Mail Bagged
More Missives
Jake Rossen Nov 28, 2006
Belted
I don’t get why certain guys get a chance at the belt and other guys don’t. I mean, it's all business, they just want to sell overpriced tickets. With the Rich Franklin (Pictures) and Anderson Silva fight, Silva had two prior fights in the UFC and then all of sudden he gets to fight for the title? I think there definitely needs to be some sort of ranking or working your way up to a title shot, rather than which fight will sell more tickets (i.e.: Ortiz vs. Shamrock). – Yasi
FYI: Silva actually had only fight in the UFC (against Leben)
before vying for the belt.
It comes down to timing. Franklin needed a fight, and there were no other challengers in the wings. Personally, I think Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) had credentials that trumped Silva’s, but the UFC probably got nervous about the prospect of an overly tactical fighter holding a title. (Though if that’s the case, I question why they’re employing Marquardt in the first place.)
Coming Attractions
Good article but you should’ve added that if you’re paying $40 for a PPV you shouldn't have to watch previews for a movie or hear an actor talk about his upcoming movie. I mean, if there are going to be previews for something, have it be for an upcoming event. – Tom L.
The UFC’s ad time on premium events was a frequent addition to the list. Unfortunately, they’re not about to turn down that revenue, and the trend didn’t start with them: take note of how many commercials you have to sit through in a theater before a movie starts. In the age of TiVo, advertisers will continue to force-feed their products in the most subversive ways possible.
This letters column, incidentally, is brought you to by the good people at the Sherdog Online Store. Sherdog Online Store
Frank Talk
The point you made about legends being respected, and having them fight other legends … is that not a contradiction to your point about Frank Shamrock (Pictures)? Is Frank a 'legend' yet? The last truly dangerous opponent he fought was Tito back in '99. Six years and three sub-par opponents is a long time for him to be jumping in there with the likes of Baroni, let alone any other top MW/LHW fighters. As much as I want to see Frank fight, the last thing I want is to see him end up like Ken; on the wrong end of 10-20 unanswered punches from an Ortiz, Lindland or Anderson Silva (Anderson Silva' class='LinkSilver'>Pictures). – Brad Wharton
At age 33, and having suffered no substantial punishment in recent years, I’d slot Frank a few notches above the Ruttens and Fryes of the world. He’s no older than Matt Hughes (Pictures), and several years younger than Liddell. Frank’s biggest problem is that the dynamic athleticism and rounded game that made him unique in 1999 is now the price of entry for elite contenders. He’s fresh out of advantages, which is why he’s not going to risk his brand against the Anderson Silva (Anderson Silva' class='LinkSilver'>Pictures)s of the world — though it seems likely fights with Baroni and Renzo Gracie (Pictures) will materialize in 2007.
Rematches
Let me first say, that I rather enjoyed reading your article, and for the most part agree with each of your 10 items. I do, however, find myself wondering why, in your final item, you seem to make a point of singling out the UFC for its plethora of rematches, but let off PRIDE scott-free.
While Chuck Liddell (Pictures) is certainly the most obvious example of this problem, your approach doesn't really do the UFC justice. To use your own words, "Here's some fun math.” A quick look at the Sherdog Fight Finder confirms that PRIDE has had 10 events in 2006, including the New Year’s Eve show of 2005. In those 10 events, PRIDE fighters have been involved in seven rematches (eight if you want to include Mirko Cro Cop's fight with Mark Hunt (Pictures), even though they first met in a kickboxing bout … but I assume we shouldn't count that). Some simple math says that means 70% of PRIDE events in that time have had a rematch.
Meanwhile, the UFC has had 10 rematches to date in 2006, as you said yourself. However, including events shown on Spike TV, the UFC has put on 15 events. So the same basic math says that about 67% of UFC events in this time have had a rematch.
I'm not trying to say that one's worse than the other, because it's not a competition (well, OK, it is a competition, but the goal isn't to have fewer rematches, it's for one fighter to beat another), but when two organizations are guilty of essentially the same thing, I have to wonder why you only mention one in your article. – Justin Irwin
PRIDE certainly has its share of rematches, but it’s the UFC that’s had one headline four of their last five shows. Of the 10 events promoted by DSE in 2006, only the last entry made us suffer through the wholly unnecessary Fedor-Coleman II as a finale.
What’s more, PRIDE is a novelty act at best in North America; the UFC is the face of the sport, and as such, it’s going to bear the brunt of criticism. You can’t dominate an industry and then cherry-pick what kind of attention you’d prefer.
I can take practically anything in moderation, but the constant repeats Stateside are numbing my enthusiasm for the sport.
And Finally …
Why do you HATE Canada? – Louis
I don’t. But if I did, my reasons would begin and end with Corey Hart. “Sunglasses at Night” was not worth the export. Thankfully, you’ve also given us Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Alex Trebek, so we’re square.
For comments, email [email protected]
I don’t get why certain guys get a chance at the belt and other guys don’t. I mean, it's all business, they just want to sell overpriced tickets. With the Rich Franklin (Pictures) and Anderson Silva fight, Silva had two prior fights in the UFC and then all of sudden he gets to fight for the title? I think there definitely needs to be some sort of ranking or working your way up to a title shot, rather than which fight will sell more tickets (i.e.: Ortiz vs. Shamrock). – Yasi
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It comes down to timing. Franklin needed a fight, and there were no other challengers in the wings. Personally, I think Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) had credentials that trumped Silva’s, but the UFC probably got nervous about the prospect of an overly tactical fighter holding a title. (Though if that’s the case, I question why they’re employing Marquardt in the first place.)
I agree that the gauntlets thrown against contenders are wildly
uneven. That Ortiz is being granted a title shot after (barely)
beating Forrest Griffin
(Pictures) and Ken Shamrock (Pictures) is an absurd notion, one
predicated entirely on box office.
Coming Attractions
Good article but you should’ve added that if you’re paying $40 for a PPV you shouldn't have to watch previews for a movie or hear an actor talk about his upcoming movie. I mean, if there are going to be previews for something, have it be for an upcoming event. – Tom L.
The UFC’s ad time on premium events was a frequent addition to the list. Unfortunately, they’re not about to turn down that revenue, and the trend didn’t start with them: take note of how many commercials you have to sit through in a theater before a movie starts. In the age of TiVo, advertisers will continue to force-feed their products in the most subversive ways possible.
This letters column, incidentally, is brought you to by the good people at the Sherdog Online Store. Sherdog Online Store
Frank Talk
The point you made about legends being respected, and having them fight other legends … is that not a contradiction to your point about Frank Shamrock (Pictures)? Is Frank a 'legend' yet? The last truly dangerous opponent he fought was Tito back in '99. Six years and three sub-par opponents is a long time for him to be jumping in there with the likes of Baroni, let alone any other top MW/LHW fighters. As much as I want to see Frank fight, the last thing I want is to see him end up like Ken; on the wrong end of 10-20 unanswered punches from an Ortiz, Lindland or Anderson Silva (Anderson Silva' class='LinkSilver'>Pictures). – Brad Wharton
At age 33, and having suffered no substantial punishment in recent years, I’d slot Frank a few notches above the Ruttens and Fryes of the world. He’s no older than Matt Hughes (Pictures), and several years younger than Liddell. Frank’s biggest problem is that the dynamic athleticism and rounded game that made him unique in 1999 is now the price of entry for elite contenders. He’s fresh out of advantages, which is why he’s not going to risk his brand against the Anderson Silva (Anderson Silva' class='LinkSilver'>Pictures)s of the world — though it seems likely fights with Baroni and Renzo Gracie (Pictures) will materialize in 2007.
Rematches
Let me first say, that I rather enjoyed reading your article, and for the most part agree with each of your 10 items. I do, however, find myself wondering why, in your final item, you seem to make a point of singling out the UFC for its plethora of rematches, but let off PRIDE scott-free.
While Chuck Liddell (Pictures) is certainly the most obvious example of this problem, your approach doesn't really do the UFC justice. To use your own words, "Here's some fun math.” A quick look at the Sherdog Fight Finder confirms that PRIDE has had 10 events in 2006, including the New Year’s Eve show of 2005. In those 10 events, PRIDE fighters have been involved in seven rematches (eight if you want to include Mirko Cro Cop's fight with Mark Hunt (Pictures), even though they first met in a kickboxing bout … but I assume we shouldn't count that). Some simple math says that means 70% of PRIDE events in that time have had a rematch.
Meanwhile, the UFC has had 10 rematches to date in 2006, as you said yourself. However, including events shown on Spike TV, the UFC has put on 15 events. So the same basic math says that about 67% of UFC events in this time have had a rematch.
I'm not trying to say that one's worse than the other, because it's not a competition (well, OK, it is a competition, but the goal isn't to have fewer rematches, it's for one fighter to beat another), but when two organizations are guilty of essentially the same thing, I have to wonder why you only mention one in your article. – Justin Irwin
PRIDE certainly has its share of rematches, but it’s the UFC that’s had one headline four of their last five shows. Of the 10 events promoted by DSE in 2006, only the last entry made us suffer through the wholly unnecessary Fedor-Coleman II as a finale.
What’s more, PRIDE is a novelty act at best in North America; the UFC is the face of the sport, and as such, it’s going to bear the brunt of criticism. You can’t dominate an industry and then cherry-pick what kind of attention you’d prefer.
I can take practically anything in moderation, but the constant repeats Stateside are numbing my enthusiasm for the sport.
And Finally …
Why do you HATE Canada? – Louis
I don’t. But if I did, my reasons would begin and end with Corey Hart. “Sunglasses at Night” was not worth the export. Thankfully, you’ve also given us Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Alex Trebek, so we’re square.
For comments, email [email protected]
