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UFC 157 (2/23 Anaheim Pond): Ronda Rousey takes care of business
By Zach Arnold | February 23, 2013
Urijah Faber was recently at Scott Stern’s Las Vegas Fight Shop for UFC 156 weekend, signing autographs for fans. Faber has a challenge on his hands at UFC 157 against Ivan Menjivar.
Date: February 23rd
Venue: Anaheim Pond (Honda Center) in Anaheim, California
TV: FX/PPV
- Welterweights: Nah-Shon Burrell defeated Yuri Villefort after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Welterweights: Neil Magny (-150, 3 to 2 favorite) defeated Jon Manley (+130) after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Welterweights: Kenny Robertson (+130) defeated Brock Jardine (-150) in R1 in 2’57 by submission (knee-bar).
- Lightweights: Sam Stout (+130) defeated Caros Fodor (-160, 8 to 5 favorite) after 3R by split decision.
- Featherweights: Dennis Bermudez (-400, 4 to 1 favorite) defeated Matt Grice (+350) after 3R by split decision.
- Lightweights: Michael Chiesa (-180, 9 to 5 favorite) defeated Anton Kuivanen (+160) in R2 in 2’29 by submission (choke sleeper hold).
- Heavyweights: Brendan Schaub (-140, 7 to 5 favorite) defeated Lavar Johnson (+120) after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Welterweights: Robbie Lawler (+300) defeated Josh Koscheck (-350, 7 to 2 favorite) in R1 in 3’57 by TKO (punches).
- Court McGee (-350, 7 to 2 favorite) defeated Josh Neer (+300) after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Bantamweights: Urijah Faber (-400, 4 to 1 favorite) defeated Ivan Menjivar (+300) in R1 in 4’34 with a choke.
- Light Heavyweights: Lyoto Machida (-240, 12 to 5 favorite) defeated Dan Henderson (+200) after 3R by split decision.
- UFC women’s title (135 pounds): Ronda Rousey (-1200, 12 to 1 favorite) defeated Liz Carmouche (+800) in R1 in 4’49 by submission (armbar).
The last show ever… at the Ford Center Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City (1/12/2013).
After uninspiring performance, Daniel Cormier calls out UFC Light Heavyweight champ Jon Jones
Daniel Cormier vs. Frank Mir on April 20th in San Jose?
- Welterweights: Tarec Saffiedine defeated Nate Marquardt after 5R by unanimous decision.
- Heavyweights: Daniel Cormier defeated Dion Staring in R2 in 4’02 by TKO (punches).
- Heavyweights: Josh Barnett defeated Nandor Guelmino in R1 in 2’11 with a triangle choke.
- Light Heavyweights: Gegard Mousasi defeated Mike Kyle in R1 in 4’09 by submission (choke).
- Middleweights: Jacare Souza defeated Ed Herman in R1 in 3’10 by submission (kimura).
- Lightweights: Ryan Couture defeated KJ Noons after 3R by split decision.
- Middleweights: Tim Kennedy defeated Trevor Smith in R3 in 1’36 by submission (choke).
- Lightweights: Pat Healy defeated Kurt Holobaugh after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Middleweights: Roger Gracie defeated Anthony Smith in R2 in 3’16 by submission (choke).
Date: January 19th
Venue: Ibirapuera Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil
TV: FX
- Lightweights: Francisco Trinaldo defeated CJ Keith in R1 in 1’50 by submission (choke).
- Light Heavyweights: Ildemar Alcantara defeated Wagner Prado in R2 in 2’39 by submission (kneebar).
- Featherweights: Pedro Nobre and Yuri Alcantara went to a no-contest.
- Lightweights: Edson Barboza defeated Lucas Martins in R1 in 2’38 by punches.
- Featherweights: Nik Lentz defeated Diego Nunes after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Middleweights: Ronny Markes defeated Andrew Craig after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Featherweights: Godofredo Castro defeated Milton Vieira after 3R by split decision.
- Lightweights: Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Thiago Tavares in R1 in 1’55 by TKO.
- Heavyweights: Gabriel Gonzaga defeated Ben Rothwell in R2 in 1’01 by choke.
- Middleweights: CB Dollaway defeated Daniel Sarafian after 3R by split decision.
- Middleweights: Vitor Belfort defeated Michael Bisping in R2 in 1’27 by TKO (head kick + ground punches).
Date: January 26th
Venue: United Center in Chicago, Illinois
TV: FOX broadcast network
- Welterweights: David Mitchell defeated Simeon Thoresen after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Middleweights: Rafael Natal defeated Sean Spencer in R3 in 2’13 by submission (triangle choke).
- Heavyweights: Shawn Jordan defeated Mike Russow in R2 in 3’48 by TKO.
- Light Heavyweights: Ryan Bader defeated Vladimir Matyushenko in R1 in 50 seconds by choke.
- Welterweights: Pascal Krauss defeated Mike Stumpf after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Featherweights: Clay Guida defeated Hatsu Hioki after 3R by split decision.
- Lightweights: TJ Grant defeated Matt Wiman in R1 in 4’51 by KO.
- Featherweights: Ricardo Lamas defeated Erik Koch in R2 in 2’32 by TKO (elbows).
- Lightweights: Anthony Pettis defeated Donald Cerrone in R1 in 2’35 by KO.
- Light Heavyweights: Glover Teixeira defeated Rampage Jackson after 3R by unanimous decision.
- UFC Flyweight title match: Demetrious Johnson defeated John Dodson after 5 rounds by unanimous decision. However, two of the judges (including Sal D’Amato) scored it 48-47 for DJ rather than 49-46.
UFC 156: Antonio Silva bigfoots Alistair Overeem out of title contention
Date: February 2nd
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: FX/PPV
- Bantamweights: Francisco Rivera defeated Edwin Figueroa in R2 in 4’20 by TKO.
- Featherweights: Dustin Kimura defeated Chico Camus in R3 in 1’50 by submission (choke sleeper hold).
- Lightweights: Isaac Vallie-Flagg defeated Yves Edwards after 3R by split decision.
- Lightweights: Bobby Green defeated Jacob Volkmann in R3 in 4’25 by submission (choke sleeper hold).
- Welterweights: Tyron Woodley defeated Jay Hieron in R1 in 36 seconds by KO.
- Lightweights: Evan Dunham defeated Gleison Tibau after 3R by split decision.
- Flyweights: Joe Benavidez (-220, 11 to 5 favorites) defeated Ian McCall (+190) after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Welterweights: Demian Maia (+160) defeated Jon Fitch (-180, 9 to 5 favorite) after 3R by unanimous decision.
- Heavyweights: Antonio Silva (+350) defeated Alistair Overeem (-400, 4 to 1 favorite) in R3 in 25 seconds by TKO.
- Light Heavyweights: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (+450) defeated Rashad Evans (-600, 6 to 1 favorite) after 3R by unanimous decision.
- UFC Featherweight title match: Jose Aldo (-170) defeated Frankie Edgar (+150) after 5R by unanimous decision.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 286 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
FX Card – Really not much besides the main event.
FOX Card – I like this card, although it will likely tank in the ratings.
UFC 156 – This is a really good main PPV card. This is exactly how every PPV should be. A strong line-up from top to bottom.
FUEL TV Card – It is a shame that Michael McDonald’s potential coming out party is going to be seen by such few people. I do not understand the logic in this one at all.
UFC 157 – Why would I buy a PPV with a main event that will end in 2 minutes by armbar? I have a feeling this event will tank both in ticket sales and in PPV Buys. But long term I think that is actually a good thing for Zuffa. WMMA needs to fail on PPV. Why? Because WMMA on FOX makes much more sense. While fans won’t pay for those Ronda Rousey title fights, they sure will come out to see her on free TV, and it will help increase the ratings for those shows.
FX card is ok but its really just the main event
Fox card is awesome, dont care about the ratings though it should do atleast 2.5 to 3 mill viewers.
156 is stacked
Fuel card is awesome. Whats hard to understand? You do realize its not always about tv audience, its about giving a certain market a good fight and since they had no Hardy or Bisping they needed a main event.
157 is also a good card, why would you buy a PPV that has a main event that will end in a round? Because the card is good thats why. I wonder would you buy a PPV with a male fight that you know the main event is gonna end in a round? This hating on wmma is pathetic from mma fans.
and you are wrong about it tanking, its already sold 5k ticket for a bigger gate at this point than Shogun/Vera fox card at the same venue.
It will do 10k plus tickets, 7 figure gate and probably do close to 300k buys, for a female fight thats a homerun.
People wont pay to see a woman but would rather see it on free TV? Yeah I see what you mean, WMMA in UFC should get a trial on free TV before throwing it on PPV. Good way of sampling the goods. Especially since nobody cares about Rousey’s opponent.
I heard that dana is on a rampage again today because Nick Diaz hasn’t been following his twitter.
lol, I love Nick Diaz.
I agree with 45 about Ronda–I can’t imagine paying to watch women’s mma, but on free tv, she would be the bee’s knees.
Agree.
Agree. Really looking forward to it.
Awesome card. Really, really looking forward to it.,
Agree.
I kind of think the opposite. You could probably build up and sell a Cyborg/Rousey ppv but having her bomb now in a terribly, non-competitve main event thereby possibly dimming her stardom seems like poor planning. Putting her on FOX where she’s going to draw the curious casual fan seemed like the wiser choice. Of course, maybe the deal to get her and that Cyborg fight out of Strikeforce included an agreement to not put her on network Tv?
This fight wont bomb thats the point, even the weakest UFC cards do 200k buys, this has Hendo/Machida, Kos, Faber, its gonna get more press than most UFC events. This card should do close to 300k buys which is a slam dunk for a female fight.
“…which is a slam dunk for a female fight.”
Good luck with that mister.
(holding the breath…)
Eddie Alvarez does not believe Bellator matched the offer from the UFC…. And said that he was sued by Bellator 30 minutes after a meeting with them.
He is saying the terms are not even close to being the same.
He doesn’t even understand Bellator’s strategy. He believes that if this goes in court, it will not be seen as a true match….
He said he has been threatened with lawsuits a few times throughout the year by Bellator.
After the Aoki fight, the documentary people following him were yelled at…. and then threatened with a lawsuit. He felt like it was because he was not signing with Bellator at that point.
My opinion on the matter…. Bellator is going to shoot themselves in the foot by treating fighters like this. Fighters will be scared to sign with them in the future when they treat their talent like this.
Eddie Alvarez said there are two sides of Bjorn Rebney.
He said before that that he was treated very differently the first 3 years versus the last year.
Said if he got a TRUE match from Bellator, he would have signed with Bellator again.
He said the difference in the contracts is a LOT of money.
The deal he was offered by UFC was not a “Hector Lombard” deal but he liked the deal.
When Eddie tried to get an explanation on how the Bellator contract actually did match, the two responses he got were….
“We feel it matches.” & “The opposing contract was not written tight enough. We feel there is wiggle room.”
He even tried to use the projected UFC numbers…. Said he would take less from Bellator (but still more then they offered….. And they hung up within 1 minute…. And a lawsuit within 30 minutes.
Eddie said that if people saw some of the texts he got from Bellator it would blow their mind….
I wonder if the UFC will try to head this off at the pass and come to an agreement with Bellator.
Bellator is acting so egregiously they may blow-up the matching clause/champions clause (realize he’s not champion now and they’re not exercising it) by having a court precedent set. Obviously they’ll be doing it on a very fact specific case, but you never want to let some idiot be the one that sets the precedent that you’ll become burdened by. I guess it will all depend on what gets challenged – e.g. maybe it will purely be the “is this a match”, but courts can also provide obiter opinion that lays the groundwork and I don’t trust winnebago man jr.
Bellator has a very poor/shady past in deal with fighters where they have clauses/matching rights – Brookins, Herman, Nam, Hollett and now Eddie. They’ll scare ppl off from even bothering to sign with them…bad precedents here Bjorn.
So Rebney’s response is that they took the language from the UFC contract and matched it exactly, which is why the matching works.
Of course, Bellator doesn’t do PPV’s…. But they somehow think because Alvarez does not have a guaranteed PPV, that somehow they are in the right.
It is really shady to say the least. They don’t put on PPV’s so they cannot under any sort of reasonable offer, match PPV money at this time.
This is like the 8th Bellator fighter that has been sued by them so far. They are pissing off the hardcore fans…. They are going to scare any of the major MMA camps from doing business with them. Once the word is out that getting out of Bellator means a legal fight, that ends basically any credible camp doing business with you.
This is not going to end well….
They are looking to hold PPV’s this year so they just might be able to match.
I agree this is another pissed off fighter right now from Bellator, but apparently Zuffa isn’t much better.
If you don’t believe me ask Ben Henderson.
And Ben Henderson will get more when his contract comes up. This has happened literally over 100 times in the UFC. When a fighters contract comes up and they have proven themselves, they get more money. A short term problem with an easy solution in sight.
There is no good that comes out of trying to keep a fighter around that has finished up his contract. Especially when they want out so badly. Not to mention that they will easily lose in court.
They will piss off Eddie Alvarez. They will piss off the UFC. They will make most young prospects unwilling to sign with them (including major camps boycotting them). And it pisses off the fans.
This is short sighted and will completely backfire on them.
The problem is, they might not lose in court. PPV revenue is a gray area for legal concerns (along with all the bonus wording in the contract).
Sure they will. Many industries have contracts based on estimates. Doesn’t give the potential numbers any less weight.
Bellator was stupid to pull this stuff now. They would of had a much better standing if they actually had already put on at least 1 PPV. They could have totally screwed Alvarez over if this was the case. But they have put on ZERO PPV’s and the UFC puts on over 12 per year. To try and legally argue that what Bellator is giving is anywhere close to equal will fall apart with a $5 lawyer.
Completely disagree with that.
However, we’ll see if they actually go to court.
There is nothing to disagree with. Bellator is matching part of the contract with something that does not exist in their current company structure.
This isn’t even a real case. This is Bellator screwing around with a fighter because they can.
“Completely disagree with that.
However, we’ll see if they actually go to court.”
Means we’ll see if it actually goes to court, and I don’t feel like arguing with you.
Understand captain last word?
That may be true but isn’t it odd that the highest paid non-champions contracts we’ve seen in the UFC are Overeem, Diaz, Lombard, and now Alvarez’s offer?
I don’t think it is odd at all. Many of these guys help cripple other organizations, so that adds additional worth to their contracts.
Besides, it is a much riskier path into the UFC for fighters. The majority of Bellator fighters won’t have any success in the tournaments and then have no value to the UFC.
Even of the ones that do…. Like Lyman Good…. End up faltering at one point and completely kill their value. You basically have to go undefeated or maybe one loss (like Alvarez)…. And even then you could get caught up in promotional hell. Heck, look at Gilbert Melendez. He has wasted all of 2012 because of the Showtime/Zuffa problems.
So yes, they do get these great contracts…. But what a dangerous path to go down in order to obtain them….
It simply depends on the legal interpretation of the word “match”.
I don’t think it’s likely to be a direct copy and paste. The implied definition is clearly “we’ll match what the contract is worth”, not “we’ll match all the language”.
Someone offers me two contracts to clean their house. One is from Rebney, one is from Dana.
Dana says “If I’m around when you finish, I’ll give you everything I have in my wallet”. You know he spends all day, every day in his house, so he’s very likely going to be around to pay up, and there’s $1000 in his wallet.
If Rebney “matches” the contract word for word, is he really matching it if it turns out he’s planning to go out and won’t be back for a week, and only has a pile of expired coupons in his wallet?
Well, nobody in their right mind would sign or offer such a contract. It amounts to “If I feel like it, I will give you as much money as I want.” The real question is interesting. Obviously, if your contract offers “offer of primetime fight on Fox every few months”, how far do you have to match–does it have to be Fox, does it have to be a network, is there a system of rankings as far as what channels can be considered equal to which, or does a promise of “UFC title fight” have to be matched with “UFC title fight” and a “Date with Brittney Palmer a date with Briitney Palmer, not just another beautiful ring girl/model?
“I agree this is another pissed off fighter right now from Bellator, but apparently Zuffa isn’t much better.
If you don’t believe me ask Ben Henderson.”
Ben sounds pretty happy to me.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2013/1/12/3869118/ufc-champ-ben-henderson-gets-new-contract
That is the difference between the UFC and Bellator. The UFC regularly renegotiates contracts when a guy is due for a raise. They have done it over and over again when guys win a championship while still on a low-budget deal. They did the same thing Jon Jones when he won the title.
So Ben’s new contract was due to the fact that he was due a raise and not because Alvarez’s was made public?
Alvarez probably had something to do with the timing, but not with the act itself. I’m sure the UFC didn’t just slap together a new contract in a couple of days. They’ve probably had it on their to-do list for a while and moved it to the front-burner after the Alvarez deal became public.
The UFC has a long history of tearing up the old deals for their champions and giving them more lucrative ones. They gave Jon Jones a new contract after he won the title without an Alvarez to prompt them. Frankie Edgar also got a new deal after beating BJ Penn. Ditto for Junior Dos Santos after he won the title. The UFC likes to keep their champions happy and goes out of their way to make sure they stay that way.
Very well could have.
However, I don’t think its anywhere close to a lock that it was on their “to do list” either. With how the situation unfolded.
I wonder if Dana will add Strikeforce to the “Tombstone”
OK, so in order:
FX card is solid, with a very intriguing main event that hopefully will end with Belfort never being seen within a title shot again.
FOX card is atrocious. Flyweight main event, two expected beatdowns under it. Erik Koch, TJ Grant, Vladimir Matyushenko, ok, I am done.
156 is very packed, though I think Evans-Rodg is a non sequitir.
Fuel card is a joke, nothing here worth seeing, but that’s the standard these days.
157 is another packed card, though I think they are compensating for the possibility of a women’s main event not selling or maybe even coming up with excuses for why it will. I mean, Henderson-Machida, Faber, Koshcheck could all main event on their own. How many other UFC cards in recent history can boast this?
“FOX card is atrocious. Flyweight main event, two expected beatdowns under it.”
How is Cerrone-Pettis an expected beatdown? That looks like a very competitive fight to me. Cerrone has won eight of his last nine with the only loss coming to Nate Diaz, while Pettis has won six of his last seven with his lone loss coming to Clay Guida. Both guys have beaten a similar level of competition. It’s a pick ’em in my eyes.
For that matter, I don’t buy Teixeira-Jackson as beatdown either. Sure, if Rampage shows up fat and unmotivated he’ll get his ass whooped, but if he shows up looking to get himself one more fat contract from either Zuffa or another organization, I could easily see him beating Glover. Rampage is all about the money, and he just might figure out that the outcome of this fight will greatly influence his potential for one last big paycheck.
Koch-Lamas is also a cracker of a fight, assuming it makes the FOX portion of the show.
“How is Cerrone-Pettis an expected beatdown?”
The only blemish on Pettis’s record of the past 3 years is a single loss to Clay Guida. He has defeated Henderson and destroyed Lauzon. While Cerrone has looked top shape lately, the only top competition he has faced has been Nate Diaz and he was dominated. I think Cerrone is a tough fighter, but I don’t think he should be perceived at the moment as being in Pettis’s league.
Texeira-Rampage–Rampage has always been overrated, but lately he has obviously not been too committed to looking his best. Rather than trying to get a fat contract from Zuffa he has been trying to get out of this last fight, and, honestly, he would get a fantastic deal from any UFC competitor based on name alone. Texeira has on the other hand looked very impressively and been hailed as the next great big thing.
I want to acknowledge that both of those fights can go down differently from how these guys performed recently, but on paper, at least, that’s how these fights look to me. And I am not a big fan of <lightweights, so that's why the Koch fight doesn't really mean much to me.
So if you don’t like the lightweights then UFC 157 is a
shit card with Faber and such being on there. Does that make sense?
Agreed with pretty much all of that Steve.
While I think Pettis is better, and will win, I don’t think you could logically argue either are out of the other’s league.
I also don’t think Teixera is a huge favorite over an in shape Rampage either. Ramapage has looked like shit recently, but if he’s looking for a big contract from (place promotion here) he’ll be hungry for this fight. I think Teixera is a bit overrated at the moment (although I’m a big fan). He’s dominated guys that were at best borderline top 20, and he’s like 50 years old.
“How is Cerrone-Pettis an expected beatdown? That looks like a very competitive fight to me.”
Go on….. 🙂
“…that hopefully will end with Belfort never being seen within a title shot again.”
In a proper world.
But fat chance of that!
After he losses at 185 (again),
He’ll challenge for the 205 “belt”,
and after he loses at that he’ll get an instant title shot at HW.
(I could almost run my own MMA promotion by now.
If it weren’t for a rooted in monopoly.)
Although,
Danajoel are smart enough (or intuitive enough),
to recognize that there are more stupid people then smart people.
And there will always be more.
I said <lightweights. I was speaking about Koch and he is a bantamweight. While Faber and Gamburian are also small fighters, that card has 3 solid main events and two <lightweights that I have heard of.
While I agree that Rampage has dark horse potential, in terms of how they looked in the ring lately, no, there is no doubt that the Brazilian should be a heavy favorite.
Cerrone's victory list over the past 3 years consists of Guillard, Stephens, Siver, Oliveira, Rocha, Horodecki and Varner. I don't think anybody on that list is the caliber of Benson and Lauzon, and the one guy who is, Nate Diaz, Cerrone decisively lost to. Number of wins and how he looked not withstanding, the Cowboy does not have a successful record against top level (1-5 in division or so) competition. Which is why, good fighter that he is, I don't consider him to be in Pettis's league.
SpikeTV Exec said today that they want to do PPV with Bellator. I can understand his thinking…. “UFC did it thanks to SpikeTV, so lets do it with Bellator”.
However, he is going to be very wrong. As we have seen with TNA, the replacement company doesn’t automatically get big PPV Buys.
Plus, Bellator does not have a great roster right now. In order to sell a PPV, they would have to do so with probably 3 title fights. And if they did that, they would be sacrificing their entire 12 week seasons ratings.
Bellator/Viacom seems to be making the same mistakes that Strikeforce/Showtime did a few years ago. As soon as the company gets in primetime, there is a quick push by the TV company to justify the budget. And what do they do? Overspend and over reach based on what the company can handle.
If Viacom was serious about this long term, the correct path would be to not try and sign guys like Eddie Alvarez to contracts that are far too expensive for the viewers he would bring in on SpikeTV. It would be to cultivate the talent under long term contracts right now and then in a few years once they get a fan base, then make their move to trying to keep fighters from the UFC and going to PPV.
These companies never learn…
For anybody who doubted the level of ignorance on The Underground….
http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum_framed.posts&forum=1&thread=2117490&page=1&pc=154
Far too many people are actually defending Ronda Rousey and her posting of a video about Sandy Hook being some big government conspiracy.
Shocks me at the stupidity level of people sometimes.
there’s a reason i don’t go there anymore.
But Ronda… sweet mother of god.
She’s steadily getting decimated on BE right now.
Must be a new trend.
Nobody seemed to be bothered that she was a self absorbed b1tch on wheels before.
Meh
I certainly don’t agree with the premise of the video, but I’m not going to hang someone in effigy just because they thought it was interesting. Even if she does believe it, that just means she is gullible and stupid, not evil.
Honestly, I don’t really care what any pro athlete or celebrity thinks about world events. They can believe whatever they want and I’ll still enjoy watching them ply their craft. If I can enjoy watching a Scientologist act, I can enjoy watching a truther fight.
“…that just means she is gullible and stupid, not evil.”
Whats the difference again?
Is ignorance an excuse?
I was finally forced to adblock mma.tv entirely,
even before that.
bloody can be acceptable, Jack Slacks articles are great,
but nate wilcox is trying way to hard to be mma.tv.
So I had to adblock them too.
The only place I can get MMA news anymore is picking and choosing from FO’s sidebar aggregate.
Still love the sport,
but 75-80% of the culture is getting intolerably distasteful to me.
Dana being personally responsible for at least 50% of that.
umm, not at all sure how to take your comment about MMA.tv other than to point out for those who don’t know that Luke Thomas & I created and ran MMA.tv’s news page for the first 18 months of its existence so if you see a similar nose for news at BE, it’s because MMA.tv imitates our style, not something I’m imitating them.
Lol @ Marquardt.
Might as well get used to him being a periodically entertaining, yet perennially choking when it counts entertainer.
He’s a (probably) better James Irvin.
What a shame for the sport of MMA for Gegard to be squandering his time clubbering.
Unfortunately admitting that he would fight flamderson isn’t gonna help get him out of MMA purgatory.
The last thing danajoel (or shmilva) wants to hear is a legitimate contender vocally willing to fight flamderson.
Strikeforce absorption list came out. No Barnett or Roger Gracie? Another guy I was looking for, an up and coming middleweight forgot his nme though. I guess Barnett is still negotiating or he burned all his bridges.
Roger Gracie got signed. Here’s the list;
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-Reveals-List-of-Strikeforce-Fighters-Making-Jump-to-Octagon-49107
Hell, they even signed KJ Noons. No Mike Kyle. No Antwain Britt. No Ovince St. Preux. No Anthony Smith. No Feijao. I’m surprised they didn’t sign OSP or Anthony Smith.
Any idea what that list actually is?
That is, did somebody who works for UFC actually confirm that this is the list of people they have signed or would actually like to sign? Not off-record, undercover, anonymous confirm either, but actually confirm such a list exist?
Otherwise this is kind of like a “list of people who would look great in tutus”.
Surprised. USA Today only highlighted Rockhold, Melendez, Woodley and the usual suspects. No Barnett of course, OSP, Britt, Kyle or Smith. Unless they come back later to sign these guys for a Fx or Fuel bout.
I have no idea why they signed KJ Noons. Guy just doesnt have it anymore. He will be a one and done.
The list is not final.
More signings will come.
Barnett’s profile was just added to UFC.com, and that is usually an indicator a guy has been signed.
Shocks me that Bellator was not interested in Barnett and are 50/50 on Rampage. Reminds me if Strikeforce not signing Kimbo or Ortiz and then giving a big money contract to Dan Henderson.
Bellator wasn’t interested in Kimbo Slice either. Say what you will about their business acumen, and Rebney’s somewhat shady past as a boxing promoter (or whatever the hell he really was) they are not THAT stupid. Definitely more fiscally responsible than Strikefore and EXC were back in the day. Hell, pretty damn cheap really.
My point is that if you are going to spend over $1 Million over a few years on a fighter…. Why put that towards an Eddie Alvarez or Dan Henderson…. When you can put that money towards a Kimbo Slice, Tito Ortiz, or Rampage Jackson??
Everybody already knows Bellator is a 2nd tier promotion. What they need is eyeballs. And if they are going to offer or match bigger money contracts…. Mine as well do it on proven draws.
Watching the prelim stream of Bellator right now…. Some thoughts…
1) The graphics looks much better.
2) The lighting is much better on the fight area, although it has a weird kind of fake look to it. Hard to explain… Might actually be too bright…. But it is still a major improvement over the dark greyish look of the previous seasons.
3) Crowd was basically empty at 8pm…. One of the big things about going for Thursdays is that they are basically giving up any sort of better gates. The UFC has a hard enough time getting big crowds for mid-week cards. it will only be harder for Bellator.
Should be interesting to see what kind of ratings this one will get. The first preview show after TNA 2 weeks ago got 487,000 viewers. The one last week got 350,000 viewers. That is basically 25% of the TNA audience. That is horrible.
If they can get over 1 Million viewers it will considered to be a success. Should be interesting to see how the viewership is at 10pm vs. 11:45pm segments. That will provide a good idea if people actually stuck around from the start or if it increased in viewers.
But really the most important numbers will probably be week 3. The first two weeks were purposely stacked (for Bellator)…. But the 3rd week does not have a single “draw”.
If Bellator ends up doing 500,000 per show…. My guess is 2 seasons max before the pull the plug. If they do 750,000 range, they will last a few years before they go out of business.
I enjoyed the Featherweight Title Fight…. But what a bad fight for Bellator to have for their first fight on SpikeTV. It was long, slow, and not really filled with much action until the last 30 seconds of the fight.
And then there was a long time before the 2nd fight…. And that did not start until after 11pm.
The idea of getting TNA fans to stay tuned in for this show likely blew up in their face this time.
What Bellator needed to do to keep the TNA fans….have the Smoothie King’s fight to air! Looks like Smoothie King will be in a walk-out bought. Curran/Pitbull fight was good. But how did Judo Gene have it 48-47 for Pitbull? It was a close fight, but each round was pretty easy to score. Rounds 1 and 3 were definitely Pitbull’s and rounds 2, 4, and 5 were definitely Curran’s. No other way can you score it other than 48-47 Curran. The fight went exactly as I thought it would. Close, but Curran edging Pitbull out on the scorecards.
Are you sure thats not 1/3 of TNA audience, TNA can barely break 1 mil viewer mark from time to time. Thats not too bad. Ceiling doesnt have to be high for Bellator. They wont go out out of business in a few years unless they are absorbed by Zuffa somehow. Spike may just give them an injection of cash.
But you are right about one thing, the crowd was a HUGE problem for Bellator. Half filled clubhouse it looked like. Competition wasnt that great either. Casual fans will probably tune in to watch Chandler overwhelm a shoddy talent.
I doubt Bellator will be going out of business anytime soon, regardless of their ratings, because SpikeTV is AWFUL at developing content. What would they replace it with?
What bad ratings will do is shrink their budget. If the ratings suck for a season or two, the budget will get slashed, but it won’t be cancelled. Not until Spike figures out how to create something better than Manswers, 1000 Ways to Die, or reality TV knockoffs like Auction Hunters.
My prediction is…. Bellator lasts 4 seasons (2 Years).
The ratings for this first show will be solid. My guess is 900,000 to 1 Million viewers. But by the 3rd show…. It drops off to 600,000 range. And it will do in that range for basically the rest of the season. And then SpikeTV will either try and sign Rampage to a big contract to get viewers…. Or just minimize the damage and keep a cheap budget. Either way the end result is the same.
Last nights episode had a lot of buzz and was set up perfectly. They also sacrificed an entire season to do that. They wont have the luxary again.
Personally I enjoyed last nights show. But I also enjoy basically most of Bellators title fights. The problem is that the tournament fights are usually so bad you couldnt pay me to watch.
“Personally I enjoyed last nights show. But I also enjoy basically most of Bellators title fights. The problem is that the tournament fights are usually so bad you couldnt pay me to watch.”
No kidding…some of the early tourney fights are laughable, sub-regional mma level. They are scraping the bottom of the barrel to fill out brackets in a few divisions.
Predicted that one right. 938,000 viewer for the first show. Lots of hype and two title fights. Seemed like the internet was buzzing for the first one.
Next one will be between 750,000 and 850,000 viewers.
Third show will do between 600,000 and 650,000 viewers.
Huddle, kinda easy to say that they will go down. Thats the trend for any TV show nowadays. And yes Bellator is scraping bottom of the barrel just like UFC does for TUF now. Talent nowadays is severely drained and hurting to find superstars.
Vitor on roids would beat Anderson. Vitor looked like he was 19 and roided out of his mind again. What kind of system do we have in which Diaz gets suspended a year for pot but doctors can give fighters steroids with no repercussions?
I just came on here to say what David M said above. I don’t know about beating Anderson, but wow – Vitor looked insanely roided up, and I mean borderline Ken Shamrock territory. Scary.
Agreed more with Klown. I don’t see him beating Anderson, but man was he ripped. If somebody can do a pic of him in the Franklin fight compared to that I’d love it.
I also thought he looked pretty jacked against Jones at 205 though.
I’m hoping for TRT Vitor vs. Lombard (screw Okami) on the undercard of a Anderson-Weidman PPV.
Why would bisping get a shot if he won,
but the guy that beats him doesn’t?
What is flamderson so busy doing?
So once again the only legit contender @ 185 is STILL Weidman,
and still the only one in years.
Maybe danajoel can make Weidman fight Gustaffson after he fights Gegard.
Anderson has already beat Belfort, there’s no reason to think the result would be any different another time. I don’t think Anderson at 38, is looking for rematches anyway.
Luke Rockhold will probably be next in line in a champion Vs Champion fight, unless Silva wants to wait, but stylistically it should be an easy fight for him.
Weidman is still relatively unknown and could be a bad style match up, why fight a very dangerous opponent in a fight that might do 300,000 buys tops, Weidman still needs that breakthrough fight that isn’t stuck on Fuel TV.
“Anderson has already beat Belfort, there’s no reason to think the result would be any different another time.”
Are you really into the MMA stuff?
Its a sport by its definition without bounds.
That grows everytime you define it!
“…why fight a very dangerous opponent ….”
I agree!
Alleged GOAT is DUCKING dangerous opponents!
Like I said in the first place.
Belforts kicks looked really nice.
Most people seem to just throw them like jabs to make room and maybe get a lucky hit.
He seemed to be throwing them more like a strike with more intention then most people usually do.
Belfort may have actually learned something new after all these year.
Is that was the Mohawk represented?
The stop wasn’t bad,
Bisping didn’t seem to be going anywhere.
But then Belforts hammer fists didn’t really seem to be getting through either.
There have been more then a few examples of guys in a position like that who weather a bunch of blocked punches, get back up and sometimes even win the fight.
But it wasn’t a bad stop.
I thought Belfort looked good enough in that fight to give him a chance at redemption against shmilva.
You know,
unless shmilva is busy challenging clay guida next or something.
I liked chiapettas Shad/flamderson suggestion,
but danajoel would make Shad fight Gustaffson next before they would allow that to happen.
You ignored the part were I said I don’t think Anderson at 38, is looking for rematches anyway.
Vitor didn’t call out Anderson, he called out Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen, they seem to be friends again and even Vitor doesn’t seem keen on a rematch either.
I don’t think he’s ducking Weidman, he just wants paid well to fight dangerous fighters and the Weidman fight probably wouldn’t do well on PPV
Jon Jones is 10 times more dangerous than Weidman and he will most likely fight him next year some time but that will do near a million buys, earning him a lot more money.
“Jon Jones is 10 times more dangerous than Weidman and he will most likely fight him next year some time but that will do near a million buys, earning him a lot more money.”
Bones is set to move up after this year, and is slated to fight Cormier later this year. Anderson had his chance to go after Jones. He decided to go after the 170 lb champ instead.
FOX is officially rebranding their stations in August…. SPEED is turning into FOX Sports 1. FUEL TV is turning into FOX Sports 2.
And the UFC is being taken off of FX.
Seems to be some confusion with fans. They think all of the UFC content is going to FOX Sports 2 and nobody will be able to see it. My guess is that the content from FX will go to 1…. which is in a ton of homes. And my guess would be that some of the content (but not all) will move over to 1. Probably shows like UFC Tonight.
Long term I think this is great. MMA belongs on sports channels…. not entertainment channels like FX or Spike.
So you know if SPEED/Fox Sports 1 is on most providers in HD format?
It is in HD through the majority of cable companies. It is even first tier with many of them.
FOX Sports 1 will have MLB, NASCAR, and UFC.
And if you want some even stranger FOX programming news…
I read on a news website a few days ago that there are rumors that FOX is going to make FX into 2 channels… The current FX would be for drama/action…. and the 2nd one…. called fXX…. Would be for comedy. Not sure what channel it would replace, but my guess would be the FOX Soccer Channel since most of those games will probably be on FOX Sports 1 or 2 now.
Short term…. the change to FOX Sports 1 for the UFC is a negative. Two channel changes in a few years will hurt their viewership numbers.
But long term this is a good thing. Eventually what we will see on basically on cable networks is a block of sports channels that includes ESPN 1 & 2, FOX Sports 1 & 2, NBC Sports, and then whatever regional network is available.
Plus, this just makes the UFC more of a sport…. And from current trends…. Sports budgets have been skyrocketing throughout the last 5 to 10 years….
And according to BE…. SPEED is available in 86 Million Homes…. While FX is in 98 Million. So not perfect for the UFC, but still in a lot of homes. And unlike FUEL…. It is basically in HD everywhere.
agreed, fans seem to think UFC is going from 100 mill homes on FX to just Fuel/FS2 in 36 mill homes, they dont realize its gonna be on both fox sports networks.
I agree in the short term they will take a hit but as they build these networks, get Fuel/FS2 into more homes and surround the UFC with other major sports it could be a positive in the long run.
This move is about the next 10 years not the next year. If Fox can build these networks up, steal away other sports programming from ESPN etc when contracts come up they are trying to be compete with ESPN.
So Speed and Fuel are two different channels? Are you kidding me?
UFC content spreading over several channels just confuses the viewer. If someone wants to watch Bellator it is now simple to find on one channel/one week a night. Simple for fans to find and follow on a regular basis just like UFC was on Spike. I am hoping Bellator’s attempt at competitive structure does well over UFC’s current talk yourself into a fight blind matchmaking.
How is it anymore confusing than it is now?
Now its on Fox, FX and Fuel.
Soon it will be FOx, Speed which will be FS1 and Fuel will turn into FS2, both sports networks will have other sports like baseball, college football, nascar, soccer, UFC etc and as sports programming contract rights come up FS could try to take some deals from ESPN.
So its still 3 channels only now Fuel/FS2 will get into more homes and FS1/Speed while its in less homes than FX it will be a sports network. UFC will be on a network designed for sports fans.
FX is a great network but running a promo for TUF during Spiderman or Am Horror Story is that hitting the right demo? Being on a sports network with males sports fans watching, I’d say thats the demo the UFC is trying to hit.
It will set them back a bit early on while they build these two sports networks but Fox is invested in the UFC and these networks and are looking to build Fox Sports into major competitors to ESPN. This is more about the next 5-10 years, will it work out in the long run for the UFC i dont know but we’ll see.
If I was a betting man…. I would say all main cards from Fuel TV will be brought over to FOX Sports 1…. Which would mean most fans will get to see more of the important fights.
And my guess is that FOX Sports 2 will still have the undercard fights for like 3 hours.
Long term this is good for Zuffa. They need growth with the everyday sports fans. The ones that pick one or two games a night and follow it, regardless of sport. If zuffa can get those fans… they will be much more successful. And they cant get those fans on SpikeTV or FX.
“Talent nowadays is severely drained and hurting to find superstars.”
There are plenty of guys with star potential in wrestling rooms across the world and Rebney knows that. That’s why he’s signing guys like Shawn Bunch.
Guys may have the look of a superstar, but the minute they get in there and get tapped out or knocked out. They loose that buzz. I honestly dont think Bellator is a good route for up and comers. Too many scrubs and feeders to send out to a “potential” game changer. Shawn Bunch was and still is all hype.
Askren & Chandler were both all hype but had good enough skill to win against 90% of opponents immediately and that’s what sets elite wrestlers apart. They can beat better “fighters” with the one skill they have already mastered while picking up the rest (bunch will do the same).
Just gotta let it all play out. We dont know what Askren or Chandler can do against real competition. Chandler just fought a one sided fight telling us that his opponent was the equivalent of a part timer. Rick Hawn skills does not translate in the cage.
They are still all hype until a problematic fighter shows up and gives them a rough outing. Gotta remember, fighting a bunch of washouts dont make you a superstar yet. They are not household names to begin with either. Time will tell for Bunch.
Funny that my anti-spam word is sleeper, because you’re really sleeping on Chandler and I think selling him awfully short.
He had a war with Eddie Alvarez who has shown time and again that he’s equal to any top LW on the planet. Look at his resume.
Hawn is an absolute beast at 155 and to say his skills don’t translate to the cage is questionable…Chandler is just that good…and he’s got the perfect pedigree that has been proven to lead to 155 champ. Insanely strong wrestling background – not to mention crushing power and finishing ability.
Askren, while having great wrestling is a wet blanket that leaves himself way too open to subs that will get him in deep, deep water against better fights. Bellator WW division is crap.
Been on the Chandler hype train for a while. He’s my 5th best LW in the world at the moment, and will move up to #4 when Frankie competes at 145.
Yes I probably selling him short, just not a believer in him yet. Nowadays seems like it takes lot more than just 7-8 fights against mid level guys to prove themselves, when they arrive to the big stage to fight. These type of guys seem unable to pull the trigger. Dont wanna say UFC is the big stage at this point. But with how the fight game is looking, there isnt much else.
Askren beat Jay Hieron in a really close fight. He accomplished what you said. And Chandler beat Eddie Alvarez, who was a top ten fighter at lightweight at the time. I would love to see those two against the best in the UFC. But that won’t happen for a long time.
Joe Rogan’s commentary in the main event was an embarrassment to mma. He was openly cheering for DJ the entire fight, excused the blatantly illegal knee, didn’t say anything about McCarthy incorrectly not taking a point away (despite it being DJ’s second foul), and had the gall to say in the 4th round that Johnson was definitely winning! Anyone with eyes knew that Dodson clearly won the first two rounds, and someone ruling a 10-8 round in the 2nd wouldn’t have been incorrect. If McCarthy correctly takes a point away, the final scores would have been 47-47, 47-47, 48-46 for a majority draw.
It’s at the referee’s discretion to take points away and the ‘typical’ policy is to give two warnings and then start deducting points unless they rule that the foul was blatantly intentional to the point that they feel there is no alternative but to take away points.
That knee was blatantly intentional. He kneed him in the head when the guy’s hand was clearly on the ground. It couldn’t have been any more intentional.
Big John apparently disagreed with your assessment since he didn’t call it an intentional foul and only gave Johnson a second warning and Dodson a break.
Also, Clay Guida’s “victory” was an absolute joke. I thought that at 145, he wouldn’t put on the same kinds of miserably boring, violent-less, underwhelming, risk-free performances that defined his tenure at 155, but I was wrong. Nobody has ever won more undeserving decisions. This is due entirely to the fact that most mma judges don’t understand grappling; how else could you give a round to someone based on top “control” when he is constantly getting hit from on top, bleeding from those hits, almost getting submitted, and offering no offense and no threats. Horrible. Wow.
“I thought that at 145, he wouldn’t put on the same kinds of miserably boring, violent-less, underwhelming, risk-free performances that defined his tenure at 155.”
Clay Guida at 155:
Fight of the Night (Five times)
Submission of the Night (Two times)
Fight of Year (Two times)
“Almost getting submitted” means nothing. Hioki tried a technique and failed to executed against his defense and nothing more. Guida’s takedowns where successful and thus he WON the fight. Blame the rules for matches like that being boring not Guida. Guys like Hioki are difficult to grapple with because of their length. It was a bad match to make from the start.
He got lit up on the feet in the first round, he offered no offense whatsoever, and you are somehow defending his “victory”. What is so successful about a takedown that doesn’t cause any damage and doesn’t put the person who secured the takedown in an advantageous position? This is ridiculous. Even while on top, he took way more shots than he delivered. He posed no threats, landed no big blows, never attempted a submission, and basically just hugged his opponent.
As for him being exciting, clearly you didn’t see his fights vs Maynard, Nick Diaz, or Danzig. Nobody ever avoids violence at all costs like Clay Guida. Watching him fight is torturous.
The damage from a takedown is not always visible. Takedowns break and opponent’s will to fight and sap their energy. It never feels good to be taken down either even when it doesn’t result in visible injury to the opponent. Let Clay Guida drive you into the mat several times and then tell me it does no damage. Hioki couldn’t stop takedowns and attempted subs he couldn’t execute. A fighter should not win for failing. Guida was successful in taking him down in every round and was on top for the majority of rounds 2 and 3. There is no debate that he won both of those rounds.
It doesn’t matter if the bottom guy is going for submissions. Unless he actually catches someone, those are worthless. That means the guy on top is winning. None of those submission attempts where close to finishing Guida. He defended and escaped all of them with excellent technique.
Are you Clay Guida? LOL @ a takedown sapping a fighter’s will to fight. What kind of stupidity is that? Guida doesn’t have a will to fight in the first place; he only has a will to stall.
A fight isn’t won based on a takedown; this isn’t amateur wrestling. Guida taking someone down into a position in which he had no advantage, got hit often, produced no often, and spent his time fighting off submissions, is not a win in the eyes of anyone with a brain.
Take this from a certified judge’s POV (for whatever it’s worth)
Clay was aggressive, and had more control during the fight. However, Hioki was clearly more effective, and Clay did next to nothing on the ground.
I argued with Luke on BE that a judge scoring it 30-27 isn’t the worse thing in the world, but that is only in relation to the fact that I think most of the rounds were similar.
IMO, Hioki won 2 and possibly 3 rounds.
PS: A close submission isn’t worthless (scoring wise). Specifically when it puts the opponent on the defensive.
David M,
You want Hioki to win based on trying things that didn’t work? He was on his back for 10 minutes of a 16 minute fight because he could stop Guida from taking him down and he couldn’t sweep or submit him. That sounds like flawed logic IMO.
So should Guida get points for DEFENDING on the ground or should Hioki get points for ATTACKING?
It would seem Hioki was producing more offense than Guida was.
More like wording something to make it seem like flawed logic.
I see a lot of the same complaints about the Flyweights as people had about the Lightweights when they headlined a PPV at UFC 35 (Penn vs. Pulver).
While I am not a fan of the flyweights myself, it will take a few years for their fights to resonate with the fans and then the majority of complaints will be done with.
MMA crowds are such douchebags
(And I’m sure being in chicago didn’t help)
It was embarrassing to hear them cheer for out of shape street brawl swinging from jackson and then either say nothing when Texiera scored a takedown or start to boo if he worked for position for more then 15 seconds
I wonder if its that danajoel’s douchey image that attracts these people,
or if danajoel is just catering to the douchey types that seem to make up the audience
Probably a bit of both
A douchbag chicken and egg situation
What is the “danajoel” reference all about? I’m not getting it.
I cant tell were one begins and the other one ends
“UFC on FOX 6 scores strong preliminary rating with 3.77 million viewers”
Aha,
this is beginning to make sense
All the douchebags didn’t tune it to see Mighty Mouse,
of that you can be sure
Douchebags LOVE quinton jackson!
And THATS what moves product!
ufc: The axe body spray of mixed martial arts
You should really stop following the UFC if their management and fans bother you that much. Perhaps Bellator or OneFC would be more to your liking, or if that does work for you, following another sport altogether.
I think it is a pejorative amalgamation of Dana White’s and Joe Silva’s names, the favorite targets of most of RST’s screeds.
Got it, I kinda thought that was the case – but then why “Joel”?? Which is where the link was being missed… I thought maybe it was Billy Joel or something equally silly.
I think the ratings were a result of not much else being on sportswise. There was no big events for the UFC to go up against.
They’re still really good for MMA. These are the fights they need to have on network TV: bouts with young non-drawing talent being put in front of as many eyeballs as humanly possible. They did it last time, they did it this time, they’ll be doing it again next time. Maybe they actually learned from UFC on Fox 3-4? I’m kinda surprised, but good for them and us as fans.
It definitely feels like they have figured out the formula for good FOX Shows.
1) MAIN EVENT = Title Fight that can’t sell on PPV
2) Aging Legend with name value.
3) #1 Contender level fights with guys who nobody knows.
Seems to get them an easy 4 Million per show.
Now imagine if they did it monthly and only put the Silva or GSP type of fights on PPV.
Loretta Hunt is reporting that Randy Couture signed with SpikeTV to coach their reality series. Couture’s lawyer has since posted on twitter that it is not a done deal.
Wouldn’t it be interesting if Couture has a deal with Zuffa or FOX still in place and he tries to get out for a second time?
People are making a big deal about it, but I don’t think it is that big of a deal. I can totally understand why SpikeTV would think it is great.
But as TUF has shown, coaches don’t make a huge difference with ratings. And as we have seen with TNA, nobody cares when Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair signed with them.
They will certainly get some PR mileage out of it. How much it impacts the ratings is another matter.
I wonder if he’ll be removed from all UFC mention.
Rumor is that they are going after other retired stars for coaching positions.
Just shows how much the MMA landscape has changed. When Strikeforce signed with Showtime, the talk was about which active fighters they were going to sign.
With SpikeTV…. it is about what former fighters they are trying to coach. Except for Rampage, there is nothing out there.
I dont watch TUF so I wont be watching any Bellator reality shows either…. it is 95% reality garbage….
And another interesting trend I have seen with SpikeTV is that with both King Mo and Randy Couture…. They are not being fully paid under Bellator.
King Mo is getting some money through TNA. Randy Couture is also going to be doing general SpikeTV stuff.
It does show that the Bellator budget itself is not big enough to warrant getting these guys over, so they have to entice them with other items as well.
This has to be a Viacom/SpikeTV move.
Bellator has spent five years avoiding Zuffa guys and trying to build their own distinct brand identity. Now that they have been bought by Viacom, they are not only looking to sign Zuffa guys, they are looking to sign one of the guys who is most strongly associated with the UFC brand. After spending years trying to establish their own identity, they are suddenly looking to muddy the waters. It reeks of Viacom wanting to bring back guys who have done well on SpikeTV in the past.
This seems like the equivalent of TNA signing Hulk Hogan (and I mean that in a negative way).
I don’t mind seeing former ZUFFA guys in a non-fighting capacity. It brings some added legitimacy to Bellator without trying to use them on fight cards for a cheap ticket boost.
I watched part of TUF tonight (by accident) for the first time in many years. It was good. Chael seems to be a good coach, and he and JJ both have distinctive personalities. JJ of course blamed his fighter entirely for losing, saying the fight was decided before the fight even began. JJ is such a natural heel it is ridiculous. I don’t know why he doesn’t embrace that
shit.Jones’ guy was doing when he decided to punch but he decided to wrestle but had no speed/explosion. I always thought Spike deserved all of the credit for bringing the UFC to the masses and I think this is being borne out by the way Fox is fumbling around with TUF. They’re clueless as to how to produce that show for the white trash mma demo that Spike cultivated as evidenced by their plummeting ratings as they screw around with the format. We’re seeing that the ‘Zuffa genius’ was really the damn fool luck of stumbling onto Spike and their expertise in serving the white trash viewership.
Spike has the know-how to beat Fox/Zuffa in the mma television business and to beat them badly. It is Spike that has the formula for mma tc success, not Fox, and certainly not the Zuffa ‘braintrust’.
The UFC created their own content for SpikeTV. SpikeTV put it on their station.
SpikeTV is not the brainchild behind the UFC.
It was the brain child behind TUF though. Which was the key to the UFC being a break out company.
what are you talking about?
Didnt the UFC do TUF on their own and shopped it around to all different networks and Spike gave it a chance?
That means they werent any brain child of TUF they just took a chance on it and aired it.
Stop trying to give them credit for the show dude, they just aired it.
“Didnt the UFC do TUF on their own and shopped it around to all different networks and Spike gave it a chance?”
No. That’s what we’re all conversing about. TUF was not Zuffa’s brain child. Seriously, a fwe clicks on google will clear this up for you. It was the brain child of one of the executive producers from SPIKE.
Stop speaking out of your ass. You look like a fool.
Here you go genius:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/mma/12/01/tuf.origin/index.html
SpikeTV didn’t produce TUF. Zuffa and Pilgrim Studios did. Spike just provided the broadcast medium.
Didn’t SPIKE execs push the Ultimate Fighter/Contender rip-off format?
I thought Zuffa was shopping around “American Promoter: The Dana While V-Logs”. Could be mistaken.
Exactly.
SPIKE might not have technically produced it (which I don’t know is completely accurate in itself), but the origination of the idea was completely SPIKE.
Neither party seems willing to acknowledge that the other played a big part in their success.
“The experience was unbelievably valuable for both of us,” Jon Slusser, Spike TV senior vice president for sports, told Bleacher Report. “We helped each other and we built it and both brands are better off as a result. We had a great relationship and it was fun. It was exciting.”
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1488456-spike-exec-bellator-less-risky-than-being-in-business-with-somebody-like-ufc
Don’t play the false equivalency game! Spike is clear that working with UFC was a great thing for them.
Dana White is on record saying he hated the idea of a reality show.
what are you talking about?
UFC came to Spike with TUF already done, it was a time buy, SPike had nothing to do with the show, the idea behind the show, the format etc, the just broadcast it.
You can’t deny that Spike may have had a little say in how the show would be filmed. Who knows for real though?
UFC came to Spike with TUF already done, it was a time buy, SPike had nothing to do with the show, the idea behind the show, the format etc, the just broadcast it.
All of this, literally all of it, is incorrect.
I don’t think who created TUF makes much of a difference.
The main point is that the UFC produced all of their own programs. The success was not because of SpikeTV.
Spike aired TUF season 1 (which saved the UFC) for free with a WWE Raw lead-in. To say they no impact on the success of the TUF and UFC brand is incredibly naive. The experience will serve them well in building the Bellator brand on Spike.
Alistair Overeem without steroids isn’t so tough.
What a horrible game plan by him. He was obviously the better fighter in the first and he decided to play games…. Keeping his hands down…. Not doing much….
By the time the 3rd hit he was tired and just got wrecked.
I think they have to do either Cain/JDS 3 or Cain/Werdum now.
In the end, he was the same guy. The years of PED use gave him the muscles/size, but it couldn’t help his gas tank (or his chin).
Karma’s a bitch.
Personally, I’d say just give Big Foot the shot now. Let Cain beat him up from a “hype” style title defense.
Either do Werdum-JDS 2 for a #1 contender shot, or do the Overeem-JDS grudge match. And have Werdum fight somebody like Barnett (that sounds pretty good actually).
“He was obviously the better fighter in the first “
Wrong
He wasn’t replaced by a simulacrum inbetween rounds
He was the same Overeem that he’s always been
And it had nothing to do with a gameplan,
he’s just not as good as you wish he was
The Shad/Lil Nog fight was AMAZING IMO!
They BOTH looked INCREDIBLE!
Shad hasN’t looked that fast and enthusiastic since he came out of tuf (loved seeing him dancing again!)
And Lil Nog looked like his most dangerous classic self!
Beautiful!
I think that fight should put them BOTH up in any rankings!
Put Lil Nog back in the mix @ 205,
and let Shad loose on shmilva!
Wow, Nogueira vs. Evans was horrible.
I had Nogueira winning, but I was sure the judges were going to mess it up. They actually scored it perfect. Go figure.
If you look at Evans since he lost to Machida…
Thiago Silva – Lackluster
Quinton Jackson – Lackluster
Tito Ortiz – Looked Great, but who wouldn’t?
Phil Davis – Looked Decent, nothing great.
Jon Jones – Looked bad
Antonio Nogueira – Looked bad
After this last one, I question if he still wants to fight.
The lack of gameplanning in high level MMA amazes me. I think I only saw Shad attempt one single leg takedown (the rest were doubles outside of one trip I believe). Did he not watch the Bader fight? Did he not watch the Davis fight (this one would be the best to gauge as Lil Nog blocked doubles, but couldn’t defend the single for
shit). I mean, did anybody else notice this.Evans is done as a top tier guy.
Some of the blame has to be put on the Blackzillions team in general. Seems like almost every fighter from that camp loses.
You thought Nog was clearly winning,
but you were worried that the judges wouldn’t agreed with you?
How was it “horrible” again?
I actually thought that Evans won
But I’ll have to watch it again
And Lil Nog looked good enough that I dont hve a problem with it
“After this last one, I question if he still wants to fight.”
Yeah
A 22-3-1 record is when a fighter shouldreally reconsider whether he wants to fight anymore
In 45huddle world
Yes because record explains someone’s current abilities. Evans looks like Shane Moseley at this point. He can’t pull the trigger. This is not the first fight where he concentrated on catching jabs instead of trying to be effective with his striking. Evans did nothing in this fight and Little Nog was much more effective with his striking in rounds 2 & 3.
I was thinking that he is turning into a Rampage Jackson. He took couldnt pull trigger, looked hesitant and never seems to have an appropriate gameplan when fighting at this point. For Jackson, no reason for him to continue fighting when he looks as if we doesnt like it. Evans may not be at that point yet, but give it a couple more fights.
I have it 2-2 going into the 5th round of the title fight.
3-2 for Edgar, but 48-47 for either fighter would be the right score.
A heck of a card!
Ne’er a stinker in the lot!
I’d prefer that they just had 6 cards of this quality a year
But I think they’ll have 4-5 times as many without another one this good at all instead
Wow. If it wasn’t for Silva exposing how overrated Overeem was, one of those nights when I wonder what I am doing here. Fitch disappointed. Flyweights and main event had me asleep. Evans and Nog danced around, it’s the kind of fight which makes me wish they had a “sit them down” and not just “stand them up” option. Evans obviously doesn’t have the drive anymore. Alistair’s result is not that surprising, when you think about it. He had one fight against a top notch fighter, who was in it to win it, over the past few years and that was a no-fight against Verdum. Aldo-Edgar, yeah, that’s why I don’t care about smaller fighters. These guys can swing for five rounds and still be ready to swing and no worse for wear. It’s the opposite of war of attrition, war of no attrition.
“Evans and Nog danced around, it’s the kind of fight which makes me wish they had a “sit them down” and not just “stand them up” option.”
I beg to differ
I just rewatched it and it seems to me that it was an example of one of those fights were both guys just weren’t leaving wide openings so that you didn’t get a slugfest
And that can make it feel like nothing is happening on a visceral level
But there is actually a lot happening on a more subtle and dare I say skilled evel
Maybe. I respect fights like that, but a) most experienced commentators seem to agree with me, familiar with subtleties, and b) if such happens and you can’t get anything for five rounds, a smart fighter needs to change strategies. No damage fight and swinging for the fences, are not the only two options.
Didn’t see the show, but: I’ve always had a contrarian viewpoint on Aldo because, IMO, beating a bunch of third rate lightweights who dropped to 145 doesn’t make you a P4P class fighter. I was even willing to look at the Florian fight and say that he may have been broken down at that point and that wasn’t really a strong performance or anchor to his career. This is the fight he needed to have to prove that he belongs in that discussion and even a close win is a win – that’s more I can say about what I think about Henderson’s last “win” over Edgar.
Based on the results you’ve got a guy who should move down in weight, a couple guys really inserted into the title challenge picture, a couple guys totally removed permanently, and a future Fox main event set up for the flyweight title. Should be an interesting show to catch on Fuel or Fox Sports 10 or whatever its called at this point in a couple weeks.
You didn’t miss much. I was bored almost to tears. Guys hardly ever fight anymore when somethings on the line, it’s all about working the judging system. If they don’t drop the unified rules and the 10 point must system soon they’re going to strangle the life out of this thing. Important fights NEVER deliver anymore.
It’s taken eighteen years, but I’m now back to watching HNIC live on Saturday nights and maybe watching a couple of the better UFC fights the next day if anything noteworthy happened. And I was an absolute addict for this stuff.
How often have important fights ever delivered? It isn’t like Rampage/Liddell II or Silva/Franklin were classics. People like cards filled with KOs and maybe that’s the UFC’s mistake – not booking garbage fights where dudes are gonna get laid out.
I did see the prelim card and that wasn’t bad. Fast forwarded through the bantamweight fight but good to see Bobby Green in the UFC and getting an impressive win over Volkmann. Green’s too small to really be a major force but he can make a couple bucks now. Also LOL Jay Hieron back on his way out of the UFC, I’m sure.
” booking garbage fights where dudes are gonna get laid out.”
Lol
They do when they want to
80% of flamdersons greatest of all time career has been conveniently underwhelming targets for him to knock over in spectacular fashion
There is an unfortunately large segment of the audience who would be impressed to watch him kick the isht out of Cung Le
Rule set and huge cage have more to do with big fights not delivering than you seem to comprehend. May I offer a refresher?
http://vimeo.com/19761722
PRIDE never had mediocre fights. Ever. Ricardo Arona was beloved by all.
But they had huge video screens!
Lol. Nice stall!
Bellator’s fights on Thursday have been great for the most part.
Rashad should go back to Jackson’s and drop to 185. He was a much better/hungrier fighter back then.
Probably had something to do with having a good trainer who came up with good gameplans instead of basically training himself. When has that plan ever worked out long term for anyone?
He was a much better/hungrier fighter back then.
I thought he looked just fine
I thougtht he looked faster,
if arguably a bit less acurate
Its true that it is a loss that he will no longer have access to one of the best training gyms in the sport
But going back there now after what happened just isn’t realistic
What Jacksons has to offer just wouldn’t be available to Rashad personally anymore after what happened
That bridge is burned
I thought he looked great too. I mean the way he got picked apart on the outside and managed zero offense against a shop worn fighter was awesome. He was super fast throwing those strikes that Nogueira easily slipped, and his movement was like lightning, except for his head which Noguiera’s left hand found about 100 times. Rashad is a beast.
^^
“except for his head which Noguiera’s left hand found about 100 times”
Are you implying that Lil Nog KO’d Shad?
(MMA mook IMO!)
Aldo vs. Pettis and Silva vs. Weidman are probably upcoming. Both are great fights. If White can also pull off Velasquez vs. Cormier it will be a great summer for title fights.
Guida already recently beat Pettis so it would be hilarious if he eventually held down the winner of this title fight for 5 rounds and became the new champion.
Do you ever have anything nice to say?
Pettis is 8-2 in the Zuffa banner with wins over Henderson, Lauzon, & Cerrone.
Pettis and probably Aldo (with 2 wins over top 4 LWs and finding it harder and harder to cut the weight) would probably both fight Henderson or Melendez with a win. That would create a champion Vs Champion “Super fight” that Dana has been trying to make this year, it just wouldn’t be one featuring Anderson Silva.
“If White can also pull off Velasquez vs. Cormier it will be a great summer for title fights.”
Eh,
I’m not really caring for the teamy vs teamy agenda
Let Cormier attempt Jon
That would fit into Jons HW aspirations
There are guys for Cain to fight before a Bigfoot rematch like Verdum or Struve
You do know its going to be a matter of time that they face each other. Cormier is some smuck who is going to sit around and wait for his teammate to lose the title so he can fight some other guy and dodge him.
There is no agenda, other than someone wants to win the gold and be the best.
I really though Frankie won the last 3 rounds. That guy gets screwed all the time. Aldo looked way bigger than he did…Frankie vs Dominic Cruz 2013!
Aldo would massacre Ben Henderson I think.
I would like to see Aldo vs Clay Guida so that the King of Ground Hugging can finally be in a fight with a definitive ending. Hopefully within 30 seconds of the match beginning.
Rashad looked befuddled against lil Nog. He is not a great technical striker–he has this expectation of being able to simply out-athletic his opponents. When it doesn’t work, he has no plan b. Against Machida, who is just as fast, and 10x better, Rashad could do nothing but get destroyed. Against JJ, whose speed and length neutralized the speed advantage Rashad may have had, Rashad looked lost mostly. Against Nog, whose footwork, range, southpaw stance, and technical acumen neutralized Rashad’s speed advantage, he was left just with the occasional bull rush of punches and nothing else. I don’t know where he goes at this point. That was a bad loss.
Overeem has always been a bully and a frontrunner. As far as I remember, he usually lost in Pride in fights in which he dominated early, and then he folded like a tent as soon as somehow hit him back. Liddell and Shogun fights come instantly to mind.
UFC hw title picture is muddied now. I hate instant rematches, but the division is so thin. There are no other legit contendaz. Maybe Werdum? I don’t think so. Cormier actually serves more of a purpose at HW than 205. He and Barnett will give the division some much-needed depth.
I really don’t want to see Pettis drop down. He’s currently the LW #1 contender, and would beat either Melendez or Henderson IMO. Hopefully, he stays.
However, if Gray’s offered the next shot instead I could live with Pettis-Aldo being amazing. Just think Henderson is not a worthy champ at this point considering Edgar beat him in the rematch.
Pettis would beat Aldo.
I also think Edgar should move down to Bantamweight. He looked small against Aldo.
World Series of Fighting signed a 3 year deal with NBC Sports. A minimum of 6 shows per year.
Zuffa left 3 channels…. SpikeTV (UFC), NBC Sports (WEC), and Showtime (Strikeforce.
SpikeTV now has Bellator. NBC Sports now has WSOF. I wonder what Showtime will end up with. My guess is Invicta.
Spike inks Couture to development deal, sets two MMA-related projects
By: Lesley Goldberg
Feb 5, 2013 1:12 PM EST
Spike TV is getting back into the ring with Randy “The Natural” Couture.
The male-skewing cable network has inked the Mixed Martial Arts and Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer to a two-year development deal and green-lighted two unscripted entries to series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.
Under the pact, Couture — a multiple UFC Heavyweight (and Lightweight) champion and The Expendables actor — will serve as one of four coaches on a Voice-like series for the network called Fight Master: Bellator MMA and a Kitchen Nightmares-style series dubbed MMA Rescue
Fight Master will see Couture join fellow coaches Greg Jackson, Frank Shamrock and Joe Warren as they oversee 32 up-and-coming fighters looking to fight their way through a win-or-go-home format into the Bellator tournament and a six-figure cash prize.
MMA Rescue, meanwhile, will see Couture use his years of experience in the business of MMA to help turn failing gyms into successful businesses. The three-episode series is in the same vein as Spike’s Bar Rescue and Tattoo Rescue and will be produced by Couture, his manager (Samuel Spira) and Chris Coelen’s Kinetic Content (Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, Hardcore Pawn). Production on MMA Rescue will likely begin after Fight Master wraps.
Horrible name for a show.
And the winner should be getting a title shot, not a birth in the tournament….
That is a lot of fights to have just to be qualified to then fight 3 times in 3 months.
But then again, I don’t watch any reality TV. So I’m not exactly in their demographic.
If their live Bellator show are doing 700,000…. This show will end up doing 500,000 viewers.
TUF is already a worn out concept. I can’t imagine a copy cat concept gaining much traction.
I would have said that Bellator was going to sign Rampage after their ratings tanked, but I have a feeling Rampage is going to sign with the WSOF who does not have tournaments.
There is nothing that Bellator is showing us that is any good. This Reality Show concept is garbage we have already seen. They have lost 3 of their 8 champions…. Konrad retired. The female champ signed with Invicta…. And Lombard went to the UFC.
And they have a current Welterweight Tounament that none of the fighters have a chance against the current champion, making the entire tournament pointless.
They are over 80 shows in and they have less then 10 interesting fighters on their roster.
Who was their female champ?
“Do you ever have anything nice to say?”
Zoila Gurgel
http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/02/zoila-gurgel-signs-multi-fight-deal-with-invicta-fc-for-april-debut
3 of your 8 champions vacating the belt is bad. Add in the fact that 2 of their other champions lost non-title fights…. And that is 5 out of 8 tainted belts so far. It’s only going to get worse when Chandler, Askren, and Curran’s contracts come up….
Mr. K,
There is a huge difference between talking smack about the established company that has 95% of the worlds top fighters (which is what you are doing)….. And being realistic about another company trying to play hardball with the UFC which will only lead to their doom, as it has for the countless companies before them (which is what I am doing).
Once is based in reality (me) and one is not (you).
Oh, I knew she moved over. I just didn’t know she was still a champ. I thought Eye won the belt from her, but it was apparently a non-title fight.
Can’t really blame them for letting her walk, and holding on to Eye. She got demolished.