Whats with this licencing agreement Zuffa is trying to get all the fighters to sign and a lot of them are not wanting to? Know anything?Greg Savage on sherdog was talking about it… saying they had to dig deeper to find out what was going on.
I agree Dana is bad for "HIS" UFC. not sure what the signing thing is all about i will have to check it out, if i find out anything i will definitely let everyone know.
I hate the dude, but, he put MMA on the American map.....he transformed it from no holds barred underground cock fighting who couldnt even get on PPV to the fastest growing sport in the american mainstream.
Well Dana has built it to a point now, it will be out of his control.....
I've stated this a couple years ago, and it seems to be talking hold. MMA will eventually be more about the fighters than the organizations themselves. Fighters will get to the point that it will force the UFC to get rid of the exclusivity deals. Especially when we are seeing some fight cards come out like we saw on new years, the affliction, CBS cards, Eliete XC etc...
There will be good points and bad, but, MMA will become more like boxing in the sense that cards will be made around the fighters, not the organizations.
I agree to a point, I believe the UFC and White will need to change how they do things in the near future especially with some of the top fighters in the world not being in the UFC.
The success of the CBS card is essential to the future of MMA, and to a slightly lesser extent the Affliction debut card in July.
For instance I believe the IFL's last couple cards have had the quality of competition of Fight Night cards but the IFL is in dire straits financially.
Evidently the only companies making money currently in the US in MMA are Zuffa (UFC & WEC) and StrikeForce.
Elite has poured money into MMA but the card on the 31st has to succeed for them to remain viable. Why they didn't put the Noons vs Edwards fight on it I don't know.
If Elite and other orgs can get a stronger foothold current fighters like Fedor, Coutrue, Cung Li, Gilbert Melendez, Takanori Gomi, Jake Shields, Wagney Fabiani will make the public demand to see the top UFC fighters put it on the line.
MMA's exposire growing outside of the UFC will force the UFC to do things differently.
Actually a first big piece could be a win by Tito this weekend (but I am not holding my breath for that one.).
I think we both agree the UFC has to evolve to stay the top dog.... They need to get their fights on Network, or premium. I wonder how their HBO deal fell through last year?
If I had to predict, they would still have some PPV's with more stacked cards...but not to the extent numberwise as before. One or two network or HBO shows monthly or so....and some sort of once a year event....like a superbowl.
They need to get rid of their exclusive clauses.....especially as MMA fighters get even MORE popular not just here, but, around the world.
Think of all the quality free agents there are, or will be....... Fedor, Tito, Barnett, Hunt, JZ, Gomi, Kang, Lil nog, Arona, Alex Emil, Kimbo (before he gets exposed against a real fighter), Sylvia, Saku, some Gracies....I'm not sure how exlucsive (Im assuming its not exlusive) fighters from other orgs....up and coming guys? Crossover athletes?
Now, this isn't going to be immediate....but, a few years down the road....UFC has to evolve to stay on top.
If I remember correctly, they lost the deal with HBO because HBO wanted to do their own marketing and what not for the fights and the UFC said NO! Again, probably Dana's fault. Oh well. I get tired of talking to that dude.
I think the only way that MMA may turn to boxing is if most of the big fighters leave the UFC. This will force them to "share" fighters with other organizations, which wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. We could see some huge fights and I believe truly find out who the best in the world really is.
I don't see Affliction or too many companys really making it in this business. UFC is on top and will be for a while. I don't think these other guys can really hold enough fighters to make every card nice, like the UFC can.
Who knows?!?!? I just want to see good fights and not Dana's face! He truly is the P. Diddy of the UFC!
corn, you are the voice of reason. Like him or hate him, Dana White has done more for the sport than any other single person can claim to have done. I personally think he is an interesting character to watch and listen to, regardless of how he decides to spend Zuffa's money.
Dana legitimized it....not every business decision has panned out, but, hark back to the dark ages of the ufc where they were fighting in front of a couple thousand people in Dotham Alabama (UFC 12), Birmingham (10),.....etc...
Look at how the UFC and MMA has evolved into a mianstream staple since the Zuffa acquisition in 2k1.... amazing!
I personally think Dana is great for MMA in general.... He is in your face and he relates to the people, not mentioning he knows what they want to see.
