Twitter removed blue check marks from previously verified accounts on April 20, leaving the majority of the MMA community without one.
MMA fighters are avid Twitter users, but on Thursday, they discovered that their profiles are missing a crucial feature. On April 20, the global social media platform removed all legacy blue check marks from previously verified accounts as promised, leaving the majority of the MMA community unverified. The impact this will have on the broader Twitter landscape is still unclear, but fighters were quick to share their reactions.
UFC bantamweight veteran Brian Kelleher humorously criticized the decision, labeling it “bulls***” and declaring himself “self verified.” His post included a picture of himself with a do-it-yourself blue check mark. However, other fighters like Kelvin Gastelum took a more serious approach, vowing to leave Twitter if the pay-to-play move extended beyond just being verified. Gastelum wrote, “If any social media platform that was given to me for free, is now telling me to pay, I will delete it.”
Several other MMA fighters also shared their thoughts on the removal of their verification badges. Fighters such as Wonderboy, Sean O’Connell, and Megan Olivi expressed disbelief or confusion about the situation, while others like Brendan Loughnane made light of the situation by referencing their “freedom.” The fighters’ responses highlight the range of emotions and opinions on this significant change to Twitter’s verification system.