UFC
UFC 145's Miguel Torres reflects on hard lessons learned after 2011 Twitter-related release
Apr 2, 2012 - 11:15:39 AM UFC 145's Miguel Torres reflects on hard lessons learned after 2011 Twitter-related release

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Former WEC Champion Miguel Torres got himself into hot water with the UFC last fall, making an off-color joke about rape on Twitter that led to his release from the organization.

The release came about for a number of reasons, most notably the fact that it was brought to UFC President Dana White's attention during a live interview, and also the fact that it was on the heels of two other similar incidents with fighters higher up the ladder in the organization. Torres has since been brought back, having apologized for the incident and doing enough to repair his image in White's eyes to give him another chance.

As he prepares to take on Michael McDonald in just a few more weeks at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Torres reflected on that Tweet and his release in a new blog entry at MMAFighting.com.

"Looking back, what happened was a mistake, and one I desperately wish I could erase," Torres opined. "I said something stupid, I was very insensitive, and I paid the price. Thankfully, at least I'm now aware of just how powerful my words can be and, as a result, will never approach social media in such a carefree manner again."

Torres had often gone on stream of consciousness rants on his Twitter account, and he would often joke in an off-color manner. But now, having crossed a line that led to real consequences, he's backing off the social media ledge.

"To be honest, I've always hated social media and have never liked the idea of being involved with Facebook or Twitter," he claimed. "In fact, I only became involved in that world because I felt obligated to do so as every athlete is involved. It was never a personal ambition of mine to splash my thoughts, feelings and movements across the world wide web for everybody to see."

"I have a certain style and personality, and have now come to realize that it's not for everybody. Twitter highlights the fact that some people out there like you and support you which is great, and others hate you and can't wait to see you lose. I'm not sure whether that's the kind of feedback anybody wants to read or hear, but it certainly gives you a new perspective on things. It makes you realize that you're not infallible and, no matter what you do in your professional life, there will always be people that dislike you for some reason."

Ultimately, it was the realization that he was sent out of the top promotion in MMA that has him doing anything he can to avoid a repeat. The release, Torres says, helped him realize how much he feels he can't live without being involved in the sport.

"The idea of being cut from the UFC and frozen out was something that scared me a great deal," Torres admitted. "Fighting is my life – it is all I think about on a daily basis – and the UFC gave me the opportunity to showcase my skills on the biggest stage possible, against the best competition available. You can't take something like that for granted, or take your eye off the ball and jeopardize it."

"That whole episode made me realize how important mixed martial arts is in my life. I want to always be involved in MMA. Obviously, I'm aware that I won't be able to fight for the rest of my life, but there will always be something I want to do, be it training others or working as an analyst. I'd love to do a lot of both in the future. I've been involved in mixed martial arts for 14 years now, and like to think, I've seen pretty much everything this sport can offer. I've experienced both the highs and lows, inside and outside the ring, and am still living to tell the tale."

Penick's Analysis: What Torres posted on Twitter last fall was ridiculous and inappropriate at best for someone in his position, and the UFC responded. It wasn't any more ridiculous than what was said by Forrest Griffin, and it was certainly not on the level of what Rashad Evans said to Phil Davis, but that didn't excuse it, and the UFC's selective enforcement bit him in the ass. However, I am glad to see him get a chance to come back, redeem himself, and avoid making those types of public comments again. There are things that are acceptable in certain quarters, or being said by certain people, that simply aren't acceptable for professional fighters in a public forum, and Torres had to learn that lesson the hardway. The UFC simply now has to hope that Torres will be an example to other fighters of what can happen when you don't think before posting.