ESPN should just offer UFC what their projected payout of the PPV buys to get it on ESPN. Maybe throw in some bonuses to the UFC if it hits certain numbers in the ratings. If this somehow goes on, there's a lot of thirsty people for sports, but many still not willing to plop down $65 for this. Especially when there's not going to be people hosting watch parties.
Agreed. The views would be huge after no sports for a month. People that normally dont watch UFC would watch that. But they arent paying for it. And a lot of people that normally watch at bars or parties wont buy it either.
Quarantine all fighters, refs, and judges at the fight location for 2 weeks prior to fight. No crowd. Even with corners you're talking like 100 people. Easier to do a UFC than a huge league.
TMZ has an interview with Dana where he states that the UFC will be purchasing a private island, and putting on fight cards weekly. Dana has lost his damn mind.
Who the hell watches a Gaethje fight and says he sucks? I don't think he'll beat Tony but he's a top 5 guy and I'm interested to see how the more measured approach that he's shown lately translates vs. Tony. There hasn't been any fighter in the sport that's been close to involved in as many crazy fights as Gaethje has the past 5 years. The Palomino fights in WSOF were bonkers and he's bonused in all 6 of his UFC fights. Doesn't happen to a fighter that sucks.
I'm sick of the cancellations as well but I'm surprised so many don't want to see Tony v Khabib. For starters it's BS that Tony still doesn't have an official champ belt after what, 12 straight wins? He shouldn't have to fight anyone other than the champ. He's also 36 and while I like watching fights whenever, once you start getting up there in age results have a "well what if he fought when he was in his prime". I can respect Khabib and his game. Might not be the most exciting but for people looking strictly for standing and banging there's MT and kickboxing, nothing wrong with that. I find it super intriguing that everyone knows what Khabib is going to do, and nobody can do a damn thing against it. He had the balls to tag Conor and stand with him, not many do.
You'll soon see this to be glaringly obvious, but I have absolutely zero knowledge on MMA and I have been watching several old fights, mainly of Brock Lesnar. - These 5 minute rounds really make things interesting. 5 minutes is an incredibly long period of time to ask of 2 people to perform brutally exhaustive actions, not to mention take potentially brutal punishment from their opponent. - It's really, really interesting to see how fighters can overcome huge disadvantages in size and strength. This is a very nuanced sport and I didn't really take time to notice it until now.
ESPN has a "UFC Greatest Fights" thing they have been running a lot lately. A lot of great fights on there.
the economics of fighting 3 rounds vs 5 is interesting too. you like the heavyweights and KO’s? Francis Ngannou I’d say Dillashaw vs Barao is one of my favorites of all time. Footwork was nuts from TJ. gaetchje vs Alvarez and Poirier are good.
Any Gaethje fight. Most Connor fights. Joanna/Xi obviously. Any Ngannou fight (except Lewis or Miocic). Lawler/Rory McDonald(as mentioned above). Adesanya/Gastellum Romero/Whitaker If you have ESPN+, they have an entire library of best of stuff. Definitely start there. I think only watching the fight is short changing yourself though. The beauty is in the buildup of a lot of these fights. Connor/Diaz, Connor/Khabib, Jones/Cormier, etc. Make sure to watch press conferences leading up to fights, and the Ariel Helwani show. You'll be geeked by the time the fight gets here. I also gamble quite a bit, so having lineups on DraftKings makes the fights even more intriguing. During a fight week you're completely engrossed in a card.
Other great recent ones: Romero/Costa Iaquinta/Cerrone Ferguson/Pettis Wonderboy/Luque Luque/Perry Miocic/Cormier 2 The whole UFC 217 main card
Gaethje has taken Yoel's route on wrestling in UFC, in that I don't think he's interested. I don't know if I've ever seen either of them wrestle.
Offensively, Gaethje won't wrestle but I imagine his ability is still there defensively. However, Khabib is so dominant that it might not matter. If and big if, Gaethje could neutralize Khabib's takedowns, then those leg kicks become even bigger weapons.
Tony has a pretty stout wrestling background as well (2x All American iirc) and perhaps the best bottom game in the UFC. I think Tony poses the biggest threat to Khabib with Gaethje being a close second. I think both of them have ridiculous pressure and I would love to see how/if Khabib would deal with it.
Cruz is a much better title contender than Jose Aldo, but Sterling or Yan should be getting the title shot.