Issue 175
November -0001
Ideal trades, the end of the UFC flyweights, the rise of ONE, Bones vs Brock and Khabib ’s potential $50 million payday from four top pros.
4 MMA fighters discuss the latest deals and gossip including ideal trades, the end of the UFC flyweights, the rise of ONE, Bones vs Brock and Khabib’s potential $50 million payday from four top pros.
*The following interviews took place in 2018*
THE EXPERTS
Q1. The UFC traded former flyweight king Demetrious Johnson to ONE Championship for Ben Askren. Who would you like to see traded to or from the organization you fight for?
Griffin: That trade was crazy, yo. I’ve always wanted to see Fedor in the UFC even now, and I want to see my boy Chidi Njokuani here, too. He can do some work.
Jouban: I guess it would be nice to finally see Fedor make his UFC debut.
Bessette: I think that if this became a regular thing, getting guys like Michael Venom Page, Michael Chandler, and Andre Harrison would be good for the UFC.
Rickels: I would love to see Michael Chandler traded to the UFC for a few fights. As a Bellator fighter, we love to disprove the myth of UFC superiority.
Q2. It appears that the UFC will be dropping the flyweight division entirely. Is that a good or bad idea?
Griffin: Yeah, it sucks. But with the most dominant flyweight gone it’s kinda hard to keep it. I feel for the families, but life isn’t fair and for everyone else, it opens up the overcrowded roster so we can fight a little more per year.
Jouban: I can’t say if it is a good idea business-wise. But it’s a huge chance for whichever promotion picks those guys up. Especially if it’s ONE in Asia. Perfect market for the smaller weight classes and they can promote it that way like the WEC did at the end.
Bessette: I think the UFC dropping the flyweight division is good for the UFC and also good for other promotions. It has been difficult for the UFC to market it. So it’s good for everyone besides the flyweights who always looked forward to fighting in the UFC.
Rickels: I think for business it’s probably great. I think they never invested enough into building stars in that division and now it’s stale.
Q3. ONE Championship is making moves. The trade of Demetrious Johnson, signing Eddie Alvarez and now Miesha Tate in the front office. Are you surprised by these moves?
Griffin: ONE just wants to make noise. The UFC is the best, hands down. All the other organizations are trying to do whatever they can to get some clout.
Jouban: Bringing in Miesha makes me wonder if she will be involved in the business or if it’s more to use her star power to attract other fighters. Not that she couldn’t run the business. I hope she’s makes it a money machine. But it seemed out of the blue to me.
Bessette: Surprised? No. It’s good for business. They’re trying to expand their brand further than Asia. They’re killing it lately!
Rickels: Yes I was definitely caught o guard but I think this is (right now) great for the fighters to have access to different pay options. Long term, it could hurt when you have champions in eight different organizations.
Q4. Jon Jones has expressed interest in fighting Brock Lesnar after he competes at UFC 232. Are you interested in that fight?
Griffin: I would love to see Brock and Jon. Bones is gonna beat the brakes off his big ass! (laughs)
Jouban: If Jones got Brock before DC did, that might make the hatred between those two even more real! I’m definitely watching, no matter who fights Brock!
Bessette: No. Not at all. Brock Lesnar is a C level fighter with good wrestling.
Rickels: Hell yes lol. Brock versus anybody is entertaining, period. He’s a monster of a human and a genetic freak.
Q5. Khabib Nurmagomedov is seeking $50 million for his next fight. Is he crazy or is he in the right ballpark?
Griffin: You gotta aim high. He may get half, like 25. I don’t think he will get that against anyone else in the division. But if he rematches Conor then he can totally get that. I heard Conor got like 150 million after the PPV buys.
Jouban: By fighting Conor you up your rates. By beating Conor you start calling your own rates. But by beating Conor and bringing in the kind of numbers he did and also being the undefeated champ? He can ask what he wants and likely get at least close.
Bessette: Guys like Khabib getting paid more money is only good for the rest of the fighters. After a while, the base pay in the UFC should rise to a reasonable salary throughout. I think all fighters should be paid more, once they’ve reached the pinnacle of the sport.
Rickels: It’s crazy. There’s a ton of hype behind him now but, you see, the way UFC’s bank account is set up, they ain’t doing that! (laughs)
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