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UFC: Why the Company Is More Spectacle Than Sport

No one who knows MMA will ever mistake it for professional wrestling. However the “sport” of MMA has become somewhat of a spectacle rather than a sport. But is that such a bad thing? If the UFC were to go the route of truly being a sport, it …

No one who knows MMA will ever mistake it for professional wrestling. However the “sport” of MMA has become somewhat of a spectacle rather than a sport.

But is that such a bad thing?

If the UFC were to go the route of truly being a sport, it would give credence to the fighters that play it safe. The “just win baby” mantra would become a calling card for guys to lay and pray. Why take chances when you can win and snatch up decision victories?

Being in the entertainment business negates that train of thought, and I’m all for it. Let the guys who fight for decisions fight and fight and fight all they want to. Make the road of getting a title shot longer for those guys. The ones who take chances and put on a show for the fans should have a shorter road to the title fights.

Is that fair? No. But an old man once told me that fair is where you eat cotton candy and ride rides.

By taking the stance of spectacle over sport you promote exciting fighters who fight to finish. After all, that is what fighting is all about. Go out there and give it your best shot, win or lose. People would rather see a fighter fight an exciting fight and lose than a fighter play it extremely safe and win.

The UFC is a business. If there’s a fight card with a ton of fighters who are known for not finishing their opponents, that card will most likely fail in pay-per-view buys. Fill up a card with names known for coming to fight and you have yourself a money maker.

That is what it’s all about. So while no one will ever mistake this for WWE, it is sports entertainment.

And that’s just fine with me.

Montique David is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a constant tweeter on all things somewhat relevant. You can follow him @montiqued

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BJ Penn: It’s Time to Call It a Career

BJ Penn has had one of the most successful runs in UFC history. He’s asked where was his 10 fight winning streak. With his mentality he never could’ve had one. Despite being sometimes severely outsized at welterweight, “The Prodigy” took fig…

BJ Penn has had one of the most successful runs in UFC history.

He’s asked where was his 10 fight winning streak. With his mentality he never could’ve had one. Despite being sometimes severely outsized at welterweight, “The Prodigy” took fights with bigger guys that others shy away from. He could’ve stayed at lightweight where he held a 11-3-1 record and dominated everyone not named Frankie Edgar. He could’ve taken carefully picked opponents at welterweight and looked great defeating them.

However, he took the road less traveled. BJ always took the best fighters out there. He fought an undefeated Lyoto Machida that weighed 220 pounds, took on a much larger GSP, and also took fights at middleweight. In a sense, BJ got in his own way. His warrior mentality that everybody knows and loves lead to lots of damage and a poor end to a historic career.

Whether it was Rory MacDonald punishing him with body punches and kicks or Nick Diaz wailing away at him, he never gave up. If he were to end his career right now he’d be one of the only fighters ever to never get knocked down in his entire career. One of the only fighters to step up and fight guys a weight class four classes up from where he belongs.

For that BJ should be remembered as one of the all-time greats. These days guys need $50 million to fight in a catchweight bout. BJ would just pack on the cheeseburgers and make it happen.

For all of the naysayers who say that BJ lacked motivation in some fights, I dare them to find someone else in the UFC today that has his resume and still takes on the challenges he has. Anderson Silva stepped up to light heavyweight and fought Forrest Griffin, James Irving, and Stephan Bonnar, all while refusing to fight Jon Jones. BJ has stepped up to fight GSP twice, Hall of Famer Matt Hughes twice, and a prospect in Rory MacDonald that not many people want a piece of. Many people are afraid to lose. BJ welcomed the challenge of going out to win.

With all of that said, unfortunately Father Time has come knocking at BJ’s door. He’s not going to be licking blood off of his gloves anytime soon and his days of contending for a Championship are very well over.

Despite the struggle and ineptitude of his final appearances against much larger and stronger competition, remember BJ as being quite possibly the last true warrior of the Octagon. Remember him as one to never back down from a challenge no matter how much larger his opponent was or how bad a matchup looked on paper. BJ Penn always came to fight.

Some people will leave BJ out of the conversation with the Anderson Silvas and GSPs of the MMA world. In a way it’s warranted because he will never be what Anderson and GSP are.

And maybe that’s a good thing.

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UFC on FOX 5: Are Wins by MacDonald and Gustafsson Best for Business?

At UFC on FOX 5, two young lions will have the chance to upend two legends. As a company, the UFC should be rooting for that.In every walk of life there is a transition. A natural move from the old to the new. In a business model like the UFC’s, …

At UFC on FOX 5, two young lions will have the chance to upend two legends.

As a company, the UFC should be rooting for that.

In every walk of life there is a transition. A natural move from the old to the new. In a business model like the UFC’s, making new names is a business in itself. Popular fighters, “name” guys, eventually have to get defeated for the next “name” to be made.

Rashad Evans fought to a draw with Tito Ortiz and knocked out Chuck Liddell, gaining enough steam to eventually face Forrest Griffin for the light heavyweight title and make a name all on his own. Jon Jones went on one of the great streaks in MMA history, defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans. The progression of a rising star taking the place of a fading one is business as usual for the UFC.

The UFC is banking on Rory MacDonald and Alexander Gustafsson to be those rising stars. They’re set to face BJ Penn and Shogun Rua on free TV in what should easily break the five–million–viewer plateau. If they win impressively, the UFC can easily promote them as the new legend killers.

If they lose, they’ll miss out on their best chance to capitalize on becoming box office hits.

Whether we like it or not, BJ and Shogun’s careers are in a downturn. With a combined 53 fights, a win here is just padding to already stellar careers. In three years, we’ll be lucky if either man is still in the UFC.

Ares and the Mauler are 23 and 25 respectively, with 29 matches between them. In three years, they’ll be entering their prime and well on their way to stardom. A big win on UFC on FOX 5 will jump-start that. The UFC brass know that, and they’ll be silently rooting for a highlight–reel finish by each of the young guns. It’s just good for business.

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BJ Penn: Tribute to the Greatest Lightweight of All Time

Jay Dee Penn, better known as BJ, is the greatest Lightweight in MMA history. Thought to be the fastest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner to reach black belt status, BJ earned the name “The Prodigy.” And he didn’t disappoint. He became…

After impressing in Brazil, BJ became one of the few fighters to make his MMA debut in the UFC. He finished his first three opponents via KO/TKO before losing a razor sharp decision against Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver. BJ would post a record of 6-1-1 before challenging himself and moving up to Welterweight where he was usually always outsized.

After winning the Lightweight Championship in the 2008 beatdown of the year, BJ held on to the title for two and a half years. BJ won four straight lightweight championship fights by finish, the most in lightweight history.

Style

BJ Penn could very well be the most gifted BJJ practitioner of all Mixed Martial Arts. With six submission victories, five by rear naked choke, if you take him down chances are you’ll find out why he’s “The Prodigy.” And taking him down was no easy task.

Known for incredible dexterity and balance, BJ stuffed an astonishing 77 percent of takedowns against him. So usually the strategy would be to keep him in standing exchanges, right? Wrong.

At one time BJ was known to have the best boxing in all of MMA. His solid jab and devastating right cross added a new dimension for fighters who thought of Penn as just a great ground fighter.

His 70-inch reach and 52 percent striking accuracy kept his opponents at bay. Then once he saw an opening, he would strike with a well-placed flying knee or high kick to end the fight.

Couple that with the greatest chin in MMA history and you have a dangerous guy. BJ could take powerful shots to the chin, and he has never been knocked down.

Signature moment

In one of the most replayed moments of MMA, BJ Penn delivered a bloody beating to incumbent champion Joe “Daddy” Stevenson. After locking in his patented rear naked choke and winning the Championship, BJ licked the blood off of his gloves. Now that moment is etched into the mind of anybody who’s seen it.

Warrior Mentality

BJ Penn embodies what the fighter mentality should be. Bar none. Every time GSP expresses concern over Anderson Silva’s size advantage, I think about him at 190+ pounds taking on a 168-pound Penn. Twice.

BJ Penn is of the “any time, any place, any weight” school of thought. Even though he posted a 11-3-1 record in Lightweight, he challenged himself by fighting at multiple weights. He moved up to welterweight and faced GSP, then to Middleweight to face Rodrigo Gracie, then fought a 220-pound Lyoto Machida while weighing 191.

That is what fighting is all about. That warrior spirit and courage to fight whoever, whenever.

When questioned about the possibility of a GSP vs Anderson Silva fight, BJ said it like only he could. “We all know what BJ Penn would do.”

You’re right, BJ. We do know. And another thing we know is that you’re the greatest lightweight of all time.

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A Tribute to the Greatest Light Heavyweight of All Time

It’s not Chuck Liddell, not Wanderlei Silva, and it’s not Tito Ortiz. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is the greatest light heavyweight of all time. When I first started this search of who would be the very best of the division, my searc…

It’s not Chuck Liddell, not Wanderlei Silva, and it’s not Tito Ortiz. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is the greatest light heavyweight of all time.

When I first started this search of who would be the very best of the division, my search began with two names: the Ice Man and the Axe Murderer. Then I began looking deep into resumes.

This division was tough to sort out; however, when all of the smoke cleared and the dust settled, It was Shogun that stood above the rest.

PRIDE 2005 Grand Prix

Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Alistair Overeem, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Igor Vovchanchyn, Kevin Randleman, Ricardo Arona, Shogun Rua. These are just some of the names that graced what is now being called the greatest MMA tournament of all time.

The winner of that talent-rich tournament was none other than Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

Shogun defeated Rampage Jackson and Rogerio Nogueira within 60 days, then finished both Alistair Overeem and Ricardo Arona on the same night to take home the crown in the Grand Prix.

Within a 15-fight stretch, Shogun went 13-2 with his only true loss coming to Forrest Griffin. In that stretch, he defeated light heavyweight king Chuck Liddell, current UFC light heavyweight Cyrille Diabate, Kevin Randleman and the aforementioned 2005 Grand Prix victims.

Losses

In combat sports, sometimes it’s not your victories that define you, but your losses. At a glance you’d see that Shogun has lost six times out of the 27 fights he’s fought.

Take a closer look, however, and you’ll only see four. Shogun lost to Mark Coleman in a match where he broke his arm falling back from a Coleman takedown. A few years later he would avenge that “loss.”

In the UFC, Shogun has lost decisions to Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida. The Machida match was highly disputed, so much that Shogun was given an immediate rematch, which he won.

Style

If there’s one thing you can count on in a Shogun fight is that it’s going to be a battle. He’s a one time KO of the Year winner and a two time Fight of the Year winner. His iron chin and champion’s heart keeps him in every fight.

And with 19 of his 21 wins coming by way of KO or submission, you can bet that 90 percent of the time, Shogun is going to finish the job.

Legacy

Shogun is still going strong today and can only hope to add to what has been a great career. As a PRIDE Grand Prix champion and UFC light heavyweight champion he has become one of the most decorated light heavyweights in MMA history.

His resume when put up against his contemporaries will be second to none, and the run he had in PRIDE will go down as one of the all-time greats. As he should.

So to the old school PRIDE fans, Shogun will be one of the all-time greats to ever put on a pair of 4-oz gloves. However on the flip side, one generation will remember him as the guy who got finished by Jon Jones after a long layoff.

The truth is that Shogun has quietly been the best light heavyweight ever to step foot in the ring or cage.

Don’t agree? Then feel free to debate it out in the comments.

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Fedor Emelianenko: Tribute to the Greatest Heavyweight of All Time

When it comes to heavyweights in mixed martial arts, none comes close to the brilliance and sustained excellence of Fedor Emelianenko.
Three years ago, I was not as enthusiastic about “The Last Emperor.” Then Vitaly, a friend of mine who is of Russian …

When it comes to heavyweights in mixed martial arts, none comes close to the brilliance and sustained excellence of Fedor Emelianenko.

Three years ago, I was not as enthusiastic about “The Last Emperor.” Then Vitaly, a friend of mine who is of Russian descent, told me about this heavyweight.

“He’s the greatest fighter ever,” he told me. I took it as a guy supporting his fellow countryman. Then Vitaly threw some facts at me. He spoke of a nine-year unbeaten streak that included former UFC champions and Hall of Famers. Then he said that Fedor’s first loss was one of the great robberies in MMA history.

Still not impressed, I researched everything I could about “The Last Emperor.” I came away more impressed than I could have ever imagined.

I discovered that Vitaly was right. Fedor is unarguably the greatest heavyweight of all time. In this slideshow, I’ll prove it.

Begin Slideshow