According to MMAJunkie.com, Sarah Kaufman will need an opponent after Sara McMann was forced to drop out of their upcoming bout at UFC Fight Night 27.
Kaufman vs. McMann was scheduled for the main card as a possible top-contender bout to face the winne…
Kaufman vs. McMann was scheduled for the main card as a possible top-contender bout to face the winner of Ronda Rousey vs. Meisha Tate. With McMann out of the picture, the opportunity to solidify the top position may be hampered unless the UFC can quickly find a quality replacement.
Amanda Nunes is the most likely option available.
She impressed with her first-round TKO victory over Shiela Gaff at UFC 163. Nunes sustained minimal damage and could easily be seen as a justifiable threat. A short training camp would not hinder her general fitness. However, visa and travel issues could create a snag.
Liz Carmouche could also replace McMann as she recently won her match at UFC on Fox 8, again sustaining minimal damage in doing so. A snag is that a rematch with Rousey may be a bit too soon for the former contender.
Outside of Nunes or Carmouche bouts, Kaufman is stuck with few worthwhile options. The UFC may well have to shop outside of known entities of the female divisions.
Because casual fans know so little about female competitors, giving Kaufman a difficult unknown fighter can only hurt the division. Handing Kaufman an easy matchup makes the division look weak.
That leaves the UFC handling a difficult decision with little time for strategy.
In a fight that was destined to give the 205-pound division a top contender, both Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis clearly knew the ramifications of their co-main event bout at UFC 163. In the end, Davis was handed a surprising victory via a hard-earned de…
In a fight that was destined to give the 205-pound division a top contender, both Lyoto Machida and Phil Davis clearly knew the ramifications of their co-main event bout at UFC 163. In the end, Davis was handed a surprising victory via a hard-earned decision Saturday night at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Both men had a lot to lose, and so maybe it should have been no surprise each man started out tentative. Still, a large majority of the match was left to dancing about and punching air. After the opening round, each man picked up the pace and made stronger connections with varying strikes.
There was was a fair amount of action given how dangerous each fighter posed to his opponent.
With the victory, Davis has a likely rematch with Jon Jones. Machida was left miffed by the decision and will have to reconsider his strategy in order to ascend once again to a title shot.
What We Learned about Davis
If there was one thing we learned about Davis from the UFC 163 bout, it is that he is willing to take the fight to anyone.
Everyone knows Machida is a counterstriker; yet, Davis was willing to move forward and engage after the first round of dancing. The aggression, along with two successful takedowns, practically won Davis the match. Little else put Davis over his Brazilian opponent.
Davis, 28, did not show much new in his game as compared to his recent bouts against Wagner Prado and Vinny Magalhaes. Davis is still letting up his quality, albeit rudimentary striking game. He still uses his size and power to control his opponents, and he still has trouble finishing fights against top-level competition.
What We Learned about Machida
First and foremost, we all learned that the Brazilian still has trouble instigating the action. That fact likely cost him the match. It is clearly no longer “The Machida Era,” and he must find a way to change up his game enough to impress the often-inconsistent MMA judges.
We also learned that Machida, 35, is not afraid to say when he feels cheated by the judges.
Some fighters will say it is their fault for leaving it up to the judges. But the Brazilian pointed to the reaction of the crowd as his proof that he won. There are plenty of fans who will agree with Machida.
The fight honestly did not give us much to learn about Machida. His next fight will tell us more about whether he still has the fire to compete or if the frustrating loss took what was left of his desire to compete for the title.
What Is Next for Davis
Next would almost certainly be a title shot for the now 12-1 contender. If for some reason an injury should befall the winner of Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson, then a possible contender bout against Shogun (should he beat Chael Sonnen) could be next for Davis.
The latter hypothetical is highly unlikely, however, as the once endlessly deep 205-pound division is now in need of a true contender. Davis, controversial or not, is the best the division has to offer.
What Is Next for Machida
After such a frustrating loss, it is hard to say Machida (19-4) is far away from a contender fight. A bout against Mauricio Rua may be the best bet for the Brazilian. Both Rua and Machida are loved in Brazil, and a trilogy fight could easily be a headliner or co-main event.
Machida won’t want a feeder bout, and so if he does not receive an immediate contender fight, anything high profile and noteworthy will do.
Since the announcement that Daniel Cormier would take on Roy Nelson will take place at UFC 166 on October 19 in Houston, some fans have suggested that the fight makes no sense.
However, upon closer examination, the bout makes perfect sense given the li…
Since the announcement that Daniel Cormier would take on Roy Nelson will take place at UFC 166 on October 19 in Houston, some fans have suggested that the fight makes no sense.
However, upon closer examination, the bout makes perfect sense given the list of parties and variables it affects.
Nelson has never had the strongest relationship with Dana White. The two have bickered and prodded each other since Big Country entered the UFC. From contract disputes to Nelson’s general weight and conditioning, each side has made it clear that the attitude of the opposing side is not appreciated.
Nelson was on perpetually thin ice with the UFC throughout his career, and the loss to StipeMiocic at UFC 161 had many wondering if he’d make a return to the organization, or if the two sides could come to an agreement on his contract at all.
Enter former Olympic wrestler and Strikeforce Grand Prix champion Daniel Cormier.
The two fighters had first been rumored by White to lock horns following Nelson’s win over Cheick Kongo at UFC 159. The bout was put off when Nelson took the fight with Miocic on short notice.
Nelson claimed that he would have fought Cormier, but the wrestler was medically unfit to fight. In an interview with MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani in June, Nelson called Cormier an “Uncle Tom” for wanting to beat him for Dana White.
Not surprisingly, Cormier took offense to the terms used by the Ultimate Fighter Season 10 winner and told him to sign the papers for October 19 so they could have it out once and for all.
“Roy and I still have some unfinished business,” Cormier told Helwani in July. “I hope he re-signs with the UFC, so we can settle what he started two months ago.”
The bout has since been made official and fans should be excited. The bout comes at a perfect time for each fighter and the organization itself, not to mention for the fans.
Cormier‘s Position in the Division
Cormier is undefeated at heavyweight and, quite honestly, could make a case for being the top contender in the division. The problem? His training partner, Cain Velasquez, holds the belt.
At a media luncheon in October, Velasquez claimed that Cormierwould like to move down to the 205-pound division rather than stay at heavyweight, but that drop has proven problematic for him during his wrestling career.
Because of that concern, a steady and slower drop is necessary. Another bout at heavyweight gives him a solid paycheck while he continues to drop weight in a healthy and proper manner.
Nelson Fights Are Still Marketable
Despite what White or the Fertitta brothers think of Nelson’s attitude, the man is still marketable. He is not on the level of a Georges St-Pierre or Anderson Silva, but Nelson’s trademark beard and belly rub are known by even the casuals.
They may only know him as “that fat guy with the beard,” but they know him and will tune in to watch his bouts.
Cormier‘s last bout with Frank Mir was not a memorable one. He still can’t be said to have casual-fan appeal. A solid showing against Nelson can bolster his own name.
Nelson, on the other hand, has a chance to defeat a man almost destined for a future title shot at two weight classes.
Dos Santos Variable
The heavyweight title bout between Junior dos Santos and Velasquez headlines UFC 166.
Cormier vs. Nelson could possibly become a top-contender bout for Cormier, should Dos Santos win the belt back from Velasquez.
If the champion loses, Cormier would be free to fight for the title.
The undefeated Cormier would have no obligation to allow his teammate to take a fourth bout with Dos Santos before he himself had a shot.
Within the hypothetical of Dos Santos winning, Cormier winning suddenly puts him right behind Fabricio Werdum for a title shot. At minimum, it keeps him in the heavyweight division for a top-contender fight with Miocic.
Nelson winning doesn’t guarantee him a shot, but with so few contenders at heavyweight, it places him right back in the running. He would be 5-2 in his last seven bouts. His two losses are decisions, one on short notice and the other to Werdum.
Despite how some may feel about Nelson, he is not far off from an earned title shot.
Everybody Loves a Feud
UFC fans are often shown fake feuds and tough guys trying to act angry when they are actually mindful and respectful of their opponent behind closed doors.
But when there is a real feud and two men appear to really dislike one another, fans tune in to watch the car crash. When it’s heavyweights, that just adds to the excitement.
Call it barbaric or primitive, but there is something undeniably entertaining about two men who are interested in shutting their opponent’s mouth. Since both Cormier and Nelson like to run their mouths, the fire will be stoked all the way up to the bout itself.
Both are brash and tend to prod opponents before they step into the cage. Both also know how to back up their talk.
Conclusion
All told, the fight makes perfect sense for both fighters, the organization and fans. A sophomore UFC bout for Cormier and a turnaround feud for Nelson following a rough short-notice loss actually create a perfect matchup.
The bad blood between the two only sweetens the pot and makes for a fantastic heavyweight matchup at just the right time.
Former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans made it perfectly clear in his interview with ESPN.com that he is not interested in fighting teammates.
“I won’t fight Vitor [Belfort]. I won’t fight Thiago Silva. I won’t fight Cezar “Mutante” Ferreir…
Former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans made it perfectly clear in his interview with ESPN.com that he is not interested in fighting teammates.
“I won’t fight Vitor [Belfort]. I won’t fight Thiago Silva. I won’t fight Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira. I won’t fight anybody who I train with,” Evans said, adding “I made that mistake before, and I won’t do that again. I lost a lot of relationships because I did that before.”
Evans’ “mistake” was in his decision to fight current light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The two had been teammates at Team Jackson before Evans left for Blackzilians in Florida.
Evans had previously stated he would never fight teammates when both he and friend Keith Jardine were fighting in the same weight class. Back then the two seemed to have a strong understanding of never taking such a bout. When asked if his friendship with Evans would prevent him from fighting for the title, Jardine simply stated “Absolutely.”
Evans can even be seen in his Fox Sports interview in 2009 (at mark 2:00-2:18) simply shaking his head and refusing the idea of potentially fighting Jardine for the title, despite Dana White‘s adamant assurance the fight would happen if necessary. It was as simple for Evans four years ago, and it appears he has turned back to his old ways on how he views friends fighting.
The comment from Evans comes on the heels of the ongoing struggles between the UFC and top middleweight contender Vitor Belfort. The wife and manager of Belfort, stated last week that Vitor will not take a middleweight fight outside a title shot, but will accept any bout at any higher weight class.
For the last half decade, fighter pay has become an increasingly discussed issue in the UFC. More fighters are stepping forward to voice disdain and concern. From what can be researched on the issue, there is good reason to have gripes.
We all know And…
For the last half decade, fighter pay has become an increasingly discussed issue in the UFC. More fighters are stepping forward to voice disdain and concern. From what can be researched on the issue, there is good reason to have gripes.
We all know Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre and other top-tier names are making good money. But what about the rest of the fighters on the books?
Jon Fitch, John Cholish, Dan Hardy and a handful of other fighters have already come forward to complain about how the UFC controls payments. UFC President Dana White continues to scoff at the grumblings, but the issue is likely to persist until either the UFC opens its books or simply pays out more.
According to MMA Manifesto, 15 percent of fighters who participated in the UFC in 2012 made under $10,000. Over 50 percent made between $10,000 and $99,000 for the full year of employment (gross total before fees, costs and taxes).
Tim Kennedy stated in an interview with MMA Mania that he netted $20,000 before taxes following his disclosed $70,000 for a victory at UFC 162. He noted expenses of his camp, medical fees and cost to travel with a fight team as the cause of the diminished net total. Given that is for a single fight, one can assume fighters are spending a hefty portion of their five-figure totals to break even, or working with far less than Kennedy can afford to pay for.
Kennedy is in the minority of current fighters willing to voice the realities of payments in the UFC.
Jacob Volkmann, who was 6-2 in the UFC before being released, stated the problem he saw that goes beyond simple fight-day payments.
“They always claim that they treat the fighters so well. Yeah, they treat the top five per cent of the fighters well — the ones that are on the main card all the time. They don’t treat the rest of them very well. The healthcare plan is horrible, with a $1,500 deductible per injury — the catastrophic-injury insurance is not even really good insurance. There’s no retirement fund, there’s no signing bonus.”
“Out of the 18 fights out of that $1,020,000, I paid 20-percent of that to management and the gym. So if you take that number, $1,322,000, divided by seven and a half years, I was roughly making just over $176,000 a year. Now remember, that’s before management and gym fees. You also have other expenses you have to pay for, equipment, stuff like that.”
“The problem is that the fighters are in a situation where we don’t really have a great deal of options, as far as bargaining power. There are 100 guys that would step in and do my job for free. That kind of devalues us. There aren’t any options as far as where we can go and what we can do.
With the sponsor fees, it really limits what we can do outside the sport, as well. It’s just a very difficult situation to be in. I went from one fight, where I sold the space on the front of my shorts for $5,000, to six months later, going back to the same company, and only getting an offer of $1500 because of the sponsor fee. I refused it, because someone has got to set a standard. The problem is, when I turn it down, there’s another 10 fighters on the undercard that will take that offer, because there’s nobody else paying.”
Beyond all the hard numbers is the unregulated and secretive nature of payment. White continually assures everyone the fighters are well taken care of. There is no doubt many fighters are better cared for than in prior eras of the sport. It does not then follow that the fighters are being paid fairly or according to what they deserve. Remember these men are in the top one percent of their sport.
Nobody is demanding that every MMA fighter who steps into a UFC cage ought to receive $300,000 a year. But marginally higher wages for fighters and/or a better cost-of-living coverage is more than fair for men who pay for their own training, coaching team and medical fees.
For those concerned that such costs may leave the UFC in financial ruin, the company has averaged $3.4 million at the gate in its last four pay-per-views. The entirety of fighter payments on each card only accounted for half (or less) of that total (including bonuses). Less than a quarter went to fighters not on the main cards.
The $3.4 million average the UFC pulls in at the gate does not account for profits made on concessions, merchandise, the pay-per-view buys themselves, TV deals or sponsorship tax on fighters.
Possible Solutions
So what is there that can be done to give the fighters their proper dues without breaking the UFC financially? There are three possibilities that could satisfy both needs.
Camp and Fight-Related Expenses Fees
This concept would ask the UFC to pay for the gym fees, coaches fees and medical bills for training camps leading up to fights. With fighters no longer fitting that bill, the disclosed amount of money made for UFC bouts will be the actual amount a fighter receives. Suddenly $10,000 to show seems fair for a first-time fighter and his three or four months of work.
Fighters can still pay for their own non-lead-up camp months. But once preparing for an official fight, the UFC takes control of fees owed. There could be a maximum the UFC is liable to pay to avoid superfluous fees; however, the system would ultimately relieve financial burdens on up-and-coming fighters especially.
Free-Market Sponsorships
The free-market option allows fighters to cultivate their own income and reap the rewards of a free-market system based on performance and self-marketing. Right now the UFC attempts to control which sponsors fighters have, how much they are marketed, as well as levying fees for allowed sponsorships.
If the UFC keeps their fingers out of the pot, the fighters themselves could earn based on their cultivated fame. That way the UFC avoids the gripes of low pay and can continue to pay fighters fees they seem fit without incurring any severe losses.
Percentage-of-Gate Share
Give the gate earnings to the fighters, breaking it up by the percentage each fighter’s base salary carries in overall fighter pay total for that show.
Say two main event fighters have agreed contracts totaling $300,000 and eight main-card fighters earn $200,000 total. Assume also that 10 undercard fighters pull in $50,000 total. With the gate-share concept, main eventers would share 54 percent of the total gate. Main eventers not on the main card would share 36 percent (or 9 percent apiece), and undercard fighters would take away around 1 percent each.
That payment-share would allow each undercard fighter to earn $33,545 minimum for a $3.14 million dollar gate (under the average). While it doesn’t fix every problem, it is certainly an improvement on the current system. When added to current fighter bonus opportunities, the disclosed total will reach a more acceptable value for fighters. And most important, the reasoning for particular pay would be easy to see.
Each system is likely somewhat oversimplified. But at least each has a logical base, is orderly and can be shown to the public. Given it took me about an hour to come up with all three strategies, the UFC is simply not putting enough effort into proper pay schemes that both benefit fighters and simultaneously stops the endless harping grumblings regarding payments. And that is the real shame. The fighters are making complaints, and those complaints are not unreasonable. Yet, the UFC simply turns away any attempt to discuss the issue.
*All numbers in solutions pulled and calculated from MMAManifesto.com and MMAPayout archives.
Light-Heavyweight contender Lyoto Machida says says he understands the dangers Phil Davis poses for their upcoming bout at UFC 163. Machida explains what he sees as reasons to respect what Davis brings to the table in his recent interview with the UFC …
Light-Heavyweight contender LyotoMachida says says he understands the dangers Phil Davis poses for their upcoming bout at UFC 163. Machida explains what he sees as reasons to respect what Davis brings to the table in his recent interview with the UFC in a pre-fight interview.
“I’ve been training my wrestling defense as well as the attacks. Because when you learn the attacks you learn [how] to defend them.”
Machida also says he is aware of Davis’ stand up and how much it has improved.
“I’ve been seeing that Phil Davis has evolved a lot in his striking game. He’s been throwing combos. He’s kicking and throwing punches. Even though he’s not a striker he’s a guy that’s been working a lot on striking. I believe that my advantage will be my striking. I feel very comfortable with striking. I’ve fought many wrestlers, I know how to deal with them. I feel very confident my striking will be the difference in this fight.”
The significance of the fight is well known, as both men are in line for the next shot against Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. Machida is sure he can find his way back to a title bout.
“I’m going to be very prepared. I’m going to stick to the No. 1 Contender spot.”
Davis is currently riding a two-fight win streak, with a loss to Rashad Evans being the only black mark in his otherwise perfect career. Machida has an equal winning streak, knocking out Ryan Bader in UFC on Fox 4 and besting Dan Henderson at UFC 157 via decision.
According to MMAJunkie.com, Sarah Kaufman will need an opponent after Sara McMann was forced to drop out of their upcoming bout at UFC Fight Night 27.