Issue 111
February 2014
Thus far, the UFC’s announcement of a new digital network has been met with more scepticism than excitement, but I’m intrigued by the concept. To this point, it seems the UFC’s past online efforts have been solid but not always executed in the most fan-friendly manner.
Hopefully, they’ll be dialed in this time around, as I must admit that even if it wasn’t my job to do so I’d still want to watch each and every one of the apparent 50 or so cards the company will stage in 2014.
Even more importantly, I’m excited to see what the UFC’s new plan with international events will reap in terms of global interest in the sport. I’ve been in Australia and Japan, where a goal to serve a US television audience has dictated 9am local start times.
And while I’ll have to give it up to the Aussies for still finding time to hit the bar for a few hours and make it into their seats for the ‘morning’s first fight, it’s obvious that’s not a workable plan for most casual fans of the sport.
With the UFC’s new concept for these shows, the US television audience is taking a backseat in favor of catering to local ticket buyers. And the first real example of this approach, UFC Fight Night 34 in Singapore, is an excellent case study for the approach, starting a 7.30pm local time, but anywhere from 3.30am to 6.30am back in the US.
How things turn out on both continents could prove very telling. But ultimately, this is a decision the UFC had to make. If the brand truly wants to be identified as a global business, it has to create content with a global fan base in mind.
Leave Pride in the past
Recently, a handful of UFC fighters, most notably former light heavyweight champion Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, have admitted they would prefer the Unified Rules of MMA adopt a set of guidelines similar to the glory days of Pride FC – including the return of head stomps, soccer kicks and knees to the head of a grounded opponent.
While I’ll admit that nearly a decade ago, I took great pleasure in watching Shogun mow down opponents with his brutal fighting style, I guess time has made me a little softer. I look back to the Maximo Blanco disqualification against Akira Corassani at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale and think, there is absolutely no way we need those type of strikes in the game.
Keep in mind, this is coming from someone who would actually like to see the definition of a ‘downed opponent’ changed. I’m not a fan of guys reaching down to touch the canvas and earn themselves the protection afforded to a downed opponent. But Corassani was very clearly still on a knee and deserved to be treated under those provisions.
Blanco’s knee caused multiple breaks to Corassani’s nose, and gave him a slight concussion. As MMA continues to seek worldwide acceptance, I’m not sure these are the types of exchanges that best summarize the beauty that resides within the brutality.
As for soccer-kicking an opponent’s head, there is absolutely no way you can present that as a sporting move to someone who may be tuning in to watch MMA for the very first time.
Pride will always hold a special place in my heart as a unique and exciting chapter in MMA history, but I don’t see that as a reason to try and bring those rules back to the sport.
Missed opportunity
Recently, the Nevada State Athletic Commission opened its doors to the public and asked to hear from anyone who had a suggestion on how to make MMA safer. If you’ve ever perused an MMA message board, you’ve seen a seemingly never-ending stream of commenters who have all the answers. Yet when the commission actually turned
to the public and said, ‘Tell us how to improve this sport?’ at an open workshop in Las Vegas, two half-hearted suggestions toward ‘more open’ scoring were the only offerings. While this sport is growing exponentially worldwide, it’s still a relatively small community, and the opportunity to make an impact with top regulators makes MMA unique. Can you imagine FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, opening the floor to anyone with a thought on goal-line technology?
For the passionate fan base that lives and breathes MMA, it’s a shame more don’t take the time to present logical, well-thought-out arguments to the leading commissions that are asking for feedback. If there is a true drive to make MMA better, this was a missed opportunity for action.
By John Morgan, former Fighters Only World MMA Awards ‘Journalist of the Year’
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