Once again, the powers that be at Zuffa (Dana White in particular) have given us their offering of The Best Of for 2011.
Unlike previous offerings, “UFC Best of 2011” seems to be a stunning bonanza of the best fights of the year, all on two discs. I was all smiles when I opened this, because such releases are how I help spread the word.
After all, we paid for it in the past and are willing to pay again to spread the word, aren’t we?
When I opened up the set, I was simply floored by all the available fights and quickly proclaimed it “The Best Of The Best Of, then quickly sat down to devour.
I should have known better.
This is nothing more than a sampling of “clips” of great fights, period. On the first disc, which is where 75 percent of the fights are listed, almost none of them are the full fights, unlike years past, when The Best Of were perhaps fewer fights, but total in their running time.
And to think Dana White wants to wage a war against video piracy.
This is a con, a sleight of hand, based on the value of past releases. Upon opening this release, the only mention of the “work” going on is that on disc one, all fights are listed as “main features,” whereas on disc 2, they are listed as “bonus fights.”
Somewhere along the way, Dana White left out the fight. I guess he decided to keep it for the standard definition DVD releases only, and he should have made mention of that fact publicly.
Granted, the counter argument is “just buy the actual events when they come out.” This is all well and good, but when you consider what previous The Best Of offerings have given us, this is nothing but a pale imitation. Indeed, if that is their thinking at Zuffa, then why release The Best Of for 2011 at all?
You are better off not wasting your money. UFC The Best Of 2011 isn’t even suitable for a gift set, as anyone can get what is delivered on the first disc via the Internet, and they can get more of it.
From now on, fans of The Best Of should keep their eyes peeled and their receipt in hand. If this is the new trend of the FOX era of the UFC (and no, I don’t think this is the fault of FOX), then you would be well served to save your money.
Because it looks like “Uncle Dana” is making more and more decisions about what you and I like in The Best Of series, and the quality is going right down the drain.
I’m starting to think less and less of the notion of Dana White as a man who is still a “fan,” because this release is nothing but a poor substitution based on past expectations.
I guess all that extra money the UFC is making is starting to go elsewhere, because it sure isn’t in this release.
RATING: Two fat thumbs down.
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