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).
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