somerset-hammer wrote:I prefer the days of Ortiz and Liddell..
You know they’re fighting soon, under Bellator?
You’re right that the UFC survived the loss of their biggest names, but they were all well on their way down when they left. What we haven’t had yet is a couple of legit champions in their primes moving on. Khabib and maybe Cormier bunking off could have a bigger impact than is maybe obvious.
The whole "It's just business" bull**** from McGregor was the final nail in the coffin for me, I could just about take the trash talk, but to bail on a fight because it isn't going your way is embarrassing, especially from someone with a mouth as big as his.
don't profess to know as much as the sport as you Dan..
Bellator doesn't pull the views that the UFC does, bit like when the WWF (as was) lost a few of it's stars to the old TNT network - it went a while but never really got off the ground i nthe same way...
I am not sure but don't think Bellator does PPV's either, maybe it does..but even the UFC non big events get Saturday night Fox airing in the u.S. at least...
I am probably sure too that Vegas does a deal with the UFC and persanally I reckon that the women's fights do well. They may not have a Rousey type but other divisions seem to hold up well...
Just my personal view and as stated am not as much up on it as maybe you and others on here are...but I know what I like and guess that there's loads like me who don't know the ins and outs but know who we want to watch....
Would be quite funny if Chuck cleans out Tito once again, given that he's now in his late 40s and experiencing some fairly serious brain damage. But yes, pensioner fights are something I think the world can do without - will still be a big draw, though, and that's part of the reason Bellator continues to be popular.
Dan has it right, as per. IMHO McGregor wanted to trash talk and hype up the fight, that's fine, but he crossed a few lines throughout. You can't injure people by throwing objects at a bus and get away with the stuff he's said without proper consequences, ie. taking a beating in this instance.
Good on Khabib for sticking to his principles. It will be fascinating to see where the UFC goes from here, it's a delicate situation right now and I bet Dana is squirming. I am expecting one or both of Khabib & Conor to walk, it will be tough to find an outcome that pleases both parties.
somerset-hammer wrote:It's a no brainer for Dana White and his bosses though.
McGregor = Money.
Nurmagomedov = less Money.
.
I'm not so sure on this, McGregor's value took a serious hit with him quitting as he did, many ex fighters, pundits and punters have all publicly criticised him tapping and stated that he's been hyped by the UFC and they don't agree with the way he's been given preferential treatment. The tide has turned with McGregor and he can't continue to swagger around the UFC without avenging his loss to Khabib, IMHO that's the only way back for him.
A rematch just means another defeat. How can McGregor beat him? He put so much effort into the mind games, resorting to scraping the barrel for insults only for it to work against him. Khabib totally dominated him and the same thing would happen again. Dana White will probably want to protect his cashcow for a few fights before allowing him in with Khabib again, so a ban for Khabib is perfect for him.
There's also the additional interest generated when a loud-mouthed champion gets dethroned. Ronda Rousey was the McGregor prototype - big mouth, tore through the division, got far too big for their boots, then got beaten by a better fighter. People who were previously fans became detractors and tuned in to watch them lose.
DasNutNock wrote:There's also the additional interest generated when a loud-mouthed champion gets dethroned. Ronda Rousey was the McGregor prototype - big mouth, tore through the division, got far too big for their boots, then got beaten by a better fighter. People who were previously fans became detractors and tuned in to watch them lose.
All Dana heard was the "they tuned in to watch".
It's Floyd Mayweather syndrome, I don't care whether you watch to see me win or lose, as long as you watch.
Last edited by Slacking student on Fri Oct 12, 2018 11:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
Don't underestimate McGregor's fan base and the pull he can generate, he still has at least two main events left in him, as a cash cow rather than a prize fighter, anyway.
That said, as I fight fan, I'm pretty much done with him and it will take some special performances, with him keeping his mouth shut to get me back on side.
"Let’s just put PC aside for moment and call this what it is, the entire UFC infrastructure was setup for bias against the immigrant Muslim with poor English – the referee, the security, the commentators, the media, UFC personnel, UFC management."
Pretty accurate if you ask me, it's hard to disagree with that.
I've always been a big boxing fan and I prefer that sport to MMA but I have been watching a lot of Khabib footage and reading up on him and I find him to be a really likeable sportsman. I like his style, how ruthless and yet humble he is and I think he delivered a masterclass in how to destroy and humiliate McGregor on Saturday, which seems to have been criminally overlooked because of all the madness.