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The only upside to the ******ed circus freakshow fight is that it Conor is causing problems for UFC and this would just escalate it.
I cannot stand that trashy, hideous sport and root for its demise.Comment
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How long does anyone think that fighters in the UFC are going to keep getting their heads busted to the gristle before they start asking and demanding more money.Comment
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I understand the point that you're making, in that once fighters begin to protest, they will be forced to pay out more - thus reducing their (UFC's) profits - thus the new ownership will grow tired and move on. However, what you fail to realize is that for a lot of these guys, the UFC is their only option. They have more or less a monopoly on the industry. Where would the #4 ranked middleweight in the UFC go if they wanted to be paid more? Bellator really only pays out more to over the hill vets who they can milk for the last drop of value their name has...and beyond that, there isn't a second option in MMA that I'm aware of. They can't make the jump to boxing for the same reason a sprinter can't suddenly become a great distance runner - it's similar but not similar enough to have fluid career options.
Besides, UFC is a brand name - so synonymous with MMA, that I'd wager more than half of the viewing audience doesn't even know the letters MMA or what they stand for. They only know, UFC or "Ultimate Fighting." UFC is a marketing machine. People who buy MMA t-shirts buy UFC shirts more than shirt for individual fighters. People who buy video games buy "UFC" video games - it's not "McGregor Punch Out" or "Rousey MMA" or even "MMA Fight Night."
The simple truth is, people have been predicting the downfall of UFC for years, when Tito Ortiz had his public blow out with Dana White, they thought it was the end - but then UFC just made a reality TV show and created Forrest Griffin to replace him. They thought people who tune out because UFC didn't hire #1 heavyweight, and arguably #1 P4P at the time Fedor Emelianenko - but then UFC just turned WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar into a bigger star than Fedor would have ever dreamed of being. UFC was going to collapse once their women's division became irrelevant when Rousey lost - then she lost twice in a row, and they marched on with a dozen B+ female stars instead of one A+ name. People thought the fact that GSP and Anderson Silva never fought was going to sour fans - but they just created a new star in Jon Jones and everyone more or less forgot about that "dream fight" and GSP quietly retired.
My point is, UFC isn't going anywhere. Sure a couple of the big names can parlay their name recognition to instant boxing pay days - a couple of times, although even that trend will grow tiresome to casual fans very quickly - but for 99% of MMA fighters, the UFC is their only option if they want to make even six figures. And UFC as a company has proven it gets along just fine with or without it's biggest stars...because at the end of the day, the only irreplaceable name in the company are the letters "U-F-C"...beyond that, it's just a handful of recognizable fighters who move the interest needle - but even weak cards sell decently well on PPV, and their viewership on Fox will insure they keep getting that contract renewed, plus my understanding is the sponsorship money they rake in would make boxing promoters weep.Comment
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Yes, we do read. However, not all of us are buying into the scaremongering among those pushing the theory that the Ali Act is going to have significant implications here.
Conor McGregor is a unique athlete in a unique situation - exceptional talents and draws like him pulling in the big bucks, isn't going to lift the floor of earning potential for the rest - at least not with any significance. Yes, there may be a hit to the bottom line of the UFC, but people predicting some kind of doomsday are way off base.
I'm still waiting for the mass buy-up of free agents by Bellator, that was predicted by all sorts of crystal-ball gazers a few years ago. They've been unable to pull a significant name from UFC other than..what..Bendo? And he ain't even that big of a deal.
You can bet your bottom dollar that these potential issues, were looked at and scrutinized by the new ownership group before they forked over billions.Comment
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did they know this would pop up? When Dana sold them the idea did he know Conor would use the ali act and really pursue Floyd? Dana thought Conor is just copying Floyd and using Floyds name like Dana did with Ronda and Floyd to get headlines.
This is what you call a unforeseen situation
It wasnt supposed to happen chit like this happens and surprises out of nowhere.
The fertitas probably saw it coming but not Dana, the fertitas never liked Conor they knew he was bad news, it was Dana who brought Conor in and hype him up early you can find videos of a young conor hanging with Dana riding around LA in a fancy car.
If Conor gets that big money the other fighters will say WHY NOT ME?
This is why Dana White is really in a tough situation, if he does co promote the fight the other fighters will get jealous and demand more money, cutting into that profit.
UFC cant pay the 300 fighters they have on roster millions a show, they fund everything, they pay for the promotion, the tv production everything, that fox tv deal was only enough to cover certain events.Comment
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Dana White is irrelevant at this point. He's not the one calling the shots. He used to have some influence when the Fertittas were in charge but right now he's just another employee who could get fired tomorrow. A bit like Bernie Ecclestone at F1 recently. I think he'll have to leave the UFC eventually, probably in like a year.Comment
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I don't see it being much of a blow to UFC with fighters wanting more cause they have already doubled their budget on fighter purses and mma fighters have no where else to go to get payed like that they aren't pro boxers.
HOWEVER
if floyd goes out there and toys with Connor ( as he should ) then ko's him that will set off a lot causals from mma. Here they are the whole time bashing Floyd and thinking nothing beats mma warriors but their whole reality just got turned upside it's head. Since UFC is made up of mostly casual fans it would send shockwaves thought out that group of people that for years were too dumb to tell the difference between mma striking and boxing, that would put boxing back in the ratings control.Comment
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