Editorial: Ignoring Stephen A. Smith’s opinion on WMMA is the wrong thing to do

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images Stephen A. Smith is a hot take machine. His outspokenness on topics he understands — and also matters he doesn’t comprehend — have made him a rich man. The five-year deal he inked with ESPN in 2019 reportedly pays him close to $8 million a year. Earlier this week, Smith, who never misses an opportunity to pontificate, offered his opinion on women competing in mixed martial art.

During a recent edition of Larry Whitmore’s Black on the Air podcast, Whitmore asked Smith about women taking leadership roles in sports. Smith almost immediately took things in a weird direction.

“First of all, I love it. I think there’s an awful lot of women who are incredibly…