The coming season, featuring Michael Bisping and Jason Mayhem Miller, premieres on September 21, 2011 on SPIKEtv. The television contest reality show will be the first to focus on bantamweight and featherweight fighters. Dana, Bisping and Miller have a…
The coming season, featuring Michael Bisping and Jason Mayhem Miller, premieres on September 21, 2011 on SPIKEtv. The television contest reality show will be the first to focus on bantamweight and featherweight fighters. Dana, Bisping and Miller have all said via Twitter and during interviews that this season is by far the best one yet. Hype or not, I’m pumped to see the two-hour long elimination episode. So many fights in so little time.
The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC’s reality series advertising tool and development league, is a stroke of genius. It is a brand within a brand. Seriously, I wrote a term paper on this. This past season seemed to lag on the ratings. Dana White claims this was do to the lack of an elimination round which was the result of SPIKEtv cutting back on the number of episodes they were able to air. With the coming 14th season of TUF on film and fast approaching, I think it’s appropriate to see what changes they should have made. Learning from past seasons, some slight format changes and creativity with coaches could allow for TUF to reboot itself.
In an interview with Dana White by Ariel Helwani of NBC Sports, Ariel suggested that the Showtime contract expired in February 2012, and had to be renewed by September or it would be marked for cancellation. White claimed not to know anythi…
In an interview with Dana White by Ariel Helwani of NBC Sports, Ariel suggested that the Showtime contract expired in February 2012, and had to be renewed by September or it would be marked for cancellation. White claimed not to know anything, but he also didn’t deny these facts. Other reports have come to similar conclusions. If this is true then Strikeforce may not be around for much longer… I better hurry. Here are 6 bold predictions about the future of Strikeforce as a promotion and its fighters.
Please comment and discuss related issues. Post any predictions you might have in order to preserve them for the future.
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? At UFC 137 Nick Diaz, one of the more technically sound boxer-brawlers, will help us find out when he goes up against Georges St.Pierre, a man who’s take-down defense rivals none. T…
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? At UFC 137 Nick Diaz, one of the more technically sound boxer-brawlers, will help us find out when he goes up against Georges St.Pierre, a man who’s take-down defense rivals none.
The following is an analysis of Nick Diaz’ real world chances and methods of victory. Don’t take the suggested gameplan as fact, it is speculation based on watching hours of film and comparing statistics from FightMetric and CompuStrike.
If you disagree with anything please comment, I’m more then willing to butt heads for a little bit each day, but please keep it calm. Debate, don’t argue.
First Some Background With a win this weekend, which isn’t a sure thing, Jim Miller would be one of only six men in UFC history to string together eight wins or more.Currently, Anderson Silva has 13, and Georges St. Pierre has nine. Royce Gracie r…
First Some Background
With a win this weekend, which isn’t a sure thing, Jim Miller would be one of only six men in UFC history to string together eight wins or more.
Currently, Anderson Silva has 13, and Georges St. Pierre has nine. Royce Gracie reached 11 in the first year of the promotion’s existence, Jon Fitch had eight before a controversial draw to BJ Penn, Lyoto Machida reached eight with a controversial decision over Rua, and Gray Maynard hit eight before the now famous UFC 125 Lightweight Title Fight.
All of these men truly are legendary in their own right and all but one was given a Title Shot due to the impressive string of victories. Jon Fitch is the only man to string together so many wins without an opportunity to dethrone a current champion GSP (Royce Gracie’s appearances were in Tournaments before a Division Title could be offered).
At this point in time, I would like to see Miller acknowledge his achievement and demand a Title Shot.
Dear Jimmy (can I call you Jimmy?),
The lightweight title picture is so packed that not even an exclusive UFC top-10 ranking could hold the fighters that may challenge in the next year.
Recent Import Shinya Aoki is looking to become the new BJJ high water mark in the entire UFC, Clay Guida has silences doubters of his potential, strongman Melvin Guillard is on track and looking dangerous, and that’s only the people who I believe are ready tomorrow.
Your achievements eclipse all others and in my mind make you the rightful heir to the throne. If you beat Benson Henderson, who split his last two fights but looked spectacular both times, you have carved out a place in UFC history, but ask Rashad Evans about how contender status can slip through your fingers.
DEMAND A TITLESHOT.
Your explosive fighting style shouldn’t stop when the bell rings. Fight for what you deserve and right now that is the opportunity to avenge one of your only losses against whoever holds the Title.
Jon Fitch is always saying he should be fighting GSP and even though he’s boring to the majority of fighters, he has a good argument. You and Fitch have a lot in common, Both lost to the current champion, and both have a long string of victories without having your bruises justified with No. 1 contender status.
It is your differences that are key here; you have exciting fights and your losses to Edgar and Maynard aren’t comparable to the beating that Fitch took over the course of 25 minutes to a still hungry GSP.
So this weekend if you win, keep your game face on and tell—don’t ask—Joe Rogan, who the No. 1 contender is. I want to hear you get your fans behind you and show Dana White why you are the man for the job.
You’ve been here before. After your first loss to Edgar, you went on an 8-0 including your first two UFC fights. You can do it again!
PS. Too much ask for you to wear a Wolverine costume as your walkout tee??
UFC Live on Versus 6, taking place Oct. 1st at Verizon Center of Washington D.C, is giving audiences everywhere a rare treat.Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz fresh off a win against Urijah Faber looks to extend his newly minted UFC reign by defeating D…
UFC Live on Versus 6, taking place Oct. 1st at Verizon Center of Washington D.C, is giving audiences everywhere a rare treat.
Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz fresh off a win against Urijah Faber looks to extend his newly minted UFC reign by defeating Demetrious Johnson.
Some are viewing this as a sleight to Cruz who propelled himself onto many pound-for-pound lists after he erased his earlier loss to Faber. It has been suggested to be disrespectful to ask such an elite warrior to take a backseat in exposure and possibly even a smaller paycheck compared to what he received for headlining UFC 132.
Let’s say these worst-case scenarios are true.
For sake of my argument lets assume that:
1) UFC Live on Versus 6 will now have as many viewers as UFC 132.
2) Dominick Cruz will receive a smaller paycheck than he did at UFC 132.
To reiterate, I am not stating the above assumptions as fact. They are complaints I have heard regarding why this is unfair to the Champ.
Drawing an Audience
First off, it’s likely that these free televised cards will not attract as many viewers but that is nothing to scoff at. The goal of these cards is not only to do something nice for fans but to help the UFC attract new fans and give fighters additional cards to earn paychecks.
The very existence of these cards should not be to cram in unproven fighters, but rather to raise interest in buying the next pay-per-view that these fighters are on. Dominick Cruz earned many fans at UFC 132 and by giving him to the masses for free. I guarantee this WILL be one of the most watched UFC on versus cards.
Exposure
The next step is for the UFC to leverage this large audience and get exposure for the fighters at 135 and 145. Most of the fighters are unknown to the vast majority of fans.
Mighty Mouse has already given himself an impressive fan base by beating Miguel Torres and Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto in the Octagon already.
From this point, win or lose, both men will have a lot of people paying attention to every fight they’re in regardless of where it takes place.
UFC Benefits
I’m sure Dana White and the geniuses at UFC knew what they were doing, and I’m sure they’re aware of the interest this fight will raise in these newly added divisions.
Aldo and Florian are helping to ease the WEC transition by pitting perennial contender KFlo against the WEC Black House Powerhouse. The UFC on Versus Card will lay the groundwork for this card to capitalize on new interest.
Cruz and Johnson should be applauded because not only are they giving us, the fans a great main event for a decent and FREE card but because they are helping their fellow division fighters.
I’m sure in the next year we will see more of them on main cards as opposed to watching Chad Mendes v Rani Yahya as a prelim. I mean when was the last time you saw someone earn a title shot on an under card?
So in conclusion, feel free to complain about how Cruz is getting short-changed by going from UFC 132 to headlining a television card, but don’t think this isn’t a genius bit of scheduling and matchmaking by UFC movers and shakers.
Both men put on great fights and this card will only increase their standing in the future. Also an interesting comparison.. Jim Miller v Benson Henderson is this weekend (Make sure to watch because these men are just as explosive as Cruz and Johnson).
If Miller wins its widely accepted he should get the next crack at Lightweight title, but no one complains about how he has to share the spot light with Hardy and Lytle (two men who aren’t exactly No. 1 contenders at the moment).
First Some Background