UFC - Ultimate Fighting Championship

[Nash Diesel]

Is it just me or is the UFC in dire need of a fight to reignite interest in the sport? Really doesn't feel like there's big hype for the next few events despite some big names in big fights. Too many boring fighters ranked? Poor promotion? Poor matchmaking? For me the 'champ champ' era has diluted actual title fights as it seems that is more of an aim for the champions than setting records at their own weight class.

Too many fighters, too many fights.

Ultimately I think it's just we're getting older. We have too much going on these days. You talk to my 23 year old son he'll completely disagree with everything here. He can't get enough and could probably rattle off 10 fights that need to happen that I'd be like, who the fuck are these people? I feel like I'm just a super casual at this stage in my fandom. I was mor excited this weekend to see Carla Esparza v. Tecia (Torres) Pennington, Wonderboy, and Ryan Spann v. OSP than I was the majority of the card. I gave zero fucks about the main card aside from Alex and Aldo.

That Aldo fight is a shining example of how shit Shelby and Maynard are at matchmaking. Imagine having a 38 year old all time great and booking him at altitude against a no name grinder. Cruz, Garbrandt, Cejudo, Figueiredo. Nah, Mario Bautista. Great job guys.

We can't blame that on the UFC matchmaking when that whole card was littered with bullshit. The judging was atrocious. Aldo should've won that fight and we wouldn't even having this convo.

[Fanny Batter]

Holding against the fence is akin to clinching in boxing, if you're not fighting the legs it should be separated after 10 seconds max. And a point for continued stalling like in PRIDE. Mario exploited a crappy loophole in the rules, yet still shouldn't have won the decision.

I guess you're right about the age thing. I remember getting hyped for various GSP vs. wrestler/grapplers title fights when they were all GSP dominance. Patrick Cote challenging for a belt after a split decision against a recently returned Almeida. The 4 week gaps between fights and how new it was helped. The shine's gone.

Promotion is a big thing too though. Dana White has only become a bigger fucking idiot over time, and holds too much power over the MAGA side of the fan base's views of fights and fighters. To the point of sabotage really. No reason Pereira vs. Ankalaev shouldn't be a mega fight at this point, but unless Ank murders Rakic dead they'll sleepwalk into it. He'll be unbeaten in 13 if he wins! But he's 'boring'. Josh Koscheck was boring. Ben Henderson was boring. They got off their arses and promoted them.

[Hero!]

Too many fighters, too many fights.

Ultimately I think it's just we're getting older. We have too much going on these days. You talk to my 23 year old son he'll completely disagree with everything here. He can't get enough and could probably rattle off 10 fights that need to happen that I'd be like, who the fuck are these people? I feel like I'm just a super casual at this stage in my fandom. I was mor excited this weekend to see Carla Esparza v. Tecia (Torres) Pennington, Wonderboy, and Ryan Spann v. OSP than I was the majority of the card. I gave zero fucks about the main card aside from Alex and Aldo.



We can't blame that on the UFC matchmaking when that whole card was littered with bullshit. The judging was atrocious. Aldo should've won that fight and we wouldn't even having this convo.

youre 100% right about the age thing. This younger generation are all about it right now. It’s actually funny that WWE is hot again too because I have a lot of younger cousins and nephews who are super into both.

[Nash Diesel]

Holding against the fence is akin to clinching in boxing, if you're not fighting the legs it should be separated after 10 seconds max. And a point for continued stalling like in PRIDE. Mario exploited a crappy loophole in the rules, yet still shouldn't have won the decision.

I guess you're right about the age thing. I remember getting hyped for various GSP vs. wrestler/grapplers title fights when they were all GSP dominance. Patrick Cote challenging for a belt after a split decision against a recently returned Almeida. The 4 week gaps between fights and how new it was helped. The shine's gone.

Promotion is a big thing too though. Dana White has only become a bigger fucking idiot over time, and holds too much power over the MAGA side of the fan base's views of fights and fighters. To the point of sabotage really. No reason Pereira vs. Ankalaev shouldn't be a mega fight at this point, but unless Ank murders Rakic dead they'll sleepwalk into it. He'll be unbeaten in 13 if he wins! But he's 'boring'. Josh Koscheck was boring. Ben Henderson was boring. They got off their arses and promoted them.

IDK if those 2 examples you used at the end were the best. I've never heard anyone in 10-15 years call Benson Henderson boring. Koscheck maybe a few fights. Now if you had said Jon Fitch....Koscheck had a personality, Benson as well. I honestly don't think the approach to promoting people has changed. The UFC never went out of their way to make a boring guy like Fitch or Travis Lutter someone we should honestly care about. It was who was they were fighting, and the top guys always had an aura about them, nothing manufactured.

Too many fighters, people can focus like they used to unless A-the UFC is backing them and B-the UFC is only backing them because they're bringing people in. Even then, very few are getting to that elite level. What helps now v say in 2010 is that the UFC has a much larger international presence especially when it comes to Russian fighters and Muslim fighters. You can be a boring as fuck Russian and still have a huge fanbase, just usually not in the West lol.

youre 100% right about the age thing. This younger generation are all about it right now. It’s actually funny that WWE is hot again too because I have a lot of younger cousins and nephews who are super into both.

There are people 10 years older than me that used to watch MMA when it was the Lesnar era so to speak and once he left they were like, naw. And I remember my boss being like, there's too many fighters I can't keep up. That was back in the 1 ppv maybe 1 Fight Night a month era. My boss just found out about Alex Perreria this weekend and again he was very much a fan of the days of Lesnar, Anderson Silva, etc.

[Hero!]

Social media plays a huge part in a fighters popularity now too. Poatan has a killer social media team and so does Sean Strickland, so guess what, those guys are very popular with younger ufc fans.

I also can’t get enough of Dana clowning on Tito all over IG. It tickles my titties just right.

[Nash Diesel]

You have to put yourself out there in some way shape or form on social media unless you're just an absolute killer. That's how my boss found out about Poatan. Saw a highlight reel of the Khalil fight then saw another one of all his MMA finishes. Now he's interested in this guy's next fight after not giving two shits about MMA probably since UFC 200 when Lesnar last fought lol.


I think the people who are fans of Sean Strickland need to be watched by the FBI.

[Tyson]

I also can’t get enough of Dana clowning on Tito all over IG. It tickles my titties just right.

As one of “the old guys” who peaced out after GSP retired, what’s the story behind this? Why did MAGA White turn on one of his OG cash cows?

[Nash Diesel]

As one of “the old guys” who peaced out after GSP retired, what’s the story behind this? Why did MAGA White turn on one of his OG cash cows?

They're beef goes back probably 20 years. I believe there was a fallout when Chuck was next to fight Tito and Tito refused to fight his "friend" and then said he would for more money. Kind of the typical fallout Dana has with people. Not saying Dana was in the wrong here but I'm almost positive this all stems from the Chuck fight.

[Hero!]

They're beef goes back probably 20 years. I believe there was a fallout when Chuck was next to fight Tito and Tito refused to fight his "friend" and then said he would for more money. Kind of the typical fallout Dana has with people. Not saying Dana was in the wrong here but I'm almost positive this all stems from the Chuck fight.

their beefing started before the Liddell fight, but I remember hearing somewhere that Dana paid Chuck a fat bonus for beating Tito and he has the pair of shorts that Chuck wore in that fight hanging in his office (allegedly)

[Hero!]

Do any of you watch karate combat? I’ve been following it a bit lately. Poatan’s sister fought last night and won with the trademark Pereira left hook.

[Nash Diesel]

their beefing started before the Liddell fight, but I remember hearing somewhere that Dana paid Chuck a fat bonus for beating Tito and he has the pair of shorts that Chuck wore in that fight hanging in his office (allegedly)

That's what I'm saying. Their fallout happened around the time Chuck was next in line to fight Tito. I'm not 100% sure if Dana was still managing both of them or just Chuck at this time. I'll say this, people think Dana is a prick go listen to him back when he had hair and 5 teeth. Dude reminded me of Tarantino in Pulp Fiction for some reason when he talked.

I'll never understand why Dana has/had beef with so many of the guys from the transitional period in the early 2000's. Guys that were the draws like Couture, Frank Shamrock, Coleman, throw Tito in there.

[Fanny Batter]

Felt like a big passing of the guard that show. Holloway feels like the last of the pre-fight kit era guys to get knocked out. Sad to see but Ilia is for real. Chimaev got it done quickly and surely skips Strickland for a title shot - Umar, Topuria, Islam (1 loss), Shavkat, Chimaev, either of Poatan/Ankalaev and Jones would be the best line up of champions in forever if the chips fall right over the next few months.

Thinking though, Max up to 155 has some fun ones. Do Bronx 2, Chandler, Hooker, Moicano, Fiziev, Paddy, Conor 2 if he gets his arse in gear. He beats most of them too.

[Nash Diesel]

Felt like a big passing of the guard that show. Holloway feels like the last of the pre-fight kit era guys to get knocked out. Sad to see but Ilia is for real. Chimaev got it done quickly and surely skips Strickland for a title shot - Umar, Topuria, Islam (1 loss), Shavkat, Chimaev, either of Poatan/Ankalaev and Jones would be the best line up of champions in forever if the chips fall right over the next few months.

Thinking though, Max up to 155 has some fun ones. Do Bronx 2, Chandler, Hooker, Moicano, Fiziev, Paddy, Conor 2 if he gets his arse in gear. He beats most of them too.

Definitely felt like as you said a passing of the guard. Fight reminded me of Usman/Edwards where Usman was winning and then boom, headkick. Max has literally done it all and then some at 145. It's time to really make a commitment to 155. He showed he can hang with a top 5 guy and knock him the fuck out. You can hear the battle scars in his voice though. Time stop cutting so much weight, fight smarter, and make a run at the 155 title.

I wouldn't be shocked if Strickland doesn't wind up getting the rematch and we get DDP v. Khamzat especially when you factor in Khamzat has been positioned for a title shot in 2 divisions almost since day one.

[Bert]

TNT sports posted the meme poster on Instagram. Hilarious. Someone's getting fired.

[Fanny Batter]

TNT sports posted the meme poster on Instagram. Hilarious. Someone's getting fired.

Never a more accurate poster. It'd be an all time great sporting moment in terms of shafting a promoter if Stipe knocks him out and retires, given his loss to Francis. Jones matches Ngannou's best two wins and regardless of whether he retires after they can play that narrative. Not gonna happen though, Miocic is old and checked out. Glad he's getting paid though. Also, what a crappy home stretch for Jones - three mediocre light heavyweight title defences, 3 years off, becoming the first heavyweight in nearly 2 decades to not defeat the reigning champion to win the title, another 2 years off, then beating a 42 year old who hasn't fought since PPV's were in the Apex, coming off a devastating KO. He may be the best ever, but it's everything up to 2018 that determines that.

Overall it's one of the weaker MSG cards. Remember when they used to STACK these things? I guess the October Abu Dhabi shows have taken a bit from them.

[Bert]

Jones said he wants to fight Alex Periera.

[Fanny Batter]

I'd rather it at light heavyweight then, and free up Aspinall. I'll be surprised if Jones doesn't vacate, then Aspinall vs. Gane for the now 'undisputed' title fills the main event of 310 now Belal is out. Tom's apparently back up here, and Cyril is already on the card.

[Nash Diesel]

It just shows how great a career Jones has had. Even with all his bullshit, the start-stop path he's been on and still nobody has come close to what he's done at LHW and then to just hop off the couch and sub the #1 ranked HW on the roster like it was nothing....Gane fought Ngannou ffs and when he looked at Jones he was like "Fuck, fat Jones is going to kill me isn't he?"

I wouldn't mind seeing Jones v. Aspinall but Jones made a great point. He beats Aspinall so what? It does nothing really for his career other than solidify what most already know-he's the GOAT. The same could be said if he beats Alex, but I think more fans would rather see that fight than Aspinall v. Jones. Alex is the "It" fighter right now. Aspinall-for all the dominance he's still just some guy at HW the die hards like us know but that's about it. I don't see Aspinall hanging out with Roman Reigns.

[Bert]

[Hero!]

Mikey Musumeci has signed to UFC Fight Pass with on a “BJJ exclusive” contract. Signing Mikey is huge if they’re ready to take a BJJ/grappling division seriously.

if you’re not familiar with Mikey, he’s fucking awesome. ONE fucked him over recently for missing weight after taking a fight on short notice. I hope Dana starts putting more into Fight Pass.

[Bert]

Jon Jones refused an interview with the guy from TNT Sports because he's friendly with Aspinall apparently.
https://youtube.com/shorts/5pDsjeYORH0

[Bert]

Jon Jones says he only wants the Alex Periera fight or he's done. Obviously Stipe looked slow but I didn't think Jones looked amazing either. He didn't look like the same guy that subbed Gane in round 1. I wish he'd take the fight with Aspinall.

[Fanny Batter]

Shame we'll never see him lose. One of the biggest arseholes in the sport's history. Maybe the biggest outside the rapists and murderers. A real scumbag. Unbelievable fighter though.

[Bert]

I wanted to do a troll job after he did the Trump dance about how he's the greatest human being but I just don't have the heart for it.

[Nash Diesel]

Shame we'll never see him lose. One of the biggest arseholes in the sport's history. Maybe the biggest outside the rapists and murderers. A real scumbag. Unbelievable fighter though.

I think that's always going to be a problem for some fans. I don't think people care who he loses to as long as he loses. Some fans just do not like success on that level. GSP, Anderson Silva, Khabib, Jones....Fuck even when some of those guys had lost fights it still wasn't good enough. But guys like McGregor and Jones, they're complete fucking idiots but you look at their bank account and/or their record and you're like....but God damn they're fun to watch and in Jones' case the best of all time. Nobody in this sport gets on the Mt Rushmore without being fuckin weird.

I'm still not 100% convinced he won't fight Tom Aspinall. Again the main reason it feels like people wanted that fight is because they want to see Jones lose. If Jones beats Tom people will be like "Eh it's HW Tom was overrated" or something stupid.

[Fanny Batter]

Great card for the hardcores tonight, no real star power but a quality mix of well matched action fights, high stakes battles and veterans sprinkled throughout.

Main event should be crazy. Pantoja always brings it and Asakura is a real threat on the feet. Flyweight doesn't get many plaudits but it's rare (Mokaev vs. Kape) that you get a bad fight when the top fighters throw down. KKF, Moreno, Royval and Pantoja are all pretty much appointment viewing and Asakura brings that potential too. I think Pantoja eventually takes over after a FOTY level first couple of rounds.

Shavkat vs. Garry feels a bit like that Lyota Machida vs. Thiago Silva match from way back when. Two unbeaten guys on a big card with the winner a likely favourite against the champion. I've got Shavkat, but it's closer than the odds suggest. Garry is good but Rakhmanov just looks inevitable. Gets the finish in the middle rounds.

Gane vs. Volkov 2 is a clear #1 contenders fight for Aspinall. I think a Volk win probably forces Dana's hand to pay Jones, as Tom already beat him handedly and there's no real interesting fight for him other than that. Aspinall vs. Gane would at least be a legit interesting fight. I've got Volkov too as I think Gane is a little checked out and Volk is coming into form. Hurts him in an exchange and stays ahead.

Mitchell vs. Gracie is interesting enough given Gracie should be the better grappler. Mitchell likely can stall him out enough and possibly finish him late with his cardio. Looks to me a fight to keep Mitchell relevant, and fair enough he is an entertaining guy. A bit of a moron, but entertaining.

Speaking of appointment viewing, Nate The Train vs. Korean Superboy! Guaranteed fireworks for however long it lasts. Landwehr has star potential as a fringe contender if they match him right, he won't win the belt but he'll bring the entertainment. Got him by knockout after surviving a near finish or two.

Prelim headliner is Lionheart vs. Dom Reyes. Lionheart looks checked out so Reyes gets another win on his rehab tour. Hurts him to the body early and gets the finish.

Luque vs. Gorimbo should be another feisty one. Luque was another can't miss fighter until Geoff Neal nearly killed him. We'll see what he has left against Gorimbo, who is on a 4 fight win streak on a level below Luque's competition. I think you favour the fresher fighter but would be nice to see Luque turn back the clock.

Evloev vs. Sterling. Yes it should be a feature attraction given the winner is absolutely knocking on the door for a title shot, but I understand the placement. These two don't have many memorable fights. They rarely finish (though that's harsh on Sterling given his level of competition) and it seems to be made more to eliminate the loser than elevate the winner. Diego Lopes is getting the promotional weight and Evloev beat him. I expect a split decision either way but leaning Ajjo. If either looks spectacular it will be such a shock that they might jump the queue, but I can't see it.

Battle vs. Brown is a banger. Both come to scrap. Battle's last fight was excellent. Brown has long been a nearly man but has some good wins. Winner likely gets a fun one at welterweight. Leaning Brown based on level of competition.

Weidman vs. Anders is a fun one. Hopefully Chris turns back the clock and wins but I've seen enough to favour Anders in a good scrap on points.

Durden vs. Van is a banger at flyweight. Guaranteed fireworks again. I've got Van but he got upset last time so may be slightly gunshy.

Chiesa vs. Griffin doesn't seem like it'll be much fun but you never know with Chiesa. If he gets his back it's a wrap. For that reason I favour him as I don't think Griffin has the ammo to keep him off.

Guida vs. Hooper - The Carpenter is still around! Seems a lay up for Hooper who has started to put it together, and Clay felt like a relic from an old sport nearly 10 years ago. First round finish, but Clay had a hell of a career. Man beat Josh Thomson, Nate Diaz, Anthony Pettis, Takanori Gomi, Rafael dos Anjos and BJ Penn. Regardless of timing, that's an amazing resume. He's also going to lose for the NINETEENTH time in the octagon, so very erratic.

Kennedy Nzechukwu gets another mid test at heavyweight that I expect him to pass. Low level of that division is pathetic.

311 is awesome too in January. I've pretty much settled into mainly just watching the PPV's nowadays, unless I get time on a Sunday morning to skim through a Fight Night. PPV's are generally stacked though.

[Bert]

Bryan Battle was 4 pounds over weight. Highly unprofessional.

Great write up though, FB.

I was probably going to watch TV with my wife before the main card starts but now you have me wanting to watch the prelims too.