Issue 064
July 2010
The great thing about MMA is that it is so subjective. Everyone’s got an opinion and we love a bit of debate, so we spoke with four people from across the MMA world to find out their thoughts on the current state of play.
We asked four different figures from the MMA world their opinions on the pressing matters of the hour.
THE FIGHTER
Vinny Magalhaes
Light heavyweight representing Team Tompkins.
THE FAN
Scott Craig,
Austin TX
THE WRITER
Stephie ‘Crooklyn’ Daniels,
Writer for FightersOnlyMag.com and host of TapouT radio.
THE INSIDER
Kekoa Quipotla
Co-director of True Sport Entertainment
1 With UFC on Spike, Versus and pay-per-view, should the format of the show change for each, or be consistent throughout?
Vinny Magalhaes
It should be consistent. If they have three shows a month on Spike, pay-per-view and , they should keep it the same.
Scott Craig
I think the format should change. If it did – especially for Countdown shows – I would watch them all.
Stephie ‘Crooklyn’ Daniels
If you’re marketing the same product (UFC), but just changing the platform (channel), consistency / familiarity is a must for the brand.
Kekoa Quipotla
I like to see it consistent; every time you watch it you’re familiar with the show. The consistency will help the viewers.
2 What is the biggest problem the sport currently faces?
Vinny Magalhaes
Man, the judges. When I fought Elliot Marshall, 20,000 people in the arena and everybody thought I won, and three judges – boxing judges of course – thought I lost, and I ended up getting cut.
Scott Craig
Judging is the most noticeable problem, but the underground stories seem to be about performance-enhancing substances.
Stephie ‘Crooklyn’ Daniels
It is a toss-up between the inconsistencies in judging / reffing and the lack of a real, mainstream television deal. If these two hurdles could be crossed, the expansion of the sport would be unparalleled.
Kekoa Quipotla
The media. I think the mainstream media still hasn’t grasped what we’re about, and until they really start partaking in what we do, I don’t think they’ll get it.
3 Dana White said he may retire in ten years’ time. Could anyone ever replace him?
Vinny Magalhaes
Nobody that comes to mind, but there is probably someone. Dana did a great job for the sport of MMA, but who knows? Ten years is a long time.
Scott Craig
There will never be another Dana White! They broke the mould with that dude!
Stephie ‘Crooklyn’ Daniels
I honestly cannot see anyone ever being able to accomplish what Dana White has. Of course someone could replace him, but, by the time that happens, Dana will have already set the groundwork for mainstream global recognition.
Kekoa Quipotla
No, because he’s the one that has really been the force in bringing this industry to where it’s at. Could there be someone who could keep the train moving? Quite possibly.
4 Do pound-for-pound rankings really mean anything?
Vinny Magalhaes
Not really, no. It doesn’t mean shit.
Scott Craig
No way, and the matchups are not always based on #1 vs #2 fighters anyway.
Stephie ‘Crooklyn’ Daniels
They are so subjective, it’s hard to say whether they actually count for much. We still don’t have a standout source (like Ring Magazine is to boxing), to manage a panel of journalists / experts to be the final, definitive voice of rankings.
Kekoa Quipotla
I think so, you can see that if fighters are off by five or ten pounds it can make all the difference in the world. You got two excellent athletes like BJ and GSP, but when they fought, it was the bigger guy.
5 If you could make a fight between a veteran of old (in their prime) and a star of today, who would you see fight?
Vinny Magalhaes
Rickson Gracie vs Shogun. Shogun is a complete fighter and Rickson was one dimensional but he was really good at it. And I would give the fight to Shogun.
Scott Craig
Sakuraba vs Machida would be interesting to me – maybe not the most exciting fight, but a chess match to say the least.
Stephie ‘Crooklyn’ Daniels
A prime Kevin Randleman vs Cain Velasquez, or prime Mark Kerr vs Shane Carwin.
Kekoa Quipotla
Rickson Gracie against anybody!
