One thing I don't understand about MMA...

Popkin's I think you raise an interesting question. But I think like with many things, fights are arranged the way they are because they have to be.

I think Bobdigi makes a very good point. But Popkin's from your experience of being a fan of boxing, don't you think that boxing is far more subtly balanced in terms of determining skill. a good boxer can be put against a journeyman, and it's a very safe bet that the good boxer will win and come through unharmed. And the journeyman opponent probably won't come to too much harm in the process.

MMA is far closer to brutal random streetfighting where anything can happen, broken bones, eyesocket's, concussions etc. there is also much less escape route for a losing fighter. as there is in boxing, where a fighter can go down on one knee, or the fight can be stopped after a bit of bludgeoning to the face.

MMA is a totally mental sport, random and brutal. God's are created after one fight and are spurned after the next.

 

There are several reasons why you don't see this in mma.

Boxing has more options for this type of thing. Boxers can go to minor promotions, and fight on ESPN for example. UFC fighters are usually the bigger names, nowadays, and there are no smaller outlets for them to go to ; contractually speaking.

Risk of injury is another factor. Boxers run the risk of injury just training for boxing. MMA fighters risk injury while training boxing, wrestling, bjj, thai boxing along with the risks associated with any conditioning program.

In mma, the organization is the brand. In boxing, individual fighters are the brand. The UFC has a fan base that is largely there to support the UFC, and not the actual sport of mma. In boxing, the fans support the individual fighters a lot of the time.

MMA is also striving for acceptance, and gives its audience better entertainment for the dollar for the most part.

 

There were tuneup fights when the fighters came from Pride. CroCop vs Sanchez, Rampage vs. Eastman, Anderson vs Leben could be considered a tuneup. Griffin just pissed all over Shogun's parade, I mean Shogun was thought to be the best fighter in the world behind Fedor at the time.

 

I understand what you're saying, and it does make sense to some extent, but there are too many inherent problems with it.

Firstly, one fighter is being brought in to lose, which undermines the whole idea of the sport.

Secondly, they're fighting in a non-title fight. So if they pull of the upset and manage to get a win they don't even get a belt for their troubles, just (presumably) a shot at an interim title or somesuch.

Thirdly, while the champ is off having his tune up fight the contenders are sitting around with their dicks in their hands. Or they're fighting for an interim title, which leads to even more **** ups (see Lesnar/Carwin/Mir fiasco)

Fourthly, people are pissed already that champs don't defend often enough, they often only defend twice a year, so if they get injured in a training camp and have to pull out and end up being out for a while (a la Cain Velasquez right now) then they delay their defense even further while their tune-up plays out.

Fifthly, there are seven champions in the ufc. They defend their belts every time they fight, until they lose, retire or change weight.

Sixthly, as someone pointed out above a lot of the Pride guys were given tune ups when they came across, Rampage got Eastman, Silva got Leben, CC got Eddie Sanchez, Nog got Herring, Herring got Jake O'brien, hell, even Mark Hunt got Sean McCorkle. About the only guys I can think of who didn't get a tune up fight are Wanderlei (who got Chuck) and Hendo, who got Rampage and Silva, back to back (ouch).

 

I think it will eventually happen if fans start paying to see particular fighters as opposed to paying for the event. Then it will become more important to assure the fans of that particular fighter's future performance.

Right now the UFC brand dominates the sport, and putting on their monthly PPV is more important to them than the fighters are. In boxing, if the headliner pulls out; the even is off in most cases. With the UFC, the show must go on; regardless of who cancels. If that means throwing out a name fighter that's ill prepared, so be it.

 

Here is a excerpt from the BobDigi gospel that you speak of, and the diluted, back-to-the-future matchups you brainstormed.

I stand by that statement, as these matchups are undesirable, hard to sell, and unfair to active, non injured fighters.

Tuneups are the last thing this growing sport and organization need right now. Maybe if their is enough money to go around someday in the UFC/Strikeforce, Zuffa won't take that big of a hit, but tuneups will create a whole other headache.

Rampage is an adult, and should have known better instead of jumping right into a grudge match if that's what really cost him the fight.. I don't want to take anything away from Rashad, or any winner, but Rampage should be able to control his emotions by now. Nobody held a gun to his head and said "Rashad or bust".

Same goes for Belfort, he is a adult and the only one responsible for his actions. Matchmakers wave a title shot in his face, well he and his camp know the fighter that is "Vitor" better than anyone else. If a title shot after a year of inactivity is a bad move (which it was) then it's all on him.

Popkins, I know we have been rolling around in the gutter for the past day quoting eachother, but I respect you as a poster.. This is only a disagreement between us two. The way I interact with ESB is how I do with my closest friends, I like to talk a little trash.

We may always be in disagreement on this subject, but we shall see what the future holds. Things change, and maybe a day will come when I feel the need for tuneups in MMA :thumbsup

 

Very very good point :good

However , the elite level fighters in MMA are supposed to fight at the top of the tree each and every time there out , thats the beauty of MMA , sometime its a good thing and sometimes its a bad thing .

Chuck Liddell looked like **** first time out against Randy because he wasnt conditioned , he went away and came back to win the title , again the beauty of MMA , remember Shogun against Griffin and Coleman (UFC not Pride) he looked ****in shocking , then blasts out Liddell and picked Machida apart in the fights after .

MMA is a very injury prone sport , and its about getting a good run of fights in and staying injury free , ala Jon Fitch , St Pierre , dos Santos , etc etc etc , an injury can really destroy your momentum and the UFC wont give you any gifts ...............