Aaron Chalmers: Is The Resentment Deserved?

Aaron Chalmers: Is The Resentment Deserved? 

Bellator brought its product to London this past weekend and with it, we saw the latest chapter of the MMA career of former reality star Aaron Chalmers.

Chalmers moved to 5-1 with a 2nd round submission of Fred Freeman. But whatever Chalmers does in his MMA journey, he accepts he will never get the respect or acceptance from a large portion of the MMA community.

The former Geordie Shore star has been given the large Bellator platform and no doubt a paycheck to match, both are where most of the resentment to Chalmers comes from.

Bellator have decided to use Chalmers to boost their profile in the UK, and if Chalmers ticks that particular box, then can you really blame them, you certainly can’t blame Chalmers.

CM Punk got a similar, even bigger opportunity in the UFC, he had two fights in the UFC both on PPV, he was only given, gifted his spot because of his WWE run. By the way, Chalmers is much better than Punk.

A promotion will do anything to increase PPV buys, ticket sales, brand awareness, the likes of CM Punk or Chalmers are just playing along, they are unlikely to turn down the spot or the cash that comes with it.

In the case of Chalmers do we seriously expect him to say I will take less money for a lower spot, if the opportunity is there, anyone would grasp it.

In fairness to Chalmers, he could earn just as much or probably more if he returned to his reality roots, a far less painful way of life, but he wants to follow his MMA dream, and who are we to say he shouldn’t.

By all accounts, Chalmers is grafting in his quest and is doing it the right way, and people forget he doesn’t have to do it, he wants to do it. Yes the level of competition might be questionable, but Chalmers is still very much the novice, still learning on the job.

Many would have thought, hoped even, that he would go away after his defeat to Corey Browning. But I think we saw then what it means to him. Chalmers had the perfect excuse to leave, he didn’t take it.

Yes, I get the argument far more talented fighters don’t get the same opportunity, and promotions should do far more to promote their talent, but Chalmers only has an obligation to look after number one.

Personally, I think you have to give Chalmers his due, at the end of the day he’s doing what many of the trolls and haters wished they could do, and can’t. The hate, is it really just jealousy?