Ever since fighters have been passing into retirement, leaving behind their legacies to be appreciated, pondered and scrutinized, one of the most recurring questions is based around fights between men who are separated by time. As fight fans, we need t…
Ever since fighters have been passing into retirement, leaving behind their legacies to be appreciated, pondered and scrutinized, one of the most recurring questions is based around fights between men who are separated by time.
As fight fans, we need to have questions answered; it’s one of the reasons why consistent fighters have both fans and detractors in abundance. The fans believe most of the questions have been answered and the result is perfection in the form of their man, while the detractors say “not so fast,” and they continue to watch believing that one question remains, and when it is answered, that man will fall.
Of course, much of it is name recognition and the style vs. style debate, but all of it comes back to the fact that the question itself is transcendent: generation gap be damned, the question will be asked, and the answer debated until we are all tired and move on to the next hypothetical fight.
Still, we can take comfort in knowing we are not the only ones asking the question—the fighters do it as well; how could they not compare themselves to the greats of times past?
In that spirit, here are 12 fights that ponder the question.
Many UFC fans haven’t been happy in 2012. Too many events, too many injuries, too much of an expectation from the company that their fans will follow them to the ends of the Earth. Sure, some are vehemently supporting the aggressive expansion of …
Many UFC fans haven’t been happy in 2012.
Too many events, too many injuries, too much of an expectation from the company that their fans will follow them to the ends of the Earth.
Sure, some are vehemently supporting the aggressive expansion of the promotion. They’ll say that real MMA fans just want more free fights, that fights every weekend – NO WAIT! EVERYNIGHT! – is the perfect world to live in.
And perhaps it is. When the UFC is able to do it properly.
But for a host of reasons they can’t do it properly just yet and they’re losing some fans as a result. They probably wouldn’t admit it, but they’re not stupid enough to be ignorant to it either.
So what can they do to recapture them?
The answer, surprisingly, is before us already. It just needs to go on a little bit longer and the ship will likely be righted be early 2013.
That answer? Less events, more fights that matter, and greater accessibility to them.
Jon Jones quickly became the most loathed man in MMA (a title he was in the running for anyway) when the cancellation of UFC 151 became official a couple of weeks back. He also inadvertently gave straying fans something to cheer about in the process: a UFC 152 worth the money being asked by Zuffa.
Sure his fight with Vitor Belfort is weird matchmaking and not exactly one that people were begging for, but is it not likely to be entertaining?
Jones doesn’t love getting hit, and Belfort loves to hit people.
Jones doesn’t get hit often, and Belfort hits people at his leisure.
Jones is the new breed, Belfort once was.
Add in the inaugural flyweight title bout and a middleweight title eliminator, and you have a card that harkens back to the promotion’s pay-per-view prime of 2008-2011.
A few weeks later Jose Aldo headlines another card in Brazil, UFC 153. Originally it was supposed to be Erik Koch donating his body for that one, but an injury saw Frankie Edgar replace him.
Wait. What? Frankie Edgar? Wasn’t that a fantasy superfight that people clamoured for like eight months ago?
Now you’ve got it. You’ve also got Rampage Jackson against hot prospect Glover Teixeira, Erick Silva and Jon Fitch, and names like Rick Story, Demian Maia, and Phil Davis rounding out the card.
Again, worth the money.
GSP returns to headline UFC 154 in a welterweight title unification bout against Carlos Condit, and only a couple of week after that UFC on FOX 5 will likely provide the greatest night of free MMA that television has ever seen.
Benson Henderson defends lightweight gold against Nate Diaz.
Rory MacDonald finally gets his fight with BJ Penn.
Shogun Rua welcomes Alexander Gustafsson to the top of the 205-pound division.
Brendan Schaub and Lavar Johnson will exchange shots for a few minutes until one (probably Schaub) is out cold.
They’re also using the UFC on FUEL TV event series to expand globally with less relevant, free fights and are only holding one show on FX between now and the end of the year.
That’s a remarkable run for the company. A run that absolutely has to get the attention of fans who have suddenly been reminded how much they love baseball and video games in the time it’s taken the UFC to stumble from the annals of “must-watch” sports action.
What they’ve started to do – less events (though it was only one, and it was purely by circumstance) and a greater focus on smarter matchmaking, as well as more meaningful matchmaking, is how people will come back to them.
Putting big fights on free television – actual big fights, like title fights, instead of a regular free TV headliner with a lame, completely revocable “winner gets a title shot” caveat attached – is going to help as well.
The UFC is adapting to what fans want and what they want has developed from what they’ve come to expect from the promotion, which built its name on guaranteeing an entertaining night of action every time out.
For the first time in a long time, it looks like they’re able to make that claim again. Now that they can, look for them to also claim to be the fastest growing sport in the world again as well.
In the fight game, you can never sit still and rest on your laurels or past success. There is always someone out there who is gunning for your status, your name or to take money off your next pay cheque.The men who hold the titles in each division…
In the fight game, you can never sit still and rest on your laurels or past success. There is always someone out there who is gunning for your status, your name or to take money off your next pay cheque.
The men who hold the titles in each division are the obviously marked, with all others below them gunning to reach the top of the mountain. Those eight champions aside, there are many other men in the UFC who for various transgressions and reasons have a target dead in the middle of their back.
Anything from a personal grudge, a previous loss, current and future status or simply a sideways stare in the back hall can get one man gunning after another man’s head in the UFC.
Here are 10 non-champions with targets on their backs.
“Father time is undefeated,” is a popular phrase often used when aging athletes refuse to accept the fact the end is near. The prospect of retirement is often a bitter pill to swallow. Great champion…
“Father time is undefeated,” is a popular phrase often used when aging athletes refuse to accept the fact the end is near. The prospect of retirement is often a bitter pill to swallow. Great champions, who at one time couldn’t be touched, start to lose a step and fall back to earth.
For some fighters the regression is slight and occurs over an extended period of time. For others the drop is sudden and hard to make sense of.
Many great champions across the spectrum of athletics hang on much too long, unwilling to accept that their time had passed. They linger around hoping to recapture a fleeting bit of the magic they once possessed.
In boxing, it was greats like Ali and Leonard. NFL stars like Brett Favre and Jerry Rice could have called it a career long before they did. The NBA saw the same thing with greats like Larry Bird, Shaquille O’Neal and even Michael Jordan.
The Score Fighting Series’ commitment to MMA in Canada yielded prosperous dividends, as their organization delivered a great show from Hamilton, Ontario.
The Score Fighting Series (TSFS) 5 proved that Canada has a rich talent base that is capable …
The Score Fighting Series’ commitment to MMA in Canada yielded prosperous dividends, as their organization delivered a great show from Hamilton, Ontario.
The Score Fighting Series (TSFS) 5 proved that Canada has a rich talent base that is capable of producing a high quality show at the Hamilton Place Theatre.
There were 10 fights and 19 of the combatants were Canadian. The action was scintillating and the talent undeniable.
Fans and fighters alike benefited from the event. TSFS broadcasted their fifth card last night for free on live cable television and through live steaming from The Score’s website: http://video.thescore.com/channels/score-fighting-series.
Free works for fans.
This is especially beneficial as many pay-per-view buyers have been let down with recent UFC shows, such as UFC 149 Calgary. The audience receives excellent commentary from veteran Mauro Ranallo.
TSFS recently reached an agreement to run six or more shows over the next 12 months on the American cable network station AXS TV.
These are the steps that will help edge MMA closer to mainstream recognition and make being a full-time professional MMA fighter a reachable dream for Canadians.
This will allow for the fighters to be seen on television internationally and online across the globe—an obvious benefit for their marketability.
While traditionally combat sports organizations strive to protect their most marketable bannerman, a refreshing aspect of TSFS is how they groom Ontario fighters, but do not protect them.
TSFS is developing fighters and rewarding fans, without jeopardizing the integrity of athletic competition.
For example, Alex Ricci battled the very dangerous Jesse Ronson in the co-main event. Ricci, who was 5-0 going into the match lost an exciting bout to Jesse Ronson (11-2).
Ricci had won all of his previous bouts with knockouts in highlight fashion. Despite being their poster boy (it was Ricci’s fourth fight on a TSFS card) and losing his undefeated record, the company proved that the show comes first.
The two produced an amazing fight and displayed excellent all-around skills, highlighted with elite striking. There were no losers.
This match-up is an exemplification of the company’s mandate of promoting quality action and helping promote Canadian talent. Ricci and Ronson are blue-chip prospects that are earmarked for the UFC and their stock values were enhanced, and not diminished by their performances.
Tristan Johnson has also been groomed by the company, but was never given “set-up” matches to boost his record.
The only non-Canadian, Rick Glenn (11-2), who trains with Duke Rufus and had undefeated Bellator champ Ben Asren in his corner was never going to be a carpet for Johnson. Rufus is credited for teaching Anthony Pettis the amazing “Showtime” kick that wowed the world. Although the fans were pleased with the action, the result fell in the American’s favour .This again proves how TSFS works for the show and not to provide “set-up” fights for those under their banner.
This is a testament to the company’s matchmaker, Alex Caporicci, and his aim to produce the best fights possible and not simply stack records. Having an undefeated fighter with five knockouts under one’s banner is a prize for any company, so having him tested with high caliber opponents speaks volumes for the spirit of TSFS.
In the main event, Josh Hill (fighting on his third TSFS card), improved his record to 9-0 by defeating John Fraser. Fraser was unable to continue his seven-fight win streak as he succumbed to Hill’s takedowns and aggressive top game.
Fraser should be becoming close to the UFC’s radar with his continued dominance of top competition. He proved he could handle the main event stage.
The night was a success because the fans saw great fights due to the card’s design, which pits the best against the best. The level of action was quality enough to make the argument that TSFS is the best non-Zuffa show in the world.
TSFS is more than just a forum for Canadians to compete professionally. It is a legitimate organization that produces real fighters and promotes the sport holistically. The night’s success made professional MMA fighting that much more of a plausible career option for Canadian fighters. It is also very successful as the fans have free access. The fighters are not only given a chance to compete in front of their friends, family, teammates and fan base but a chance to be the best they can be.
The next card will take place on Oct. 19 in Sarnia, Ontario, and will be broadcast for free and live on
the Score and AXS-TV.
The main event will feature London, Ontario’s Chris Horodecki. Chris is a WEC veteran and trains with the famed Team Adrenaline and is known for his penchant for pleasing fans. His opponent might be Rick Glenn who called him out after his win over Johnson.
Here is a summary of the event results:
Josh Hill defeats John Fraser via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
Jesse Ronson defeats Alex Ricci via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
Rick Glenn defeats Tristan Johnson via TKO (punches), 4:26 of round two
Kyle Prepolec defeats Jason Meisel via submission (triangle choke), 2:58 of round two
Elias Theodorou defeats Simon Marini via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3)
Jason Saggo defeats Eric Attard via submission (rear-naked choke), 3:24 of round one
Ryan Dickson defeats Chris St. Jean via TKO (Punches), 2:42 of round one
Adam Assenza defeats Taylor Solomon via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Eric Montgomery defeats Frank Marques via TKO (Doctor Stoppage), 4:20 of round one
Jeff Sharkey defeats Robert Thomas via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
UFC on Fox 5 comes to us on Saturday, Dec. 8, and is already the talk of the MMA world. Despite having several exciting fight cards in the coming months, this event features exciting matchups between big names in multiple divisions.With an already stac…
UFC on Fox 5 comes to us on Saturday, Dec. 8, and is already the talk of the MMA world. Despite having several exciting fight cards in the coming months, this event features exciting matchups between big names in multiple divisions.
With an already stacked card, including a lightweight championship bout between Benson Henderson and Nate Diaz, along with Shogun Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson and BJ Penn vs. Rory MacDonald, it is clear that the UFC is attempting to finally generate the huge numbers it’s been looking for.
There are a few schools of thought on the opening bout. Some feel that it should be between stars who are going to put on an entertaining scrap and that name value isn’t as important as the quality of action. Others think that another top name should be thrown in the mix to generate interest.
Keeping both mentalities in mind, I’ve put together a list of five fights that cover the entire spectrum. Some are bouts with “Fight of the Night” written all over them, while some keep in line with the “How is this on free television?” theme that the UFC has already started.
Here is a list of five fights to consider as the opening bout for UFC on Fox 5.
Many UFC fans haven’t been happy in 2012.