I post under Cashville Kid on the UG, this is a post I made in a thread about the UFC and the future of MMA and the UFC. Just wanted to see what you guys thought about the future of UFC and MMA and what could or can be done to improve it.

Alright, I'm gonna give this my best shot. Alot of great points have been made and if I repeat some of those I apologize.

No. 1- Chrom420 is obviously a fan of MMA and made some good points in his post. The people that respond that he is a ***gont and dip**** are part of the problem with MMA. We are looked at as low class trash, and we play the part beautifully. This is a discussion about changes the should be made and ways to improve the state of MMA in the US. Do you think at the NFL owners meetings, Jerry Jones calls Daniel Snyder a dip**** and ****** if he makes a suggestion that Jerry Jones doesn't agree with?

No. 2- If the UFC went out of business, the sport wouldn't be in recession for more than a few months. Because MMA has a loyal fanbase, the next largest promotion, KOTC for EXAMPLE, would almost immediately become as prominent as the UFC. They would add alot of UFC talent to their roster, they already have PPV's and the small loyal fanbase is almost sure to purchase KOTC31 with a Rodriguez vs. Sylvia rematch, or Sylvia vs. McGee. And because MMA is what's important, not UFC, the talent will continue to improve because the seeds have been planted. If the UFC went out of business, would you quit going to BJJ or muay thai etc., etc.. I doubt it.

No. 3- I personally think that the cage has to go. What if Don King said he was gonna have Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr. fight in a 4 sided cage? People would be like WTF? It just seems to barbaric, like 2 convicted prisoners fighting in a cell, or WWE Hell in a Cell without the predetermined outcome. MMA should be in a ring or on a mat. Easier to view and kind of takes away the shock value of two men fighting in a cage.

No. 4- I think the broadcast analysis has got to get better. The average American male could tell you how to run a halfback screen in football, could he execute a double leg takedown, or block a lowkick? The analysts have got to explain in detal finishing moves, takedowns and other important things that happen in the match. Educating the general public is crucial.

No. 5- The UFC name has to go. It's not ultimate fighting, it is mixed martial arts. If two men beat the **** out of eachother in a bar with poolsticks, what's it called? Fighting!!!!! If two dogs bite and claw eachother until one is dead, what is it called? Too many extremely violent images are attatched to fighting.

That's all I can think of right now. I've got a few more but I'm too stoned and hungry to continue.

You make some good points. I wrote an article with some points I had on the .com about the future of the sport also. I feel the same about educating the average fan to the fine points of the ground game. You're also right about the way the sport is sold. In the beginning most of us watch the sport because of the cage and the brutal sport that it was. The sport has changed so now it's time to change that image and move to selling the science of the sport.

Awsome post Zen, I agree on a few of them. Education is huge. We the loyal fans understand the art and the technique of mma today most people see it as fighting plain and simple. I see MMA and I see unbelieveably talented athletes who are in the best shape of any athlete. But much like Wrestling education has always been a problem because of the simple fact its very technical and most people dont care to think that much when they watch sports.

The Cage Ring thing I dont know I like the Cage for one reason. It keeps the fights moving. I would go nuts watching the action stopped continuously from getting caught in the ropes. I dont like the cage for its symbolic meaning just the simple fact a fight doesnt have to be stopped because two fighters get caught in the middle of the ropes. I think it looks really gay to take two fighters and try to recreate position in the middle of the ring. Position is not something you can recreate the only thing they really do is hold there controll meaning they get to stay on top.

The UFC nameplate I agree and disagree I cant decide. I have always said if I was going to start a fight organization I would go with something like NMMAC the National MMA Council or WMMAC
World MMA Council but that is to long so Iam back to WFC OR WFA but the term fight is in there again. So thats a tough one.

I think the MMA world has to come together. Were fighters are represented by agents and they can fight anywere they want. Pride or the UFC. They can have both titles so the JOnes and Alis, and Sugar ray leonards can develop. you can have unification fights and cards can have more big names on them. Tournaments I think have to come back. Now maybe not in the same day but over a number of shows. So people have a reason to watch the next show a story line like playoffs ect. Fighters Like Tito and V. Silva ect have to fight more and better compitiion. Look at boxing boxing was huge now its not Why? because fighters like Lewis and Mosely and ect fight maybe once every 12-15 months fans lose interest they begin to not care after waiting to see the champ for 15 months and then he goes out and fights a guy like Tua instead of the better Klitchko brother ect. Tito gettting big huge money will be the downfall again. because if guys like Tito and Hughes were making 2 Million a fight how often would we see them fight. Another thing The UFC Pride KOTC have to keep the action going if I fight goes to the ground and not much is happening they need to be stood up. Iam basicly saying 30 seconds no matter what unless a fighter is trying to end a fight by submissions or he is gnping a guy to death the fight is stood up. so people dont start to fall asleep. I love watching the little things in fights most people dont. So stand them up let them go at it again. Finally they must get a weekly fight show were tyou can see up and comers so there names can be built up. Like Ruas little brother Ulysses Castro Javier Vaszquez show them fight Journey men and other young fighters in the main events on a 1 hr ESPN show. You could have little Rua come in and take on a Reed from Ia i forget his first name but he is always fighting. rua probably wins and shows his skills to the world. In the main event on Espn you could show a guy like Pete Spratt Vs Jeremy Jackson. then do something like that again. Two three weeks later bring Rua back again and showcase him for 3-6 months 3-4 fights and now you have a guy you can sell on PPV. and also good main events on Espn Like A severn who people know Vs Hoffman or Severn Vs Andre Roberts or Roberts Vs Wiuff you get the idea cheep main events but good fighters and some big names like Severn. you coul;d a ESPN Champ like the NABF used to be.

The fight cards for the UFC should be as follows.
Tourney winner gets a title shot in a superfight.
30 seconds fight is stood up unless there is an attempt to end the fight.

The New UFC (no more UFC 44 Bs this isnt the WWE)
Tournament for Heavyweight shot

Vladdy Vs Igor Vov Rd 1
Mir Vs Ricco Rd 1
Rizzo Vs Sperry RD 1
Sims Vs Eillers Rd 1

3 Superfights would be as follows
For the Titles
Penn Vs UNO
Tito Vs Couture
Hughes Vs Hallman

fighters are given $ as follows
Tito
Couture
Hughes
get Champions Show Money $100,000 Each
Challangers Money is $50,000
Tourney entrants get 10,000 each to show

The UFC gives 50% of show profits to purses
Winners in the tourney 1st rd split 20 % of the show profits
the other 30% is split betweent the fighters that win the Title fights 10% Each.

The only thing that is negotiated is if a fighter is worth a Franchise Tag of PPV giant what ever like tito he can Negotiate with the UFC a bonus dollar for his PPV draw power like 60,000 for top guys like Tito and 30,000 for a guy like Couture.
This is on top of everything else.
Also let the fighters sell there T shirts and Logo Items fight shorts ect at the shows. For Cash.

this way the more PPVs buys and Profits the show has the more money they all make. No prfits no money outside of the dollars outlined above.
They also need PPVs every month people will want to buy again to see the next rd which would be two months later. The next show you start another tourney and superfights then the third show you could have the Semis of the two tourneys ect

80,000 For show money in the Tourney.
Superfight Money
300,000 for the Champs
150,000 for the challangers
110,000 for Draw power 60,000 for Tito 30,000 For Couture
20,000 Hughes

Total 640,000 is Pay Checks Plus Profit split is this to High?

Why doesnt the UFC Sell its mats rights to Budwieser or MGD or whatever instead of getting nothing for there Logo. you could probably get 50k a show maybe more. Give them some commercials during the show ect and get 500k let the King of Bears be on everything programs T shirts Mats Ring Girls banners around the Stadiums. Then sell sponsors for the Title fights Sponsoring this championship match is Qwest give them a commercial spot before the fight winner puts on a T shirt after the fight for his Interview bamm 50 k to pay the Purse **** cmon
Sell Pepsi at the stadium and Pepsi **** let them Sponsor a fight between Hughes and hallman Bamm more cash. Give 10 k of the 50 k to charity in the name of the UFC and Pepsi so they feel there giving to the community this may help Pepsi be convinced MMA is real not barbaric. Buy a friggen national commercial spot during a football game for 15 seconds for a PPV . Give commercial and all profits to fox to get on tv let them pay for the purses and costs of the shows then all profits to fox for the tv show, for 50k Pir show to the UFC a week and also fox sponsors one title fight and pays the whole salary for that fight. each month on the PPV. PPVs 10-12 a month.