Friend of our site


MMA Headlines


UFC HP


Bleacher Report


MMA Fighting


MMA Torch


MMA Weekly


Sherdog (News)


Sherdog (Articles)


Liver Kick


MMA Junkie


MMA Mania


MMA Ratings


Rating Fights


Yahoo MMA Blog


MMA Betting


Search this site



Latest Articles


News Corner


MMA Rising


Audio Corner


Oddscast


Sherdog Radio


Video Corner


Fight Hub


Special thanks to...

Link Rolodex

Site Index


To access our list of posting topics and archives, click here.

Friend of our site


Buy and sell MMA photos at MMA Prints

Site feedback


Fox Sports: "Zach Arnold's Fight Opinion site is one of the best spots on the Web for thought-provoking MMA pieces."

« | Home | »

Hot Stove League in MMA with lots of UFC-based activity

By Zach Arnold | January 11, 2011

Print Friendly and PDF

Here. I gathered the headlines and put them into one post to save you some time and trouble. Plenty for you to chew on. Take your pick and comment on a story.

Topics: Media, MMA, StrikeForce, UFC, Zach Arnold | 25 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

25 Responses to “Hot Stove League in MMA with lots of UFC-based activity”

  1. Coyote says:

    for #Bellator the inclusion of “Chris Lozano” to their Welter Tournament is amazing. That guy is a very good prospect.

    I wait the match Dave “Pewee” Hernan vs Cole Konrad.

  2. 45 Huddle says:

    1) Bellator gave their commentator a bad contract and he said no. It sounds like it was worse then his current one. That is a good sign they are hurting for money. Organizations who make money typically do that. Especially with guys who are doing their job decently.

    2) By the UFC saying they intend to run a show in NYC, it puts more political pressure on the state to get it sanctioned. Because now the REALITY of lost revenues is right there. Smart move on the UFC’s part.

    3) That article about Strikeforce is by Loretta Hunt, who is the biggest anti-UFC schill currently writting about MMA. There are no indications of Strikeforce getting back with CBS at this point. And if they do…. Why give away your biggest fight on CBS (Fedor/Overeem), and then ask people to pay for a fight they care about less on PPV? That is why the format structure doesn’t work for CBS. If they had Fedor and Overeem on opposite sides of the bracket, then you do the 1st round on Showtime…. Semi-finals with both Fedor & Overeem on the same card on CBS…. Then Fedor/Overeem in the finals on PPV. But that would make too much sense. My bet would be on them trying for PPV if both Fedor and Overeem both win.

    4) Hershman’s comment about the Super Six being talked about more then Pacquiao shows how nuts and out of touch with reality the guy is. Pacquaio is the biggest money maker in boxing. The Super Six has become a joke. It doesn’t shock me that he is the same brains behind Strikeforce at this point. Only a guy making crazy comments like that could have such bad matchmaking skills like SF had in 2010.

    5) The nice thing about the UFC having 7 champions is that even with 2 of them injured, they still have 5 to use up for PPV’s. This works out great.

    6) The upcoming UFC PPV’s, outside of Fitch/Penn are all looking great. smoogy posted on the UG that some radio guy said if Hominick wins his next fight he is likely to fight Aldo on the April Skydome Show. That would be amazing to have 2 Canadians in title fights along with Couture/Machida. The increase to 7 weight classes has really benefited the UFC so far from the matchmaking we have seen.

    • 45 Huddle says:

      Oh, and in no way am I saying Hominick is even close to being a #1 contender. I think the entire Featherweight and Bantamweight divisions are going to go through so much influx over the next 2 years that the rankings no are meaningless.

      There are higher ranked guys who might deserve the shot before Hominick, but styles make fights and Hominick has a style that could beat Aldo. And many of the guys who are ranked above him have either already lost to Aldo or don’t fight in the UFC (Sandro & Hioki).

  3. frankp316 says:

    Jimmy Smith tweeted that Bellator lowballed him and Neil Grove will replace him.

    Regarding the Casino Rama show, I guess it depends who they bring in. It’s not going to affect UFC much.

  4. 45 Huddle says:

    Gray Maynard vs. Frank Edgar as coaches of this season of TUF.

    Not to worst choice in the world in terms of delaying titles. They really just fought so we are likely to see them either at the end of May or in June fight their 3rd fight.

    I’m sort of surprised they didn’t use this season to showcase the lower weight classes. Perhaps next season?

    • 45 Huddle says:

      Nevermind. It’s Lesnar & Dos Santos.

      1) Lesnar should not be getting a title shot…. Even if they call it for the interim belt…. coming off a loss.

      2) TUF 13 will do huge ratings with Lesnar as the poster child.

      • edub says:

        But it’s probably the best fight in the UFC’s HW division. Two top 5 HWs going at it at the end of TUF. Not much to complain about IMO.

        • Agreed. Its also a fight Lesnar should win, IMO.

        • edub says:

          It’ll be very interesting to see how JDS deals with Brock’s power from the top position.

          I find it interesting that you think he should win it though. I think the whole not being able to take a shot thing is still a big ?.

        • Isaiah says:

          It’s a very interesting fight, but if Brock wins, I have no interest in Brock/Cain II.

        • edub says:

          Do you say that because you think Brock has no shot in the rematch Isaiah?

          I’m actually kind of interested to see if Cain can get back to 100% after that shoulder surgery. If he doesn’t KO Lesnar IF they fight again (and the shoulder goes out again), Cain would be in big trouble dealing with the size disadvantage.

        • 45 Huddle says:

          Torn Rotator Cuff is a serious thing. Very tough rehab. A lot of times you never regain full range of motion ever again.

        • Isaiah says:

          I don’t see any reason for it to be any different from the first fight. If Cain doesn’t come back the same from the injury (I know that’s a risk with pitchers, but I don’t know about fighters), that’s not a reason to want to see the fight.

        • I bet against JDS when he fought Nelson for the same reason. Until I see him shrug off a shot from a big wrestler, I won’t believe he can do it.

          I would have no issue with Lesnar getting a rematch with a win over JDS. I don’t see how anyone could. That’s the #1 contender the UFC has right now (though he might only rank in at say, #5 in the division) and to beat him and have the cache of being a former champion – that’s important. Plus, you put in that injury with Cain, and that’s about the only thing that can get Lesnar on even keel with him. It could very easily be a situation like Sylvia/Arlovski II.

        • Isaiah says:

          Cain’s first defense would be a rematch of the guy he just obliterated. This would be like Tyson/Berbick II happening in 1987. I don’t see how anyone can be on board with that. Though, again, Brock/JDS is certainly a fight I’m excited about.

      • Cory says:

        Its not for an interim title, but the winner will fight Cain.

        • 45 huddle says:

          Yeah, I read that. VERY happy to hear that.

          It makes for a very nice #1 contenders fight, but shouldn’t have a title involved.

          Lesnar could have fought an easy fight next out. The guy wants to be challenged. That much is sure.

          Oh, and I’m sticking with my prediction that Lesnar makes 1 more big run at the title and when he falls short he quits MMA.

        • IceMuncher says:

          Having read the release, I came back here to say this. It’s the best #1 contender fight possible, no complaints here.

  5. IceMuncher says:

    The reasons are obvious, but it’s still a little strange to have Lesnar as a coach. He’s very much a student himself. Half the guys he’s coaching will have more fights than him, and his fighting style is custom tailored towards outmuscling opponents with his wrestling.

    • Steve4192 says:

      Lesnar is a coach in name only, just like most TUF coaches. Morgan, Paulson, Comprido, & Welch will be the guys doing the coaching.

  6. EJ says:

    You know one of the things I give the UFC credit on most is their booking of fights and fighters. With some exceptions, Joe Silva and company usually do a great putting together fights that make sense.

    Which is why i’m left shaking my head and saying WTF?, to this Brock vs. Dos Santos fight. Don’t get me wrong it’s a very interesting fight but right at this moment it makes zero sense.

    I don’t know what the UFC is thinking with this, I might need someone to explain it to me. It’s not that I wouldn’t like to see this fight but not in these circumstances with Brock coming off a loss and Dos Santos off multiple wins. Not to mention that Dos Santos has no personality and brings nothing to the show unlike a guy like Mir would. This one is truly one of the few times where i’m left just shaking my head thinking this is a mistake.

    • Steve4192 says:

      “I don’t know what the UFC is thinking with this, I might need someone to explain it to me”

      They’re thinking it will get gigantic ratings on Spike (just in time to negotiate a new deal), establish Dos Santos as a personality with the viewing audience, and do massive numbers on PPV.

      It’s really not that hard to figure out.

  7. Steve4192 says:

    “Not to mention that Dos Santos has no personality and brings nothing to the show”

    Of course he has a personality. We just haven’t seen it yet. TUF will expose fans to his personality, which is the point of putting him on the show. Junior is super young and one of the best fighters in the world. Putting him on TUF and increasing his exposure will do nothing but help his career and help Zuffa sell PPVs.

    Besides, even if his personality is rather bland, I am sure there will be someone there to pick up the slack (just like Al Stanky did for Big Nog).

Comments to smoogy

*
To prove you're a person (not a spam script), type the security word shown in the picture.
Anti-spam image