Mixed Martial Arts Thread (UFC and others)

[PilotMan]

Yeah, a pretty mild card. I still might head up to the local sports bar and check it out. The other 3 cards on the show ought to be Spike fights. Sexyama and Belfort coming off of losses can't carry the co-main and Rashad is going to school Tito in a boring display of boxing and takedown defense.

[sovereignstar v2]

Originally Posted by B & B

This POS UFC card isnt even on the front page and its tonight.

Usually this thread doesn't get bumped until the card has started or in a fair amount of cases, the next morning if nothing spectacular/unforeseen happened. That said, yes, this card sucks donkeyballs. And it started with so much promise.

[PilotMan]

Prelims are starting on facebook now, if anyone cares.

[thesloppy]

Not bad tonight.

Spoiler

Vitor looked tough, as did the McDonald kid. Is the Sexiyama UFC experiment officially over? I enjoy me some Brian Ebersole (and of course you have to counter the hairrow with the purple panties). And Tito/Rashad was surprisingly fun, if not all that surprising a result. Rashad looked cut and motivated, and if he's picked up even a fraction more speed and/or gas he could be spooky good.

[Flasch186]

So Belfort finishes Akiyama with what?! 2 solid blows to the back of the skull. Awesome. Just frickin' awesome.

[EagleFan]

Good lord is that a cut.

[EagleFan]

Very nice job considering he couldn't see out of his left eye for mos of the fight.

[EagleFan]

WTF? The fight was stopped because one fighter told the ref that the other fighter tapped? Even though there was no tap.

[EagleFan]

Sorry, watching Strikeforce, in case anyone is wondering.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by EagleFan

WTF? The fight was stopped because one fighter told the ref that the other fighter tapped? Even though there was no tap.

Mazzagatti is fucking terrible.

[PilotMan]

Showtime announcers = stoned college kids. My God they suck.

[EagleFan]

Tonight's show has the potential to be better than a lot of the PPV's.

Henderson/Miller and Hardy/Lyttle have the potential to be great fights.

Plus Cerone should put on a good show, too bad he is a prick (if I recall correctly from his previous fights).

[sovereignstar v2]

I wish Ben Henderson came with a mute button.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

I wish Ben Henderson came with a mute button.

But in his interview he said that he doesn't do any talking...

[DeToxRox]

What a way for Lytle to go out. Will always be one of my favorites ever.

[EagleFan]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

What a way for Lytle to go out. Will always be one of my favorites ever.

Very nice ending for him.

[sovereignstar v2]

So Hardy with 5 straight losses. Seems so long ago that he faced off with GSP. GSP, who of course couldn't finish him over 5 rounds...

[Travis]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

So Hardy with 5 straight losses. Seems so long ago that he faced off with GSP. GSP, who of course couldn't finish him over 5 rounds...

Sure as hell wasn't for a lack of trying. Most examples of GSP grinding out a decision I wouldn't argue, but as much as I dislike Hardy I'll give him full credit for his toughness at not giving up in the GSP as there were numerous moments that were severely cringe worthy to watch.

I was actually surprised when he tapped out in this one after what he endured in the GSP fight. Happy for Lytle but still surprised.

[AlexB]

Originally Posted by sovereignstar v2

So Hardy with 5 straight losses. Seems so long ago that he faced off with GSP. GSP, who of course couldn't finish him over 5 rounds...

It's only four isn't it? GSP, Condit, Johnson, Lytle...?

He's not actually that good a striker either, certainly in terms of power. I don't get the whole Hardy 'goes to war' thing tbh, although he seems a grounded type of guy and pretty intelligent.

[DeToxRox]

Rumor is a deal between UFC and Fox is nearing completion. There would be four specials on Fox every year and all the other UFC shows would move to FX.

[DeToxRox]

From Bloody Elbow:

It looks like the UFC on network TV is finally a reality. According to a report from Sports Business Daily, the UFC and Fox have agreed on a deal that would bring as many as four events to the network each year. A recent deal with Fox Sports Latin America appears to have been proper foreshadowing.

Fox refused to comment to Sports Business Daily, but several of their sources revealed the following details:

* As many as four events per year on Fox
* A seven- or eight-year deal with bidding having reached somewhere around $90M/year
* Weekly programming on Spike and Versus moving to FX
* Some UFC content will end up on Fuel, though the cable network will not be rebranded

The SBD article also reveals details about negotiations with Comcast/NBC and Spike TV. Spike ultimately passed on a new deal, citing stoppage in growth. SBD notes that programs like "Unleashed," "Knockouts," and "Countdown" average 1 million viewers in 2005, with that number falling under 500k this year.

If this is the real deal, it's big news for MMA and the UFC.

[Update 1:38 p.m. ET] A UFC official declined to comment on the situation to Bloody Elbow.

[Update 2:20 p.m. ET] An anonymous Fox source confirms the deal to Heavy.com.

[Update 3:43 p.m. ET] John Ourand, author of the SBD article, tweets, "Fox will have a 1pm press conference Thurs with Hill, Freer, Shanks, Landgraf for 'one of the biggest announcements in Fox Sports history.'" (HT: Bloody Elbow reader IRodC)

[PilotMan]

Great news all around on this.

[JonInMiddleGA]

'Ultimate Fighter' Canceled by Spike - Ratings | TVbytheNumbers

Looks like "you can't take your show elsewhere, we just cancelled it"

[molson]

I wonder if the Fox shows would be big, ppv-caliber events. I'm sure it makes money sense to do so, but I've never thought it was a good idea to rely so heavily on that tiny group of people that buys PPV events. I'm amazed the UFC has grown so fast on that model, but if you bring big fights to people for free you're going to gain interset and awareness so much faster.

[DeToxRox]

Lorenzo said the Fox shows will be big shows with blockbuster headlining fights.

[PilotMan]

Dana said today that he expects Brock back to headline the New Years card.

[PilotMan]

Looks like a Guida v. Ben Henderson fight will be the main event for the first televised Fox show in November. Tell you what, that damned Edgar/Maynard draw coupled with the injuries they have sustained has really dicked up the lightweight division.

[Suicane75]

Main event or under card fight? I can't imagine them trying to sell that fight to first timers as the main.

[PilotMan]

Main event from what they are saying. I guess it seems like two top title contenders who have high workrates and will keep things busy in the cage.

[sovereignstar v2]

I guess I didn't know their first show was only going to be an hour long. How the hell is this suppose to work? While that's a fight I'd like to see, that's a fucking joke for a headlining fight.

Someone threw out the possibility of Velasquez-Dos Santos, but how do you fit a championship fight plus something else in one hour?

[PilotMan]

That's funny. No way they take one of the biggest fights of the year and give it away for free. It just isn't happening, and those that think they should, should have their heads checked.

How exactly is the potential #1 and #2 lightweight contenders for the title a joke of a fight to headline a free show?

I think what the prevailing thought is that the name value just isn't there. Perhaps someone like a Lesnar who is one of the highest name draws out there and he is coming off of a big loss, or another mainstream fighter, even if it might not be an important fight. Because a Guida/Henderson fight would be an important fight.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

I think what the prevailing thought is that the name value just isn't there. Perhaps someone like a Lesnar who is one of the highest name draws out there and he is coming off of a big loss, or another mainstream fighter, even if it might not be an important fight. Because a Guida/Henderson fight would be an important fight.

Agree 100%, the Guida/Henderson matchup is huge, a must see for hardcore MMA fans and a worthy main event. But for their first show I would think they would look to put on a main event that would pull in the casual fan and they need a name for that.

[DeToxRox]

There is a report that they are looking at Anderson vs Hendo for the title assuming Anderson gets out of Rio without much damage. Truthfully I do not see how that would work when Anderson and Hendo (once he signs) would lose money on a fight on Fox. Those PPV points are millions of dollars.

[PilotMan]

Well if that's the case then it seems relatively obvious that they have no intention of running Strikeforce as a separate entity for long. Figure that all the fighters there are on extended trials for the UFC.

It will be nice to see someone like Bigfoot in the octagon and Gilbert Melendez too. Kinda depends on that cross promotional stuff with Dream.

There are still some rumors floating around that Overeem is in backdoor negotiations with Zuffa still, and that him coming to the UFC is still a possibility.

[DeToxRox]

Showtime is not renewing their deal with SF and the rumor is SF will be kept alive at the behest of Lorenzo Fertitta as a minor league to the UFC. They are shopping the product to Versus since Versus withstood years of bad ratings for WEC, they figure they can do a bit better then that with the SF name.

[DeToxRox]

Nog winning just gave me chills. That was awesome.

[MacroGuru]

Wow..did Silva really just go Ali on Okami? That was some arrogant attitude...but wow!

[DeToxRox]

Cain vs JDS confirmed for the Fox show. It will be the only live fight on the card.

[sovereignstar v2]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

That's funny. No way they take one of the biggest fights of the year and give it away for free. It just isn't happening, and those that think they should, should have their heads checked.

How exactly is the potential #1 and #2 lightweight contenders for the title a joke of a fight to headline a free show?

I think what the prevailing thought is that the name value just isn't there. Perhaps someone like a Lesnar who is one of the highest name draws out there and he is coming off of a big loss, or another mainstream fighter, even if it might not be an important fight. Because a Guida/Henderson fight would be an important fight.

blah blah fucking blah

[thesloppy]

By "only live fight on the card", does that mean the rest of the card is taped/delayed, or is it some sort of 'Unleashed'-style best-of, with old fights, and one live main-event? The latter would seem an odd choice.

[Suicane75]

Sounds like it's gonna be a normal show, just starting in the afternoon. Probably wont be near the caliber of undercard as usual though.

[PilotMan]

Holy shit, Brock is back and taking on Overeem Dec. 30!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/spor...ereem-ufc.html

[DeToxRox]

lol Nick Diaz

Crazy news coming out of the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nick Diaz is out of the UFC 137 main event against Georges St. Pierre. Carlos Condit is in.

The video stream for the press conference is choppy, but the word from those at the press conference, including Bloody Elbow's own Chris Barton, is that Diaz missed today's press conference. Diaz also missed yesterday's press conference in Toronto, Canada. UFC President Dana White said Diaz missed three separate flights within 24 hours, though I'm not sure if all of those were to Canada or if they included his trip to Vegas. White claimed Diaz "lied to his face."

White also said that Condit returned his call within fifteen minutes. He also mentioned that Condit cried when he found out the news.

Cesar Gracie black belt Jason Manly is now claiming on Twitter that Diaz was involved in a plane crash. "@EllenbergerMMA @kcbanditmma his plane crashed bro have some respect! He's safe and back training though.." [Update] This is false. Diaz simply missed flights.

Condit was originally scheduled to fight B.J. Penn at UFC 137. The UFC has not found a replacement for Penn.

White mentioned that tickets for the event went on sale today. He said that those who purchased tickets expecting to watch Georges St. Pierre fight Nick Diaz will be given the opportunity to refund the purchase.

Condit is reportedly on a plane to Las Vegas.

[Update] Dana just took a call from Cesar Gracie during the press conference. Dana relayed that Cesar feels embarrassed, and that he's tried to turn Nick Diaz around. Cesar also apparently told Dana that Nick is hiding and nobody can find him.

[PilotMan]

yeah, I just heard, that's fuckin weird. too much pot in his system today I guess,

[EagleFan]

Not like he had a chance anyway.

[sovereignstar v2]

Anyone has a [puncher's] chance against someone that doesn't finish his fights.

[PilotMan]

Clearly not in that state of mind he didn't. If he was serious about it he has the set of tools that could really make it interesting.

As for Condit. I am a big fan of his. He has been around the top for a long time, and even though his first couple of fights in the UFC were a little shaky, he has been totally dominant lately. He has a great standup and ground game. Very well rounded. Obviously, GSP is going to have the strength edge, and he won't wear down, but I think that Condit can really make a good fight out of it. I'd rather see his "mean mug" than Diaz's any day.

[moriarty]

LOL, now it's BJ vs Nick Diaz. This is like a bad WWE script.

[DeToxRox]

BJ vs Diaz is an awesome fight. I can't wait for that Countdown. The entire situation makes zero sense but I like both these match ups better. Now I just somehow need Condit vs Diaz.