Official Mixed Martial Arts Thread

[angel]

Ferguson seems a bit of a nugget but he might upset a few people in that one.

[Yobo Ahoy]

It's the best, most legit fight the UFC can make in any division (apart from rematches and cross-division fights) at the moment, it needs to happen. I actually think Ferg has spoken a lot of sense, their recent records are very similar yet Khabib has fought on Fox and PPV yet Tony has mostly been on FS1 cards - I don't see why they shouldn't be on equal pay. And as for Dana saying fighters should stick to their contracts, pot/kettle/black springs to mind. 

 

Unrelated, it's been pretty funny watching people lose their shit at that relic Meryl Streep today. 

[Gotters]

If Ferguson truly believed he was the next big thing himself why did he sign such a bad contract ? Seems like he got some very bad advice or didn't believe his own hype

 

Its a great fight though and has been mentioned a couple of times as possibly headlining the first UFC card in Russia, which 209 isn't going to be.

[angel]

Yeah he's an idiot for signing a crap contract, but the UFC are also hopeless at promoting him. He's been on a tear but still ends up arguing over 200,000 dollars, which in any other US sport would be nothing. Rooney gets twice that over here per week. Its bullshit really, considering he pays for his camp, living expenses, tax etc and comes away with 100,000 per fight or whatever he's on, when he's fighting for a title.  The UFC probably spend more on a 10 second TV spot than they do on Ferguson's wages.

[schmojo]

If they can wait, Khabib vs Conor is the perfect first fight in Russia.

 

If Conor wins, the Russian fans will love him as a brash, fur-coated kingpin who backs up his talk. If Khabib wins, UFC becomes a phenomenon in Russia, and they have a new national hero. It's a great signal of intent towards the country form the UFC too.

[Gotters]

1 hour ago, angel said:

Yeah he's an idiot for signing a crap contract, but the UFC are also hopeless at promoting him. He's been on a tear but still ends up arguing over 200,000 dollars, which in any other US sport would be nothing. Rooney gets twice that over here per week. Its bullshit really, considering he pays for his camp, living expenses, tax etc and comes away with 100,000 per fight or whatever he's on, when he's fighting for a title.  The UFC probably spend more on a 10 second TV spot than they do on Ferguson's wages.

 

But the UFC have lots of fighters under contract and many fighters on a single card, and at this moment in time Ferguson doesn't carry a card by himself (very few do) - as a challenger he'd be expected to fight 2-3 times a year, he has sponsorships and possible FOTN etc bonuses on top of that.

 

He's getting up there in terms of deserving a bit more but still has to prove it, he's a fighter that people like to watch fight for sure, but is he one who they'd pay to watch, or is he just another 300-400k PPV fighter that the UFC can rustle up once a month whoever they stick out ?

 

Dana White mentioned that he thought he'd overpaid Khabib (but didn't elaborate as to why he had done so)

[Yobo Ahoy]

Fair points and I don't think Ferguson is substantially more of a draw than the rest of the middle pack (at the moment anyway, he's only headlined one FS1 event so far), but if the UFC are creating all these fake championships just to sell PPVs surely the fighters deserve a cut? 

[angel]

Where did Dana say he'd overpaid Khabib?

 

Of course if they let them keep their sponsors, a lot of this shit wouldnt be happening.

[Gotters]

He said it in one of the interviews he did after the Ferguson fight (when Ferguson was calling for parity to sign to fight him) but before the last big PPV, when he was trying to fill the void left by Ronda not doing any promo.

 

Haven't a clue which one as YouTube just recommends me a constant stream of Dana white stuff now as it knows I click on all of it

[Doomguy]

He's back!!!!...

 

...again.

 

BJ Penn version 9.8.01!!!! 

 

When he's motivated and fighting at sea level he's practically immortal. 

 

 

[Gotters]

wow, didn't realise who BJ was matched against - an old school 2y+ retiree coming back to take on one of the new breed, my money is on Rodriguez.

[McFly]

Its gonna be a great fight, its hard to pick BJ against Rodriguez whose so dynamic. The absolute beatings he took from Diaz, Edgar and Rory MacDonald in his last few fights were a far cry from his wins over Sanchez and um i cant think of any recent wins to mention.

 

EDIT: Holy shit 2010 against Matt Hughes was BJs last win according to wikipedia, 

Edited January 9, 2017 by McFly
Astonishment!

[skittles]

BJ Penn is shocking and an embarrassment. He needs to retire. I think he gets his ass whooped, again.

 

Surprised Ferguson hasn't taken Khabib up on his 200k offer. That's a lot of cash.

[angel]

That was never happening, fighters are alpha males (pardon the pun, not TAM), Ferguson would never accept charity and Khabib knew that anyway.

 

I agree, Penn loses hard.

[glb]

And your 209 main event is.... Woodley Vs Wonderboy 2.

 

Head says Woodley finishes it this time around, even though heart really wants to see Wonderboy get the strap.

[angel]

Saw last night on MMAfighting, I must admit it doesnt thrill me. I don't see it going all that differently either. With all of the build up previously, the wait, then this build up, it effectively ties up the division for a good 9 or 10 months. I'd like to have seen Maia get a shot personally.

[Yobo Ahoy]

I dunno, a draw is pretty much unheard of in UFC title fights, and it was pretty entertaining to boot. I do feel bad for Maia but they've been finding ways to avoid giving him a shot for years. Having said that, if he beats Lawler or Cerrone next they will really have no choice in the matter. 

[Gotters]

The new scoring guidance looks interesting, with instructions given more clearly on how to score 10-8 rounds now, meaning its expected that we'all see far more of them.

 

Not sure if this means better scoring or even more room for crazy results and post fight debate.

[schmojo]

I'm not big on title rematches, especially with worthy contenders in the wings, but Wonderboy/Woodley is about as valid as they get outside of an NC.

 

The problem is: if Wonderboy wins, and it's in any way close, they'll talk trilogy.

 

I'd be pretty happy with a blanket 'no title rematches unless it's an NC' rule.

[angel]

re: troilogy - if Woodley wins then we have Thompson in limbo, Thompson wins we get the trilogy.  I'd like to see Maia get the shot, put a BJJ clinic on Woodley, and sit astride the division like the last boss in a videogame. Lawler was a good but beatable champ, Woodley is too, but I want someone who strikes fear in challengers hearts. You go in there with Maia and you get wrapped up like you're in with a Boa Constrictor.  I think he'd make a good champ too, he speaks English, he's interesting. The UFC doesn't know what they have on their hands.

[glb]

If Woodley wins, Wonderboy rightly rejoins the huddle waiting in the wings. Then you've got the prospect of a title eliminator between Maia and Cerrone happening if Woodley retains, assuming Cowboy gets past Masvidal at the end of the month.

 

Only discounting Lawler from the mix-up as he's recently held the belt even though he's ranked #3. Although, Cowboy Lawler would be pure fireworks, both in build-up and the Octagon and Lawler Maia has intrigue in terms of the style contrast. Times like this I don't envy Dana and how he has to juggle rosters to keep fighters happy (well, all except Cowboy, he'd fight a shark in a bin on 40 minutes notice if you asked him).

[Doomguy]

Woodley's a nob. Wondering around with his shades acting like he's the GOAT when he just won the belt then drew. I hope Wonderboy wins and then Woodley gets Maia on the rebound.  

 

Also hope BJ Penn wins. The idea of him somehow coming back again is so ridiculous I want it to happen. I mean, you're talking about a true 145lber who once fought Machida at light heavyweight ha. Stranger things have happened.

[McFly]

Penn is as much if not more of a knob than Woodley though. It would be pretty insane if BJ wins, i'll give you that, but i dunno if he needs money and i dunno how many newish fans even know who he is or what hes achieved previously but his last fights were way more embarrasing defeats for a former champ (2 weight even) than Rondas beating. "Shawn Sherk, youre dead!!" 

[angel]

Yeah, Penn is a bit of a plum. I guess that's what happens when you're a big shot in a small place. Well...I say big shot, but he's been irrelevant for so long now that must have faded.

[ckny]

BJ fighting is in the same realm as what Bellator have been doing with Shamrock, Royce, Tito. He last won a fight in 2010 ffs.

[skittles]

4 hours ago, ckny said:

BJ fighting is in the same realm as what Bellator have been doing with Shamrock, Royce, Tito. He last won a fight in 2010 ffs.

I know! His last few losses were so embarrassing it looked like he didn't train at all. Really annoys me.

 

Maia deserves a shot. Does he have any fight lined up yet? I hope he gets the winner.

[McFly]

I think hes sitting out until he gets his shot. He would have got the shot for 209 if it wasnt for the draw and rematch with Woodley/wondeboy. I think.

 

One thing i will give BJ credit for is hes never picked easy fights. 

[Yobo Ahoy]

Looks like Hunt has followed through with his threat to sue after the Lesnar fight. Fair play to him, not sure it will end well but good on him for sticking to his guns. The whole situation was a complete joke, basically the company line is 'if you make us enough money, you can take whatever the hell you want.'

[Doomguy]

Good on Hunt. Lesnar was on roids and the UFC CLEARLY knew it and tried to cover his tracks. 

 

I know Lesnar brought in the numbers blah blah but if he fought clean against Hunt he would have ended up getting destroyed. The UFC can't champion it as a sport then change their mind when it suits them. At least Pride were like 'fuck it do roids'. None of this bs. 

[McFly]

I see somebody vandalised Rondas house, seriously how could somebody be that bothered about her fight to do that? Unless it was Edmund trying to keep her, and thus him, in the media spotlight and garner some sympathy at the same time?