UFC / MMA

Frye

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="573609" data-time="1461114785">
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Unlike many others I respect Dana White immensely, so I'm sure there is more to it than what is being published.
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I've been a supporter of his generally but I think the Reebok deal was probably the turning point for me.

Unco

Ha, the UFC wishes adding Jon Jones would be a case of "Conor Who?" but in reality, that's like dropping the All Blacks and replacing them with South Africa. Nowhere near as popular, likeable or entertaining.
 
Also, fuck, Khabib ended up fighting on the Fox card? I lost all interest in that show once Ferguson pulled out and it didn't sound like they were going to find a replacement but I guess they found a jobber to throw around. He may not get too many finishes but it's fun watching him throw his opponents around the octagon like rag dolls.

MiketheSnow

Whichever way you look at it that week is going to be huge.
 
UFC 200
Fury v Klitschko
 
And by the looks of it Joshua v an undisclosed at this time opponent
 
Bring it :)

scruffy-lookin

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="573672" data-time="1461140645">
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I've been a supporter of his generally but I think the Reebok deal was probably the turning point for me.
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I'm not anti-Dana - I think what he and the Fretitta's have done taking the sport from the far fringe to where it is today is amazing - but Dana is UFC-first and there are clearly some issues about how fighter pay and matchmaking work. It's crazy that there are guys fighting for the UFC earning 10K and 10K and while I can only guess at what the UFC grosses and have no real idea what its running costs are it does seem that the fighters are getting less as a percentage than athletes in other major sports. 
 
For the most part the way the UFC is run works out great for me as a fan but I see why a lot of fighters are dissatisfied with a systems that seems weighted against them. The UFC is experiencing a boom at the moment and it's because it has two stars who have been able to cross over with the mainstream audience this is the first time we've seen one of the new stars break from the company line and it was interesting to see how quickly Dana smacked Conor down. The UFC seems to be of the opinion that either Conor will fall into line or the loss of revenue at UFC 200 is worth the affect that giving into fighter demands would have on the future. 
 
Changing gears, looking forward to seeing Jon Jones fight OSP tomorrow. For those who don't like elbows on the ground, this may be one to skip. Solid main card. Pettis v Barboza has the potential to be a classic stand up war between two of the best kickers in the UFC. I always enjoy watching Demetrious Johnson fight and it will be interesting to see him against a bigger guy and to see whether Cejudo tries to use his wrestling offesively or whether he tries to out box Johnson.

MiketheSnow

Solid card for UFC 197
 
Mighty Mouse more than lived up to his name.
 
Jones was rusty but loosened up enough to show the Cormier rematch should be a cracker.

MajorRage

McGregor has tweeted that he's back on for UFC 200.
 
The thing about McGregor's rants is that he forgets very very quickly that he didnt take the massive business risks and put all the infrastructure in place for it. He's 3-4 knockouts away from being just another past-it fighter, UFC will go on with or without him. If you are going to take on the President/CEO, then you need to have a lot of things in place, which he just didn't have - or frankly, even come close to having.
 
Jones fight was a little dull - he completely destroyed him on the stat count, but there was little to get very excited about. It was certainly better for Jones that he didn't fight Courmier first up, I suspect he may have gotten beat. What was excellent though, in my opinion, is that the offical UFC broadcast had Cormier in the commentary box- and the guy was pretty bloody good actually. Well spoken, respectful and pointing out so many things in amongst Rogan's excitement. It was an excellent move that one.

janesill

As far as the upcoming UFC 200 isn concerned, DC said it best. He states that if fights under UFC 200 is not enough for you, then you are just a fan of Conor Mcgregor and not a fan of fighting.

MajorRage

Cormier vs Jones 2, Aldo Edgar, Tate Nunes, Velasquez Brown ...
 
That card doesn't need Conor McGregor.
 
I'm assuming that he will still fight for UFC though, just the wait is a little longer, and hence a bit more appetite from the fans. 
 
Dana White should have quoted Omar. If you come at the King, best not miss.

MiketheSnow

Think we may have seen the end of Arlovski's run to the top.
 
Overeem bided his time, took some good shots, and then sent out a sweet kick punch combo to finish Andre on his back with ground and pound.
 
Arlovski has always been my favourite fighter and had a very good stab at getting back to a title fight.
 
Overeem has certainly improved since he's been in the UFC.
 
He was calling a title shot in September against the winner of Werdum v Miocic.

MiketheSnow

Choice card at UFC 198
 
Hard, hard fought matches and some cracking finishes.

MajorRage

Miocic is tough as fuck. Even when running backwards gets one of the most pure clean knockouts that you'll see against Werdum.

MiketheSnow

Stat of the night from Goldberg, no HW Champ has gone more than 2 fights before losing his title.

MiketheSnow

UFC Fight Night 88
 
Decent card. Some hard fought wins.
 
Cracking main card bout, Almeida v Garbrandt

MiketheSnow

UFC 199
 
Reyes v Kim - both hard as fuck. 3 round skillful brawl.
Dariush v Vik - super knockout.
Ortega v Guida - Ortega left it late, but finished in style.
Henderson v Lombard - Hendo one of the toughest bastards out there.
Holloway v Lamas - Holloway unanimous decision. Looks better each outing.
Faber v Cruz - Cruz a worthy winner. Solid.
Bisping v Rockhold - Joe Rogan said it best 'HOLYYYY SHITTTT!'
 
Best card top to bottom for ages.

Unco

Holy shit Bisping. It wasn't so long ago that everyone seemed to think he'd be the best fighter to never get a title fight ever because he always stumbled at the very last hurdle but he lucked into this one through a Weidman injury and actually won the fucking thing. And on top of that, it was against Rockhold. Rockhold's ego killed him, just didn't seem to treat him seriously, so had very little head movement and since he does have a bit of a glass jaw, Bisping got one good one in and it was over. I'd comfortably bet on Rockhold in the third fight.
 
And lol Guida.
 
In other news, NOW UFC 200 is looking like a big card. Brock Lesnar's signed to fight on it. We're meant to find out his opponent on Tuesday our time (Monday in the US).
 
Dana still couldn't help from being the man-child he is though. The UFC banned Ariel Halwani and two other reporters "for life" for daring to do their jobs and report on the Lesnar story before the UFC announced it.

rotated

Kiwi Mark Hunt is supposed to be the opponent by all reports.

MajorRage

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MiketheSnow" data-cid="585243" data-time="1465141417">
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UFC 199
 
Reyes v Kim - both hard as fuck. 3 round skillful brawl.
Dariush v Vik - super knockout.
Ortega v Guida - Ortega left it late, but finished in style.
Henderson v Lombard - Hendo one of the toughest bastards out there.
Holloway v Lamas - Holloway unanimous decision. Looks better each outing.
Faber v Cruz - Cruz a worthy winner. Solid.
Bisping v Rockhold - Joe Rogan said it best 'HOLYYYY SHITTTT!'
 
Best card top to bottom for ages.
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I wasn't 100% sure I had heard that right! 
 
That result caught me by surprise, although maybe it shouldn't have. Rockhold was looking supremely confident on the way in, super relaxed, super chilled and from the get go just didn't really look into it. Maybe training for Weidman was just too different for Bisping?

MiketheSnow

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MajorRage" data-cid="585266" data-time="1465171258">
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I wasn't 100% sure I had heard that right! 
 
That result caught me by surprise, although maybe it shouldn't have. Rockhold was looking supremely confident on the way in, super relaxed, super chilled and from the get go just didn't really look into it. Maybe training for Weidman was just too different for Bisping?
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He said it himself. Underestimated Bisping's ability, especially the power in his punches.

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="585245" data-time="1465147018">
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Kiwi Mark Hunt is supposed to be the opponent by all reports.
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Turns out it's true. Huh. I can only guess that the WWE didn't know who Hunt was when they signed off on this because Lesnar really won't have much chance of making it out of the first round. His only chance is spending the entire fight on the ground but he's got to get close enough to do that first and he can't take a punch to save his life.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="585343" data-time="1465228915">
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Turns out it's true. Huh. I can only guess that the WWE didn't know who Hunt was when they signed off on this because Lesnar really won't have much chance of making it out of the first round. His only chance is spending the entire fight on the ground but he's got to get close enough to do that first and he can't take a punch to save his life.
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Yes and no. Brock and his crew are no dummies, they know who Hunt is and what danger he poses. There has probably never been a fight in the UFC with a bigger gulf in natural athleticism. You also have the factor of a guy coming back from a long layoff vs a guy who should have fallen of a cliff age wise 5-6 years ago, so could show up completely out of sorts at anytime.
 
Then again, Brock is largely about the money when making these moves and if the pay day for UFC200 is high enough (and with three more years guaranteed to run on a $4million plus WWE deal) he probably is willing to risk losing if that is the only way the deal can be done.
 
Either way this is the real main event of the show, at least in terms of driving interest and attention. Can't wait.

The Silver Fern

UFC / MMA