The Ultimate Fighting Championship has had quite the hard time fighting off its critics this year. One of the main reasons that many have taken to their pitchforks and torches is the perception that the UFC is not presenting the best fight cards possible to the mixed martial arts community.
However, the promotion has recently put together some events that should quell the words of their detractors. The UFC has a slate of upcoming events that will remind fans of the old “stacked” cards of lore.
Yes, the year 2014 has seen some less than desirable cards that featured mid-tier competitors in the main event contests. Names such as James Te Huna, Nate Marquardt, Tarec Saffiedine and Hyun Gyu Lim have taken headline spots that were usually held for titleholders or those on the cusp of shots at the belt. These are just a few examples of the cards that have garnered a lackluster response from fight fans. They are quite different from the cards that were put on when the promotion and the sport itself battled for mainstream recognition.
Mookie Alexander of Bloody Elbow has presented commentary pleading with the UFC to no longer present their fights as they have in the past.
“It is simply no longer enough to just say ‘the UFC is on, now watch it,’ you have to make the audience interested in your product and interested in your fighters, and they do neither,” he wrote.
One must also not forget about the injuries that have torn into shows. UFC 178 was one of the biggest planned events that the promotion would have put on in recent memory. Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier were set to meet in the main event until an injury forced Jones out of the fight.
However, the UFC was able to move Demetrious Johnson’s next title defense against Chris Cariaso into the main event slot. Still, the excitement level around that card is not the same, even though it still features 12 fighters who are currently ranked officially, per UFC.
Looking beyond UFC 178, it seems as if the UFC is making an effort to present better cards to the public. Lorenzo Fertitta has gone on record to state that pay-per-view events should feature a main event contest with a title belt on the line, per Fox Sports Live. Below those headliners, the organization plans to put together not only exciting fights, but also contests that have value within specific weight classes.
Bleacher Report lead writer Jeremy Botter recently wrote a piece on the improved cards the organization planned to give fight fans:
There is hope peeking over the horizon. If the slate of upcoming UFC pay-per-view events is any sign, the promotion has heard our cries. After a dismal season of PPV events (at least from a monetary perspective), the world’s largest MMA promotion is loading up for bear hunting season.
Take a look at UFC 181 set for December 6. Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort will meet for the middleweight title. This fight will occur just after Anthony Pettis defends his lightweight title against Gilbert Melendez. These are two highly anticipated title defenses, and they will occur on the same night.
A month before this event, UFC 180 will feature Cain Velasquez against Fabricio Werdum. The undercard doesn’t have any other title bouts, but still includes fights such as Diego Sanchez versus Norman Parke, Dennis Bermudez versus Ricardo Lamas and the continued emergence of Kelvin Gastelum. All of these examples are key fights within their respective weight classes that fans should enjoy on an excitement level as well.
As the UFC makes more of an effort to make itself a force within the worldwide fight game, fans will continue to complain about “weaker” cards that will house lesser-known and local talent. These events are being used correctly as a chance to build foreign talent in their home countries.
In North America, the UFC is working and presenting examples of cards that feature more well-known talent in an effort to rekindle the excitement that once accompanied every UFC PPV. Starting with UFC 178, the promotion is clearly headed in the right direction.
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