UFC Fight Night 59 (1/18, Boston): McGregor vs. Siver; Cowboy vs. Bendo

[REDDzone]

Donald Cerrone is the Cowboy Mohammad Ali.

Also, bern, Tito is ABSOLUTELY a draw. Even in 2014.

[Bernman]

We don't know he's a "big" draw, not from that rating, without a similar push for other cards. Have a similar promotional strategy for McGeary or someone like that on a "tentpole" event, and see if the rating isn't over 1 million. I bet it would be.

Incidentally, I think a card w/ a Vegh-M'Pumbu main event (it was a horrible fight btw) in 2013 got 1+ million viewers, an organizational record at the time. Does that mean Vegh was a huge draw for Bellator? The real reason for the rating was Manny Newton spinning backfist ko'ed King Mo the previous week and it got play on ESPN.

There's just a lot more that goes into a rating than who was on a card often times.

Like I said, the Canadian ratings weren't good for this event. That's one indicator it was more so the unique marketing strategy used in the States to draw such a big # here.

[REDDzone]

I've mentioned this here before, but one of my favorite mma journalists by far is Luke Thomas. He was on the mmabeat around the bellator fight and he had attended the Tito/Bonnar event. They asked a question about Tito and Luke was saying how many Tito fans came out of the woodwork for that event. Basically saying Tito just randomly has a bunch of casuals who still follow him very closely and come out with their team punishment shirts when he fights. Listen to the crowds as he mumbles and stutters his way through post fight interviews and stuff, they go crazy. If he really does have a bunch of fans at the events and such, I don't think its too far fetched that he was a lot of fans and is a tv draw as well.

IDK, obviously this is super OT. But it was just funny to me because Luke was saying that Tito is basically irrelevant among hardcore mma fans but there is just some huge groups of casuals who love and follow the guy for whatever reason.

[CPT]

File this under the "there's no such thing as bad publicity" category. A Forbes article detailing why Conor McGregor isn't Muhammad Ali.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2015/1/21/78 ... hammad-ali

[REDDzone]

Wow, apparently Lorenzo Fritatta knew exactly what he was doing all along.

[Bernman]

I've mentioned this here before, but one of my favorite mma journalists by far is Luke Thomas. He was on the mmabeat around the bellator fight and he had attended the Tito/Bonnar event. They asked a question about Tito and Luke was saying how many Tito fans came out of the woodwork for that event. Basically saying Tito just randomly has a bunch of casuals who still follow him very closely and come out with their team punishment shirts when he fights. Listen to the crowds as he mumbles and stutters his way through post fight interviews and stuff, they go crazy. If he really does have a bunch of fans at the events and such, I don't think its too far fetched that he was a lot of fans and is a tv draw as well.

IDK, obviously this is super OT. But it was just funny to me because Luke was saying that Tito is basically irrelevant among hardcore mma fans but there is just some huge groups of casuals who love and follow the guy for whatever reason.

Eddie Alvarez had a ton of loud fanatics come to his events in the northeast, King Mo a bunch of fans dancing around with "That's Nasty" shirts when he was on a card, and yet they both did terrible tv ratings for Bellator when they were the lead dogs. Crowd noise for a fighter close to their home is not a strong indicator they are a national tv draw.

[REDDzone]

What percentage of people off the street do you think know who either Eddie Alvarez or "King Mo" are relative to the percentage who knows who Tito Ortiz is?

Speaking personally, outside of training partners, I probably don't know one person who has ever heard of either of the former.

[Cammo101]

What percentage of people off the street do you think know who either Eddie Alvarez or "King Mo" are relative to the percentage who knows who Tito Ortiz is?

Speaking personally, outside of training partners, I probably don't know one person who has ever heard of either of the former.

Tito is a much more well known name to the casual fan or even the non-fan. Alvarez and King Mo are guys that aren't big names outside of the hardcore fans, but my girlfriend could tell you who Tito Ortiz is. His high profile with the UFC for so long, his antics, and his marriage to Jenna Jamison made him one of the most recognizable fighters in the entire sport.

[NZB2323]

When I think of Mixed Martial Arts, this is the first image to pop into my mind:

[REDDzone]

Well this sucks. Conor's coach came out and said instead of the May date that was being tossed around, this fight may not happen until mid-summer.

[REDDzone]

The above looks to be confirmed...Aldo/McGregor will be July 11th.

Ugh I was hoping much sooner.

[NZB2323]

One of my coworkers is buying into the McGregor hype. He bet me a 6 pack that Conor bears Aldo.

[UN-Owen]

Both are avoidable if you simply make the obvious fight that everyone wants to see in Aldo vs. Connor.

Aldo hasn't fought since October, while Edgar last fought in November

When do you anticipate the Aldo/McGregor fight going down?

Cause Aldo/Edgar 2 would have been ready to go in late February or early March

This was because Aldo wasn't wanting to fight right away. It would have happened regardless of who got the shot. Please believe the UFC would gladly have made 2 Aldo title fights in this time instead of 1, that's just common sense.

I'd also argue Aldo/McGregor could be ready to go in early March. McGregor took very little damage outside of a few kicks.

Aldo vs McGregor has been scheduled for July 11th


So, you see?

Could've had Aldo fight Edgar in March and still had Aldo vs McGregor in July

[Shaazzam]

lol no chance

[NZB2323]

Aldo hasn't fought since October, while Edgar last fought in November

When do you anticipate the Aldo/McGregor fight going down?

Cause Aldo/Edgar 2 would have been ready to go in late February or early March

This was because Aldo wasn't wanting to fight right away. It would have happened regardless of who got the shot. Please believe the UFC would gladly have made 2 Aldo title fights in this time instead of 1, that's just common sense.

I'd also argue Aldo/McGregor could be ready to go in early March. McGregor took very little damage outside of a few kicks.

Aldo vs McGregor has been scheduled for July 11th


So, you see?

Could've had Aldo fight Edgar in March and still had Aldo vs McGregor in July

I've been arguing that they should have had Aldo vs. Edgar, but there's no way that would have worked. Aldo fought twice in 2014, twice in 2013, once in 2012, twice in 2011, and twice in 2010.

Edgar vs. Faber is a good fight, so I really can't complain much.