Phil Davis: "Don't call me talented."

Not long after his successful UFC debut, light-heavyweight prospect Phil Davis let it be known that he was sick and tired of black fighters being labeled "explosive" and "athletic" by commentators.

Now "Mr. Wonderful" is expressing his distaste for another adjective: talented.

According to Davis, his success has come about through hard work, and natural ability has nothing to do with it.

"I'm not real talented, so I have to work on things extra hard," Davis told Purefight.org. "Everybody hypes up me, "He's so naturally talented." I don't even know what naturally talented means. I don't even know what that means. Who says that? I don't want to pick on Joe Rogan, but he says that."

Davis (6-0) has looked impressive in his first two UFC fights, dominating Brian Stann for a decision at UFC 109, and then dispatching Alexander Gustafsson via first-round submission at UFC 112. It's hard to watch Davis fight without being struck by his speed, power, technique, and yes, his athletic ability.

But according to Davis, athleticism should be taken as a given in a professional fighter, and is not something to be praised or looked at in degrees.

"People who are professional at anything are obviously good at what they do," Davis scoffed. "So saying that someone who's a professional athlete is athletic is actually more of an oxymoron. Of course they're an athlete, of course they're athletic. Doesn't it make sense that a professional athlete would be athletic? You know what I mean? Of course they are. They're an athlete, that's what they do. They wouldn't be an athlete if they were not athletic. There's no such thing as an unathletic athlete at a professional level who's any good."

In a sport where athletes are criticized not only for their technique, fitness, and finishing ability, but also for their hair styles, tattoos, and the professions of their wives, many fighters would be glad to recieve any compliment at all.

Not Davis. Seemingly he looks on praise for his talent as a sort of veiled insult, a suggestion that he has achieved what he has without having to put forth a tremendous amount of effort.

For "Mr. Wonderful", nothing could be further from the truth.

"I'm not real talented," Davis clarified. "Meaning that when I learn a skill, I don't get it the first time, or the second, or close to the first thousand

via mmacrypt.com

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