MMA’s relationship with the LGBTQ community has been a rocky one. Prior to the opening of women’s MMA divisions in 2013 the promotion had never had an openly gay or lesbian fighter among its ranks; 20 years of straight men fighting straight men (or at least presenting that way). Four years later and the UFC still has yet to have an openly gay male fighter.
In part, that may be chalked up to some of the hostile language that has more or less been the norm between fighters talking trash over the years (something that’s even seeped into the UFC brass in the past).