Tag: UFC on Fox 5

Does the UFC Need to Put Title Fights on Fox to Be Successful?

Let’s cut to the chase here: the UFC benefits from signing more title fights to headline FOX cards.Some may ask why, citing the over-saturation of UFC fights and the lack of truly “stacked” cards. However, an open set of eyes and a clear, open mind wil…

Let’s cut to the chase here: the UFC benefits from signing more title fights to headline FOX cards.

Some may ask why, citing the over-saturation of UFC fights and the lack of truly “stacked” cards. However, an open set of eyes and a clear, open mind will help fans understand just how beneficial the champions will prove to the success of the UFC’s success on “Big Fox”, especially considering how the past three Fox cards played out without the presence of a reigning champion on the card.

First off, consider the benefits of a title fight on free TV from the get-go.

Normally, fans must shell out $50 or $60 to see a champion compete, because the champion historically provides the fight that (most) fans would pay to watch. Also, remember how fans went nuts when the UFC announced that they aimed to give the crowd Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos last November? Of course, heavyweights always attract heads anyway, but rarely do fans and pundits hear of them bringing title fights to a stacked “free TV” card.

Secondly, consider the favors done by all involved. Fox gives the UFC its national exposure, the UFC gives their fans a reason to want to buy a ticket to the show, the champions and challengers get a much larger stage than that which some still think pay-per-view provides, and with fans at home getting access to an event without having to pay for it, a win-win situation emerges.

Now, why should anyone drag pay-per-view into this discussion? Reasons vary, but we must do so because for a myriad of reasons, fans find themselves less motivated to actually pay their cable providers for UFC events that went from awesome to atrocious. Meanwhile the free cards continue to provide more of the fights that their following would willingly pay for.

To put it in some perspective, look at the nominees for the 2012 Fight of The Year. Unsurprisingly, two of 2011’s best fights finally get their nods, but of the UFC’s contributions to that category, three nominees came from cards that fans either saw on free TV or watched online. Only Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua happened on pay-per-view.

When free fights deliver “Fight of The Year” performances and force Fighters Only to fill out their “Fight of The Year” category for 2012 with two of 2011’s best fights, that speaks volumes about what can and likely will come about if the UFC trusts their champions to take center stage for their Fox showcases. We know they do because Benson Henderson gets to lay his UFC lightweight strap on the line against Nate Diaz on Dec. 8 in Seattle for UFC on Fox 5.

All benefits and potential pluses considered, perhaps more cards like UFC on Fox 5 should happen in the future,especially if the promotion aims to feature their champions on a national level. After all, it seems clear that it will aid in the company’s growth financially in the long run, but as much as the truth hurts, the truth is that pay-per-view will no longer be enough if the UFC wishes to hit that mainstream status it keeps talking about.

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5 Reasons to Look Forward to the UFC’s End of the Year Run

The year will soon be closing out. People everywhere will be excited to wish it farewell and plan for a clean slate in 2013. Thankfully, before that happens the UFC has a few more stacked cards planned. Georges St. Pierre’s return, Nate …

The year will soon be closing out. People everywhere will be excited to wish it farewell and plan for a clean slate in 2013. 

Thankfully, before that happens the UFC has a few more stacked cards planned. Georges St. Pierre’s return, Nate Diaz fighting for the lightweight title and Cain Velasquez attempting to get his title back from Junior dos Santos in what is sure to be an epic rematch are just some of the highlights to which we can look forward.

There is all of this and more awaiting MMA and UFC fans in the coming months. It is sure to be exciting and a solid way to wave farewell to 2012 and bring in an action-packed 2013.

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UFC on Fox 5: Is Ben Henderson Right About the Blueprint to Beat Nate Diaz?

A mixed martial artist’s journey is motivated by the goal of perpetual self-improvement. Arguably no fighter better exemplifies this attitude than Nate Diaz. Once a talented though frustratingly middling fighter who indecisively hopped back and f…

A mixed martial artist’s journey is motivated by the goal of perpetual self-improvement. Arguably no fighter better exemplifies this attitude than Nate Diaz.

Once a talented though frustratingly middling fighter who indecisively hopped back and forth between the UFC’s lightweight and welterweight divisions, the younger Diaz brother has transformed himself into one of the world’s premier mixed martial artists.

Despite at one point looking as though he would forever languish in his older brother’s shadow, the 27-year-old Stockton native now looks every bit as capable as his more illustrious sibling.

With dominant wins over the likes of Jim Miller and Donald Cerrone, Nate has catapulted himself to within touching distance of the UFC’s lightweight title, as he prepares to take on Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 5—the man who resides at the division’s summit.

With that being said, one should perhaps sound a note of caution at this stage. After all, Diaz has flattered to deceive in the past.

Indeed, his brief trip to welterweight in 2010 initially appeared promising, as we watched him take out both Rory Markham and Marcus Davis in impressive fashion.

Unfortunately, Diaz then ran into Dong Hyun Kim and Rory MacDonald in quick succession—both huge 170-pounders. They were able to utilise their size and strength to neutralise his offensive weapons, ragdolling the Cesar Gracie protégé en route to a pair of momentum-shattering decision wins.

Therefore, it is fair to say that we have been here before. The Ultimate Fighter season-five winner has again put together some impressive wins and is again facing an opponent who is huge at the weight and has a strong grappling base.

It is easy to understand why Benson Henderson is reticent to tear up the established blueprint on Nate Diaz, as he explained last week:

Every time a fighter does what they’re supposed to do, and improves and gets better every fight, I wouldn’t say the blueprint goes out the window, but it can be harder to execute the blueprint.

It’s an astute point well made by the UFC’s lightweight king.

Diaz may have plugged some of the gaps in his game, but that doesn’t mean he has developed a sudden immunity to the kind of strength and wrestling brought to bear by someone like Benson Henderson.

It is worth remembering that Henderson drops a huge amount of weight to make the 155-pound limit. He boasts the strength and athleticism of a natural welterweight, which has historically been Diaz’s kryptonite up until this point.

There is also the issue of whether the challenger can submit the notoriously resilient champion, should the fight hit the floor—which it doubtless will.

In the past, Henderson has proved near impossible to submit. More like Stretch Armstrong than an average human, his uncommon elasticity has allowed him to fight through submissions that would likely have ended the evening for any fighter not named Dan Hardy.

The potential fulfilment of Nate Diaz’s potential is just one of several intriguing narratives to be explored in the lead up to the UFC on Fox 5 main event.

Whether Benson Henderson can halt the challenger’s considerable momentum remains to be seen. But one thing is for certain, every true mixed martial arts fan can’t wait to find out.

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UFC Champ Ben Henderson: ‘Zero Chance’ of Move to Welterweight

Despite his admitted difficulty in cutting down to 155 pounds, UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson says there’s no way he’ll go up to welterweight.Henderson debunked talks of an upcoming shift in weight class via his Twitter account, answering a fan…

Despite his admitted difficulty in cutting down to 155 pounds, UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson says there’s no way he’ll go up to welterweight.

Henderson debunked talks of an upcoming shift in weight class via his Twitter account, answering a fan who asked him about the rumor directly:

0% chance of that…RT @chrisreed2333:@BensonHenderson any truth to rumors your considering a move to welterweight

In recent interviews with Arizona Local News and Bloody Elbow, both Henderson and head coach John Crouch have regularly stated that the champion walks around at 175 pounds—just five pounds north of the cutting limit for welterweights.

Henderson also spoke to MMA Junkie about the difficulty in maintaining his diet now that he’s older, claiming that he used to eat Taco Bell while wrestling in college:

“I’m growing, but as far as maturing and getting thicker, I think I’m getting older right now, and it’s getting harder for me to lose the weight … and it’s harder for me to keep the weight off,” he said. “All these desserts aren’t helping.”

Henderson, now 28 years old, has never missed weight for a fight in the UFC or WEC. He once fought in a 160-pound catchweight bout earlier in his career, which also resulted in one of his only two losses against journeyman fighter Rocky Johnson at a regional Colorado event in 2007.

Riding a perfect 5-0 UFC record with two championship victories against Frankie Edgar, Henderson will make his second title defense against Nate Diaz on Dec. 8 at UFC on Fox 5.

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UFC on FOX 5: Will B.J. Penn Regret Coming out of Retirement to Face MacDonald?

After suffering a beating at the hands of Nick Diaz in October, 2011, B.J. Penn announced his retirement from the sport of MMA. Now here we are in October, 2012, and it’s back to business as usual for “The Prodigy,” who is preparing for his next b…

After suffering a beating at the hands of Nick Diaz in October, 2011, B.J. Penn announced his retirement from the sport of MMA. 

Now here we are in October, 2012, and it’s back to business as usual for “The Prodigy,” who is preparing for his next bout, set for the UFC on FOX 5 card this December. Penn will be taking on rising star Rory MacDonald in what has become something of a grudge match.

Though it’s hardly unprecedented for an athlete to renege on stated intentions of walking away from competition, the reversal of course invariably incites questions about the sagacity of the decision. 

Looking at Penn and his decision to return to the Octagon for another kick at the can, we can’t help but ask ourselves, is it the right decision, or will he end up regretting his comeback attempt?

When it comes down to it, only Penn can provide a precise answer to the question. With factors like personal motivation, monetary gain and post-career situation unbeknownst to anyone other than himself, all the rest of us can do is look at the more transparent elements of the equation and make an educated guess.

We outsiders can also evaluate the effect of the return, not on a personal level, but on a professional one—how has Penn’s legacy been affected, did he show he is still a contender, what was the outcome of the match. 

Though they may not paint the whole picture, these more accessible, more measurable components of Penn’s return can lead us to certain conclusions. Conclusions probably not so different than those Penn himself will arrive upon.

 

So, with that in mind, let’s revisit the question—is Penn’s decision to return a smart one, or will he regret it?

When we consider the matchup he’s drawn, Penn’s outlook is pretty bleak. While Penn has rarely been outclassed in his career, he has been often outmuscled—especially as a welterweight—and he happens to be fighting one of the division’s biggest, strongest competitors.

When we add MacDonald’s penchant for putting opponents on their backs and beating them up, as well as his ability to manhandle lighter men from the clinch, it all spells out a very long night for Penn.

Sure, Penn could conceivably pull off the upset, but it seems more likely that he will receive the kind of thrashing that sent him scurrying off into retirement.

So, if that probable result factors into his own assessment of the decision to reprise his role as UFC fighter, than it is looking very much like Penn would have been better off passing up the opportunity.

Still, there is that compulsion to compete that many high-level athletes can only sate by staying active. The money will probably be nice too.

But Penn shouldn’t expect an easy route back. In fact, he shouldn’t expect a route back at all. UFC on FOX 5 might very well signify his second retirement, and this time the bitter taste of exiting the sport on a losing note will only have multiplied.

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Rory MacDonald: Is He Setting Himself Up for Failure by Doing Things ‘His Way’?

Rory MacDonald is one of the most popular up-and-comers in the UFC. He’s widely regarded as a future title challenger, if not a future title holder, in the promotion. These notions are in large part due to the fact that MacDonald trains at the world re…

Rory MacDonald is one of the most popular up-and-comers in the UFC. He’s widely regarded as a future title challenger, if not a future title holder, in the promotion. These notions are in large part due to the fact that MacDonald trains at the world renowned Tristar gym in Montreal.

The gym’s head trainer, Firas Zahabi, has trained numerous top fighters, including Georges St-Pierre. However, Zahabi‘s training methods don’t seem to coincide with MacDonald’s belief of doing things “his way.”

“I’m going to make changes in how I prepare for fights and to do things my way from now on,” MacDonald said on an episode of UFC Tonight (via MMA Mania).

MacDonald believes the change in training methods will allow him to fight on a more regular basis and avoid injuries.

“It’s going to let me fight a lot more. I’m going to take fights on shorter notice. I’m learning from the older guys and see how they prepare for fights, like the two months of training camp. I’m tired of that. I’ll fight more often.”

MacDonald’s model of thought is something all fight fans can appreciate—less training and more fights. The only problem is that it doesn’t make any sense for a guy of MacDonald’s caliber to follow that business model.

Yes, by not going through such long training camps MacDonald is less likely to be injured, but his standing in the UFC is not to the point where he needs to take fights on short notice on a regular basis. That is reserved for veterans who need the paycheck or prospects who need the exposure.

I can’t comment on MacDonald’s financial situation, but he definitely doesn’t need the help getting his name out there. He’s firmly established as a star in the division and one of its most exciting competitors.

 

If he does take these fights on shorter notice, MacDonald is going to put quite a lot of stress on his body by attempting to make it “peak” at the right time. As we’ve seen in the past, short-notice fights don’t always turn out so great for the men involved.

But let’s get back to MacDonald doing things “his way.” The Canadian fighter said he will change his training methods but isn’t leaving Tristar.

“I will still be training at Tristar. But I have to do things my way. At the end of the day, I’m the one getting in the cage and taking the risk and I’m the one making the final call,” MacDonald said.

That quote seems to point to MacDonald training with the guys at Tristar but not going along with an overall game plan from Zahabi.

Does that mean if Zahabi points out a weakness in MacDonald’s game that the fighter won’t respond to the coaching advice? Or merely that MacDonald will pick who he trains with and how hard he trains?

There’s a lot of questions with MacDonald changing his training regimen—too many questions for someone at this point in his career. MacDonald should have a team firmly behind him while fine tuning his game to insert himself into the “mix” of title contenders.

MacDonald will now face numerous questions about what his training camp involves. He will also have to prove the worth of his new way in a December match against BJ Penn, one of the best fighters of all time.

I understand MacDonald’s method of thinking. After all, nobody knows these fighter’s bodies better than themselves, but I still worry about his relationship with Tristar‘s trainers. It’s always nice to do things your own way, but nobody has achieved great success in MMA without a solid supporting cast around them.

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