The Official MMA Discussion Thread

[brashleyholland]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> </p><p> What's up with people trying to photoshop everything, just because they can. I admit it does look better, but why bother? Potential increase in sales?</p><p> </p><p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Control of branding, image, etc. UFC are very big on it. They edit out certain tattoos, birthmarks, marks, black eyes etc. They often slim down or bulk up fighters (adding abs, etc), as promo shots are taken out of camp (so the fighters are chubby) or on fight week close to weigh-ins (so fighters looks like meth addicts :-p). Fighters aren't models, after all. </p><p> </p><p> As you can see from 21 seconds into this video, I need absolutely zero photo shopping and look great in super slow motion :-p </p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/MC9hzUd90wA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Cage Warriors 66: Rewind"></iframe></div></div>

[Blackman]

<p>If you put it that way it kinda makes sense. Never realised they bulked them up, though some do look kinda huge for lightweights. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

Good to hear your CW gig is turning out nicely. Always nice to have an expert/insider on the forums. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Blackman]

<p><a href="http://www.wired.com/2011/08/spoilers-dont-spoil-anything/" rel="external nofollow">http://www.wired.com/2011/08/spoilers-dont-spoil-anything/</a></p><p> </p><p>

Interesting article on spoilers in today's information age. Relevant even today with the Game of Thrones TV series, which sometimes gets spoiled by pathetic people who seem to get joy in it.</p><p> </p><p>

It's also applicable to MMA. If I happen to come across sherdog articles on facebook before I actually watch the event, do I still watch? Sometimes the journey towards the unanimous decision is more interesting than expecting a finish for 15 minutes without it actually happening. And IF there's a finish: how will it happen? What's the setup?</p>

[Hayati]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><p> </p><p> Interesting article on spoilers in today's information age. Relevant even today with the Game of Thrones TV series, which sometimes gets spoiled by pathetic people who seem to get joy in it.</p><p> </p><p> It's also applicable to MMA. If I happen to come across sherdog articles on facebook before I actually watch the event, do I still watch? Sometimes the journey towards the unanimous decision is more interesting than expecting a finish for 15 minutes without it actually happening. And IF there's a finish: how will it happen? What's the setup?</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I was watching a fight the other week, it was very one-sided and it seemed inevitable that one guy would win as the other continued to ignore his corner's advice (it was one of those fights where one fighter keeps stupidly allowing himself to be taken down and held down)...because of that I started drifting off and doing other things as the match unfolded...then all of a sudden there were shouts from the commentators because the losing guy had very suddenly turned it around and won!</p><p> </p><p> Had I known the result in advance, I would have been watching with interest the whole way through <img alt=":)" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/smile.png.142cfa0a1cd2925c0463c1d00f499df2.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p>

[Blackman]

That's exactly right. I once saw a round of boring one-sided action, and decided to skip to the ending, only to see the other guy's hand raised. I guess that's one less "omfg"-moment for me. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/rolleyes.png.4b097f4fbbe99ce5bcd5efbc1b773ed6.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[i effin rule]

Wow.

[Blackman]

That was quite the performance all right. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Kinda expected how the Hendo-fight would go, but the main event was something else. Also expected more out of Ellenberger, based on what I've heard from him.

[Blackman]

<p>Man, you gotta love Robbie Lawler. The guy just won a nice scrap a week ago, and he's already booked for a summer event against Brown. He's one of the top draws for UFC at the moment with his busy schedule. Good for him. He's in the prime of his career. Why stop and take 7 months to prepare for a fight when you can ride the momentum and the good form and keep on going while it lasts. </p><p> </p><p>

I still think the average amount of fights a year is relatively small. This results in careers that end prematurely because a lot of matchups (rematches and rubber matches mostly) simply can't happen anymore because of the time constraints).</p>

[Capelli King]

Robbie is doing great at the moment. I think his striking is top notch and his takedown D is very good at the new weight class.

[Blackman]

<p><a href="http://wombatsports.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/an-open-letter-to-invicta-fighters-and-fans-your-patience-is-about-to-be-rewarded/" rel="external nofollow">http://wombatsports.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/an-open-letter-to-invicta-fighters-and-fans-your-patience-is-about-to-be-rewarded/</a></p><p> </p><p>

I almost would've written them off as dead. Apparently signing deals isn't as easy as in WMMA. I always go for short-term deals there as - when concluded in a positive way - open the market for better deals. The failure to trust in the succes of short-term deals imo is not a real show of confidence.</p>

[Jingo]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><a href="http://wombatsports.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/an-open-letter-to-invicta-fighters-and-fans-your-patience-is-about-to-be-rewarded/" rel="external nofollow">http://wombatsports.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/an-open-letter-to-invicta-fighters-and-fans-your-patience-is-about-to-be-rewarded/</a><p> </p><p> I almost would've written them off as dead. Apparently signing deals isn't as easy as in WMMA. I always go for short-term deals there as - when concluded in a positive way - open the market for better deals. The failure to trust in the succes of short-term deals imo is not a real show of confidence.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I know they need to keep their name out there or maybe folks will forget about them, but isn't this just another in a long line of Invicta announcements about an announcement coming soon... I really hope they have a deal in the works but it is getting frustrating playing the waiting game (must be extremely frustrating for the fighters who haven't managed to find fights elsewhere while they wait).</p>

[Blackman]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jingo" data-cite="Jingo" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>must be extremely frustrating for the fighters who haven't managed to find fights elsewhere while they wait.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Exactly. A lot of fans crapped on them for this. You act like you're the go-to platform for women's MMA, the women get excited and sign, and a year later have fought less than they would've elsewhere. Under better circumstances, surely, but less. And apparently, it's all for some minor changes to a deal. I wonder how complex the situation is: they're losing exposure and will be less marketable for the TV companies the longer it goes on, and they won't gain anything from time. What could be gained from waiting? I wonder. But then again, I'm pretty far from a business person. In fact, I'd be the complete opposite. <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> edit: <a href="http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/6/5/5784496/ufc-inks-distribution-deal-of-all-invicta-events-for-fight-pass" rel="external nofollow">http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/6/5/5784496/ufc-inks-distribution-deal-of-all-invicta-events-for-fight-pass</a></p><p> </p><p> In WMMA-terms, I'd say they've been 'bought' by UFC, but it's probably more complex than that.</p>

[Blackman]

Gotta give it up to Hall for fighting through a broken toe with the bone sticking out. Jezus...

 

As for Rousey: It's too bad contingency has her winning these fights in a much more spectacular fashion than she should. She'll go into the history books as the best one forever and that's a pity as I'm sure there'll be someone better in a couple of years. But she'll be long gone by then. Not that I'm critisizing her: she's really good. I wouldn't be able to name someone better at 135, and she did beat her last challenger in less time it took me to write this post, so yeah... Cat Albert should get another shot soon. She's had too much bad luck in the recent past to be cheated out of her earned opportunity for life.

 

And it took this fight to show me Weidman is for real. For an 'untrained eye' like mine, the Silva fights were more about situational factors/injuries. This was just domination. Well, for the first 3 rounds.

[Blackman]

Seems like Invicta finally rose from obscurity, but for such a long abscence, I'm not really excited about the card. As UFC now somehow controls it, we obviously see a lot of "TUF" women on it. Where are the Invicta homegrowns? And where's frickin' Cyborg? She was supposed to headline with Gomez? Now Gomez is fighting Evinger. No offense, but that will just be another slaughter. Colour me disappointed, unless the event is going to be a monthly thing. But if this will be the norm, the promotion will slowly get choked out by UFC until it's just a feeder league.

[Capelli King]

it seems the UFC is buying everything these days

[Blackman]

*edits the WMMA3 profile for Dana White to 'Megalomaniac'*

 

I almost forgot about TUF20. Fans are sceptical about the all-female season, but look at this:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C1poZIF6dk

 

The comments on the video are hilarious (though I guess somewhat hurtful), and so was the segment. I don't really get why fans would critisize Ariel. He's awesome. What do they expect? Questions about how they fight? What their approach is going into the camp? How they'll behave socially? Who cares? Fans will see some of that on the show, and people will have forgotten answers to significant questions by the time it airs. The purpose of the segment is to garner interest by exposure of the cast, and that's exactly what it does. Well it won me over as a viewer for sure. Seems like an interesting lot. That Herrig seems a little crazy, and her history with Clark might give some fireworks in the house. For the winner, I'd pick Ward or Calderwood, but it could be anyone.

 

And 3:00-3:20 had me going "aww, that's so cute" (and I rarely, rarely do that).

 

As for the UFC: Cerrone is on a run to become one of the ultimate fan favorites of this era.

[i effin rule]

As to my understanding, Zuffa doesn't own any part of Invicta, they are just providing a network to air their shows. They're also looking for deals with wrestling (no pro wrestling) and Metamoris.

[Blackman]

Chasing after Chael? Or just fanatics of Bravo, Gracie, and the likes? And what are their 'wrestling' deals then? Recruitment deals or something to allow easy acces to the UFC? Send some of their contracted fighters to the events? Or are they planning to set up another RPW/Real Pro Wrestling? That was actually quite cool to watch. It's nice of them to promote jiu jitsu and wrestling. Now let's see them reach out to boxing. Ow wait, they did. That Rousey vs Mayweather thing is a joke to get publicity right?

[i effin rule]

Chasing after Chael? Or just fanatics of Bravo, Gracie, and the likes? And what are their 'wrestling' deals then? Recruitment deals or something to allow easy acces to the UFC? Send some of their contracted fighters to the events? Or are they planning to set up another RPW/Real Pro Wrestling? That was actually quite cool to watch. It's nice of them to promote jiu jitsu and wrestling. Now let's see them reach out to boxing. Ow wait, they did. That Rousey vs Mayweather thing is a joke to get publicity right?

 

UFC fighters have been competing and commentating for Metamoris for a while now. I think they just want to treat fight pass like a real network. You stand to make more money by offering different combat sport. Win/Win for everyone. UFC will get new subscribers who are just looking to watch Metamoris or Grapplers Quest, meanwhile people who subscribe for UFC are likely to tune in as well. Wouldn't surprise me at all if they added RFA or other small companies with whom they have a good working relationship with.

[Kingster]

As to my understanding, Zuffa doesn't own any part of Invicta, they are just providing a network to air their shows. They're also looking for deals with wrestling (no pro wrestling) and Metamoris.

 

Exactly, Zuffa doesn't own them. How much influence they have on the Invicta shows remains to be seen and I wouldn't be surprised if they had some kind of influence as part of the Fight Pass deal. Obviously, the UFC needs some women for their bantamweight and strawweight division, so it makes perfect sense for both companies.

 

it seems the UFC is buying everything these days

 

Again, they haven't bought Invicta. And remember: If Zuffa would want to buy Invicta, Shannon Knapp would still have to agree. So, just saying "the UFC is buying everything" is only half of the story.

[LoganRodzen]

I won some tickets on a radio show this morning to a UFC show here in Bangor, ME on August 16th (first time coming to Maine). I've never really watched MMA or been interested in it. Seems like it'll be a fun night of fights though (from what I see on the UFC site).

[fullMETAL]

Anybody catch UFC On FOX this past Saturday?

[Blackman]

Didn't watch all of UFC programming, but so far the general matchups have been relatively lackluster in comparison with earlier. Good thing is they're churning out events, but UFC 177 had a really weak card from my perspective (which is that of a casual UFC fan, not an MMA fan). I didn't know anybody. I barely knew TJ. This is all fine for a TV show, but the latest TV shows had better cards than this one. Of course this is also circumstantial/contingency playing a part, but still...

 

For september, aside from Nelson vs Hunt I'm actually looking forward to Tate and Zingano's matches the most. I like Mousasi and Overeem, but the matchups aren't that exciting to me, and Mighty Mouse's title fight doesn't interest me at all (who is he fighting again?).

 

I just hope there's a feature in WMMA4 that keeps up with the bantamweight strike output, as that main event was full of superflurries.

[Blackman]

Watched TUF20 and they supposedly 'ranked' the fighters. What a lame excuse to stage 'Herrig vs Clark II' and 'Ward vs Penne II'. But boy does it get people excited about the season.

 

Too bad they always show spoilers at the beginning of the first episode. Apparently there's going to be some drama involved.

[Blackman]

Wow, the Japan card has Sexiyama and Gomi, which has me even more excited than Rin Nakai, who - based on my perception - isn't all that in the cage.