The Official MMA Discussion Thread

[Blackman]

https://www.ufc.com/news/ufc-fight-pass-present-quintet-ultra

 

What a cool idea. I've done a similar thing before in WMMA5 and it's a nice breath of fresh air. However, you can't do it with main eventers as it'll screw up your flow. It's a great way to keep older and declinging workers relevant, especially in the game given chins deteriorate really fast and they're pretty much useless in regular fights.

 

The whole survival concept is very interesting, though it's probably not a good idea. I like it a lot in pro wrestling.

[Jaysin]

In today's ridiculous news, Dana White is securing funding to have UFC shows on a private island...

[shawn michaels]

In today's ridiculous news, Dana White is securing funding to have UFC shows on a private island...

 

Sounds about right for Dana White.

[Blackman]

In today's ridiculous news, Dana White is securing funding to have UFC shows on a private island...

 

Don't they have some sort of performance center / training center where they can host it? TUF had a legit cage, right?

 

If it's an island, might as well host a battle royal.

 

Is it thàt ridiculous, really? It he has everyone tested and secures their trip home, what's the problem? This isn't pro wrestling. You really have no need for a crowd at MMA events.

[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>Don't they have some sort of performance center / training center where they can host it? TUF had a legit cage, right?<p> </p><p> If it's an island, might as well host a battle royal. <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> Is it thàt ridiculous, really? It he has everyone tested and secures their trip home, what's the problem? This isn't pro wrestling. You really have no need for a crowd at MMA events.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I worked what I'm fairly sure was the last major event in the western world a few weeks back. It was supposed to take place a day before UFC London in a smaller part of the same venue. UFC cancelled on Saturday night/Sunday morning. On Monday the venue closed its doors. By Monday night we'd secured a private venue at the other end of the country to hold the fights (and one fight featuring guys who were supposed to fight on the UFC). </p><p> </p><p> From a commentator's point of view it was really weird, and more difficult than normal without the crowd. Looks like our next few events will also be behind closed doors though so I'd better get used to it! </p><p> </p><p> Also, hello everyone, it's been a few years :-p</p>

[brashleyholland]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="26660" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>In today's ridiculous news, Dana White is securing funding to have UFC shows on a private island...</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It's supposed to be at Tachi Palace, which would make loads of sense (UFC have loads of old links there and it's tribal ground so the CSAC can't touch it)...but the world is beyond parody at the moment so a private island guarded by robot sharks seems like a reasonable alternative.</p>

[Blackman]

Hey brashley, long time no see. You here for the TEW hype or just strolling? <span class="ipsEmoji">😎</span>

[BHK1978]

Also, hello everyone, it's been a few years :-p

 

Hey brashley, long time no see. You here for the TEW hype or just strolling? 😎

 

Not so much a comment on what is being talked about, but I wanted to echo what Blackman said. I cannot recall the last time I saw you posting in here. Glad to see you are still doing commentary.

[Blackman]

Seems like someone talked Dana into postponing everything. In a way, I get it, as all other sports either were forced to shut down or did it on their own. He saw opportunity and I guess he will get credit for that from a lot of people. Maybe that's what he was after all along: position themselves as the company that "wanted to" before being forced to shut down.

 

@brashley: What do you think would be the financial loss if they would hold some condensed event? Imo it would be perfectly safe if everyone involved is tested properly. But financially it would be a big gamble. You pay - what - 30 people + the fighters that live nearby, fly them over, etc.

[brashleyholland]

Hey brashley, long time no see. You here for the TEW hype or just strolling? 😎

 

Hello mate! Been checking in on TEW on the sly... got another month or two off work by the looks of things so I thought I'd stop by and pick it up Hope you're well!

[brashleyholland]

Not so much a comment on what is being talked about, but I wanted to echo what Blackman said. I cannot recall the last time I saw you posting in here. Glad to see you are still doing commentary.

 

Yeah it's been a while man... Probably around when WMMA4 launched I think!

 

Still commentating...Cage Warriors (the main company I work for) are now one of the UFC's affiliate promotions on UFC Fight Pass, which is pretty cool. I also got to call UFC London last year, and the BMF title fight between Diaz and Masvidal for BBC Radio/Online. I run a regional promotion in the north of England with some friends too, about to celebrate 9 years in business. Keeping busy!

 

Hope you're good!

[brashleyholland]

Seems like someone talked Dana into postponing everything. In a way, I get it, as all other sports either were forced to shut down or did it on their own. He saw opportunity and I guess he will get credit for that from a lot of people. Maybe that's what he was after all along: position themselves as the company that "wanted to" before being forced to shut down.

 

@brashley: What do you think would be the financial loss if they would hold some condensed event? Imo it would be perfectly safe if everyone involved is tested properly. But financially it would be a big gamble. You pay - what - 30 people + the fighters that live nearby, fly them over, etc.

 

Simple answer: UFC 248 gate was 15K for $2.7m dollars. UFC on ESPN 6 was 12k for $1.1m. Fight Night 169 was 7k for $400,000. So those are the dollar amounts they're losing for different levels of show.

 

The problem is that they have a complicated broadcast deal with ESPN now. In the US, you can only get UFC PPV if you subscribe to ESPN+ first. So you pay a yearly fee ($5pcm), *PLUS* PPV cost. Obviously this has sent PPV buys into the basement, so ESPN compensates them with a flat fee... However, that flat fee is only paid in full if the UFC meets certain programming commitments, i.e. 40 or so events per year over all ESPN platforms.

 

So the real answer is, we don't know. They're going to try and do 40 live events this year still, to reach that quota. The first bunch will likely be behind closed doors though, so no gate. It may end up being their worst year financially in the past decade.

 

FYI - Cage Warriors have secured a secret, private venue for when the restrictions on travel are eased over here, so we'll likely be doing audience-free shows on Fight Pass before we get back to normal. I wrote about our last show the day before the lockdown here if you're interested.

 

https://www.battlesoflondon.com/features/2020/3/28/the-old-worlds-final-cage-fight

 

Also, here's the two best prelim fights from that event, if anyone needs to scratch their MMA itch!

 

 

[Blackman]

Thanks for explaining that, and good to see you're doing so well! Those were indeed entertaining fights.

[Blackman]

<p>Apparently Dana is stating that today's PPV is outperforming McGregor cards, but I'm... not feeling it? Is it that people are desperate for sports shows? He's saying merch has doubled since last year, which was kind of a bum year in MMA imo but still...</p><p> </p><p>

Anyhow: I'm not really hyped for MMA atm.</p>

[brashleyholland]

I feel like I should check in once a year for the rest of my life to keep the MMA thread alive

 

So the MMA world looks like it *might* be getting back to normal soon. The UFC are selling tickets for the April PPV event, so that's a start!

 

In the UK most close contact sport is still banned, but the company I work for - Cage Warriors - was able to achieve 'elite athlete' status with the UK Government. We've not been able to run shows as normal, but we worked with UFC Fight Pass to put on three 'Trilogy' events in Sept, Dec and most recently last week - Three events on three consecutive nights from within a Covid-secure bubble.

 

Incredibly stressful, prepping for three nights in a row. Plus having to pass Covid tests to even be allowed into the bubble, get three lots of fighters medically cleared and weighed-in etc. Draining too, but so worth it in the end.

 

We're doing another one in June, potentially our last as restrictions are lifted, and it's looking like we may be able to have fans in attendance as well, which will be awesome.

 

Oooh, and I called the Conor McGregor fight for the BBC in January as well, which was a bucket list item of mine!

 

Hope everyone is well!

[Adam Ryland]

Congratulations on the McGregor fight, that's fantastic - a big feather in your cap, for sure.

[Blackman]

Wow, it's been over two years since the thread has seen any life. Anyone on the boards who still follows UFC, let alone Bellator or ONE or others?

I've kind of lost interest when the big stars retired, but now with McGregor returning (allegedly for TUF) I might rekindle my interest. Problem is you can't watch it without a creditcard, unlike WWE. Bit of a bummer. Maybe the 'merger' will change that.

[FellaLibby]

I was today years old when I discovered this thread. Honestly I've been out of the MMA loop for awhile, with UFC having almost professional wrestling angles to hype up matchups really soured it for me.

[Ernsant]

I just discovered MMA during pandemy but I have seen so many people saying classic MMA was different, so I whonder which things have changed that make the sport not feel the same way? 

[The Swanton825]

On 6/2/2023 at 1:48 AM, Ernsant said:

I just discovered MMA during pandemy but I have seen so many people saying classic MMA was different, so I whonder which things have changed that make the sport not feel the same way? 

I think it depends on which era you're talking about when discussing "classic" MMA. You've got those who are nostalgic for the borderline bloodsport that the original Ultimate Fighting Championship tournaments were with no weight classes and no standardized gear. Then there's the ones who preferred it feeling like a legit sport, but were turned off by the increase in reality TV drama brought on by the Ultimate Fighter, the PRIDE fans who miss that puroresu-inspired presentation and squared circle, the ones who didn't mind that but drew the line at Conor McGregor's pro wrestling heel antics, the ones who got mad about women's MMA becoming more prominent, it just goes on and on. Some day people will be nostalgic for this era of MMA in the exact same way.

And that's just the surface level stuff! Fact is that a lot of early UFC lacked any sort of competitive parity. More often that not, grapplers won the second the fight went to the ground because the idea of being disciplined in both a striking and grappling art wasn't part of the basic skillset back then.

Edited June 3, 2023 by The Swanton825