The UFC and FOX have improved their combined product since the debacle that was the UFC on FOX 1. Not that it wasn’t an historic night for the sport and Junior dos Santos, but spectators unfamiliar with MMA were only treated to a couple minutes of acti…
The UFC and FOX have improved their combined product since the debacle that was the UFC on FOX 1. Not that it wasn’t an historic night for the sport and Junior dos Santos, but spectators unfamiliar with MMA were only treated to a couple minutes of action. Not to mention, FOX didn’t even televise the possible fight of the year between Clay Guida and Ben Henderson.
MMA fans know that isn’t what a night of UFC fights is all about.
MMA has separated itself from boxing in that a night of fights truly is that. A night of the plural word fights. Part of what makes a UFC night so exciting is predicting which fighters will receive awards for Fight of the Night, Submission of the Night and KO of the Night.
UFC on FOX 3 more closely resembled what traditional MMA fans are used to. We had some impressive TKO victories by Lavar Johnson and Alan Belcher, a competitive fight that went the distance between Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks and saw Nate Diaz establish himself as probably the No. 1 contender in the UFC Lightweight division.
Despite all that, television ratings were down for UFC on FOX 3. Several factors could have contributed to that. One reason could be that it was going up against Mayweather vs. Cotto. Another could be that it was Cinco de Mayo and the younger UFC fans were out partying.
Either way, UFC on FOX 4 has some intriguing matchups and it is never too early to make some predictions.
From 2005 to 2011, the UFC presented an event series that featured some of their best up-and-comers—an event series known as “Ultimate Fight Night.”In it, the UFC traveled across the US and showcased the UFC brand of MMA action to live audi…
From 2005 to 2011, the UFC presented an event series that featured some of their best up-and-comers—an event series known as “Ultimate Fight Night.”
In it, the UFC traveled across the US and showcased the UFC brand of MMA action to live audiences who were able to either buy a ticket for the fights, watch them at home on Spike TV, or watch some of the preliminaries on either Facebook or UFC.com, giving fans some options as to how they wanted to get their UFC fix.
With these Ultimate Fight Nights, the success of a deal with Versus, the occasional card on ION Television, and a still-enjoyable run of seasons of The Ultimate Fighter, fans were getting all the action they wanted, when they wanted.
The UFC’s own growth and brand expansion served as a long-term effect of this as they were going to areas that they’d never been able to break into before this event series.
Fast forward to 2012, and things have changed.
Instead of Spike TV, ION Television, and Versus, the UFC is now in the first of a pretty flexible seven-year relationship with the Fox Broadcasting Company, meaning that FOX, FX, and Fuel TV will broadcast these new “Ultimate Fight Night” cards on all three networks, though they do not go by the “Ultimate Fight Night” name and the cards are referred to by either the card’s main event or by the title of “UFC on Fox/Fuel TV/FX”.
In addition, programs such as UFC Tonight, UFC Ultimate Insider, the Countdown to UFC specials, the UFC Primetime series, and even shows such as UFC Unleashed and The Best of PRIDE Fighting Championships now air on Fox-owned programming including.
This includes Fuel, the Fox Sports networks, and sometimes even SPEED—whereas in the past, there was no UFC Tonight, UFC Ultimate Insider was more or less a UFC.com-only special, and the “countdown shows” shared Spike TV with Primetime and the brief run of The Best of Pride.
Finally, the FX channel airs preliminary fights in the same way that Spike TV used to air preliminary fights for UFC cards prior to the Fox deal.
Most outstanding in recent weeks has been what this has meant for “The Ultimate Fighter,” which has traditionally featured 16 relatively unknown fighters living in a house with the goal of a six-figure contract and a spot on the UFC roster in their division.
UFC president Dana White has consistently mentioned that the coolest thing about the current 15th season of the show is that the fights to move through to the finale are all live when they air every Friday night—with only the in-house and in-training drama being pre-recorded—but the ratings for Episode 5 and Episode 8 tell a different story.
As those two episodes alone have provided the lowest ratings in 15 seasons of the show, that can only mean that either TUF has gotten monotonous in its presentation—even with the “Live” format in place—or that TUF may be better suited for a much more different time slot, right?
If the latter is the case, the old Wednesday time slot comes to mind first, because…well, let’s face it: do you honestly care enough to follow American Idol or NBC’s Wednesday night lineup of sitcoms and other programming before the late-night news?
Neither do I, though their lineups aren’t the worst on network TV, to their credit, but I digress.
In any event, whether it causes you to say “flourish” or “fail” in the long run, TUF: Live has the same intentions that every UFC prelims and past TUF seasons all have or have had in that they are platforms for younger fighters, overlooked up-and-comers, and rising prospects to sell their skills and make their own name in the world’s largest MMA promotion.
However, we must reiterate that those two low-rated episodes—as good as they were for some—do make a person wonder if now is the time for a new platform on which young prospects can make their name.
It makes sense, if you think about it—many fans don’t get Fuel TV for their fix of preliminary bouts for the Fox and FX cards, and most of the young prospects usually have to have something about them in the way of hype before a fan can really care to watch their fight—even if it’s on the main card—which often causes some to watch the main card selectively before co-main event and main event time.
Finally, while many fans do tune in to the Facebook fights, the fact stands that all streams lag from time to time, creating a headache for fans who just want to watch some good fights, and nobody wants to deal with a slow stream when they just want to watch a fight online, right?
So with that being said, we have UFC on Fox, UFC on Fuel TV, and UFC on FX, but with only the lucky ones—in other words, those with Fuel TV or those who have no problem either buying a ticket or watching it through Facebook—getting to see what all the fuss is about with some of these rising upstarts before they ever get to the FX portion of a pay-per-view, what kind of platform can the UFC create so that people will be able to see what these young fighters can do?
Obviously, some people would like to see what all the fuss is about with some of these young fighters, but some of the same people looking to see what’s really good about these young fighters are the same ones that find something stale about the TUF formula. Is there any way to build up these young fighters without just automatically signing them to the UFC or having them go through TUF?
In reality, there is an answer, and it can be summarized in three words: Friday Night Fights.
Now, those of you who can’t squeeze Friday Night Fights into your Friday evenings in between Bellator Fighting Championships and TUF: Live need not worry—if you’re familiar with ShoBox: The Next Generation or HBO’s Boxing after Dark, you already have a sound education on what Friday Night Fights is about.
Those who still don’t know can think of Friday Night Fights as the weekly version of what the UFC Ultimate Fight Night cards were when the UFC used to air cards on Spike.
For boxing fans, Friday Night Fights is one of three programs related to that sport in which fans can get a good glimpse of who truly is coming up and preparing themselves for their spot on a major night of solid boxing action.
Dana White and Co. may have had this idea in mind when they came to an agreement with Fox executives to feature UFC programming on their networks, which is exactly why the talent that some see on the Facebook portion of pay-per-view events may find themselves on the main card of an FX card or a Fuel TV card—after all, we are talking about providing a platform on which these rising fighters can make their names known.
That said, there is a vast array of young talent in the world that is just waiting for the world to take notice of their skills, so why not create a platform for them to shine and show the world that they really do have what it takes to hang on a PPV main card or at least a Fuel TV prelim card?
Why not create a year-round type of program—in addition to TUF, of course—that can show the world why these kids can really evolve to that “best in the world” level associated with the UFC, as opposed to just sticking them on the prelims of some pay-per-view and only hoping that they bring it?
It could work out well to showcase more of the young talent, which is something that the UFC—to their credit—has begun to do.
How so?
Their next Fuel TV card features Dustin Poirier and Chan Sung Jung in the headliner.
Of course, one had to watch Poirier’s fight with Josh Grispi at UFC 125 to know about Poirier, and one had to be a WEC fan from WEC 48 to know about Jung, because no one would otherwise show any familiarity with what these two featherweights can do inside the Octagon, in turn meaning that nobody would care that they’re headlining a fun fight card in Fairfax, Va., simply because they’re “just there.”
Without having seen what these two are capable of inside the Octagon, who cares what they can do?
That’s why the UFC brass needs to make something like this happen with the Fox execs—and they know it needs to happen because as sad as it is, not even Alexander Gustafsson or Dan Henderson or even Jon Jones can be active in this sport forever.
Sooner or later, there will have to be a new face that can do things that we’re not going to see from Jones or Gustafsson in this generation. Sooner or later, a lightweight is going to come along that makes Edson Barboza’s striking seem like amateur-level striking.
Sooner or later, a fighter will come into MMA with a heart makes that of Frankie Edgar look like nothing, or some submission endurance that even Benson Henderson will wish he had.
There are fighters in the next generation that can do things that we may never see out of the current generation, and that next generation will carry the torch for the sport of Mixed Martial Arts in the same way that some of the current generation of boxing carried the torch for some of the greats of yesteryear.
However, there’s only so long we can go on talking about this need is and why we need it sooner than later. If there is a way to put these young prospects on by featuring them somewhat prominently on a year-round program a la Friday Night Fights, then let the UFC and the Fox networks do what they can to make it happen as soon as possible.
If not, then here’s hoping they can work to make it happen much sooner than later so that we as fans are not denied the chance to witness the sport continuing its evolution before our very eyes.
In case you haven’t noticed, the legends of the UFC aren’t quite what they used to be. Some old standbys are fading fast whole some others are well into retirement. Guys like Matt Hughes, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, BJ Penn, Kenny Florian and Randy Cout…
In case you haven’t noticed, the legends of the UFC aren’t quite what they used to be. Some old standbys are fading fast whole some others are well into retirement. Guys like Matt Hughes, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, BJ Penn, Kenny Florian and Randy Couture aren’t walking through that cage door. It’s up to the next generation now.
The younger crop, the group the UFC managed to expertly build around a strong core from The Ultimate Fighter series, is starting to grow up into an arsenal of fighters that will certainly kill more legends down the line.
Can Rashad Evans stop Jon Jones from rocketing his way to super stardom with a reality check Saturday, or will his performance bump him up to No. 1 on this list?
Jones is more than confident he can win, leaving only one message for Rashad: “Bring it.”
“Why not believe I could be the greatest fighter who ever lived?” Jones asked the audience of UFC Primetime this week.
He is calm, he is cool, and just a little bit cocky, but every fight he’s had in the UFC so far, Jones backed it all up with results. Rashad Evans is no slouch either, and it comes down to experience vs. youth.
Evans wants to stand and bang with Jones and match his superior boxing with the dynamic striking of Jones. The UFC Light Heavyweight Champion will be tested, but will a win Saturday be enough to unseat the leader of this list?
Two other fighters on this list will also fight on Saturday. They are young, they are hungry, and they rarely ever lose. These are the top 7 UFC fighters 25 years old or younger.
Over the last year, the public’s perception of light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has changed drastically. He’s widely considered to be one of the best fighters in the world, but many believe that his physical abilities combined with his …
Over the last year, the public’s perception of light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has changed drastically. He’s widely considered to be one of the best fighters in the world, but many believe that his physical abilities combined with his new-found fame have rapidly inflated his ego.
His fans and outspoken opponents have drawn attention to his self-assuredness, most notably Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans. They don’t hesitate to call him cocky.
I’ve written before about the unpresuming facade that Jones attempts to portray in his interviews and how his upcoming opponents often see right through it. Rashad Evans, the No. 1 light-heavyweight contender and former teammate of Jones, has continually poked the young lion during joint interviews over the last few months, as is evident in the video below.
Evans has continuously made claims of Jones’ conceit and has consistently shared his opinion of Jones, which is that he’s fake. Evans believes that Jones puts up this front to hide his arrogance.
During their interview on SportsNite, Evans described Jones as creative. He said, “He fights with that youth of just not knowing anything can happen. You know that youth when you just go out there and you just think that everything’s going to go the way you planned. Before you know it, it always don’t happen like that.”
This image of Jones portrayed by fans and fighters alike has become so commonplace that at times Jones has relented in his attempts at appearing humble. He’s claimed in the SportsNite and the UFC Ultimate Insider interviews to believe his own hype and to be high on himself. He believes it’s key to his success.
Their lack of respect for one another is evident as they constantly speak over and interrupt each other.
In part two of their interview on UFC Ultimate Insider, Jones explains how Evans has been known as an egotistical fighter since the beginning of his career. He stated, “I remember Rashad started all the way back on The Ultimate Fighter with the gyrating and the dancing and showboating in front of people. Matt Hughes, somebody who’s greatly respected, was one of the first to call it out. ‘Hey this kid’s a little on the cocky side’.”
The 24-year-old champion also explained that Evans’ entire reason for leaving Jackson’s camp was that he needed a training group that would focus on himself. Jones stated that the proof is in Evans’ lifestyle, that he’s loyal only to himself.
Jones clearly believes that Evans fabricated an excuse to leave and create his own camp to spite his former teammate and coaches. After their falling-out, Evans moved to Florida and created his own training team, named “Blackzilians” since the majority of the members were either black or Brazilian.
Jones claimed to have a saying that is “There’s no ‘I’ in ‘team.’ There’s no ‘I’ in ‘Jacksons.’ There’s ‘I’ in ‘Blackzilians.’”
As Jones began to speak about Greg Jackson’s team, Evans abruptly cut in, raised his voice and stated, “Don’t talk about the history of the program because, [expletive] I made that program!” They continued, back and forth, mocking and sarcastically demeaning each other.
Jones then scathingly spoke directly to Evans and said, “I really look at you as fake. I look at you as arrogant. I look at you as selfish. I look at you as self-centered. And I think your biggest thing is to try to reflect it off on me and make me seem like I’m everything that you’re feeling inside your heart.”
Evans simply looked at him with a smile.
At certain points during multiple joint interviews, Jones seemed to become weary of Evans’ taunts and mocking behavior and resorted to breaking down two of their recent opponents that they have in common. He coldly stated how Evans had trouble defeating Rampage Jackson and was knocked out “silly” by Lyoto Machida, while he finished them both.
With finality, Jones stated, “I feel like the champ in every way. And I feel like I’m going to do the same exact thing to you in April.”
While deciphering which of the pair is most cocky is extremely difficult, if not impossible, they contrast each other with one key feature. The difference between them is that Jones makes attempts to be a relaxed and confident fighter while Evans makes no claims of being humble.
Evans doesn’t hesitate to mock his former teammate while Jones always initiates the conversation with a calm and collected demeanor which he attempts to use to methodically disarm his sarcastic rival. Unfortunately for the champion, his contender knows him too well and says exactly what is needed to rile him up.
For all intents and purposes, it seems that many MMA fans think Jon Jones is every bit as arrogant as Rashad Evans says he is. When Jones says he believes his own hype, or that he is the best in his division, or that he wants to become better than Ali,…
For all intents and purposes, it seems that many MMA fans think Jon Jones is every bit as arrogant as Rashad Evans says he is.
When Jones says he believes his own hype, or that he is the best in his division, or that he wants to become better than Ali, they’re shocked and appalled.
And if that wasn’t enough, he reportedly won’t sign replica UFC title belts for fans because they were not earned.
Many MMA fans are going to be tuning in on April 21st with the hopes of seeing Jones get knocked off the top of the mountain.
And all of that is fine and just.
But everyone should take a moment to consider the possibility that they are wrong about Jones.
I am not saying they are wrong, I’m saying they might be.
In order to keep things in context, we would have to walk a mile in Jones’ shoes — when he was a skinny kid who had little-to-no athletic aspirations, aside of proving himself to his brothers.
Much of what Jones has achieved is due to plain, simple daring. Instead of saying “I can’t do that,” his modus operandi is “I don’t know I can’t do that until I try.”
Considering the results of his MMA career, Jones has succeeded at what he has tried to do.
Fighters’ lives are based upon seconds. They have to focus all of their energies toward the next step or the next drill.
Most successful fighters can do this because they have some God-given athletic ability that allows them to sail on autopilot through those difficult sessions.
And once again, there is nothing wrong with this.
For Jones, he has not attained any of his acclaim due to athletic grace. Many say he is more like Roy Jones Jr. than Muhammad Ali, but I beg to differ.
Roy Jones Jr. was a freak of nature, athletically speaking. His rise to glory was based on the fact that his physical gifts were so numerous that he didn’t have to work as hard as the next guy.
Jon Jones works twice as hard, like Ali did, because he is not some uber-athlete.
I have no idea what a training camp must be like, but I imagine it is brutal from day one to day whatever. I also imagine that having self-confidence is a must when you are young and defying the odds.
There is nothing wrong with a fighter feeling that he has a destiny, nor is there anything wrong with a fighter being confident, especially when that confidence is well-founded.
Jones is still very young to the game and, having lost much in his life already, he is probably terrified of losing what he has. When people want to hold on to something, they may try just about any kind of philosophy in order to get a better grip.
So what if Jones doesn’t exactly fit what we consider to be the standard of humble? Who are we to say our standard is the right standard?
My point is that the difference between conceit and confidence is usually only seen in hindsight, and Jones is only looking into the future, quite possibly because the past is painful for him.
And as far as not signing a replica UFC championship belt, hell, I don’t think they should even make those. As long as he doesn’t stop signing autographs, he’ll be just fine.
Today is Monday, April 16, 2012, and finally it is fight week for UFC 145. At this point, this fight card has been broken down and discussed a million different ways. But, one of the topics that I have not heard addressed is the topic of whether Jon Jo…
Today is Monday, April 16, 2012, and finally it is fight week for UFC 145. At this point, this fight card has been broken down and discussed a million different ways. But, one of the topics that I have not heard addressed is the topic of whether Jon Jones and Rashad Evans can ever repair their friendship.
Rashad Evans had already been training at Jackson-Winklejohn for years when Greg Jackson approached the former UFC light heavyweight champion to get his opinion of Jones joining them in New Mexico. Rashad has voiced that he was apprehensive from the start because both he and current UFC champion Jones fight at 205 pounds.
Evans explained on UFC Primetime that Greg Jackson told him that he would not ever have to fight the younger man.
Up until a little over one year ago, “Bones” Jones and “Suga” Rashad were friends who trained, ate and shared memories together. After an interview last year with Ariel Helwani in which Jon revealed that he would fight Evans if he needed to, their relationship took a drastic downward turn.
Then, shortly after, Jones dismantled Mauricio Rua to win the UFC light heavyweight title and Rashad left the camp for his new home in Florida.
With the two men finally set to square off this Saturday, the tension has only increased. But, even with all of the bad blood and choice words, MMA fans have grown accustomed to fighters having harsh words before a bout and then hugging and squashing their beef after.
So, can Rashad and Jon repair their friendship?
It is said that time heals all wounds and I think that same principle applies here. Plenty of men and women have had issues and have eventually been able to resolve them. This situation will be the same. Even though both of these guys have said many choice words to each other, that alone does not mean these men cannot resolve their personal problems after they finally fight each other.
From 2005 to 2011, the UFC presented an event series that featured some of their best up-and-comers—an event series known as “Ultimate Fight Night.”