What the fuck, Todd Grisham? How in the fuck are you going to mispronounce the name of MMA legend, and recent UFC Hall of Fame inductee, Kazushi Sakuraba? Some things in this sport are forgivable. We endured a decade of Mike Goldberg mispronouncing a myriad of names (let’s not even get into Joanna Jedrzejczyk). But, Goldie’s unabashed passion for the sport and lovable brand of stupidity gave him a pass. It even endeared us to him. But Gisham’s fuck up was a bridge too far. Let’s take a listen.
Check out that second pronunciation after the dreadful first attempt. You can only imagine someone in the production truck, screaming in Todd’s ear the correct way to say an incredible phonetic Japanese name. For fuck’s sake Todd, it’s pronounced exactly how it’s written. Don’t you professionally read and speak for a living? Have you never seen the name Sakuraba before? I can’t imagine this is the first time you’ve read a Japanese or foreign name. This is so piss poor, it makes me wonder if Grisham did this intentionally. Maybe he enjoys be hated by all of MMA fandom.
Anyway, let’s check out some choice cuts from Grisham well deserved Twitter roasting:
I've given Goldberg as much hell as anyone over the years, but he would never have botched Kazushi Sakuraba's name the way Grisham did.
— S.W. Junkball (@Junk_Baller) July 8, 2017
BAW GAWD Grisham. Mangled Sakuraba's name right there. Oh no. There's no saving this.
— Duane Finley (@DuaneFinleyMMA) July 8, 2017
Overeem says he saw Todd Grisham tap trying to say Sakuraba's name. #TufFinale @MMARoasted
— DanaUnleashed (@DanaUnleashed) July 8, 2017
Post-script: Todd Grisham did hop on Twitter afterward to acknowledge the mistake. For whatever that’s worth.
Amazing main event tonight. Obviously regret messing up Kazushi Sakuraba's name. Respect his amazing career and all his done for the sport.
— Todd Grisham (@Grishamfight) July 8, 2017
