Yesterday’s Fight Night 66 media day workouts was a landmark occasion for a variety of reasons. Not only did it kick off the UFC’s first ever trip to the Philippines ahead of this weekend’s fight between Frankie Edgar and Urijah Faber — which is being hailed as “the closest thing to a superfight we’ve had in some time” (!!!!) — but it also set the stage for the UFC to introduce its first-ever Filipina ring girl. Please, try and contain your excitement.
That ring girl was none other than Red Dela Cruz, a popular Filipina model and PXC ring girl who was chosen from a pool of a couple hundred applicants as part of the UFC’s Asia Ring Girl search. A monumental occasion, indeed. In any case, check out our favorite photos (plus a bonus video) of Ms. Cruz after the jump, and make sure to follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Yesterday’s Fight Night 66 media day workouts was a landmark occasion for a variety of reasons. Not only did it kick off the UFC’s first ever trip to the Philippines ahead of this weekend’s fight between Frankie Edgar and Urijah Faber — which is being hailed as “the closest thing to a superfight we’ve had in some time” (!!!!) — but it also set the stage for the UFC to introduce its first-ever Filipina ring girl. Please, try and contain your excitement.
That ring girl was none other than Red Dela Cruz, a popular Filipina model and PXC ring girl who was chosen from a pool of a couple hundred applicants as part of the UFC’s Asia Ring Girl search. A monumental occasion, indeed. In any case, check out our favorite photos (plus a bonus video) of Ms. Cruz after the jump, and make sure to follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
(If you’re the UFC, I guess the answer is “Not for your fighters.” HI-OH!)
By David Golden
A week has passed since the pay structure of the UFC’s exclusive Reebok sponsorship was made public, and the immediate reaction to the deal from both fighters and fans seems to be…let’s say less than positive. Matt Mitrione and Brendan Schaub were among the vocal minority who seemed completely shocked by the figures, and it’s easy to see why. The structure of the deal effectively turns off an important revenue stream for many fighters and gives them a stipend that is predetermined and minimally effective in many cases. Making matters worse, outside brands have not only been banned as sponsors from UFC events but will no longer be able to participate as vendors at UFC fan expos.
This might have been the saving grace for some fighters hoping to bring in additional income, but that outlet has also been blocked. There has been talk of some secondary sponsorship coming some time down the road but all signs point to that being controlled by the UFC as well. If there isn’t an opportunity for fighters to source their own sponsorship or at least make the money they believe they are worth, then this deal could turn out to be disastrous for the UFC.
(If you’re the UFC, I guess the answer is “Not for your fighters.” HI-OH!)
By David Golden
A week has passed since the pay structure of the UFC’s exclusive Reebok sponsorship was made public, and the immediate reaction to the deal from both fighters and fans seems to be…let’s say less than positive. Matt Mitrione and Brendan Schaub were among the vocal minority who seemed completely shocked by the figures, and it’s easy to see why. The structure of the deal effectively turns off an important revenue stream for many fighters and gives them a stipend that is predetermined and minimally effective in many cases. Making matters worse, outside brands have not only been banned as sponsors from UFC events but will no longer be able to participate as vendors at UFC fan expos.
This might have been the saving grace for some fighters hoping to bring in additional income, but that outlet has also been blocked. There has been talk of some secondary sponsorship coming some time down the road but all signs point to that being controlled by the UFC as well. If there isn’t an opportunity for fighters to source their own sponsorship or at least make the money they believe they are worth, then this deal could turn out to be disastrous for the UFC.
Let’s look at the numbers:
* 1 to 5 UFC bouts – $2,500 per fight
* 6 to 10 UFC bouts – $5,000 per fight
* 11 to 15 UFC bouts – $10,000 per fight
* 16 to 20 UFC bouts – $15,000 per fight
* 21 UFC bouts and above – $20,000 per fight
* UFC Title Challengers – $30,000
* UFC Champions – $40,000
This structure rewards fighters who have managed to maintain a career in the UFC for an extended period of time but does not take into consideration the revenue fighters had been making from sponsorships prior to the Reebok deal. Add to that the popularity and star power of some fighters compared to others, and it effectively devalues many of the athletes competing in the UFC. A prime example of this would be fast rising superstar Conor McGregor. McGregor has only five fights with the UFC but has proven to be one of the organization’s biggest stars. He could benefit greatly from being able to have his management find better deals for him away from Reebok but that is no longer an option under the terms of the new sponsorship contract.
Additionally, the likelihood of a fighter making it 20+ fights with the UFC is slim; not even Anderson Silva, who has fought for the UFC since June of 2006 has cracked the twenty-fight mark. This system is flawed and UFC officials know it. Unfortunately, the deal is done and with no fighters union to represent the athletes, this puts the onus square on the shoulders of those who made the deal.
Maybe this deal was made in haste? Did Reebok come to the UFC with this amazing idea and sweep Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta off their alligator-covered feet? Maybe. But that doesn’t excuse the complete and utter lack of freedom fighters have been given as a result of this deal. Without allowing the fighters to offer input on the current financial value of sponsorships, it makes it seem like there is something they (and we) aren’t being told. During a conference call with select media members last week, UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC President Dana White, and UFC Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein made the point explicitly; the total value of this deal would be going directly to the fighters less the direct cost of running the program. But that statement was almost immediately proved false once the figures were released. As BloodyElbow previously pointed out:
The new figures only total up to about $7.5 million a year of the reported $70 million/6 year Reebok deal initially announced back in December, figuring for 20 title fights a year. That’s a lot less than it seems like the annual numbers should shake out to.
The UFC is a privately owned company and as a result, ownership has no reason to be anything but completely tight-lipped with regard to their finances, and the likelihood is things aren’t going to get any less opaque in the future.
The question is, does this exclusive sponsorship deal with Reebok have to end as poorly as it started? When Dana White talks about the mainstream acceptance of the UFC, he has often made the point that he wants to see it grow to the heights of the NFL or the NBA. If that is true, there is one thing White and his cohorts might consider doing which would be tremendously profitable for the athletes of the UFC.
The NFL has an exclusive uniform deal with Nike and the NBA has a deal with Adidas. However, the athletes in both of these leagues are allowed to have individual shoe contracts. These shoe contracts have become such big business that some players in the NBA are signing shoe deals that dwarf their game checks. Maybe a shoe deal with the UFC isn’t the best option, seeing as how Reebok is a shoe company, but why not allow UFC fighters to find their own glove sponsors? This doesn’t mean the sponsor has to make the glove — there are obviously regulations that must be met with regard to gloves and that would take precedence — but the sponsor’s logo could just replace the current boldly stamped UFC that adorns the gloves used in the Octagon now. This wouldn’t interfere with Reebok as they do not make fight gloves, and would allow the fighters the freedom to bring in an additional revenue stream, which many of them rely on.
Let’s look at some more numbers:
* Chris Paul – $4 million
* Blake Griffin – $6 million
* Dwight Howard – $6 million
* Carmelo Anthony – $9 million
* Derrick Rose – $21 million
* Kobe Bryant – $34 million
* Lebron James – $42 million
According to Forbes 2014 top ten list
These figures show what some of the top NBA players can pull down with shoe deal in a single year. While no UFC fighter will be pulling in bags of cash this large, that doesn’t mean that they can’t use the representation a company is offering. In the NBA, there can be anywhere from 360 to 450 active players in the league at a given time. A report from USA Today Sports showed that in August of 2014, there were 440 players who had brand support from footwear companies. That accounts for nearly every active player in the league at that time. This shows that there is a realistic chance for the UFC roster to find similar success. This sponsorship wouldn’t solve all the problems but it would certainly go a long way in showing the athletes that they still have other options in the sponsorship game.
As time passes, this deal will most certainly evolve and hopefully grow into a successful partnership for the UFC, Reebok and the UFC’s athletes. As it stands now, fighters are growing more vocal in their stance on the deal, be it supportive or unsupportive. Reebok is well aware of the reaction by fans and fighters over the announcement of the payout scale. It is hard to imagine that Reebok will sit by idly and allow a deal of this magnitude to fall apart before it truly gets moving. This deal is effectively acting as a pivot point for the world of MMA as we currently know it. Fighters from across the globe are waiting to see what the UFC does to adjust this situation while creating a more profitable world for the athletes.
If changes aren’t made swiftly, there is a chance that free agent fighters might not sign with the UFC and instead opt to sign with another company that is still allowing fighters to seek their own sponsorships. Take Olympic hopeful and recent Bellator signee Ed Ruth, for example, who has already spoken out against the tiered system the UFC is now offering. So now we sit at a crossroad of sorts waiting to see just what happens next. Is this the final straw that pushes fighters to unionize? Do Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White have something up their sleeves? For now the mixed martial arts community waits on bated breath, hoping the next step is the one that fixes this oddly complex broken mess.
But what do you think, Nation? How could we go about fixing the current Reebok setup? Can we fix it at all? Discuss in the comments section.
(If you’re the UFC, I guess the answer is “Not for your fighters.” HI-OH!)
By David Golden
A week has passed since the pay structure of the UFC’s exclusive Reebok sponsorship was made public, and the immediate reaction to the deal from both fighters and fans seems to be…let’s say less than positive. Matt Mitrione and Brendan Schaub were among the vocal minority who seemed completely shocked by the figures, and it’s easy to see why. The structure of the deal effectively turns off an important revenue stream for many fighters and gives them a stipend that is predetermined and minimally effective in many cases. Making matters worse, outside brands have not only been banned as sponsors from UFC events but will no longer be able to participate as vendors at UFC fan expos.
This might have been the saving grace for some fighters hoping to bring in additional income, but that outlet has also been blocked. There has been talk of some secondary sponsorship coming some time down the road but all signs point to that being controlled by the UFC as well. If there isn’t an opportunity for fighters to source their own sponsorship or at least make the money they believe they are worth, then this deal could turn out to be disastrous for the UFC.
(If you’re the UFC, I guess the answer is “Not for your fighters.” HI-OH!)
By David Golden
A week has passed since the pay structure of the UFC’s exclusive Reebok sponsorship was made public, and the immediate reaction to the deal from both fighters and fans seems to be…let’s say less than positive. Matt Mitrione and Brendan Schaub were among the vocal minority who seemed completely shocked by the figures, and it’s easy to see why. The structure of the deal effectively turns off an important revenue stream for many fighters and gives them a stipend that is predetermined and minimally effective in many cases. Making matters worse, outside brands have not only been banned as sponsors from UFC events but will no longer be able to participate as vendors at UFC fan expos.
This might have been the saving grace for some fighters hoping to bring in additional income, but that outlet has also been blocked. There has been talk of some secondary sponsorship coming some time down the road but all signs point to that being controlled by the UFC as well. If there isn’t an opportunity for fighters to source their own sponsorship or at least make the money they believe they are worth, then this deal could turn out to be disastrous for the UFC.
Let’s look at the numbers:
* 1 to 5 UFC bouts – $2,500 per fight
* 6 to 10 UFC bouts – $5,000 per fight
* 11 to 15 UFC bouts – $10,000 per fight
* 16 to 20 UFC bouts – $15,000 per fight
* 21 UFC bouts and above – $20,000 per fight
* UFC Title Challengers – $30,000
* UFC Champions – $40,000
This structure rewards fighters who have managed to maintain a career in the UFC for an extended period of time but does not take into consideration the revenue fighters had been making from sponsorships prior to the Reebok deal. Add to that the popularity and star power of some fighters compared to others, and it effectively devalues many of the athletes competing in the UFC. A prime example of this would be fast rising superstar Conor McGregor. McGregor has only five fights with the UFC but has proven to be one of the organization’s biggest stars. He could benefit greatly from being able to have his management find better deals for him away from Reebok but that is no longer an option under the terms of the new sponsorship contract.
Additionally, the likelihood of a fighter making it 20+ fights with the UFC is slim; not even Anderson Silva, who has fought for the UFC since June of 2006 has cracked the twenty-fight mark. This system is flawed and UFC officials know it. Unfortunately, the deal is done and with no fighters union to represent the athletes, this puts the onus square on the shoulders of those who made the deal.
Maybe this deal was made in haste? Did Reebok come to the UFC with this amazing idea and sweep Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta off their alligator-covered feet? Maybe. But that doesn’t excuse the complete and utter lack of freedom fighters have been given as a result of this deal. Without allowing the fighters to offer input on the current financial value of sponsorships, it makes it seem like there is something they (and we) aren’t being told. During a conference call with select media members last week, UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, UFC President Dana White, and UFC Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Epstein made the point explicitly; the total value of this deal would be going directly to the fighters less the direct cost of running the program. But that statement was almost immediately proved false once the figures were released. As BloodyElbow previously pointed out:
The new figures only total up to about $7.5 million a year of the reported $70 million/6 year Reebok deal initially announced back in December, figuring for 20 title fights a year. That’s a lot less than it seems like the annual numbers should shake out to.
The UFC is a privately owned company and as a result, ownership has no reason to be anything but completely tight-lipped with regard to their finances, and the likelihood is things aren’t going to get any less opaque in the future.
The question is, does this exclusive sponsorship deal with Reebok have to end as poorly as it started? When Dana White talks about the mainstream acceptance of the UFC, he has often made the point that he wants to see it grow to the heights of the NFL or the NBA. If that is true, there is one thing White and his cohorts might consider doing which would be tremendously profitable for the athletes of the UFC.
The NFL has an exclusive uniform deal with Nike and the NBA has a deal with Adidas. However, the athletes in both of these leagues are allowed to have individual shoe contracts. These shoe contracts have become such big business that some players in the NBA are signing shoe deals that dwarf their game checks. Maybe a shoe deal with the UFC isn’t the best option, seeing as how Reebok is a shoe company, but why not allow UFC fighters to find their own glove sponsors? This doesn’t mean the sponsor has to make the glove — there are obviously regulations that must be met with regard to gloves and that would take precedence — but the sponsor’s logo could just replace the current boldly stamped UFC that adorns the gloves used in the Octagon now. This wouldn’t interfere with Reebok as they do not make fight gloves, and would allow the fighters the freedom to bring in an additional revenue stream, which many of them rely on.
Let’s look at some more numbers:
* Chris Paul – $4 million
* Blake Griffin – $6 million
* Dwight Howard – $6 million
* Carmelo Anthony – $9 million
* Derrick Rose – $21 million
* Kobe Bryant – $34 million
* Lebron James – $42 million
According to Forbes 2014 top ten list
These figures show what some of the top NBA players can pull down with shoe deal in a single year. While no UFC fighter will be pulling in bags of cash this large, that doesn’t mean that they can’t use the representation a company is offering. In the NBA, there can be anywhere from 360 to 450 active players in the league at a given time. A report from USA Today Sports showed that in August of 2014, there were 440 players who had brand support from footwear companies. That accounts for nearly every active player in the league at that time. This shows that there is a realistic chance for the UFC roster to find similar success. This sponsorship wouldn’t solve all the problems but it would certainly go a long way in showing the athletes that they still have other options in the sponsorship game.
As time passes, this deal will most certainly evolve and hopefully grow into a successful partnership for the UFC, Reebok and the UFC’s athletes. As it stands now, fighters are growing more vocal in their stance on the deal, be it supportive or unsupportive. Reebok is well aware of the reaction by fans and fighters over the announcement of the payout scale. It is hard to imagine that Reebok will sit by idly and allow a deal of this magnitude to fall apart before it truly gets moving. This deal is effectively acting as a pivot point for the world of MMA as we currently know it. Fighters from across the globe are waiting to see what the UFC does to adjust this situation while creating a more profitable world for the athletes.
If changes aren’t made swiftly, there is a chance that free agent fighters might not sign with the UFC and instead opt to sign with another company that is still allowing fighters to seek their own sponsorships. Take Olympic hopeful and recent Bellator signee Ed Ruth, for example, who has already spoken out against the tiered system the UFC is now offering. So now we sit at a crossroad of sorts waiting to see just what happens next. Is this the final straw that pushes fighters to unionize? Do Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White have something up their sleeves? For now the mixed martial arts community waits on bated breath, hoping the next step is the one that fixes this oddly complex broken mess.
But what do you think, Nation? How could we go about fixing the current Reebok setup? Can we fix it at all? Discuss in the comments section.
(It was at that point that the once bloodthirsty Adelaide crowd, draped in tattered shawls and dirtied robes, began to cry out for mercy. via Getty)
We’ve had the discussion a million times over. Probably more. When a fighter loses the ability to protect himself — whether out of stubbornness, pride, stupidity, or some combination of the three — it falls upon the referee, or his cornerman, or the promotion, to do it for him. “A fighter is his own worst enemy,” we so often say, cheaply dismissing a much bigger issue that impacts all combat sports while doing next to nothing to ensure that these fighters can actually be saved from themselves.
Fight Night 65 was, if nothing else, a continuation of our cultural apathy for fighter safety, gently tucked beneath a guise of momentary outrage and Twitter rants. It was the kind of card that would’ve made Matt Saccaro dismiss us all as purveyors of a barbaric bloodsport wherein the costs highly outweigh the gains, were he still covering MMA. (Thankfully, a former governor surfaced to pick up his scraps.)
(It was at that point that the once bloodthirsty Adelaide crowd, draped in tattered shawls and dirtied robes, began to cry out for mercy. via Getty)
We’ve had the discussion a million times over. Probably more. When a fighter loses the ability to protect himself — whether out of stubbornness, pride, stupidity, or some combination of the three — it falls upon the referee, or his cornerman, or the promotion, to do it for him. “A fighter is his own worst enemy,” we so often say, cheaply dismissing a much bigger issue that impacts all combat sports while doing next to nothing to ensure that these fighters can actually be saved from themselves.
Fight Night 65 was, if nothing else, a continuation of our cultural apathy for fighter safety, gently tucked beneath a guise of momentary outrage and Twitter rants. It was the kind of card that would’ve made Matt Saccaro dismiss us all as purveyors of a barbaric bloodsport wherein the costs highly outweigh the gains, were he still covering MMA. (Thankfully, a former governor surfaced to pick up his scraps.)
Four nearly five rounds, we watched in horror as a helpless and seemingly out of shape Mark Hunt was pulverized by Stipe Miocic in front of a moderately packed Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Despite the fact that Hunt was two steps and some 300 punches behind Miocic for the entirety of the fight, neither his cornerman nor referee John Sharp felt compelled to show him mercy, seemingly clinging to the hope that he would land a fight-ending shot that justified their pathetic lack of judgement. And to be perfectly honest, we probably would have praised Sharp for his restraint had Hunt ever landed that shot, as we have done in the past (*cough* Lesnar vs. Carwin *cough*).
But Hunt never landed that shot. In fact, he never even came close. He was outstruck, outmaneuvered, outgrappled, out-cardiod. It was by pure virtue of being Mark Hunt that his body was able to hold up for 4 and a half rounds before finally calling it quits, and when it was over, “The Super Samoan” showed every bit the wear and tear of a man who has perhaps been competing for a fight too many.
I’d like to think that we’d learn something from the straight up assault that took place last Saturday, that it would somehow lead us to rally for increased referee (and cornerman, for that matter) education regarding the safety of fighters. But who am I kidding?
We tuned in to Fight Night 65 expecting violence, and in a night filled with plenty of it, our humanity was somehow exposed, if ever so briefly. But today is a new day — one where we will dismiss the questions raised the night’s main event with a self-aware tweet. Nothing will change here. Mark Hunt will always be beaten within an inch of his life. Roan Carneiro will always be forced to do Jarin Valel’s job for him. Apollo Creed will always die before the towel is thrown.
The full results for Fight Night 65 are below.
Main card
Stipe Miocic def. Mark Hunt via fifth-round TKO (2:45)
Robert Whittaker def. Brad Tavares via first-round KO (0:44)
Sean O’Connell def. Anthony Perosh via first-round TKO (0:56)
James Vick def. Jake Matthews via submission (guillotine) (R1, 4:53)
Undercard
Dan Hooker def. Hatsu Hioki via KO (R2, 4:13).
Kyle Noke def. Jonavin Webb via split decision (27-30, 29-28 2x).
Sam Alvey def. Dan Kelly via KO (R1, 0:49).
Bec Rawlings def. Lisa Ellis via submission (rear-naked choke)(R1, 4:09).
Brad Scott def. Dylan Andrews via submission (guillotine choke) (R2, 4:54).
Alex Chambers def. Kailin Curran via submission (armbar) (R3, 3:15)
Brendan O’Reilly def. Vik Grujic via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Ben Nguyen def. Alptekin Ozkilic via first-round TKO (4:59)
As everyone reading this already knows by now, the UFC Light Heavyweight championship has been vacated due to a recent hit and run incident involving Jon Jones that left a pregnant woman with a broken arm and other injuries. The news comes as…well, not very shocking to anyone that has been paying attention to the behavior of the former champion and it seems that his history of bad behavior has finally caught up to him as the UFC has stripped him of his title, removed him from their rankings and have “indefinitely suspended” him from competition.
Today we’re going to take a look at the effects that this incident has had in a fun segment that I’m stealing from former CP alumni: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
As everyone reading this already knows by now, the UFC Light Heavyweight championship has been vacated due to a recent hit and run incident involving Jon Jones that left a pregnant woman with a broken arm and other injuries. The news comes as…well, not very shocking to anyone that has been paying attention to the behavior of the former champion and it seems that his history of bad behavior has finally caught up to him as the UFC has stripped him of his title, removed him from their rankings and have “indefinitely suspended” him from competition.
Today we’re going to take a look at the effects that this incident has had in a fun segment that I’m stealing from former CP alumni: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
The Good
-UFC makes the right decision by vacating the title and suspending Jones
My first reaction upon hearing the news of Jones’ involvement in a hit-and-run accident was “Hmm…I wonder how Dana White is going to justify keeping him in the main event of UFC 187.” To my surprise, White announced last Tuesday that the UFC would be stripping him of the title and released the following statement:
UFC feels strongly that its athletes must uphold certain standards both in and out of The Octagon®. While there is disappointment in the recent charges, the organization remains supportive of Jones as he works through the legal process.
It was certainly refreshing to see the UFC take the right course of action after recent incidents like the Anderson Silva drug test debacle or the attempted rehiring of Thiago Silva. Let’s hope that the UFC continues on its course of taking the high road should…ok let’s be as real as it gets, *when* another fighter does something terribly stupid down the road.
-The LHW Title Picture becomes much more interesting
Although it may not have happened the way we wanted to (which I’ll be getting to later), the removal of the dominant champion opens up the opportunity for the other fighters in the division to get a taste of championship gold. Much like with the aforementioned Silva, there weren’t many contenders for the belt that could offer much of a challenge to Jon Jones. Should he have gone on to UFC 187 and defeated Anthony Johnson, there wouldn’t have been anyone else waiting in the wings outside of a rematch with Alexander Gustafsson, who came close to defeating the champion but then suffered a devastating KO loss to the current number one contender, leaving him to contemplate retirement. Gustafsson has since backpedaled on his retirement statement but one has to wonder the blow dealt to his confidence after the loss.
With Cormier replacing Jones in the title fight at UFC 187, which I can only imagine is leaving a much deserved sour taste in Bones’ mouth, we are now guaranteed to see a new champion emerge be it DC or Rumble. Regardless of who wins, it opens up a slew of new title matches to be booked while the slow build for a possible return and match up of the disgraced former champion. Hopefully, the UFC can use this angle to attract fans into spending their money on upcoming PPV events.
The Bad
-An anticlimactic end to a dominant title run
One of the greatest parts of any long win streak is basking in the joy of watching someone end it. I’m sure more than a handful of people reading this article can remember exactly where they were when Anderson Silva’s six year title run came to a halt at the hands of Chris Weidman or when current interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum snapped Fedor’s nine year undefeated streak via triangle choke. As awesome as it is to see someone display complete and total domination at their game, it’s even more exciting when you’re there to see it come to an end and this is a moment that we as fans have been robbed of. For years, we’ve waited to see who would be the first to end Jones’ momentous undefeated streak (no, that horseshit DQ doesn’t count) but now that’s all come to an end thanks to a terribly stupid decision.
Rumors are swirling about whether or not Jones will retire after all of this, but if he return to action one day and pick up where he left off, whatever absence he takes from the cage will always serve to mark his streak with an asterisk.
-The UFC loses one of its few remaining draws
With Jones suspended, this leaves Ronda Rousey, and to a lesser degree, Conor McGregor as the only real draws left on its roster and they can only fight so many times a year. This doesn’t discount the amount of talent in the UFC as there are many interesting matchups to be had among the different divisions but talent doesn’t necessarily add up to PPV buys (See: Demetrious Johnson, Renan Barao, Benson Henderson). By taking Jones away from its already diminished pool of fighters with drawing power, the UFC is going to have to scramble to start making new stars for the future, although exactly how they can pull that off remains to be seen (medieval weapon fighting, perhaps?)
The Ugly
-A legacy tarnished
Regardless of what your personal opinion is of Jon Jones, there is no question that as a fighter, Bones was building one hell of a legacy as a MMA fighter. He had already built an eight year undefeated streak, become the youngest UFC champion in history and defended that title eight times consecutively. Now he’s added another historical fact to his resume by becoming the first UFC Champion to be stripped of his title as a disciplinary measure.
While the recent events will not diminish the accomplishments already made by Jones, they most certainly slam the brakes on the legacy that he was building and no matter what happens from this point on, his bad behavior, and most specifically this hit and run incident will most certainly become a talking point anytime anyone ever brings up Bones in a conversation of great MMA fighters, much like Tyson’s rape conviction will always overshadow all of the amazing feats he accomplished prior.
While Jones will certainly be a name mentioned as one of the greatest fighters in MMA’s ever growing history, what could have been the story of the greatest fighter in MMA will now be tarnished and told as a fighter with limitless potential that screwed it all up with a series of bad decisions. It’s a sad way for the Bones saga to end and hopefully he will use this to improve himself and become a better human being.
