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« | Home | »

UFC 83 in Montreal

By Zach Arnold | April 19, 2008

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PBP: Sherdog | The Fight Network | MMA Junkie | Observer | AOL Fanhouse

Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 89 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

89 Responses to “UFC 83 in Montreal”

  1. Tomer Chen says:

    At this point, we’ll be seeing GSP/Fitch and Hughes/Serra. If Serra wins and GSP wins, we’ll likely see a rubber match between them and if Hughes wins and GSP wins, GSP will likely face Alves instead. What happens if GSP beats Alves, though? Do they have him fight Sanchez? Challenge Silva at MW (assuming he gets by Okami in the rematch)? Is GSP even (seriously) interested in climbing up to MW?

  2. Chuck says:

    “I think that Dave, Gaijin and the rest of the hardcores need to take a step of the hardcore mma bubble. Have any of you guys looked at how the real world reacted to the card?”

    Who cares what “the real world” thought of the event? Sure it made great money, but does it change the fact that it was more than likely (I didn’t see it) a mediocre event? So you are telling me that Epic Movie was the best movie of the year last year because it made the most amount of money? And that “Juno” is just a middling indy movie because it didn’t make as much money? Get your head out of the gutter man.

  3. Ivan Trembow says:

    lol at the horrible job of the Associated Press headline writers, and of the horrible job of every publication that reprinted the AP’s false headline without any fact-checking.

    The AP story about UFC 83 had the actual headline, “Franklin retains welterweight crown with TKO of Lutter at UFC 83,” which is wrong in three different ways.

    On the SI web site, which picked up the AP story, it was still like that as of 7:00 AM on Sunday morning.

    Later on Sunday, the SI web site changed it to, “St. Pierre keeps welterweight crown with TKO of Lutter at UFC 83,” which was still wrong in two different ways.

    And even now, almost 24 hours after the event ended, the headline is, “St. Pierre keeps welterweight crown with TKO of Serra at UFC 83,” which still has one mistake in it. (St. Pierre didn’t retain the title, he regained it.)

    This is not a great moment for the AP, or SI, or any news outlet that blindly reprints AP stories that have gigantic errors in them.

  4. Dave says:

    There is no doubt that the show in a sense of attracting mainstream media was a resounding success, but the fact of the matter is, I don’t really know many people who were happy with the event as a whole.

    Also, wow, that AP headline and then the horrible pick-up of it. Just wow.

  5. Grape Knee High says:

    You know, I didn’t think the event was so bad. Maybe not greatest, not the worst event either. (But I’ll admit right now that I didn’t pay $45 for it, either.)

    I think I’ve accepted the fact that the UFC will never have the blockbuster, epic events that PRIDE put on. Also given that around 50% of the UFC fights I see are TUF episodes and UFNs, I’m sure I’ve become a bit inured to the lackluster cards.

    I also kind of liked Kenny Florian in the Rogan role, and I thought he brought a bit more professionalism to the post-fight interviews. He has a certain presence that I’ve never found other color guys like Rogan, Rutten or Quadros have ever had.

  6. 45 Huddle says:

    200 to 150? So they are trimming the fat off. That is still a good enough roster size to keep all the top guys. Over 5 divisions, that is 30 per division.

  7. Ultimo_Santa says:

    “At least Fedor is fighting Timmy. That should answer a lot of questions.”

    Yup. At long last, it will answer the burning question MMA fans have been asking around the globe: ‘Will Tim Sylvia tap out in the beginning of the first round, or the middle?’

  8. Jeremy (not that Jeremy) says:

    Wow, the loonies are out.

    One bad fight on the card (in the execution). I wasn’t disappointed at all.

  9. Mike says:

    The event was alright. I wouldn’t bitch about anything at all if Starnes weren’t such a running coward. It was obvious that Quarry wanted to stand, all Starnes needed to do was take him down. He is a ground guy anyway. He had a flat out crappy gameplan that he replaced with short sprints.

  10. klown says:

    Tomer,

    If GSP beats the next 2 guys (Fitch + Serra/Alves) and BJ Penn beats his next 2 opponents (Sherk + Florian/Huerta) I think we’ll see GSP vs Penn II. Only if GSP wins that mega fight might we see him go up a weight class to face Anderson Silva.

  11. sonzai says:

    “At least Fedor is fighting Timmy. That should answer a lot of questions.”

    That’s assuming, of course, Fedor and his management repay the $1.5 mil to M1 Global (http://www.fighters.com/04/19/sylvia-v-emelianenko-not-officialstill/)

  12. The Gaijin says:

    “Wow, the loonies are out.

    One bad fight on the card (in the execution). I wasn’t disappointed at all.”

    Well I’m glad you’ve been lulled into enjoying snoozefests and sloppy 1-sided fights or whatever else is put in front of you under the UFC banner. Sorry I don’t enjoy that, clearly that makes me a “loony” since I don’t agree with your opinion of what makes for “good fights”.

    I’d like to think with the virtual monopoly on “big league” mma and the roster to back that up we might actually get some good cards. Since they’ve taken over PRIDE they’ve had maybe 2 stacked cards and the rest has been 1 “good” fight with junk filler. Not what I’m looking for or should be forced to expect.

  13. Jeremy (not that Jeremy) says:

    Not to worry, Gaijin, I’m sure that yet another revival of Pride will be back any week now to thrill you with another Bushido class card with an appearance by another couple washed up heavyweights as it’s main event.

  14. The Gaijin says:

    Yup, because that’s exactly what I’m looking for!!

    An organization with the deepest roster of mma fighters ever assembled puts glorified UFN cards on PPV b/c they know it will sell off one guys name alone and come off well since it’s their debut show in Canada. On top of that the fights themselves are subpar compared to previous UFN’s.

    WOW – I’m really looking forward to more cards like that! Look out boxing, the UFC has figured out your business model!

    I’m looking forward to UFC 84 and THAT has a good card and will likely bring the good – but GOD FORBID I might express an opinion that this card stunk it up!

  15. The Gaijin says:

    Not to worry tho Jeremy,

    This card is likely to have been very successful money-wise. So you have plenty more of these watered down cards to look forward to in the future!

  16. Chuck says:

    Jesus, why are people such babies over other peoples’ opinions? God forbid someone disagrees with some of you. If some of you enjoyed UFC 83 then more power to you, but don’t get your panties in a bunch if some didn’t enjoy the product.

  17. cyph says:

    Now that Serra has exposed GSP’s weak stand up, the champ has now resorted to being Matt Hughes 2.0. He may be dominant but he’s also very one dimensional. I predict GSP VS Fitch will be a snore fest five round decision.

  18. The Gaijin says:

    I agree cyph that he looks a lot like Hughes v. 2.0 (I think its more v. 3.0 b/c I’d say Koscheck is Hughes 2.0 – but I digress)…but do you really think it’s because he’s got weak stand-up?

    I think its more that he’s now got a bit of the thought in the back of his mind that he can get tagged in an exchange – so he’s playing it safe. I mean he’s got the skills to take guys down and wreck them on the ground or sub them, so I think he knows that’s where he can do it while taking the least risks. IMO his stand up is pretty darned decent.

    As for Fitch – I bet he’ll sub him by about R3.

  19. cyph says:

    He obviously respect Serra’s stand up. Their first fight was no fluke. The fact that GSP took Serra down at the first opportunity tells me that he wants to part of a stand up exchange. T

    he guy got out struck by BJPenn and only won after Penn gassed and he resorted a wrestling him to the ground. Then he got KOed standing up with Serra. His last three fights were mostly on the ground. Connect the dots. His dominant wins against Sherk, Hughes, Penn, Koscheck, and now Serra has been through ground and pound. His wrestling is superior to his stand up. How can you even argue that.

  20. spacedog says:

    GSP may be reverting and relying on wrestling but he is hardly boring. In fact he is the prototype for an ground based ass kicking. He absolutly wrecked Serra on the ground, 100% non stop shalacking. Much more exciting than may “stand up wars”.

  21. The Gaijin says:

    I’m far from arguing his stand-up is superior to his wrestling. I agree 100% that his wrestling/g’n’p us far superior but I’m saying that’s why he’s using it.

    My point is that if he’s forced to stand and bang it out, I think he’s capable of doing so as well. I just think he’s going for the takedown is because he knows there’s a chance he could get caught with a punch, whereas if he takes the guy down there’s no way he’s even risking the chance of a KO.

  22. ilostmydog says:

    I’m pretty sure I read an interview or a post-fight where GSP basically said that he is confident in his stand-up, but when you get into a striking battle, whoever connects first has the potential to win. When he takes someone down and starts pounding them, he’s the only one with the potential to win.

  23. Matt Hicks says:

    Chuck, this is the fight business, not the movie business. You argument is weak.

    If you want to watch good fights, go watch UFC OnDemand.

    Or maybe you can go rewatch the last Fight Night, then look at rating it drew and maybe you’ll learn something.

  24. Canadian Press mention for you Zach:

    http://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/2008/04/21/starnes_leaves_ufc/

    MMA Internet forums were filled with abuse for Starnes.

    “I hope Starnes never fights MMA again… . What a gutless display, I was embarrassed watching it,” said one post on fightopinion.com

  25. IceMuncher says:

    ^^^
    Sweet, I’m net famous!!

    LOL

  26. The Gaijin says:

    Matt your argument is retarded all around.

    See how long any type of “business” lasts by giving the consumer a subpar product. What a terrible argument.

    Shut up and contribute something intelligent before you try to “pwn” someone.

  27. D. Capitated says:

    See how long any type of “business” lasts by giving the consumer a subpar product. What a terrible argument.

    As boxing will show, draining money from the hardcore fanbase who will buy any PPV that you put on is a profitable way to make a living. Well, at least for about 3-4 years. Then they catch on and stop buying altogether unless you give them something worth watching.

  28. Shane says:

    WWE has been subpar for years now but they just posted record revenue earnings for 2007.

  29. The Gadget Link says:

    As a Canadian, the first UFC card in my home country was OK overall. The main highlight was obviously GSP taking home the victory.

    The over-zealous crowd is a typical reaction from the Province of Quebec. Quebecer’s typically have that “Look at Me America” or “Let’s Impress Our Big Brothers Down South” attitude when it comes to hosting these type of events. If Quebecer’s we’re true sports fans, the Expos would still be in Montreal. Of course, just like in World War II, the gave up easily and didn’t take up a fight to keep their only baseball team.

    Typical of a Bandwagon Province, who’s only legacy to the world is the Montreal Canadiens and Celine Dion. 😉

  30. Jeremy (not that Jeremy) says:

    I’m so glad that soft drink companies would never provide us nasty ass sodas sweetened with corn syrup instead of sugar because it’s cheaper. I’m glad that the American people would rise as one and slay their soft drink oppressors if they ever attempted such a thing.

  31. Jeremy (not that Jeremy) says:

    I’m glad I’m drinking the MMA kool aid instead of Pepsi or Coke ;O

  32. D.Capitated says:

    WWE has been subpar for years now but they just posted record revenue earnings for 2007.

    Uhhh, the WWE isn’t a real sport. And their record revenues aren’t on the basis of massive increases in PPV revenue.

    I’m so glad that soft drink companies would never provide us nasty ass sodas sweetened with corn syrup instead of sugar because it’s cheaper.

    Yes, because mass produced food products and combat sport PPVs are so similiar. Why is it that no one can make reasonable comparisons? I’m blaming flouride in water.

  33. Jeremy (not that Jeremy) says:

    It’s all part of the communist plot to introduce foreign substances into our precious bodily fluids.

  34. D.Capitated says:

    Perhaps. In the meantime, I feel I may be waiting awhile for 3-3/4” UFC figures to take off with the 3-12 set, or for that matter, 75 cent PPVs.

  35. Chuck says:

    “It’s all part of the communist plot to introduce foreign substances into our precious bodily fluids.”

    Uh, wouldn’t that be Capitalist?

  36. The Gaijin says:

    “WWE has been subpar for years now but they just posted record revenue earnings for 2007.”

    Pretty sure WWE’s PPV buyrates are slumping – and have even fallen wrt their usual “slump proof” big 4 PPV’s. They’ve managed to save themselves for now by increasing PPV prices – we’ll see how long that helps.

    WWE’s increased revenues are also tied to massive DVD sales – which they’ve successfully used their extensive library to make DVD sets for “legends of wrestling” (i.e. Hogan, Flair, 4 Horsemen, Hart etc.) to make huge profits and likely won’t be able to continue to come out with the number of DVD sets they have and expect to bring in that amount of $$$.

    They also make a buttload of money of merchandising etc. that’s tied to their wrestlers.

    So far UFC has 2 basic revenue drivers – gate and PPV – PPV is far and away the big cash cow.

    I don’t really think the comparison to WWE’s short term profitability makes a whole lot of sense.

  37. Tomer Chen says:

    [blockquote]Uh, wouldn’t that be Capitalist?[/blockquote]

    That’s one of the most famous quotes (if not the most famous) from the film “Dr. Strangelove”.

  38. D.Capitated says:

    So far UFC has 2 basic revenue drivers -gate and PPV – PPV is far and away the big cash cow.

    I don’t really think the comparison to WWE’s short term profitability makes a whole lot of sense.

    What are you talking about? The running meme here is that pro wrestling and MMA are the same thing. UFC needs more mask wearing fighters. Certainly, Dos Caras Jr. can add some depth to the heavyweight division. They should also buy a few more libraries for UFC On Demand. I bet people would be totally stoked to watch Mo Smith in Battlecade at .99 a shot.

  39. Grape Knee High says:

    Certainly, Dos Caras Jr. can add some depth to the heavyweight division.

    Plus, more importantly, it would allow Cro Cop to actually beat someone when he comes back to the UFC.

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