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UFC: Undermining the Myth of the Greg Jackson Game Plan

Greg Jackson is killing MMA, don’t you know? He constructs game plans for his fighters and, you know, other similarly nefarious deeds. That is the sort of charge I so often hear being levelled at Jackson’s MMA, albeit a slightly caricatured…

Greg Jackson is killing MMA, don’t you know? He constructs game plans for his fighters and, you know, other similarly nefarious deeds.

That is the sort of charge I so often hear being levelled at Jackson’s MMA, albeit a slightly caricatured version of it.

It happened after Condit vs. Diaz, Guida vs. Maynard, and in the aftermath of pretty much every GSP fight.

It shouldn’t take much to debunk this especially virulent myth, yet it persists in spite of the evidence.

While watching Spencer Lazara’s recent interview with Ronda Rousey, the Olympic bronze medalist made the following remarks regarding her upcoming bout with Sarah Kaufman:

You know, if she wants to jump on the bicycle and pull a Condit on me, I’m prepared for that too. I don’t have plans. I am the anti-Greg Jackson.

This all seems innocent enough. She’s just talking about her aversion to game plans, after all.

Well, it’s not quite that clear cut. The remarks come across much differently once you view the interview. They are delivered disdainfully, as though any association with Greg Jackson is enough to undermine a fighter’s credibility.

And just as a little side note, who does Ronda think she’s kidding? I daresay she has the most transparent game plan in all of MMA: secure top position and look for an armbar. But I digress.

A large outcry followed Clay Guida’s performance against Gray Maynard, and I was amongst their number. But unlike most, I settled for criticising the man most responsible for that farcical display, reminiscent of a Benny Hill sketch: Clay Guida.

Naturally, other people offered a different perspective. High profile fighters like Daniel Cormier and Dan Hardy were quick to point the finger at Jackson, along with a whole host of fans on Twitter.

Exactly the same reaction followed Condit vs. Diaz—a far less egregious demonstration of distance running.

MMA luminaries such as Duke Roufus, Pat Miletich, Ronda Rousey and, ahem, Cody McKenzie were all fiercely critical of the fact that Greg Jackson did not order Condit to fight flat-footed, as though he was under some obligation to tailor his game plan to suit Diaz’s style.

How did we acquire such selective memories? We seem to suffer from an extreme case of confirmation bias, acknowledging only that which supports our already-established views.

Need proof? Consider for a moment who else Greg Jackson trains: Donald Cerrone, Jon Jones, Melvin Guillard, Leonard Garcia, Brian Stann, Diego Sanchez and many more.

Each of the above are amongst the most exciting fighters one could ever hope to see. Rarely are they in a dull fight, gobbling up post-fight bonuses like Roy Nelson at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

It goes without saying that Jackson’s MMA gets precisely zero credit for how utterly watchable those fighters are. Indeed, Greg Jackson only ever seems to receive recognition for the worst of his camp.

When was the last time someone praised the Albuquerque-based gym for one of Jones’ or Cerrone’s compelling displays inside the cage? My memory likely doesn’t stretch back that far.

It is a curious fact about our psychology, that we so often ignore that which runs contrary to our beliefs. For whatever reason, Greg Jackson has been a victim of this particular phenomenon.

It is perhaps time that we learn to appreciate what Jackson’s MMA has brought to the sport, rather than tearing them down whenever one of their fighters fail to meet our expectations.

Then again, we seem to view success with suspicion and envy. That fact will doubtless continue to supersede our need for fair-mindedness.

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UFC on Fox 4: "Shogun" Rua vs. Brandon Vera to Be No. 1 Contender Bout

Brandon “The Truth” Vera, the No. 1 contender to Jon “Bones” Jones’ light heavyweight title. Sound odd? It may become reality next weekend, if Vera is able to overcome his lengthy career slump and defeat Mauricio “Sh…

On the UFC on Fox 4 conference call, earlier today, Dana White announced that the winner of this Saturday’s main event will be next in line for a shot at the 205-pound title.

One can, at least to some extent, understand it in the case of Rua. The Brazilian has had a patchy UFC career, but he has looked impressive in his last couple of fights, even in his loss to Dan Henderson late last year.

Brandon Vera, on the other hand, has only one win in his last four fights, with that win coming via an unimpressive decision against the journeyman Eliot Marshall.

How does one justify calling this a No. 1 contender bout, given the facts briefly outlined above?

Well, lack of options could be one reason. Should Jones run over Hendo, as is expected by most, who do you match the 25-year-old up with next? It is slim pickings at the top of the light heavyweight division, but does Vera deserve to be anywhere near the 205-pound title?

The second reason is perhaps more plausible.

The UFC on Fox 4 card has come in for a great deal of criticism from all corners of the MMA universe. Dana White’s announcement seems, at least to this writer, to be an attempt to lend some credibility to the main event.

When people watch a fight, they want to see something at stake. The UFC is giving it to them, no matter how absurd that stipulation is.

Should “The Truth” somehow manage to pull off a win on Saturday night, expect his credentials to play a major part in the storyline of any potential title fight.

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UFC: How the Purchase of Invicta FC Would Develop Female MMA

Dana White has often argued that women’s MMA lacks the depth required to build a competitive division. However, the formation of Invicta FC may offer a potential opportunity for Zuffa to finally develop some female talent. Could there be some val…

Could there be some value in Dana White and Lorenzo Fertita purchasing the fledgling organization?

I recently had a brief Twitter exchange on this subject with Luke Thomas of MMAFighting.com, who made the point that, historically, Zuffa has struggled to cope with handling multiple fighting organizations.

The acquisition of Pride FC was a disaster, and Strikeforce has been similarly unsuccessful thus far, so there is some merit to his argument. Although, it is worth pointing out that contract issues have been largely to blame for the problems with the aforementioned business ventures.

But what of the WEC?

The little man’s organization was by no means a ratings juggernaut, but it was certainly profitable. More importantly, the WEC nurtured talent and developed a number of bona fide stars, such as Urijah Faber and José Aldo.

It established a fan base for fighters who had previously been overlooked, imprinting their names on the collective consciousness of MMA enthusiasts.

The WEC was always going to be folded into the UFC eventually, so its disappearance is not an indication that it was a failure. Rather, being absorbed by the sport’s biggest organization actually speaks to how successful it was in its original goal: developing talent.

The same could be true of Invicta FC. One questions whether Shannon Knapp, the organization President, has the resources to realize her vision.

Dana White, Lorenzo Fertita et al. doubtless possess the resources to aid her noble cause—and it very much is a noble pursuit.

This task would probably be much simpler than some people anticipate. Given what they have to work with, Invicta FC is already doing a terrific job staging and promoting fights for its female stars.

Zuffa would not necessarily have to shuffle around personnel, or otherwise overhaul the organization. They need only invest money and provide guidance, along with any promotional muscle they care to flex.

With that said, one thing that Invicta FC should focus on doing is merging the 135 and 145 pound divisions. That is where the vast majority of female talent is concentrated, and assimilating them into a single 140 pound weight class would instantly establish a competitive, talent-stacked division.

Consider for a moment a division that boasts Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, Sarah Kauffman, Marloes Coenen and Sara McMann at its summit. Now, that is a pretty damn compelling weight class, by anyone’s standards.

Does anyone doubt that Zuffa could aid this cause, and create a number of bankable stars? If they fail to intervene, they may end up wasting the verbal and athletic talents of Ronda Rousey, one of Zuffa’s most visible stars.

But more importantly, they will be failing to capitalize on an opportunity to finally develop and market legitimately talented female fighters, who could conceivably widen the appeal of the sport as a whole.

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UFC Power Rankings: Nick Diaz and the Top 5 Chins Right Now

As a fighter, one might not necessarily consider it a good thing to be known for having a sturdy chin. Still, it is worth celebrating those fighters who seem to be able to absorb more punishment than Rocky Balboa on a high dose of lidocaine. I have no …

As a fighter, one might not necessarily consider it a good thing to be known for having a sturdy chin.

Still, it is worth celebrating those fighters who seem to be able to absorb more punishment than Rocky Balboa on a high dose of lidocaine.

I have no doubt there will be some bickering over my choices. I expect the omission of Chris “The Crippler” Leben to be a particularly sore point for some of you. That is why I would invite you to vent your frustrations in the comments section, and I will attempt to ease your concerns.

Let me be clear from the outset that there are many, many fighters who possess a great chin. However, such a short list necessitates that I be ruthless in my choices.

As a result, I will not be selecting fighters who, whilst durable, have been knocked out on multiple occasions.

So without further delay, I present you with the top five chins in the UFC today.

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Chael Sonnen: Demystifying the Persona of a Pantomime Villain

Chael Sonnen might very well be one of the nicest people in the sport of mixed martial arts. Wait, just hear me out before you begin foaming at the mouth and formulating a strongly worded reply in your head. Far too many people have bought into the ima…

Far too many people have bought into the image that Chael portrays to the media, conflating fantasy and reality. It is time to demystify the ubiquitous notion that Chael P. Sonnen and the character he plays are somehow equivalent.

As a liberal atheist who is firmly opposed to TRT, I am an unlikely member of the Chael Sonnen fan club. Despite this, I find myself compelled to defend a man who is slightly to the right of Glenn Beck.

It is a strange compulsion, no doubt. But a good man is a good man, and it is always worth clearing the name of a good man.

It is true that Chael hasn’t necessarily helped his image over the past couple of years, given his well-documented legal issues and the controversy surrounding his use of TRT. However, neither charge should necessarily be enough to write the man off as a felonious psychopath.

In reality, it seems to be well known within the industry that the self-proclaimed “Gangster from West Linn” is an absolute sweetheart when the cameras aren’t around—and even occasionally when they are around.

At the recent UFC 149 Fan Club Q&A, Michael Bisping appeared to blow Chael’s cover, telling the crowd what he really thinks of his former opponent:

Chael has a reputation, and I’m gonna ruin it right now. He’s actually one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet. He really is. When we fought in Chicago, he was a gentleman. He really was. I was a little pissed off because I wanted to really talk some trash, you know. But I couldn’t do it because he’s such a nice guy.

Coming from one of the UFC’s biggest heels, that is quite a statement. Bisping rarely minces his words, nor does he unduly heap praise on his fellow fighters.

Of course, that is just one person’s opinion. We need a little more evidence in order to prosecute this case.

Let me take you back to another Fan Club Q&A, this time at UFC 125.

A lady who was present that day decided to share a story about her grandson, who was suffering from a severe brain bleed and required surgery.

The day of the surgery, Chael called her grandson several times to check up on him. More telling still, Chael continued to call up and check on the boy in the days and weeks that followed.

There were no cameras present, no reporters and no means of relaying this deed to the masses. In fact, no one else would have known but for the lady’s decision to share this story with those in attendance.

My point? Chael did not get anything out of this, other than the satisfaction of doing something nice for a sick child.

My modest effort to tell the story probably does not do it justice. Go here to watch the emotional woman recall Chael’s gesture.

It would be fair to say that Chael has a soft spot for children, as evidenced by another story that flew under the radar.

Ty Costlow attended UFC 136 with his father and sought Chael Sonnen’s autograph. Instead of merely complying with this simple request, Chael lifted the boy over the security gate and gave him an experience to remember.

Chael invited Ty to join him in the post-fight photo sessions, took him to the locker room so that he could meet the fighters, had them sign various items for the boy and took him to Frankie Edgar’s locker room while he was warming up for his fight with Gray Maynard.

Chael then made sure that father and son got to watch the final two fights of the evening in the section that seated the various UFC fighters who were in attendance, capping off an unforgettable evening for the boy and his father.

Read a fuller account of the events here, straight from Ty’s father. Also, Dana White‘s UFC 137 video blog offers a brief glimpse of Chael’s interaction with Ty.

Chael has made his share of mistakes, and many of them have been exposed for public scrutiny. However, the next time you witness an ill-informed fan attempt to denigrate Chael Sonnen’s character, assess that claim with a critical eye.

There is much more to the man than the pantomime villain that he portrays.

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UFC on Fox 4: The UFC Still Has Not Learned Its Lesson

The deal with Fox was supposed to elevate the UFC from a niche attraction to a mainstream juggernaut.So why does the UFC continue to pump out subpar content when presented with a national audience? The UFC’s approach to the Fox deal continues to …

The deal with Fox was supposed to elevate the UFC from a niche attraction to a mainstream juggernaut.

So why does the UFC continue to pump out subpar content when presented with a national audience?

The UFC’s approach to the Fox deal continues to confound those who wish to catalyse the sport’s ascent into the mainstream consciousness.

It all started out so positively, with the promise of a heavyweight title fight. And the UFC delivered on its promise, while simultaneously failing to deliver the kind of action that would entice viewers to come back for more.

Dana White et al. put all their eggs in one heavyweight basket, wagering that Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos would light up the arena.

They didn’t.

In fact both came into the bout nursing serious injuries, and would doubtless have pulled ripcords if they were scheduled to compete on any other card. We got exactly what you would expect to get if you put two inhibited fighters in a cage: an anticlimax.

Fans had been screaming for the co-main event, featuring Ben Henderson and Clay Guida, to be aired prior to—or even after—the main event. Unfortunately, the UFC remained stubborn and insisted that only the heavyweight title fight would air.

And what a shame that turned out to be.

Henderson and Guida conspired to produce a gripping contest, filled with world-class athleticism and technique. It was a demonstration of mixed martial arts at its finest.

Unfortunately, not a single casual fan had the privilege of watching it that night.

Moving forward UFC on Fox 2 initiated the downward trend. The show would this time air three fights, which in itself was a step in the right direction.

However, the fights in question did little to stir the imagination: Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman, Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping and Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis.

Now, don’t get me wrong, all of the above are quality mixed martial artists. The problem is that, at the time, none of them carried significant mainstream appeal.

To compound the problem, Evans and Davis are not known for being the most eye-catching fighters on the roster. Both rely heavily on their wrestling, which has historically been the casual fans’ kryptonite.

I’m not suggesting that we hide such an important part of the sport from the casual fans, but it has to be introduced in the right manner.

For example protracted grappling exchanges against the fence would be the wrong way to sell the art of grappling.

At the risk of harping on the same point, the Henderson vs. Guida fight is the right way to sell grappling to a mainstream audience: takedowns mixed in with striking, submission attempts, scrambles on the ground, etc.

Needless to say, UFC on Fox 2 did not deliver in terms of action or ratings. It was time to take a different approach.

Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller was the featured bout for the UFC’s third attempt to gain mainstream approval, and on paper it was a terrific fight. In fact one could scarcely conceive of a combination more likely to produce fireworks in the cage.

But the UFC again overlooked the importance of name recognition. Unlike with Davis and Evans, this fight was almost guaranteed to deliver. Unfortunately, only the hardcore fans appreciate the value of Diaz and Miller.

We knew it was going to be a great fight because we know the fighters and their respective styles, but how could they know that it was worth their time to tune in?

And it did turn out to be a compelling encounter. Indeed, it probably would have made a star out of Nate Diaz had people bothered to tune in.

But people didn’t bother tuning in.

They didn’t know any better, nor could they be expected to.

We have to introduce these fighters to the masses before thrusting them into the main events of nationally televised cards.

This necessitates the inclusion of bona-fide stars in the main events of Fox cards, plus the inclusion of potential stars on the undercards. That is how you create fighters who transcend the sport. You give them “the rub,” so to speak.

The UFC must be willing to sacrifice short-term gains in order to grow the sport—and the company—over the long term. If that means giving GSP away for free on a couple of cards, so be it. They might make a little less money during that calendar year, but they will reap the rewards later.

Given that UFC on Fox 4 boasts a main event between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Brandon Vera, one gets the feeling that the UFC still has not learned its lesson.

Will it ever?

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