UFC Oversaturation?

[REDDzone]

I don't care either way about Nick Newell, but if CM Punk and the TUF China cast meet the ufc "standards", then Nick Newell does.

Although to be fair I'm pretty sure sdm is a ufc fighter if those are the standards.

[Jasen777]

He (Newell) is inspirational, but is he any good? I've never actually seen him fight. Even with the standards for being a UFC fighter being almost non-existent, does he meet them? He's 0-1 vs. Wikipedia, and his other wins include a lot of submissions, which tends to happen a lot on super low level regional stuff. One guy knows how to grapple and one doesn't. Would he win fights in the UFC?

He's actually 1-0 against fighters with wiki pages. He was 9-0 regionally before joining WSOF - how many UFC signees have that even fighting in Cage Titans and XFC?

Fight Matrix ranks him at 165 - so no he's probably not "UFC level" in the traditional sense. (Gaethje is 18th).

OTOH, there's certainly UFC fighters ranked lower. Such as Lipeng Zhang (and Chris Wade his next opponent), Josh Shockley, etc.

[REDDzone]

I'm surprised a guy like Keon Caldwell doesn't have a wiki page. That is a decent win imo.

[CPT]

He (Newell) is inspirational, but is he any good? I've never actually seen him fight. Even with the standards for being a UFC fighter being almost non-existent, does he meet them? He's 0-1 vs. Wikipedia, and his other wins include a lot of submissions, which tends to happen a lot on super low level regional stuff. One guy knows how to grapple and one doesn't. Would he win fights in the UFC?

He's actually 1-0 against fighters with wiki pages. He was 9-0 regionally before joining WSOF - how many UFC signees have that even fighting in Cage Titans and XFC?

Fight Matrix ranks him at 165 - so no he's probably not "UFC level" in the traditional sense. (Gaethje is 18th).

OTOH, there's certainly UFC fighters ranked lower. Such as Lipeng Zhang (and Chris Wade his next opponent), Josh Shockley, etc.

Weird.

I swear when I looked at it, Gaethje had a page and Reynolds didn't.

So there would be absolutely no issues with getting him sanctioned to fight in the UFC? I'm speaking from ignorance here, I really don't know.

[Jasen777]

I swear when I looked at it, Gaethje had a page and Reynolds didn't.

It's Wikipedia, so that's entirely possible.

So there would be absolutely no issues with getting him sanctioned to fight in the UFC? I'm speaking from ignorance here, I really don't know.

I don't see why there would be. He's fought in several states, and Canada, none of which were reservations, and all of which presumable of legit (such as it is) commissions.

[REDDzone]

Whoa, listening to this Brian Stann on Rogan podcast...Stann mentions the ufc figured out they have ~585 fighters under contract lol.

[NZB2323]

I thought I'd made this post already, but it doesn't seem to be here.

He (Newell) is inspirational, but is he any good? I've never actually seen him fight. Even with the standards for being a UFC fighter being almost non-existent, does he meet them? He's 0-1 vs. Wikipedia, and his other wins include a lot of submissions, which tends to happen a lot on super low level regional stuff. One guy knows how to grapple and one doesn't. Would he win fights in the UFC?

I feel bad for saying this, but I'd see a one armed fighter in the UFC as more of a freakshow (I know there's got to be a better term) than even CM Punk.

I mean that with all due respect. Newell is probably better at MMA with one arm than I am at my job. His fights are being sanctioned (they haven't all been on Indian reserves or anything, have they?), so I guess there's nothing wrong with it, I just wouldn't want to see him in the UFC.

There are advantages to Newell's body type. He has 2 arms, 1 just ends at his elbow, so he's adjusted his fighting style where he throws a lot of elbows. It also makes him easier to lock in a RNC. Sure, it's a disadvantage in ways, but we've applauded smaller guys fighting bigger guys throughout MMA history where they have more of a distinct disadvantage.

I'm not saying he's UFC level, but to label him as a freakshow seems wrong. At the very least he's TUF level and should get a chance in the house. I'd root for him.

[REDDzone]

There are advantages to Newell's body type. He has 2 arms, 1 just ends at his elbow, so he's adjusted his fighting style where he throws a lot of elbows. It also makes him easier to lock in a RNC.

Aint no armbarring or snatching a kimura on that side either.

[REDDzone]

We've debated this to no end on this board, but the ufc has apparently cut four total events from their schedule for 2015. I think it shows, with more loaded cards. Even a small scale back has made a difference imo, especially when you consider that those four events could have contained up to fifty fighters total.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2563685-how-the-ufc-has-done-more-with-less-in-2015

[cowboyronnie]

That couldn't possibly "show" perceptibly. Think of the math. Think of all the other variables that will affect your perception (you getting laid, bro?).

More UFC.

[REDDzone]

That couldn't possibly "show" perceptibly. Think of the math. Think of all the other variables.

More UFC.

An additional four mains and co-mains spread across other cards. 8% reduction.

[NZB2323]

I'll take that as a small victory.

[MikeandRoland]

So many good points that its hard to add anything that was not already said.

I personally am entertained by all forms of MMA and while I do agree there are less reasons to buy a PPV with so many unknowns on any given card, its tough to ever find a star if they dont have a huge roster and then give them fights to gain notoriety. We have seen quite a few people come up from the bottom...hell Jon Jones used to be on the undercard at one point and we didnt care about him one bit then (and that was a PPV). Would everyone still feel the same about too many events if they provided more for free on Fight Pass (not technically free but you get my point) or on FOX?

[REDDzone]

So many good points that its hard to add anything that was not already said.

I personally am entertained by all forms of MMA and while I do agree there are less reasons to buy a PPV with so many unknowns on any given card, its tough to ever find a star if they dont have a huge roster and then give them fights to gain notoriety. We have seen quite a few people come up from the bottom...hell Jon Jones used to be on the undercard at one point and we didnt care about him one bit then (and that was a PPV). Would everyone still feel the same about too many events if they provided more for free on Fight Pass (not technically free but you get my point) or on FOX?

True about Jones but he was on the undercard back when it meant something to be a ufc fighter.

[NZB2323]

Jon Jones was on the undercard of UFC 100 though, which was an amazing showcase fight for him. UFC 100 was an event and people had parties planned around it, watched the prelims, and talked about that event years afterwards. After that performance he got to headline his own card(not a PPV) against Brandon Vera. In the lead up to that fight just being able to say that Jones was at UFC 100 I feel was great for hyping the fight.

Now it's like: "fighter XYZ fought at UFC XYZ so you better check him out when he takes on fighter ABC at UFC LMNOP! It could be the best fight in UFC history!!!!!!" And people don't care because it's not the same as saying Jon Jones kicked ass at UFC 100. UFC 100 meant something. What does UFC 191 mean? If Alan Jouban or Dan Hooker kick ass on the prelims, will anyone really care?

[MikeandRoland]

Jon Jones was on the undercard of UFC 100 though, which was an amazing showcase fight for him. UFC 100 was an event and people had parties planned around it, watched the prelims, and talked about that event years afterwards. After that performance he got to headline his own card(not a PPV) against Brandon Vera. In the lead up to that fight just being able to say that Jones was at UFC 100 I feel was great for hyping the fight.

Now it's like: "fighter XYZ fought at UFC XYZ so you better check him out when he takes on fighter ABC at UFC LMNOP! It could be the best fight in UFC history!!!!!!" And people don't care because it's not the same as saying Jon Jones kicked ass at UFC 100. UFC 100 meant something. What does UFC 191 mean? If Alan Jouban or Dan Hooker kick ass on the prelims, will anyone really care?

Very true, I agree with your points.I have to imagine its pretty tough to run from a business standpoint. They have enough people to do all these events in a year, but if they were to cut down on those events, to make stacked PPVs; they would leave a lot of money on the table....which does not matter to us fans, but if they are trying to run a business it makes it hard for them to make that decision.

[SDM]

Short of plastering ads all over interstates with their own money, there's really nothing they can do to grow the business without getting lucky and finding another Conor or GSP--- they don't have the grassroots support the other major sports enjoy, so no reliable pipeline of talent and they don't have the MSM support to help blow up their existing product. Having more events is really the only way to do this, but then you have injuries and drug tests. And making it worse is the fact that they've effectively eliminated the need for agents and managers so in many cases a fighter's mass appeal is stunted, so who exactly is expected to break out in that situation via tremendous ability and personality and aura? Like, 10 fighters since I've been watching, and you can argue that a number of them were never fully willing to commit over UFC's cheapness, so UFC themselves couldn't promote the fighters the way they should have been.

Anyway, I like this idea. Fewer jobs for folks on the bottom, but they're never going to become champion and they'll never make more than they would working at 7-11 under UFC as it is. There's now more opportunity at the top of the card instead and they can focus on promoting mains and co mains better.

[blkout]

So many good points that its hard to add anything that was not already said.

I personally am entertained by all forms of MMA and while I do agree there are less reasons to buy a PPV with so many unknowns on any given card, its tough to ever find a star if they dont have a huge roster and then give them fights to gain notoriety. We have seen quite a few people come up from the bottom...hell Jon Jones used to be on the undercard at one point and we didnt care about him one bit then (and that was a PPV). Would everyone still feel the same about too many events if they provided more for free on Fight Pass (not technically free but you get my point) or on FOX?

True about Jones but he was on the undercard back when it meant something to be a ufc fighter.

"DO YOU WANNA BE A F*CKIN FIGHTER!? If so, have you got a pen? Because we've got 300 cards to fill this year.."