Toni Valtonen is a Finnish mixed martial artist who fights all around the world for Team Finland in the M-1 Challenge, including two fights in the United States this year. A veteran with a 19-9 record, Valtonen hasn't done much in the ring to distinguish himself from any of the thousands of other athletes who compete in MMA.
But he is now attracting attention for something unrelated to his fighting: Valtonen has a swastika tattooed on his shoulder and the words "white pride" tattooed on his back.
Valtonen's tattoos are not exactly a secret -- there are plenty of photographs in which they're readily apparent (see here and here and here for examples) -- but they've been largely ignored by MMA fans and the media, in large part because M-1 has required him to wear a patch over them while he fights.
But the patch over his swastika tattoo came off during a fight that was televised in the United States on HDNet, and the network later acknowledged on its Inside MMA show that it received a complaint from a viewer about it. HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon declined to discuss the matter further, saying via e-mail, "We did a segment on Inside MMA this week. Enough said."
Contacted by FanHouse, Valtonen's promotion, M-1 Global, issued a statement saying, "M-1 does not allow Mr. Valtonen to fight with any of these tattoos exposed. Before each of Mr. Valtonen's fights there are patches placed over his tattoos. M-1 regrets the fact that there were still tattoos shown when the patches got loose in the fight. By this statement M-1 wants to state that we do NOT in any way support the views of any individual in particular."
Valtonen could not be reached for comment by FanHouse, but M-1 passed along a statement from him saying, "I had a crazy and rebellious youth, I made some faults in my past and I am not proud of these marks. I regret that I ever had these tattoos made. Nowadays I am a dedicated family man and professional athlete, and I am not involved in any politics whatsoever."
M-1 and Valtonen are doing the right thing, of course, by distancing themselves from those tattoos. But if Valtonen is sincere, he ought to have them removed or permanently tattooed over. Until he does, it's hard to see how M-1 and HDNet can continue having him represent their companies.
What do you think? Tell me on Twitter @MichaelDavSmith.
MMA Fighter Toni Valtonen Has Swastika, 'White Pride' Tattoos
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8/31/2009 11:15 AM ET By Michael David Smith
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- Michael David Smith
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Read More: M-1 Global Toni+Valtonen, ToniValtonen
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Comments (Page 1 of 23)
It's good that he regrets the tattoo, but I would describe a swastika as more than just being a "rebellious youth." Are swastika tattoos common in Finland?
So let me get this straight. It is not okay for this guy to have white a power tattoo, but it is okay for cain velasquez to have a brown pride tattoo?????
blurr: it says white power, not white pride. it would pass if it just said white pride, like cain velasquez's brown pride tattoo
nvm it says white pride...
AWWWWW c'mon lets the whites have their PRIDE like the BLACKS. (& everyone else)
Ya right....
Dont let the dude fight anymore until he gets rid of the tattoos.
I'm pretty sure this is still a free country... meaning you can tatoo whatever you want on YOUR body... he's a fighter NOT a politician! Geesh!
As long as he shows his opponent respect in the ring, WHO CARES! As for M-1, I can completely understand them not wanting the tattoos to be shown ... from an advertisers POV.
No one stopped him from getting the tattoos so I don't see your point.
Being an MMA fighter is not a civil right. Period. If M-1 or HD NET says the guy can't fight unless he gets them removed thats NOT a violation of his civil rights.
I wouldn't want someone with Nazi propoganda representing my brand, either.
Yea you go tell him that and let us know how ya make out.
Terry - There is NOTHING wrong with a WHITE PRIDE tattoo. A person's belief, racist or not, is not grounds for suspension. Besides, tattoos are a form of speech protected by the democracy all around the world. So get over it!
Yea you go tell him that,And be sure and come back and tell us how ya made out.
Terry, I went through WW11 and I am against the meaning of the tattoo, but as a child he may not have known what that meant. I think everyone should take pride in his race and if others' public tattoo can say they have pride in their race then he should not need to get rid of his tattoos. If you do not agree with him show your disdain by not paying to watch him fight.
your an idiot why is ok for black ppl to say black power/pride and thats not racist and no one cares but if a white person says the same thing but about white ppl then hes considered racist and a horrilbe person
When did Americans become such sensitive politically correct pussies? Mind your own business instead of everyone else's and you'll find you live a lot happier life.
let him fight ! anybody else no matter what race gets to do and say whatever on there body and we dont complain but he cant ?
jeep4owens, it is a free country, and that also means other people don't have to like his tats, and can be vocal about it. Are you saying that M-1 takes away his free speech when they make him patch the ink?
I think his tattoos are disgusting. The thing is, Cain Velasquez has a tattoo that says "BROWN PRIDE" going across his collarbone. Why isn't he told to wear a patch as well?
Because "Brown Pride" represents Spanish heritage while "White Pride" represents lynching people that aren't white. Basically.
Kinda the same thing with the Joker faces on Presidents. Bush got the Joker face, but the media didn't care, even made light of it. But when Obama gets it . . . OHHH NOOO!! XDDD
I'm half-black by the way, so I can speak for both sides here ;D