (@StevenRayMMA) May 2, 2017
Keep my name out of your mouth for now.
— Bonecrusher ☠️ (@Marc_Diakiese) May 2, 2017
It was then that Ray’s fellow Scotsman Paul Craig decided to make an appearance and go against his countryman.
Ma man @Marc_Diakiese #BoneCrusher #FirstRoundKo #UFCGlasgow https://t.co/w1xOXNd1dF
— Paul Craig (@PCraigmma) May 2, 2017
Ray wasn’t having any of that.
I'll work on that just keep working on they elocution lesson #BoringFighter #YouWillNeedToLookUpWhatElocutionIs
— Paul Craig (@PCraigmma) May 2, 2017
It wasn’t all bravado and bluster, mind. We did get a potential new fight added to UFC Glasgow in July, one which, ironically, is fuelled not by hate but by mutual respect. Enter Philadelphian Paul Felder.
Defo man respect 👊
— Stevie Ray (@StevenRayMMA) May 2, 2017
It’s a funny old business.