Popular MMA journalist wants UFC fighters to take notes from football players on post-match behavior

Popular MMA journalist John Morgan wants UFC fighters to take a cue from football players with regards to their post-match behavior. Exchanging jerseys is a common tradition in football, wherein the act symbolizes respect and sportsmanship.

Morgan put out the following tweet expressing his thoughts on the matter:

Here's what John Morgan's tweet read:

"Would love to see jersey [swapping] become a UFC tradition. [I] understand [the] frustrations of a fighter that comes up short. But, when you're done competing - [do] you want 20 of your own shirts, or one from every one of your opponents? Each one of those [shirts] is a chapter in your life story."

While not common in the promotion, there was a time when two fighters exchanged jerseys after a fight. The said exchange happened in 2019 after UFC 242, when the then 155-pound champion Khabib Nurmagomedov defended his title against the then interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier.

'The Eagle' secured a third-round submission victory after a back-and-forth between him and 'The Diamond'. After the fight, him and Dustin Poirier exchanged T-shirts and displayed mutual respect and sportsmanship.

According to reports, Khabib Nurmagomedov auctioned Poirier's T-shirt for $100,000, and donated the proceeds to the Louisiana native's Good Fight Foundation. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Poirier said that it was the biggest donation sum his non-profit organization had raised till date back then.

Poirier put out the following tweet, adding that company president Dana White matched Nurmagomedov's figure and donated the sum to the foundation started by Poirier and his wife.

The caption to the Twitter post read:

"[I] just got off the phone with Dana White. He is matching Khabib's donation to the Good Fight Foundation. I'm so grateful for the love and support! Thank you all!"

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Is jersey-swapping a necessary tradition in the UFC?

While not necessary, jersey-swapping can be a welcome tradition in the UFC. However, if an athlete doesn't want to do so, they should be given the benefit of the doubt. Fighting in an octagon, understandably, takes a massive chunk out of an athlete's heart, mind and soul.

In the moments after a fight, the fighter is drained and needs to recuperate, physically, mentally and emotionally. If the fighter suffers a brutal knockout or a devastating injury, they shouldn't be expected to interact with anyone apart from their team and medical professionals.

It's not like fighters don't pay each other due respect after a fight. The most intense and heated rivalries have bitter-sweet endings, with fighters hashing out their differences in the end. Where people are expected to punch, kick and submit each other, it is understood that respect is an inevitable variable.

The biggest example of this was when Colby Covington fought Kamaru Usman for the second time at UFC 268. Some nasty things were said in the lead-up to the fight with Covington. However, after the bout, Covington was purported to have told Usman that he was only trying to sell the fight.