(Dana White establishing a neural link with the production truck. / Photo via Getty)
We’d say Ronda Rousey was the hammer and Alexis Davis was the nail at UFC 175, but that doesn’t even come close to how badly Rousey destroyed her Canadian opponent. Instead, we’ll put it this way: Ronda Rousey was a 500 kilaton hydrogen bomb and Alexis Davis the arid desert or frigid Siberian tundra it was tested on.
The fight wasn’t a fight. Calling it a squash match doesn’t even convey how one-sided it was–that’s how one-sided it was.
Since Rousey, at least as far as the world knew at the time, suffered no damage in her 16-second trouncing of Davis, people thought she might be able to save the day at UFC 176, a card desperately in need of a main event.
One of the people who thought this was a UFC production truck employee. During Rousey’s post-fight interview, Rogan claimed the truck asked him to inquire as to whether Rousey would want to fight at UFC 176. She was friendly but gave a diplomatic non-answer, stating she needed knee surgery and it depended on what her coaches said.
Dana White, however, was not so friendly about it…
(Dana White establishing a neural link with the production truck. / Photo via Getty)
We’d say Ronda Rousey was the hammer and Alexis Davis was the nail at UFC 175, but that doesn’t even come close to how badly Rousey destroyed her Canadian opponent. Instead, we’ll put it this way: Ronda Rousey was a 500 kilaton hydrogen bomb and Alexis Davis the arid desert or frigid Siberian tundra it was tested on.
The fight wasn’t a fight. Calling it a squash match doesn’t even convey how one-sided it was–that’s how one-sided it was.
Since Rousey, at least as far as the world knew at the time, suffered no damage in her 16-second trouncing of Davis, people thought she might be able to save the day at UFC 176, a card desperately in need of a main event.
One of the people who thought this was a UFC production truck employee. During Rousey’s post-fight interview, Rogan claimed the truck asked him to inquire as to whether Rousey would want to fight at UFC 176. She was friendly but gave a diplomatic non-answer, stating she needed knee surgery and it depended on what her coaches said.
Dana White, however, was not so friendly about it…
UFC 175 was a great card, but its gravitas was lessened if you were among the squeamish.
What happened?
We’ll start off with the least serious injury first: Ronda Rousey’s hand stitches.
Conceptualizing how Ronda Rousey could’ve possibly gotten injured in her 16-second OBLITERATION of Alexis Davis is beyond the mental faculties of mid-tier MMA bloggers. Somehow it happened though. Rousey hurt her hand, and even had stitches on it by the end of the right. Joe Rogan stated this was why she couldn’t headline UFC 176 in August.
See two photos of the injury that have been circulating on Twitter after the jump…
(Photo via Getty)
UFC 175 was a great card, but its gravitas was lessened if you were among the squeamish.
What happened?
We’ll start off with the least serious injury first: Ronda Rousey’s hand stitches.
Conceptualizing how Ronda Rousey could’ve possibly gotten injured in her 16-second OBLITERATION of Alexis Davis is beyond the mental faculties of mid-tier MMA bloggers. Somehow it happened though. Rousey hurt her hand, and even had stitches on it by the end of the right. Joe Rogan stated this was why she couldn’t headline UFC 176 in August.
Here are two photos of the injury that have been circulating on Twitter:
The injury was worse than the picture shows (there was a close-up of the bone jutting out of the skin during the live broadcast but there doesn’t appear to be a screenshot…yet). The best part is that Hall’s cornermen bullied the doctor into not doing anything about Hall’s clearly f*cked up toe when he checked it out between rounds. Actually, scratch that, the best part was Hall dancing around with a bone sticking out of his foot and actually kicking with that leg. That took bravado and some serious pain tolerance–and it’s those attributes that earned him a decision win over Thiago Santos.
We’ll post any more pics as they surface. Until then, enjoy your Sunday, Potato Nation.
(This 4th of July weekend, let’s declare our independence from “Machida drinks pee-pee” jokes. #cagepotatoban / Photo by Esther Lin for MMAFighting.com)
When UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman knocked out Anderson Silva last July, fans called it a fluke. When Weidman snapped Silva’s leg by checking a kick in their rematch, fans called it a fluke again. Tonight at UFC 175 in Las Vegas, Weidman has the opportunity to prove that his title reign is the real deal when he takes on Lyoto Machida, who could become just the third fighter in UFC history to win a belt in two different weight classes.
Fresh off his liveblog of the last UFC PPV (sorry about that, dude), our friend Barry “Bear” Siragusa is BACK in the saddle agaaaain, and will be posting round-by-round results from the “Weidman vs. Machida” pay-per-view broadcast after the jump beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and shoot us your own thoughts in the comments section or on twitter @cagepotatomma. Thanks for coming.
(This 4th of July weekend, let’s declare our independence from “Machida drinks pee-pee” jokes. #cagepotatoban / Photo by Esther Lin for MMAFighting.com)
When UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman knocked out Anderson Silva last July, fans called it a fluke. When Weidman snapped Silva’s leg by checking a kick in their rematch, fans called it a fluke again. Tonight at UFC 175 in Las Vegas, Weidman has the opportunity to prove that his title reign is the real deal when he takes on Lyoto Machida, who could become just the third fighter in UFC history to win a belt in two different weight classes.
Fresh off his liveblog of the last UFC PPV (sorry about that, dude), our friend Barry “Bear” Siragusa is BACK in the saddle agaaaain, and will be posting round-by-round results from the “Weidman vs. Machida” pay-per-view broadcast after the jump beginning at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Refresh the page every few minutes for all the latest, and shoot us your own thoughts in the comments section or on twitter @cagepotatomma. Thanks for coming.
UFC 175 preliminary card results
– Kenny Robertson def. Ildemar Alcantara via unanimous decisions (30-26 x 3)
– Bruno Santos def. Chris Camozzi via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
– Rob Font def. George Roop via KO (Punch) at 2:19 of round one.
– Luke Zachrich def. Guilherme Vasconcelos via unanimous decision (30-27×2 29-28).
– Kevin Casey Def. William “Bubba” Bush via KO (elbows) at 1:01 of round one.
Please stand by…
Hi again folks. “Back in the saddle” is right and boy was I Saddle Sore after that last one. I haven’t seen that many decisions since… well… ever. As much fun as UFC 174 was, let’s move on and try and forget the soul crushing decision-i-ness of that card and look forward to UFC 175. Weidman vs. Machida just may be the best fight this year (We’ll see what Hunt vs. Nelson and Brown vs. Lawler look like). Rousey vs. Davis will either be the biggest upset since the beginning of time if Davis wins, or a “makes you uncomfortable but you can’t look away” mauling. The sort that Rousey fans have come to love. I’m banking on the latter.
P.S. I know the Urijah Faber vs. Alex Caceres fight is part of the prelims but, I don’t care. It’s a main card caliber fight.
Let’s do this.
First up:
Urijah Faber vs. Alex Caceres
Alex Caceres (10-5-1 MMA) Was a contestant on season 12 of TUF. He is currently the #13 ranked Bantamweight. His most recent fight was a win, FOTN, and Submission of the Night against Sergio Pettis. Faber will be the first top 10 opponent Caceres has faced.
Urijah Faber (30-7 MMA) is currently the #2 Bantamweight fighter in the world and founder of Team Alfa Male (home of current Bantamweight champ. T.J. Dillashaw). Former WEC featherweight Champ and KOTC Bantamweight Champ. Faber lost to Renan Barao at UFC 169 in a fight for the UFC Bantamweight Championship in what many consider a early stoppage by referee Herb Dean.
Round 1:
Caceres looking confident during the walkout. Goldie agrees, says “confident” 5 times. Faber looks relaxed and pumped up. T.J. Dillashaw in the background looking on. Caceres has a huge reach advantage.
Faber gets a takedown almost immediately. Caceres back up instantly. They grapple and spin around the octagon before coming to rest against the fence with Faber on the outside. A nice right hand by Caceres, Faber goes after him and Caceres shoulder rolls away. Faber chases and gets the takedown. Faber with some brutal rights to the body. Faber dropping elbows into Caceres ribs. A nice elbow to Caceres’s face. Big right over the top from inside the guard by Faber. Caceres is defending but eating some nasty elbows. Caceres gets his feet against the fence. Faber picks him up and slams him down. Faber still on top. Caceres is not panicing but doesn’t seem to have an answer, Faber is just putting on a G&P demo. Careres connects with an ax kick from his back and gets his feet as the buzzer sounds.
Round 2:
Faber connects with a big overhand right to start the round and follows up with a takedown in the middle of the cage. Careres has control of Fabers hand and gets to his feet. Caceres attacks and pushes Faber against the fence. Caceres backs off and connects with a solid punch that rocks Faber. Faber rushes him and takes him down but Caceres is quickly back up on his feet. They clinch against the fence and Caceres gets the reversal still against the fence. They rest briefly and Faber takes Caceres down, Caceres pops right back up. Amazing resilience… High kick attempt by Careres. Faber throws a sloppy overhand right. Caceres attempts a spinning round kick and Faber pins him against the fence. They stall there. Faber explodes and hip throws Caceres who pops right back up again. They stalk each other in the center of the octagon. They clinch and Faber pushers Caceres against the fence. Careres connects with a knee but can’t push him off.
Round 3:
Faber fakes a shot. Caceres misses with a super-man punch attempt. They clinch and whip each other around. They clinch against the fence and break apart. They clinch, flurry, and Faber gets the takedown. Faber gets Caceres’s back and gets sinks in the RNC. Caceres taps! It’s over.
Urijah Faber def. Alex Caceres via Submission (RNC) at 1:09 of round 3.
Next up:
Marcus Brimage vs. Russell Doane
Marcus Brimage was a competitor on Season 14 of TUF. Brimage has gone 3-1 in the UFC with his sole loss coming at the hands of Conor McGregor.
Hawaiian fighter Russell Doane (13-3 MMA) will enter the octagon for only the second time tonight. His previous fight was a win via Triangle Choke against Leandro Issa at UFC Fight Night Saffiedine vs. Lim.
Round 1:
Doane is looking angry and ready. Brimage is looking pretty relaxed.
Brimage immediately starts jabbing to find his range. Hard inside leg kick from Brimage, answered by a head-kick attempt by Doane. Doane goes for the double leg and gets the takedown. Doane quickly gets side control. Doane gets Brimage’s back. Brimage shifts and is on the bottom but now on his side. Doane is pounding him, Doane only has one hook in, he still needs to get the left in. Doane gets both hooks in. Doane flattens Brimage out, Brimage is defending the RNC attempt from Doane. Doane has both hooks in DEEP. Brimage is defending well but is using a ton of energy. Brimage explodes and breaks free. Brimage is on his feet and starts throwing leg kicks and big punches to keep Doane at a distance. Doane with a straight kick. Brimage answers with a leg kick and a right hand.
Round 2:
Brimages corner tells him he is down a round. Doane with a front kick to start things off in the second. NASTY inside leg kicks from Brimage. Brimage connects with a big right hook and knocks Doane down. Brimage goes for the guard but Doane shifts and sprawls. Brimage connects with another inside leg kick and Doane’s leg gives out. He is limping now. Doane switches stances but quickly switches back. Another inside leg kick from Brimage. Doane goes for the takedown and gets it. Doane quickly gets Brimages back. He has neither of the hooks. Brimage shrugs him off and is on his feet. Doane is much more cautious of Brimage now. They flurry and clinch. Doane connects with a knee to the body from the clinch. Doane pushes Brimage up against the fence. Doane gets Brimages back while they were standing but Brimage rolls over when Doane attempts a takedown. Brimage is on his feet. Doane is looking like he is hurting after all the leg kicks. Brimage ends the round with an outside leg kick.
Round 3
Last round. Brimage still jabbing. Doane attempts a high kick and Brimage grabs it and throws Doane to the ground. Doane goes for the amaplata but doesn’t get it. Brimage disengages and they are on their feet. Doane has slowed way down. He is hurting. Brimage connects with another inside leg kick and Doane goes down but quickly gets up. Brimage connects again with the outside leg kick on that injured leg. Doane tries for a high kick which is blocked by Brimage who answers with another inside leg kick. Doane attempts to drag Brimage down and goes for a guillotine but loses it. Brimage gets back up. Brimage connects with an outside looping right. Doane working hard to protect that leg. Brimage kicks that leg again. Doane goes for the double, but Brimage sprawls and avoids the takedown. Doane connects with a right hand. Brimage eats a high-kick. Doane is really trying to put the pressure on in these final seconds. There is the buzzer.
Russell Doane def. Marcus Brimage via Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
Breaking news: Stefan Struve vs. Matt Mitrione is cancelled due to health concerns for Stefan Struve. According to the UFC doctor Struve experience heart palpitations and felt as if he would faint. Based on Struve’s pre-existing heart condition the decision was made to cancel the fight in the name of fighter safety.
Next up:
Uriah Hall vs. Thiago Santos
Uriah Hall (8-4 MMA) was the runner-up during season 17 of TUF. Despite showing a well rounded game with excellent striking skills during TUF, Hall has met with mixed results since signing with the UFC, loosing his first two fights in the promotion. His last fight was a TKO win over Chris Leben, saving his career and ending Leben’s.
Thiago Santos (11-2 MMA) was a contestant on TUF Brazil 2. Santos trained in Capoeira before starting his MMA career. This will be Santos’s third fight in the UFC.
Round 1:
Santos is looking hungry. He is pacing like a caged lion. Hall is looking focused.
Hall with a jab and spinning back fist attempts to start things off. Santos attempts a spinning back kick. Some HARD leg kicks from Santos. Santos with another spinning kick. Solid jab from Hall. Another solid jab by Hall, answered by two consecutive leg kick by Santos. Santos attempts a head kick. Santos connects with another inside leg kick but eats a straight right from Hall. Hall with a low kick and a straight kick. Another huge leg kick from Santos. He attempts a head kick and Hall catches it and throws Santos down. Santos is quickly on his feet again. Another spinning kick and leg kick from Santos. Hall is starting to limp. A solid left hook from Hall. Hall is moving forward really pushing forward, he has his hands down and is taunting Santos. Santos is not taking the bait. Hall attempts a spinning heel kick to end the round. Hall has clearly broken his foot.
Round 2:
Hall starts this round with some intense energy. Trying to end it quickly. Hall is still dancing in front of Santos with his hands down. Santos is not taking the bait. Hall with a nice jab. Big overhand right from Santos. A quick leg kick/left hook combo from Santos that connects hard. Some front kicks from Santos. Hall throws a spinning body kick with his injured foot. Hall throws a big hand over the top. Santos attempts a high kick and Hall throws him down again. Santos gets back on his feet and connects with a inside leg kick. Hall with some big swings and misses. A BIG spinning back kick from Hall that misses and knocks him off balance. Santos connects with another inside leg, followed by a body kick. Both men seem afraid to clash. Hall attempts a spinning head kick but misses and falls. Santos doesn’t rush him. Santos with a spinning round house kick. Hall with a rolling kick to end.
Round 3:
Wow, the bone is sticking out of Halls toe.
Hall still wants to fight. The doctors will allow it. Hall and Santos meet in the middle of the octagon but neither man willing to close the distance and get in close. Santos with some straight kicks. Hall blocks a body kick and connects with a left. Hall is really going for the kill. Santos pushes him back and connects with a solid body kick. Inside leg kick from Santos. Hall connects with a overhand right. Now it’s Hall with the inside leg kick. Hall checks a leg kick. Hall connects with a solid right hand. Santos almost connects with a high kick. Hall hits Santos in the body with a spinning kick. Ouch! Santos jump kicks Hall in the groin. Hall is working it out. He takes a minute and signals that he is ready to roll. Santons gets the single and almost gets the takedown. Santos pushes Hall against the cage and starts smashing Halls legs and thighs with knees. Hall goes for the Kimura but looses it. Santos knocks him down and rains down elbows from the top. The buzzer sounds with Santos on top of Hall. That was a brawl. I have no feeling for who will get the decision.
Uriah Hall def. Thiago Santos via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
A replay of the Rob Font vs. George Roop fight from earlier tonight will fill in for Struve vs. Mitrione fight as Ronda Rousey and Alexis Davis prepare for their title fight next.
Rob Font def. George Roop via KO (Punch) at 2:19 of round one.
Next up:
Ronda Rousey vs. Alexis Davis for the Women’s Bantamweight Championship
Former Olympic Bronze medalist in Judo, Ronda Rousey (9-0 MMA) is the current and first UFC Bantamweight Women’s Champ. Rousey has won all of her fights except one via armbar.
Alexis Davis (16-5 MMA) is on a 5 fight win streak. Having gone undefeated in the last two organizations she has fought in (Invicta and UFC). She is a jiu-jitsu fighter with a mean stand-up game.
Round 1:
Remember we are looking at a possible 5 rounds. Alexis Davis is looking like she is shopping for bread… So relaxed. Rousey looks angry as usual. Ronda with the jabs to open it up. Davis with a solid jab and the clash, Rousey catches Davis with knee to the face, hip throws Davis and starts to punch Davis in the face. IT’S OVER! WOW! Rousey with the KO. Unbelievable. Davis is still fighting the ref. She has no clue what is happening. That is the second fastest KO in a Championship match in UFC history (according to Joe Rogan).
Ronda Rousey defeats Alexis Davis via KO (punches) at 00:16 of the first round.
Next up:
Weidman vs. Machida for the Middleweight Championship
These two need no introduction but, I will do a quick one anyway.
Weidman (11-0 MMA) is the current UFC Middleweight Champ and the only man in UFC to ever defeat Anderson Silva (Weidman has done it twice).
Machida (21-4 MMA) is the former Light Heavyweight champ. Has gone undefeated since moving down to middleweight with wins over Gegard Mousasi and Mark Munoz.
Round 1:
This is it! For the Middleweight Belt. Weidman with a kick to start us off. Weidman is going for leg kicks. Something I am sure no one expected. Straight kick from Weidman. Nothing so far from Machida. Front kick from Weidman. Machida kicks and Weidman catches the leg and goes for the takedown. Machida defends and gets back up. Weidman clips the chin of Machida. Follows up with a quick flurry. Constant pressure from Weidman. Lyoto has not answered in any way yet. Machida absorbs a kick but hits Weidman with a straight right. Machida is starting to move. Weidman continuing with the kicks. Machida throws a body kick, Weidman catches it and attempts a takedown. Machida spins away and avoids the takedown. Machida has no answer for Weidmans pressure yet. There is the bell.
Round 2:
Machida kicks first with an inside leg. Weidman fires back. Weidman still pouring on the pressure. Machida just can’t set up for anything. Weidman is forcing Machida to fight reactively. Weidman lands some left jabs. Weidman connects with a solid inside leg kick. Weidman is completely controlling where this fight is happening. Machida connects with a kick to the body. Weidman with a front kick. Machida with an inside leg kick. Weidman is just pressuring Machida. He has a hand in Machida’s face all day. Weidman with a jumping front kick. Machida can’t get his back away from the cage. Some jabs from Weidman followed by a big high kick attempt from Machida. Machida connects with a left. Weidman gets Machida’s legs and takes Machida down. Machida defends, but Weidman is grounding and pounding Machida. Machida has no answer. Weidman lifts him up and connects with some good knees to the head to end the round.
Round 3:
Machida looking nervous headed into the 3rd. Weidman still has a hand constantly in Machida’s face. Machida kicks high, Weidman blocks and goes for the takedown. Machida spins away. A big head kick attempt from Machida. Machida more active this round. Weidman goes for the legs and Machida sprawls. Weidman lets him up and gets both his legs. Weidman lifts Machida up and slams him down. Weidman is in Machida’s guard, punishing Machida’s face with elbows. Machida scrambles almost to his feet. Weidman attempts to take Machida’s back. Weidman connects with some big punches. Machida is bleeding. Weidman connects with an overhand right. Machida is hurt. Machida kicks Weidman in the body, and Weidman gets the takedown. Weidman has Machida’s back and is just punishing him with punches and hammer strikes. Weidman lifts him up and slams him down. Weidman says to Herb Dean that Machida has his fingers in Weidmans gloves. Machida gains his feet and attempts a kick just at the horn. I have this three rounds to nothing for Weidman
Round 4:
Machida opens with a leg kick. Weidman blocks the kick and instantly pours on the pressure. Nice body kick by Machida. Weidman still dictating the pace. Weidman connects with a knee to the body. Weidman connects with a left hand jab. Machida attempts a knee to the body, Weidman catches the knee and gets the take down. Machida fights out of it and gains his feet. Machida connects with a left hook that rocks Weidman. Machida connects again with a left hook. Weidman is hurt. Machida smells blood. Weidman pushes back into the center of the octagon. Weidman is starting to back up. Machida is landing some hard kicks to the body. Now Machida is pouring on the pressure. Weidman is looking a little tired. He has never been out of the second round before. Weidman goes for the takedown and eats a punch for his troubles. Weidman still connecting with the jab. Weidman gaining his momentum again. Machida has more momentum than he has before. Machida taunts Weidman, Weidman attacks and Weidman eats a punch to end the round.
Round 5:
Machida starts again with the inside leg kick. Weidman is just in survival mode right now. Still moving forward, but Machida is avoiding his kicks and jabs now. Machida connects with another left hand overhand. Weidman wants another takedown. Machida defends and is all over him. Weidman defends with an elbow. Weidman connects with an overhand right. Machida is hurt. Both men are tired now. Weidman connects with a kick. Mahcida moves forward and tries for a clinch. Weidman throws a knee. Weidman connects with a leg kick. Weidman connects with a knee and an elbow. He connects again with a left hand. Machida is not giving up. Wiedman goes for the double and gets the takedown. Machida is on his back eating elbows to the face and shoulder punches. Nothing seems to be hurting Machida too much. Weidman has Machida’s back. Weidman has both hooks in and flattens Machida out! Machida somehow escapes and gets to his feet and Weidman lets go of his back. Machida tries to finish with a flurry. He has Weidman rocked! Weidman pushes Machida away, takes a step out towards the middle of the octagon and motions Machida forward. There is the buzzer! What a brawl! Weidman looks satisfied.
Chris Weidman defeats Lyoto Machida via Unanimous Decision (49-45, 48-47, 49- 46) and remains the Middleweight Champion
CP staff writers Jared Jones and Seth Falvo have a few bones to pick with this weekend’s UFC 175: Weidman vs. Machida card. Mainly, its non-existent advertising, lack of good underdog bets, and blatant bait-and-switch tactics regarding its FS1 prelims. Read along to understand what it’s like to watch two grown-ass men slowly march down the path of insanity.
Al Bundy gifs will reign.
Despite being just one day out from the biggest UFC event of the summer, the hype surrounding this card seems non-existent. Have you even seen an advertisement for this event that didn’t take place during a lesser UFC card? The UFC can’t possibly believe that this is adequate advertising…can they?
SF: Buddy, I haven’t seen a single advertisement for this card, period. What, did you really think I’d be one of the nine people who watched UFC Ultimate Step to This Never Back Down: Live from New Zealand?
As for whether or not this is adequate advertising, you’re missing the point entirely. The public isn’t burnt out from a lack of advertising efforts, they’re burnt out from constant exposure to generic cards composed of completely meaningless fights.
JJ: I already touched on the complete lack of advertising for this card in my UFC 175 fight hype article on Wednesday, so I’ll (try to) be brief. While I’d personally rather see no advertising at all for a UFC event than be repeatedly subjected to the music of Linkin Park, I must admit that the UFC’s decision to not advertise a card with two title fights (two!) is a bit puzzling. I mean, sure, one of them is a Japanese freak show-level squash match, but still, UFC 175 has a lot more to offer from a marketing standpoint than several cards prior.
Honestly, I’m starting to thinking Dana’s barely beneath the surface hatred for MMA fans with discernable taste is starting to affect his business decisions. He’s gone from trying to convince us that every fight is of the same quality, no matter how blatant a lie he must craft, to simply trolling us with his “Fuck You, Take It” understanding of how to advertise his product. “You say no one cares about little flyweights? Beat them over the head with ads. A double title fight card? PULL ALL SPONSORS.”
My point is, the UFC no longer cares about advertising, because they no longer care about the quality of the cards they expect us to pay $60 for. They’re just going to keep doing their thing while reiterating that business is in fact “booming” and barely pausing to consider that their customers might actually be right every now and again. It’s a brilliant business strategy if you’ve never learned a thing about how a business is run.
CP staff writers Jared Jones and Seth Falvo have a few bones to pick with this weekend’s UFC 175: Weidman vs. Machida card. Mainly, its non-existent advertising, lack of good underdog bets, and blatant bait-and-switch tactics regarding its FS1 prelims. Read along to understand what it’s like to watch two grown-ass men slowly march down the path of insanity.
Al Bundy gifs will reign.
Despite being just one day out from the biggest UFC event of the summer, the hype surrounding this card seems non-existent. Have you even seen an advertisement for this event that didn’t take place during a lesser UFC card? The UFC can’t possibly believe that this is adequate advertising…can they?
SF: Buddy, I haven’t seen a single advertisement for this card, period. What, did you really think I’d be one of the nine people who watched UFC Ultimate Step to This Never Back Down: Live from New Zealand?
As for whether or not this is adequate advertising, you’re missing the point entirely. The public isn’t burnt out from a lack of advertising efforts, they’re burnt out from constant exposure to generic cards composed of completely meaningless fights.
JJ: I already touched on the complete lack of advertising for this card in my UFC 175 fight hype article on Wednesday, so I’ll (try to) be brief. While I’d personally rather see no advertising at all for a UFC event than be repeatedly subjected to the music of Linkin Park, I must admit that the UFC’s decision to not advertise a card with two title fights (two!) is a bit puzzling. I mean, sure, one of them is a Japanese freak show-level squash match, but still, UFC 175 has a lot more to offer from a marketing standpoint than several cards prior.
Honestly, I’m starting to thinking Dana’s barely beneath the surface hatred for MMA fans with discernable taste is starting to affect his business decisions. He’s gone from trying to convince us that every fight is of the same quality, no matter how blatant a lie he must craft, to simply trolling us with his “Fuck You, Take It” understanding of how to advertise his product. “You say no one cares about little flyweights? Beat them over the head with ads. A double title fight card? PULL ALL SPONSORS.”
My point is, the UFC no longer cares about advertising, because they no longer care about the quality of the cards they expect us to pay $60 for. They’re just going to keep doing their thing while reiterating that business is in fact “booming” and barely pausing to consider that their customers might actually be right every now and again. It’s a brilliant business strategy if you’ve never learned a thing about how a business is run.
This has gotten off to a depressing start.
Lyoto Machida presents a very interesting matchup for Chris Weidman. If you’re looking to gamble on an underdog this weekend, is he your smartest option?
SF: A bet on Machida definitely isn’t the worst way to spend a few bucks, that’s for sure. But how about we look over the rest of the card before we call a (+155) underdog the smartest option. Let’s see…Alexis Davis and Alex Caceres are strictly “never gonna happen $5 for shiggles” picks, so they’re both out. I’m keeping my money as far away from Struve vs. Mitrione as possible, so Mitrione is out. Doane vs. Brimage is currently at pick ‘em odds, and I’ve never even heard of most of these undercard fighters. However, Urijah Hall (-450) vs. Thiago Santos (+325) is exactly the kind of underdog odds that I like, so I’m going to say that Santos is the slightly-smarter option.
Maybe the $80 I made off of Santos when he stepped into the cage as a +800 underdog against an overrated Ronny Markes in March is clouding my judgment, but I really don’t see why “Anderson Silva 3.0 (LOL)” is such a heavy favorite here. Are the oddsmakers really that impressed by the fact that the Uriah Hall who was fighting for his job after an 0-2 UFC run managed to defeat the unmotivated, fading Chris Leben who retired immediately after the fight? “Bro, Hall defeated a DISINTERESTED FADING LEGEND! Do you even know how hard that is? HE IS READY TO FACE! THE PAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNN!” No thanks. I’ll gladly throw another $10 down on Santos, which will return over twice as much money as a bet on Machida would.
JJ: Bro, Chris Leben is a *BEAST* with a granite chin and K1-level striking, bro! Seriously, bro?! BRO!!
………….
I’m sorry, I think I just had a mini aneurysm. But as far as underdogs go, I’m running into the same issue as you, in that I don’t know who enough of these guys are to place bets on them. Machida doesn’t present a good enough cashback option to warrant a bet on him, and there’s no way I’m betting on Davis or the likelihood of Stefan Struve’s heart *not* imploding (too soon?). Fuck it, I’ll go with a 20 spot on the debuting Rob Font. He’s paired up against one of the most consistently inconsistent fighters of them all in George Roop, and a quick look over his record shows that he does possess the kind of KO power to finish the always KO-able Roop.
I’d also be tempted to throw a few bills at returning TUF 17 vet Kevin Casey, who is fresh off a first round blistering of Andrew Sanchez at RFA 15 to capture the promotion’s middleweight title. Then again, the guy he’s fighting is named Bubba Bush, so yeah, he’s probably f*cked.
JJ: Uh…it could do 500k buys if it…uh…ah screw it. Keep on dancing, Al!
Urijah Faber headlining the FS1 prelims behind Brimage vs. Doane on the card we’re supposed to pay money for is quite possibly the most blatant bait-and-switch the UFC has ever pulled. Does the UFC really lack as much respect for its fans as it seems to?
SF: I’m not sure I’d call this a bait-and-switch. I see what they’re trying to do, I just don’t think it’s going to work. By putting Urijah Faber on the preliminary card, they’re encouraging the casual fans who would otherwise skip the prelims to tune in. This boosts their dreadful FS1 ratings – by the way, I’m willing to bet Faber on Fox was more Fox’s decision than the UFC’s decision – and because the go-home show before a pay-per-view is extremely influential on buy rates, this may also encourage the dudebro tuning in for a free Faber fight to purchase the pay-per-view.
Of course, this line of thinking really falls apart once you begin to question it. For starters, how many fans do they actually think are going to tune in for the preliminaries just because Uriah Faber is fighting on the preliminaries? Call me crazy, but I firmly believe that if you actually care about preliminary fights, you aren’t a casual fan, and one recognizable name isn’t going to change this. As for the idea that the fans tuning in for Faber are now more likely to buy the pay-per-view, who exactly is going to watch a Urijah Faber fight that wasn’t already planning on watching Weidman, Machida, and Ronda Rousey? And even if these fans actually exist, does anyone think those fans are going to pay for fights that they don’t care about, simply because they just watched a fight that they do care about for free? Do they actually believe their own “All it takes is just one fight to turn a person into a hardcore fan” insanity?
Or maybe they’re somehow lacing the Faber fight with black tar heroin, in which case, yeah, that’s pretty disrespectful to get me addicted to drugs unknowingly, UFC.
JJ: I’m sure that Yahoo reporter/UFC shill Kevin Iole would tell you that placing Faber on the prelims makes perfect sense, before supporting his argument with a line of reasoning so backwards and illogical you’d think it had been dreamed up by David Lynch. And I get it, placing Faber on the prelims to boost FS1 ratings could work, but at what cost, Seth? AT WHAT COST.
Urijah Faber is a main card fighter. Russell Doane is not. Case closed.
JJ: BJ PENN CAME OUT OF RETIREMENT?!!! WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!!!!
SF: …that’s a real event?
One final *final* question: Is the #WeekofDanga destined to go down as one of the greatest, most creative endeavors in CagePotato history?
SF: No question! #WeekofDanga #DangaArmy #NOLA
JJ: You’re right, Seth, it *isn’t* an actual question. I just added threw it in (and wrote your response) after you were finished drafting up your answers. Thanks for the kind words, though! #WeekofDanga #FarrahAbrahamforPresident
Not Bonnar vs. Silva. Not McKenzie vs. Mendes. Not Cro Cop vs. Sanchez. None of these squash matches hold a candle to the slaughter that Rousey vs. Davis is primed to be. For Christ’s sake, that barista who fought Daniel Cormier was given 12-to-1 odds, and he accepted the fight on less than a week’s notice.
But rather than fall back on the old standby of how fights like Rousey vs. Davis are a clear sign of the UFC’s rapidly dissolving product, I’ve instead opted to compile a list of things more likely to happen than a Davis win on Saturday…
(Cheer up, Ronda, you got this in the bag. Photo via Teckler)
Not Bonnar vs. Silva. Not McKenzie vs. Mendes. Not Cro Cop vs. Sanchez. None of these squash matches hold a candle to the slaughter that Rousey vs. Davis is primed to be. For Christ’s sake, that barista who fought Daniel Cormier was given 12-to-1 odds, and he accepted the fight on less than a week’s notice.
But rather than fall back on the old standby of how fights like Rousey vs. Davis are a clear sign of the UFC’s rapidly dissolving product, I’ve instead opted to compile a list of things more likely to happen than a Davis win on Saturday…
-Chael Sonnen talking his way out of his latest drug test failure
-Dana White reading the articles he criticizes
–UFC 176 doing more than 500k buys
–The Ultimate Fighter becoming a ratings juggernaut
-Roy Nelson: Weight-Watchers spokesman
-Nick Diaz: NY Times best-seller
-Jon Jones: Fan Favorite
-The American government being successfully toppled by Sri Lanka
-The New York Mets *ever* winning another World Series
-Farrah Abraham EGOTing
-Death by terrorist attack
-Death by falling coconut
-Death by chocolate
–Step Up: All In living up to expectations
-Being struck by lightning. Twice. On the same day. While indoors.
–Planet of the Apes becoming a reality
–Terminator becoming a reality
-Oscar Pistorius being found innocent of murder
–ALIENS
-Peace in Egypt
-A former President being mauled to death by a circus lion in a convenience store
-CagePotato being unbanned by the UFC
So…anyone down to throw in on a Machida-Davis-Caceres parlay with me? #WeekofDanga
You see, when I awoke yesterday morning, I was under the impression that MMA was still a sport with plenty of goings-on worth talking about, not a platform so desolate of intriguing discussion that its only current purpose in this world was to push energy drinks and stir up farcical “Who would win?” scenarios like a goddamn episode of Deadliest Warrior. “There are *two* UFC events alone going down this week,” I said to myself, “Not to mention an *actual* TUF premiere, a Bellator event, and who knows what else. Surely there is plenty of real-life, newsworthy information to be had today.”
So you can imagine my surprise when I awoke to find “Joe Rogan says Ronda Rousey would beat Floyd Mayweather Jr.” as the headline dominating manyanMMA site and even some that aren’t. And even worse, nearly all of these articles were flooded with the hundreds of comments from people who actually found it necessary to offer their insight into this absolutely imbecilic piece of non-news. (Rousey vs. a cheetah in sweatpants: Who’s the better dancer?”)
“Every fight starts standing, and we all know Floyd’s not afraid to hit women,” joked a commenter who vehemently expressed his outrage over the idea of allowing Fallon Fox to continue fighting just months earlier. “Floyd’s speed would be no match for Ronda’s armbar,” said another who had chastised his favorite MMA publication for daring to waste his time with a breakdown of the Undertaker’s signature move days prior.
I bit my tongue at first, because I don’t exactly have a foot to stand on when it comes to publishing news items that are ever-so-tangentially related to MMA. But the tipping point occurred during last night’s TUF Nations Finale broadcast, when during yet another time-killing session in the FOX studios, Karyn Bryant posed the same question to Daniel Cormier and Anthony Pettis.
“This is ridiculous,” said Pettis before declaring that Floyd would easily win. Unfortunately, it appeared that the idea of a woman beating a man in a fight was what Pettis found ridiculous, not the question itself as I had hoped.
(Joe Rogan talks Rousey vs. Mayweather on ESPN’s SportsNation, because it’s not like there was an actual event worth discussing or anything.)
You see, when I awoke yesterday morning, I was under the impression that MMA was still a sport with plenty of goings-on worth talking about, not a platform so desolate of intriguing discussion that its only current purpose in this world was to push energy drinks and stir up farcical “Who would win?” scenarios like a goddamn episode of Deadliest Warrior. “There are *two* UFC events alone going down this week,” I said to myself, “Not to mention an *actual* TUF premiere, a Bellator event, and who knows what else. Surely there is plenty of real-life, newsworthy information to be had today.”
So you can imagine my surprise when I awoke to find “Joe Rogan says Ronda Rousey would beat Floyd Mayweather Jr.” as the headline dominating manyanMMA site and even some that aren’t. And even worse, nearly all of these articles were flooded with the hundreds of comments from people who actually found it necessary to offer their insight into this absolutely imbecilic piece of non-news. (Rousey vs. a cheetah in sweatpants: Who’s the better dancer?”)
“Every fight starts standing, and we all know Floyd’s not afraid to hit women,” joked a commenter who vehemently expressed his outrage over the idea of allowing Fallon Fox to continue fighting just months earlier. “Floyd’s speed would be no match for Ronda’s armbar,” said another who had chastised his favorite MMA publication for daring to waste his time with a breakdown of the Undertaker’s signature move days prior.
I bit my tongue at first, because I don’t exactly have a foot to stand on when it comes to publishing news items that are ever-so-tangentially related to MMA. But the tipping point occurred during last night’s TUF Nations Finale broadcast, when during yet another time-killing session in the FOX studios, Karyn Bryant posed the same question to Daniel Cormier and Anthony Pettis.
“This is ridiculous,” said Pettis before declaring that Floyd would easily win. Unfortunately, it appeared that the idea of a woman beating a man in a fight was what Pettis found ridiculous, not the question itself as I had hoped.
Despite the vast majority of MMA fans claiming to be “purists of the sport” who will blow a gasket at the slightest mention of the WWE and it’s transparent, lowball, and shamefully fabricated product on an MMA site, the discussion of how Ronda Rousey — a female, MMA fighter, with less than 10 professional contests to her credit — would fare against Floyd Mayweather Jr. — a male, professional boxer, considered to be one of the greatest in the sport’s history — in an MMA contest has somehow managed to infiltrate message boards far and wide and warrant hundreds of comments from these very same people. Baffling, is it not?
I know this piece of absolutely imbecilic (apologies for the repetition, but I find it necessary in this case) non-news is nothing worth flying off the handle over, but this is the Internet after all. My biggest problem with the idea of Rousey vs. Mayweather is why we are so insistent on pushing this impossible fight in a universe where guys like Renan Barao and Jose Aldo exist. You know, guys who are guys and whose names would therefore make more sense as opponents in the ain’t-no-way-never-gonna-happen prospect of Floyd Mayweather becoming an MMA fighter. The downside of being the only “the biggest star the UFC’s ever had,” perhaps?
It’s all about how much time Floyd has to prepare, because he will really have to work on his takedown defense. That would be the big thing. If Ronda got a clinch on him, it’s not just about worrying about being taken down to the ground, it’s worrying about knees to the body. It is worrying about her manipulating his body in ways that he doesn’t understand.
Those were actual words spoken by the typically sane Joe Rogan when seriously discussing (for all intents and purposes) the idea of Rousey vs. Mayweather. Ronda Rousey, who fights Alexis Davis in a couples months at UFC 175. UFC, the promotion that is putting on two fight cards this week including “the most exciting card in network history” at UFC on FOX 11 tomorrow night.
Look, I’m not asking you to openly express your disapproval with the thought of Rousey vs. Mayweather (I’ve already done it for you!), nor am I asking you to blame the MMA media for validating the half-witted discussion of Rousey vs. Mayweather with a plethora of blog posts. I’m simply asking that the next time you see or hear someone make a comparison between MMA/the UFC/Bellator and the WWE, think about how you reacted to this “news” item before you speak. Think about it and add it to the list.
