OzExorcist
Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
Conor claiming he's back on UFC200, Dana saying it's not true and "I don't know how many more times I can say the fight is off or how many more press conferences I can have saying the fight is off for people to believe it's off."
Here's a suggestion Dana: when you have a press conference announcing you've booked a viable alternative headliner, people will probably believe you. Until then... well... let's just call it a credit to your intelligence. People apparently don't believe you're silly enough to cut your nose off to spite your face yet.
Here's a suggestion Dana: when you have a press conference announcing you've booked a viable alternative headliner, people will probably believe you. Until then... well... let's just call it a credit to your intelligence. People apparently don't believe you're silly enough to cut your nose off to spite your face yet.
FastOne
Legend
Loyaler
What a Circus! At this point, main event should be Jones vs Cormier, which would make a lot more sense since it's a Title Fight.
OzExorcist
Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
Yeah that'd be an acceptable headliner. Not as good as McGregor, from a sales perspective, but it'd work. Problem is nobody, including the UFC and even Cormier himself, knows if Cormier will be able to fight that soon. News today was it'll be at least another week before he's got an answer. And even if he is declared right to go, he'll still be training at AKA so you know he's only ever one hard sparring session away from being out again, because they apparently insist on training like cavemen there...
Which I suspect is why this whole Conor mess is dragging on. If the UFC had a replacement headliner on hand then the would've announced them already. If they can't get one (ie: if Cormier can't fight - I think the ship has kinda sailed on GSP being ready in time) then you've gotta figure they'll kiss and make up with Conor because you just know they don't want Aldo or Tate headlining this thing...
Mr Sandbag
Legend
Silver Level
I always felt a McGregor/Diaz rematch was pointless/risky. Wouldn't a 2nd consecutive loss to the same guy be devastating for McGregor's star power? And Diaz is fighting a really tough opponent for the 2nd time without the reward of a title if he wins. Idk...
They should have had McGregor defend his title within the division and Diaz fight for the title in his division all on the same card. If they both win, commence rematch.
They should have had McGregor defend his title within the division and Diaz fight for the title in his division all on the same card. If they both win, commence rematch.
FastOne
Legend
Loyaler
That's what most people used to say about Ronda. We're all humans.
WVHillbilly
Legend
Silver Level
True but that's about the only comparison between MM and Rhonda that is valid. Johnson is probably the best all-around MMA fighter right now, maybe ever. Rhonda beat up a bunch of girls.That's what most people used to say about Ronda. We're all humans.
OzExorcist
Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
So another potential road block to Cormier-Jones at UFC 200 - Jones potentially has a broken foot:
http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/4/2...nsions-jon-jones-receives-potential-six-month
Erm... no, they really couldn't.
Lawler-Condit is an awesome fight, hardcore fans like us will love it. I want to be crystal clear, I'm not hating on that fight. I hope it happens and I can't wait to see it.
But it doesn't have anywhere near the mass appeal that the UFC wants for this event. And if they're upset about Conor not doing enough promo for this fight, imagine how disappointed they'd be with Lawler and Condit. They're both amazing fighters, among two of my favourites in the organisation, but neither are hard working salesmen.
And for proof you've only gotta look back to late last year. Lawler-Condit was the original headliner for the stadium show in Australia... until they realised that they weren't going to get anything like the numbers they were hoping for, so they pulled that fight and put Rousey in the headlining spot.
They'd be better off with Tate-Nunes or Aldo-Edgar in the headlining spot.
http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/4/2...nsions-jon-jones-receives-potential-six-month
Erm... no, they really couldn't.
Lawler-Condit is an awesome fight, hardcore fans like us will love it. I want to be crystal clear, I'm not hating on that fight. I hope it happens and I can't wait to see it.
But it doesn't have anywhere near the mass appeal that the UFC wants for this event. And if they're upset about Conor not doing enough promo for this fight, imagine how disappointed they'd be with Lawler and Condit. They're both amazing fighters, among two of my favourites in the organisation, but neither are hard working salesmen.
And for proof you've only gotta look back to late last year. Lawler-Condit was the original headliner for the stadium show in Australia... until they realised that they weren't going to get anything like the numbers they were hoping for, so they pulled that fight and put Rousey in the headlining spot.
They'd be better off with Tate-Nunes or Aldo-Edgar in the headlining spot.
OzExorcist
Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
True but that's about the only comparison between MM and Rhonda that is valid. Johnson is probably the best all-around MMA fighter right now, maybe ever. Rhonda beat up a bunch of girls.
FWIW I don't think Ronda's strength of competition was that bad, especially in her latter fights.
Cat Zingano is legit IMO, as is Tate. Davis and McMann aren't awful. The thing was everyone up until Holm decided for some reason to come at Rousey with the worst possible game plan for beating her
No argument that Mighty Mouse has faced tougher competition all round though, and that he's got much better and more rounded skill set than Rousey.
Rousey's Plan A, her judo and grappling, is probably better than MM's Plan A... or maybe just about anyone else in the organisation's Plan A (Maia's BJJ would be right up there, for example). But Rousey is only really good at that one thing, while MM has a great Plan B through Z as well. He's easily got some of the best fight IQ and adaptive skills in the game. I'm a big fan
WVHillbilly
Legend
Silver Level
Fwiw I was kind of joking and I agree completely with your assessment.FWIW I don't think Ronda's strength of competition was that bad, especially in her latter fights.
Cat Zingano is legit IMO, as is Tate. Davis and McMann aren't awful. The thing was everyone up until Holm decided for some reason to come at Rousey with the worst possible game plan for beating her
No argument that Mighty Mouse has faced tougher competition all round though, and that he's got much better and more rounded skill set than Rousey.
Rousey's Plan A, her judo and grappling, is probably better than MM's Plan A... or maybe just about anyone else in the organisation's Plan A (Maia's BJJ would be right up there, for example). But Rousey is only really good at that one thing, while MM has a great Plan B through Z as well. He's easily got some of the best fight IQ and adaptive skills in the game. I'm a big fan
OzExorcist
Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
OK, so Cormier-Jones 2 is official for the UFC 200 headliner: http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/4/2...iel-cormier-is-the-new-main-event-for-ufc-200
...and ESPN estimate that means the UFC is leaving about $45 million on the table by going with that fight instead of McGregor LOL: http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/1...esents-estimated-45-million-boost-ufc-200-mma
...and ESPN estimate that means the UFC is leaving about $45 million on the table by going with that fight instead of McGregor LOL: http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/1...esents-estimated-45-million-boost-ufc-200-mma
FastOne
Legend
Loyaler
FastOne
Legend
Loyaler
Yeah, it's a great card, with 3 title fights. And the Main Event can sell lots of tickets on its own. This is a better Main Event than the original.
WVHillbilly
Legend
Silver Level
Nice!
Estimate is indeed the right word. It's too early to tell.
Coner's last 5 fights have made more $$s than all of Jones' title fights combined so zero doubt the UFC will make less money on 200 now. Probably a better fight though.
OzExorcist
Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
Yeah, ^ this. I'm keen to see Cormier-Jones, and it's almost certainly the best headline-calibre option they had if they were gonna insist on not using McGregor. But these two don't have the crossover appeal that McGregor has. Case in point: one tweet from McGregor completely overshadowed Jones' return to the octagon last weekend. Just one tweet.
I think Cormier-Jones is a much riskier fight for the UFC to book too though. Cormier hasn't actually been cleared to return to full training yet, and Jones has a possible foot injury after the OSP fight. Plus when Cormier does return to training it'll be at AKA, which has a reputation for injuring fighters in training. If Cormier were to drop out, Jones hates taking fighters on short notice (and it wouldn't be a headliner without the real belt on the line anyway).
McGregor, on the other hand, has fought on a busted knee before just to make sure a show goes ahead and he's always accepted late replacements without batting an eyelid. Plus he's big enough to sell a main event even without a belt on the line. If I were in the UFC's shoes I think I know which way I would have gone...
FastOne
Legend
Loyaler
No doubt McGregor vs Díaz is a more profitable fight than Jones vs Cormier, but remains to be seen just how much. Don't know about that $45 million figure.
On a different note, did anyone watched the Benson Henderson fight (his first there) at Bellator? I just did...
OzExorcist
Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
Read the full article in the link above, they've been reasonably conservative in their figures.
The UFC is notoriously secretive about the amounts they make, exactly how many PPV buys it gets etc so we'll never know the actual numbers it does, but the evidence does stack up in the "substantial" column...
U
underdog140
Legend
Silver Level
I don't think the UFC is going to miss out on 45 million. ( I didn't read the article ) I think they are going to be out millions but not an amount that high.
Does the article take into account what Conor gets Paid because the UFC is likely paying out less for the event because Conor isn't on it. So the cost of the event goes down. Thus closing the gap a little between what they stand to loose.
Lets say if Conor was still fighting on UFC 200. What numbers does it do ? ( Most likely similar to the last card he was on ) Lets say 1.5 million buys. How many buys does UFC 200 get without him ? We will have to wait and see. The buys between the two numbers X the PPV price divided by two ( PPV Providers take 50 % ) will be the amount they are out ( minus a few million they didn't have to give to Conor )
Does the article take into account what Conor gets Paid because the UFC is likely paying out less for the event because Conor isn't on it. So the cost of the event goes down. Thus closing the gap a little between what they stand to loose.
Lets say if Conor was still fighting on UFC 200. What numbers does it do ? ( Most likely similar to the last card he was on ) Lets say 1.5 million buys. How many buys does UFC 200 get without him ? We will have to wait and see. The buys between the two numbers X the PPV price divided by two ( PPV Providers take 50 % ) will be the amount they are out ( minus a few million they didn't have to give to Conor )
KUN_AGUERO_KROOS
Legend
Platinum Level
The UFC couldn't care less about those numbers. Because like Gabriel Morency said the Fertitta brothers own 18 casinos. "Just because you are unhappy, Conor, that ain't gonna stop grandma playing the slot machines"
They can do whatever they want with the UFC. It doesn't matter if the fans and the media want that stupid rematch.
Conor needs the UFC more than the Ufc needs Conor.
You don't play poker against someone who owns casinos.
They can do whatever they want with the UFC. It doesn't matter if the fans and the media want that stupid rematch.
Conor needs the UFC more than the Ufc needs Conor.
You don't play poker against someone who owns casinos.
Sil3ntness
Legend
Silver Level
Conor is making a mistake. He thought he was bigger than the UFC and now the joke is on him because Jon Jones just stole the main event.
I can't wait for the Aldo vs Edgar rematch. Edgar has been really hungry lately. This is his time to take the 145 belt IMO.
I can't wait for the Aldo vs Edgar rematch. Edgar has been really hungry lately. This is his time to take the 145 belt IMO.
OzExorcist
Broomcorn's uncle
Bronze Level
N'yeah, except that the bit about the Conor needing the UFC more than they need Conor isn't actually true. Nobody cared what organisations Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao fought for or which organisation's titles they were putting on the line or whatever. They just tuned in to see those fighters. McGregor has the potential to do the same IMO.
Meanwhile he's one of just two legit million-plus selling draws the UFC has right now (Rousey being the other). More than that, McGregor can even can do those numbers without a title being on the line.
And you do realise what you're trying to say about the Fertittas is crazy, right?!? You're saying that just because they're already rich, they're happy to leave tens of millions of dollars lying on the table - they've got so much money they don't care about a few million more. LOL seriously?!? Rich people (especially ones in the casino business) don't get rich or stay rich by adopting that attitude. They maximise their investments and squeeze every last drop of value out of their assets. So believe me when I say they care about those numbers.
I seriously don't understand what people are trying to prove here. You can argue until you're blue in the face over whether McGregor has a ground game or who'd beat him in what way or whether he should be jumping weight classes, whatever. But it's nuts to argue with the stone cold fact that he's a money-making machine, easily the best the UFC has had on its roster since Brock Lesnar.
So he's made millions of dollars, and now they're gonna make him wait a few extra weeks to make a million more? Oh yeah, they done played him good. He's gonna be crying all the way to the bank