Tag: UFC 151

Counterpoint: UFC 151?s Supporting Card Is Kind of Garbage-Ass, To Be Honest


(Two of the fighters featured on the UFC 151 pay-per-view broadcast. I *dare* you to identify them without using Wikipedia.)

Yeah, yeah, Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson is one of the greatest UFC main events of the year, and we all came buckets this morning when we watched the promo. These are incontrovertible facts — especially the part about the buckets.

But allow me to be a hater for just a moment, because it’s becoming clear that the UFC has lost an aspect of its promotional DNA that used to set it apart from boxing — namely, its habit of stacking each card with multiple fights and stars that fans were excited about. Here’s what UFC president Dana White told CNBC two years ago:

“If you buy tickets and you fly to Las Vegas, I guarantee you’re going to see the best live sporting event ever. And if you buy it on Pay Per View, I promise you, you’re going to get a night of great fights. And the other thing that we do is, in boxing, they’ll only give you one main event. Nobody even shows up for the early fights. We stack a card with tons of great fights because I can’t, for me to sit here, I’d be a liar if I said, I’m guaranteeing you every fight’s going to be the best fight you’ve ever seen I can’t guarantee you that. But I can guarantee you, there’s going to be two, three or four that are going to blow you out of, you know, you’re going to be blown away. We stack the card big enough so that you’re definitely going to get your money’s worth.”

Since that interview, the UFC has inked a set of new broadcast partners, added three weight classes, and returned to certain international markets (i.e., Brazil, Japan), all of which has led them to increase their card-frequency to the point that some events are now completely non-essential, and others are only compelling for their main events. Those incredible “stacked cards” that we used to enjoy in 2008 and 2009 have officially gone extinct.

Which brings us to UFC 151: Jones vs. Henderson (September 1st, Las Vegas). You probably know where this is going…


(Two of the fighters featured on the UFC 151 pay-per-view broadcast. I *dare* you to identify them without using Wikipedia.)

Yeah, yeah, Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson is one of the greatest UFC main events of the year, and we all came buckets this morning when we watched the promo. These are incontrovertible facts — especially the part about the buckets.

But allow me to be a hater for just a moment, because it’s becoming clear that the UFC has lost an aspect of its promotional DNA that used to set it apart from boxing — namely, its habit of stacking each card with multiple fights and stars that fans were excited about. Here’s what UFC president Dana White told CNBC two years ago:

“If you buy tickets and you fly to Las Vegas, I guarantee you’re going to see the best live sporting event ever. And if you buy it on Pay Per View, I promise you, you’re going to get a night of great fights. And the other thing that we do is, in boxing, they’ll only give you one main event. Nobody even shows up for the early fights. We stack a card with tons of great fights because I can’t, for me to sit here, I’d be a liar if I said, I’m guaranteeing you every fight’s going to be the best fight you’ve ever seen I can’t guarantee you that. But I can guarantee you, there’s going to be two, three or four that are going to blow you out of, you know, you’re going to be blown away. We stack the card big enough so that you’re definitely going to get your money’s worth.”

Since that interview, the UFC has inked a set of new broadcast partners, added three weight classes, and returned to certain international markets (i.e., Brazil, Japan), all of which has led them to increase their card-frequency to the point that some events are now completely non-essential, and others are only compelling for their main events. Those incredible “stacked cards” that we used to enjoy in 2008 and 2009 have officially gone extinct.

Which brings us to UFC 151: Jones vs. Henderson (September 1st, Las Vegas). You probably know where this is going…

Here’s the current lineup, followed by some more incontrovertible facts.

– UFC 151′s pay-per-view broadcast is led off by John Lineker vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani — the guys shown at the top of this post, FYI — two flyweights who are both 0-1 in the UFC. Maybe it’s an exaggeration to say that “no one cares about little flyweights,” but certainly, nobody cares about these particular little flyweights. The fact that the UFC would include this match on the PPV lineup is proof that over-saturation has reached its tipping point in the UFC; nothing else really needs to be said.

– Outside of Jones and Henderson, there’s nobody on this card who you could legitimately call a “star.” If Josh Koscheck didn’t get injured, there would be three big names on the main card instead of two, but that’s still a weak offering for a PPV lineup. As it stands, UFC 151 is the epitome of the “one-fight card” common to boxing events, where only the headlining match is worth getting excited for.

– The default co-main event of Jake Ellenberger vs. Jay Hieron pits a guy who lost his last UFC fight against a guy who has never won a UFC fight. If you’re a big fan of Dennis Siver, Dennis Hallman, Eddie Yagin, or Thiago Tavares, I’ve got no quarrel with you. The rest of you should ask yourselves — are those fights really worth paying for?

I’ve heard a lot of complaints from MMA fans lately about how the UFC is forcing them to shell out $55 seemingly every other weekend to buy increasingly watered-down PPV cards. But the truth is, the UFC isn’t forcing you do anything. Being an MMA fan can be an expensive hobby, but as a consumer, you always have the power to say no. The bottom line is, the UFC can get away with selling these one-fight events because the fans have played along. So if you feel like you’re getting screwed, don’t order the events. That will send the only message that matters.

(BG)

[VIDEO] Just TRY and Watch This UFC 151 Promo Without Blowing a Gasket

Not to come off sounding like a bunch of know-it-alls, but we’re pretty sure we’ve figured out the formula to make the perfect trailer for any upcoming UFC event. It’s simple really:

1. Pick out the best highlights of the champion destroying his former opponents, preferably in slow-mo

2. Insert Joe Rogan quote, something about said champ being “untouchable” or “the greatest”

3. Fade in “Lux Aeterna” by Clint Mansell, usually the orchestral Lord of the Rings version

4. BIG, BOLD TEXT DECLARING THAT THE CHALLENGER IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BREED OF ANIMAL

5. As the song enters its second half, cut to several clips of the challenger destroying his former opponents, now in real or even sped up time.

6. Mike Goldberg yelling “Oh my” or “It is all over!”

7. Close on a dramatic, sudden cut to the event text/details.

The marketing department behind the UFC 151 promo clearly adhered to this formula, resulting in a trailer that will undoubtedly get your panties, your wife’s panties, and your slutty mistresses crotchless panties all bunched up in anticipation for the blood-soaked throwdown that will be Jones vs. Henderson on September 1st.

Check it out after the jump.

Not to come off sounding like a bunch of know-it-alls, but we’re pretty sure we’ve figured out the formula to make the perfect trailer for any upcoming UFC event. It’s simple really:

1. Pick out the best highlights of the champion destroying his former opponents, preferably in slow-mo

2. Insert Joe Rogan quote, something about said champ being “untouchable” or “the greatest”

3. Fade in “Lux Aeterna” by Clint Mansell, usually the orchestral Lord of the Rings version

4. BIG, BOLD TEXT DECLARING THAT THE CHALLENGER IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT BREED OF ANIMAL

5. As the song enters its second half, cut to several clips of the challenger destroying his former opponents, now in real or even sped up time.

6. Mike Goldberg yelling “Oh my” or “It is all over!”

7. Close on a dramatic, sudden cut to the event text/details.

The marketing department behind the UFC 151 promo clearly adhered to this formula, resulting in a trailer that will undoubtedly get your panties, your wife’s panties, and your slutty mistresses crotchless panties all bunched up in anticipation for the blood-soaked throwdown that will be Jones vs. Henderson on September 1st.

Check it out below.

Seemingly not content with the plethora of awesome knockouts and background music that makes you want to grab your ten closest friends and go drive-by hardcore dancing, the editor of the trailer opted to dub over a Hendo scream at the 52 second mark (which was likely inaudible when he originally did it) with the roar of the shark in Jaws 4. Although the sound was completely off-putting in both instances, it was easily more successful here.

But the question still remains: Will Hendo be able to land one of his patented H-bombs, or will Bones’ dominance continue?

We’re just a couple weeks away from finding out.

–J. Jones

UFC 150 Results: Is Frankie Edgar the Greatest Role Model in UFC History?

Frankie Edgar is the greatest role model in the history of the UFC.Yes, he lost last night, and yes, his life narrative isn’t as compelling as Junior Dos Santos or Brian Stann or any other UFC fighter whose backstory is constantly referred to in pre-fi…

Frankie Edgar is the greatest role model in the history of the UFC.

Yes, he lost last night, and yes, his life narrative isn’t as compelling as Junior Dos Santos or Brian Stann or any other UFC fighter whose backstory is constantly referred to in pre-fight advertising, but the fact still remains that he’s the greatest role model of all past and present UFC fighters. 

“Frankie Edgar beats up other little men with his fists so now he’s a great role model? Absurd!” You say?

Think again. 

Frankie Edgar’s status as a role model doesn’t stem from his literal actions in the cage but from what those actions in the cage represent. 

When Edgar fights, he perseveres. He weathers the storm and continues to find a way to win (or at least win in the eyes of the majority of MMA fans, according to Bleacher Report MMA’s front-page poll).

Edgar has also been the smaller fighter in nearly all of his fights, yet he was always undaunted by that fact and even became UFC lightweight champion despite pundits claiming Edgar’s true weight class was featherweight.

Edgar’s more recent behavior is also worthy of praise. Despite being on the wrong end of a controversial decision loss to Benson Henderson at UFC 150, he didn’t whine, he didn’t complain—he just decided to forget it and move along. 

The common MMA fan (and the common person in general) can learn a lot from these examples Edgar set forth. 

People can harness Edgar’s fighting spirit when they are depressed or downtrodden after a terrible day at work or after grim revelations that they may not ever amount to anything. Edgar’s in-cage exploits also teach people that, despite being smaller, they can still claim victory over a larger, more menacing foe if they just keep at it and never give up—if they persevere like Edgar. 

Furthermore, Edgar accepting the loss to Henderson also teaches people not to dwell on defeat and temporary setbacks, it teaches them not to endlessly complain like the mindless cows on Teen Mom or Girls and to just forget it and move onto your next goal, whatever that may be. 

Thus, following Frankie Edgar’s behavior would benefit people more than any other fighter in UFC history. Emulating Edgar would make whiny, slack-jawed gawkers into capable people who stop at nothing to accomplish their goals, and aren’t daunted by the inherent unfairness in life. 

 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 150 Results: Questions Heading into UFC 151 Jon Jones vs Dan Henderson Card

UFC 150 is in the books and Benson Henderson has retained his title in what will be a highly debated decision.Now that the lightweight picture has been decided and we know that Henderson will face Nate Diaz in his next title defense, we can begin to lo…

UFC 150 is in the books and Benson Henderson has retained his title in what will be a highly debated decision.

Now that the lightweight picture has been decided and we know that Henderson will face Nate Diaz in his next title defense, we can begin to look toward the next UFC event, UFC 151, which will take place on September 1 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. 

First, the full results from UFC 150:

Benson Henderson defeats Frankie Edgar via split decision (46-49, 48-47, 48-47)

Donald Cerrone defeats Melvin Guillard via knockout at 1:16 of Round 1

Jake Shields defeats Ed Herman via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Yushin Okami defeats Buddy Roberts via TKO at  3:05 of Round 2

Max Holloway defeats Justin Lawrence via TKO at 4:49 of Round 2

Dennis Bermudez defeats Tommy Hayden via submission at 4:43 of Round 1

 Michael Kuiper defeats Jared Hamman via TKO at 2:16 of Round 2

Erik Perez defeats Ken Stone via TKO at 0:17 of Round 1

Chico Camus defeats Dustin Pague via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)

Nik Lentz defeats Eiji Mitsuoka via TKO at 3:45 of Round 1

Now, on to the questions we have heading into UFC 151.

Begin Slideshow

UFC 151 Training Camp Blog Week 1: Stay Hungry and Mean

As many of you have heard, we had a bit of a change up at the Blackzilians recently. Mike Van Arsdale has parted ways with our camp and Mario Sperry has stepped up into the head coaching position. Mario was one of the founding members and head coach of…

As many of you have heard, we had a bit of a change up at the Blackzilians recently. Mike Van Arsdale has parted ways with our camp and Mario Sperry has stepped up into the head coaching position. Mario was one of the founding members and head coach of the Brazilian Top Team during their rivalry with Chute Boxe. 

The dynamic of the gym hasn’t changed at all, it’s still great. Everyone is still doing their thing knowing exactly what they have to do. Mike was a great coach, but people leave businesses all the time. Everyone is still working hard and looking to win titles in the future. 

The training has been great as we’ve had to get Melvin Guillard ready for his fight with Donald Cerrone. Since his fight was coming up a lot of the focus has been on him, but at the same time I’m working with him since I also have a fight coming up. We have enough coaches so that everyone can get the looks they need in practice.

We like to keep things as together as possible and that’s how it works. Since we have people fighting so much, we don’t have to take away from a fighter who is competing later. Everyone is getting in the same work and it’s working out great for us. 

Even though it’s easy to get caught up on my improvements, I’ve decided to only focus on my flaws and where I can get better. I’m looking to capitalize on it. Some things may be improving, but I’m looking to get everything better. 

Danny Castillo presents an interesting stylistic matchup but I’m not just focusing on his wrestling. I come from a wrestling background also and I’ve faced better wrestlers than Danny. I’m just going to go out there and fight. You can’t really focus on one thing because if it doesn’t happen then you’ll be stuck. 

In preparation for Danny Castillo, I’m at practice three times a day and then relaxing at home either playing video games or napping. My focus is completely on Danny. My mind never goes off the fight, ever. Once I have that contract signed, it’s me thinking about Danny Castillo—what I’m going to do to him and what his flaws are. It’s after the fight that I’ll turn my mind off.

With three weeks until the fight, I’m staying hungry and mean in practice. I need to keep my mind on it and, then, we’re in crunch time. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

BREAKING: Jay Hieron Returns to the UFC to Face Jake Ellenberger at UFC 151


(That’s an understatement.)

Talk about the opportunity of a lifetime.

After a seven year absence from Zuffa’s graces that saw him go 16-3 in various promotions including Bellator, Strikeforce, and most recently Legacy Fighting Championships, highly-ranked welterweight Jay Hieron will finally be returning to the UFC to take on Jake Ellenberger in Josh Koscheck’s absence in the co-main event of UFC 151.

Awwwwww yeah!! 


(That’s an understatement.)

Talk about the opportunity of a lifetime.

After a seven year absence from Zuffa’s graces that saw him go 16-3 in various promotions including Bellator, Strikeforce, and most recently Legacy Fighting Championships, highly-ranked welterweight Jay Hieron will finally be returning to the UFC to take on Jake Ellenberger in Josh Koscheck’s absence in the co-main event of UFC 151.

Awwwwww yeah!! 

As you may recall, after losing a title bid to Ben Askren in a highly controversial (re: bullshit) split decision at Bellator 56, Hieron became locked in a bitter contract dispute with Bellator that ended with him returning his signing bonus in order to be relieved of his contract. When breaking the news of his free agent status via his twitter account, Hieron tweeted that it was “time for me to work my way back up to the top.” One can not think of a faster way of doing so than by knocking off a top contender in Ellenberger on less than a month’s notice.

Hieron has not competed in the UFC since October of 2005, where he suffered a third round TKO via cut loss to the now-retired Jonathan Goulet in one of the bloodiest MMA fights you will ever see. Now 11-1 in his past twelve, Hieron’s lone defeat in the past five years was the aforementioned loss to Askren in their welterweight title bout.

Ellenberger, on the other hand, is coming off a tough TKO loss of his own at the hands and knees of comeback all-star Martin Kampmann at the TUF 15 Finale. The loss was the first in his 33-fight career to come by way of (T)KO, and snapped an impressive six-fight win streak that included wins over Diego Sanchez, Jake Shields, and Mike Pyle among others.

One has to imagine that bailing the UFC out on short notice will at least buy Hieron a couple more fights even if he is unsuccessful against Ellenbgerger, but what do you think, Potato Nation? Will Hieron’s glorious return end in triumph or defeat?

–J. Jones