UFC fighters react after losing their verified status on Twitter: “Gettin knocked out and losing my blue check all in the same week”

A string of UFC fighters have reacted to losing their verified status on Twitter after the company took away legacy blue ticks.

It’s safe to say that social media has become pretty important in combat sports. On the one hand, it can serve as a great way to build up a fight. On the other, it’s a way for fighters to build up their profile and really become ‘seen’ in the public eye.

One of the ways in which they do that is through a ‘verified’ blue tick. It may not sound like much, but it can often help someone stand out – or, at least, it did.

Twitter recently announced that they were removing legacy blue ticks, meaning the only way to acquire one would be by purchasing it yourself.

As you can imagine, plenty of UFC fighters weren’t too happy to hear that.

https://twitter.com/GilbertDurinho/status/1649183015308754944

https://twitter.com/BillyQMMA/status/1649119038113447947

If any social media platform that was given to me for free, is now telling me to to pay, I will delete it.
Don’t need a blue check mark.
But if I have to pay even without it, im out.

— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) April 20, 2023

https://twitter.com/Actionman513/status/1649234112979542016

https://twitter.com/WonderboyMMA/status/1649125133045334021

This is bullshit. Self verified baby can’t take nothing from me pic.twitter.com/0bUEkEUDTT

— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) April 20, 2023

UFC’s social media push

We regularly see Twitter popping up on UFC broadcasts these days, largely with media members and fellow fighters commenting on ongoing bouts. It’s a wonderful tool to use but as many of these guys have alluded to, Twitter doesn’t seem to be helping itself with this latest change.

Many, many people will neglect to pay for a service like Twitter Blue – if only out of principle. Now, there’s going to be a whole lot of uncertainty in the air.

The UFC probably isn’t going to be too concerned about that and the big stars will still pay for the honor. At the same time, it does feel like a strange move.

What do you think about Twitter removing verification ticks? Will this impact UFC fighters when it comes to growing their platform? How do you feel Elon Musk is doing as the new head of Twitter? Let us know in the comments, BJPENN Nation!