MMA is full of fighter beefs that pop up almost out of nowhere, and the COVID-19 lockdown doesn’t seem to have halted that trend.
The latest Twitter clash involves UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes and Invicta FC flyweight Pearl Gonzalez. Despite both hailing from the Chicago area, they ended up in a spiky social media exchange following comments made by Blaydes regarding Gonzalez’s looks and fighting ability.
Over the course of a host of social media posts, screen-shotted by Blaydes himself and shared on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, Blaydes put forward an argument that there are a number of female fighters who, he said, are receiving preferential treatment due to how they look, rather than how they fight.
Blaydes named Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich as examples when he chatted with fans online about the topic.
“So you telling me Paige Vanzant and Rachel Osto-whatever actually deserve time remain on the UFC’s roster for their ‘athletic achievements’ and their not just on cards for their sex appeal? Cause if I’m wrong about that then I guess the whole premise of my original statement is wrong and I apologize but if you’re a legit fan of MMA you couldn’t possibly believe the two females I mentioned are on the roster for anything other than the fact the look good in bikinis.”
When one fan asked about former UFC fighter Pearl Gonzalez, Blaydes weighed in again.
“Yeah I know of Pearl she’s another one who’s not a very good fighter but stays relevant cause she’s constantly posting bikini training pics, her skills are exactly what they were 5 years ago a brawler with terrible footwork and decent grappling. Too many females in the athletic industry are getting by on being sexy not actually being good at their craft.”
Gonzalez, a fellow Chicago resident, was far from impressed with Blaydes’ comments, and made sure he knew about it when she fired back on Twitter.
“A fighter complaining how my looks keep me relevant and that my skills haven’t improved. The fact you are today years old and still can’t speak a full sentence blows my mind.”
Blaydes then replied, accusing Gonzalez of mocking his speech impediment, but Gonzalez denied getting personal.
“To be 100% honest I wasn’t talking about his speech impediment.. I was talking about the stupid topics he chooses to speak on. We have such a huge platform & to choose to tear down women is so sad.”
“We’re both from Chicago… a city full of violence.. somewhere we need to uplift.. I used to shout this man out for being from the same city as me. I used to be a fan. Why not reach out & try to help women instead of criticizing?”
The back-and-forth continued, with Gonzalez signing off her part in the discussion with a damning assessment of Blaydes’ take.
“You didn’t just shame me.. you shamed all women.”
Curtis Blaydes takes aim at MMA's glamorous female fighters – and Pearl Gonzalez fires back
