Non-threadworthy MMA Rumors/Quotes/Tweets/Etc., Vol. 5

[GoRapstheoriginal]

Is it weird going to an event alone ? Serious question, lol. my friends aren’t the biggest fans, and they wouldn’t shell out the money for the prices that I’m preparing for.. but I really want to go.

I’ll always regret missing out on that Cub-Choi fight.


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Make friends lol

I wish it that was easy.

Oddly, I find it tougher to do so in a big city. I might just buy a “cheap seat” and watch from afar. If my future wife Randa Markos fights, I’ll definitely buy a ticket.


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Ahahahah! Lolz! Wait, isn't she seeing someone already?

[lilfishi22]

I don't really find her attractive...I've also never seen anyone who has alternated between wins and losses as much as her lol 11 straight alternating win/losses

[AirCanadaMouse]

Have you seen her on TUF? It was pretty cool. Aside from her looks (Yes, i do find her attractive), she made me a fan by how she performed. I stopped watching TUF after that season, she was bullied like no other fighter on that show. So much so, they even let her make a phone call and talk with her sister. She went on a nice run as a lower seed, and had a really satisfying win over Felice Herring (Felice blew gum in her face during the stare-down).

I also share a similar experience of leaving the Iran-Iraq war and going to Canada. As you can tell, I'm a big Randa fan. It is frustrating considering the wins and losses (as you mentioned), but I will probably the only guy that pays just to see her. She's the biggest draw for me, LOL.

WAR RANDA!

[REDDzone]

Have you seen her on TUF? It was pretty cool. Aside from her looks (Yes, i do find her attractive), she made me a fan by how she performed. I stopped watching TUF after that season, she was bullied like no other fighter on that show. So much so, they even let her make a phone call and talk with her sister. She went on a nice run as a lower seed, and had a really satisfying win over Felice Herring (Felice blew gum in her face during the stare-down).

I also share a similar experience of leaving the Iran-Iraq war and going to Canada. As you can tell, I'm a big Randa fan. It is frustrating considering the wins and losses (as you mentioned), but I will probably the only guy that pays just to see her. She's the biggest draw for me, LOL.

WAR RANDA!

I liked her too during TUF. Unfortunately she just hasn't performed to her potential. I had forgotten how trash so many of those girls were during that season.

[REDDzone]

One of the funniest obscure storylines in the UFC right now is how badly they want fighters who support Project Spearhead out of the UFC. They basically bought Leslie Smith out of her contract by paying her for not fighting and ending her deal. Then they matched Kajan Johnson up with a killer Islam Makhachev where he was promptly defeated. Now they book him short notice vs Rustam Khabilov in Russia lol. Are they actually threatened by this movement?

[Jasen777]

One of the funniest obscure storylines in the UFC right now is how badly they want fighters who support Project Spearhead out of the UFC. They basically bought Leslie Smith out of her contract by paying her for not fighting and ending her deal. Then they matched Kajan Johnson up with a killer Islam Makhachev where he was promptly defeated. Now they book him short notice vs Rustam Khabilov in Russia lol. Are they actually threatened by this movement?

It is a threat (though I don't think it'd all that bad for the UFC in the long term for the fighters to have an organization), if it had any chance of happening, which I doubt. They do seem threatened.

[REDDzone]

We talked about it earlier in this thread, but listening to Ariel's new show this week...just a cluster of technical issue after technical issue. Dropped calls, choppy audio, sounds being micced up that aren't meant to be. Crazy how a little mma website is able to figure this out but ESPN isn't.

I'm not trying to overstate it. It's not like it's unlistenable or anything. But after listening to the show for years and years, there really is no comparison. Just surprising to me because I thought if anything production value would have increased after the migration to ESPN.

[Duke4life831]

We talked about it earlier in this thread, but listening to Ariel's new show this week...just a cluster of technical issue after technical issue. Dropped calls, choppy audio, sounds being micced up that aren't meant to be. Crazy how a little mma website is able to figure this out but ESPN isn't.

I'm not trying to overstate it. It's not like it's unlistenable or anything. But after listening to the show for years and years, there really is no comparison. Just surprising to me because I thought if anything production value would have increased after the migration to ESPN.

His interview with Woodley was horrible. Woodley's audio is cracking and cutting out almost every other word. You can get the majority of what Woodley is saying, but man for an ESPN production its just so poor. Phone calls sound like trying to have a phone conversation with someone on a cell phone from the early 2000s and anytime skype is used, its like he's stuck with using dial up internet. Its just weird how low the production quality is now.

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[REDDzone]

His interview with Woodley was horrible. Woodley's audio is cracking and cutting out almost every other word. You can get the majority of what Woodley is saying, but man for an ESPN production its just so poor. Phone calls sound like trying to have a phone conversation with someone on a cell phone from the early 2000s and anytime skype is used, its like he's stuck with using dial up internet. Its just weird how low the production quality is now.

Yes! That was maddening, especially since Woodley was spitting fire. And also especially because once or twice Woodley even paused and asked if the audio was coming through okay because he didn't think it was, but Ariel just confirmed to him that the audio was just fine, which makes me think it was somehow ESPN's fault tbh.

[REDDzone]

I'd love to know candidly how Ariel feels about his move these days. It's pretty obvious he was running sh*t at mmafighting where that's obviously not the case for ESPN. He used to use his show as a platform for his own views whereas now I feel like he's just an interview monkey. Last week was all interviews with zero time for his own recaps/opinions at all, literally the show ended as soon as the last interview was over. No fan questions, no New York Ric, no anything. Now I see this week they ended the show and then did a post show where they did fan questions, etc. I remember Ariel b*tching about it pretty vocally when they tried doing that at mmafighting.

[Duke4life831]

I'd love to know candidly how Ariel feels about his move these days. It's pretty obvious he was running sh*t at mmafighting where that's obviously not the case for ESPN. He used to use his show as a platform for his own views whereas now I feel like he's just an interview monkey. Last week was all interviews with zero time for his own recaps/opinions at all, literally the show ended as soon as the last interview was over. No fan questions, no New York Ric, no anything. Now I see this week they ended the show and then did a post show where they did fan questions, etc. I remember Ariel b*tching about it pretty vocally when they tried doing that at mmafighting.

For his sake, I hope he got a nice pay bump. He knows hes going to have a job for the next few years because no way ESPN scraps him during their deal with the UFC. The dude is still young, I think hes going to make a good chunk of money over the next few years, once the UFC deal is up, ESPN will part ways and Im sure he will just go right back to running his own thing again.

This is what I dont get with channels like ESPN. You hire guys like Ariel for a reason, people like their product. Let them come in and keep doing their thing and you will get his audience. Dont bring him in then all of a sudden give him crappy production value and change up the format.

This even goes for Ariel's show with Chael. Those 2 guys clearly know how to market themselves and make a good product that people want to see. They shouldve let those 2 come up with an idea for their show and let them do it. Not just try and make it like every other afternoon ESPN show where 2 guys talk a list of subjects with a clock counting down for each subject. Then add in the amateurish production for that thing, that show's production is seriously a joke, Im 95% sure they have all the interns run that show.

[REDDzone]

For his sake, I hope he got a nice pay bump. He knows hes going to have a job for the next few years because no way ESPN scraps him during their deal with the UFC. The dude is still young, I think hes going to make a good chunk of money over the next few years, once the UFC deal is up, ESPN will part ways and Im sure he will just go right back to running his own thing again.

This is what I dont get with channels like ESPN. You hire guys like Ariel for a reason, people like their product. Let them come in and keep doing their thing and you will get his audience. Dont bring him in then all of a sudden give him crappy production value and change up the format.

This even goes for Ariel's show with Chael. Those 2 guys clearly know how to market themselves and make a good product that people want to see. They shouldve let those 2 come up with an idea for their show and let them do it. Not just try and make it like every other afternoon ESPN show where 2 guys talk a list of subjects with a clock counting down for each subject. Then add in the amateurish production for that thing, that show's production is seriously a joke, Im 95% sure they have all the interns run that show.

I haven't and probably won't watch that show due to the paywall. But my guess is that is the reason why they just use him as the interview monkey now. They probably don't want him to share his opinion too much on his own show when he can save it for that show.

[Duke4life831]

For his sake, I hope he got a nice pay bump. He knows hes going to have a job for the next few years because no way ESPN scraps him during their deal with the UFC. The dude is still young, I think hes going to make a good chunk of money over the next few years, once the UFC deal is up, ESPN will part ways and Im sure he will just go right back to running his own thing again.

This is what I dont get with channels like ESPN. You hire guys like Ariel for a reason, people like their product. Let them come in and keep doing their thing and you will get his audience. Dont bring him in then all of a sudden give him crappy production value and change up the format.

This even goes for Ariel's show with Chael. Those 2 guys clearly know how to market themselves and make a good product that people want to see. They shouldve let those 2 come up with an idea for their show and let them do it. Not just try and make it like every other afternoon ESPN show where 2 guys talk a list of subjects with a clock counting down for each subject. Then add in the amateurish production for that thing, that show's production is seriously a joke, Im 95% sure they have all the interns run that show.

I haven't and probably won't watch that show due to the paywall. But my guess is that is the reason why they just use him as the interview monkey now. They probably don't want him to share his opinion too much on his own show when he can save it for that show.

Its a joke of a show, which sucks to say cause I actually really like those 2. But just imagine PTI with crappy over the top production. Whenever I watch it, it reminds me of the episode of It's Always Sunny when they start a podcast and just go overboard with the sound effects. They cant let those guys talk for more than 30 seconds without having to just throw in loud music or noises. Plus it really puts a cap on those 2 guys personalities.

Not saying this would be the best idea, but like a small Open Court type setup of more just open flow discussion of topics would be great. Let Chael go off on his crazy Chael rants, then let Ariel play the Ernie type role of throwing in his input and also keeping Chael in check. Even that would be better than just another crappy PTI ripoff.

[Jasen777]

I'd love to know candidly how Ariel feels about his move these days.

It sounds like it's been tougher than he probably expected. But I wouldn't be surprised if he's anticipating ESPN being such a dominant force in MMA media once they get the UFC and really start promoting it, that it's either join or get majorly marginalized.

[AirCanadaMouse]

Have you seen her on TUF? It was pretty cool. Aside from her looks (Yes, i do find her attractive), she made me a fan by how she performed. I stopped watching TUF after that season, she was bullied like no other fighter on that show. So much so, they even let her make a phone call and talk with her sister. She went on a nice run as a lower seed, and had a really satisfying win over Felice Herring (Felice blew gum in her face during the stare-down).

I also share a similar experience of leaving the Iran-Iraq war and going to Canada. As you can tell, I'm a big Randa fan. It is frustrating considering the wins and losses (as you mentioned), but I will probably the only guy that pays just to see her. She's the biggest draw for me, LOL.

WAR RANDA!

I liked her too during TUF. Unfortunately she just hasn't performed to her potential. I had forgotten how trash so many of those girls were during that season.

It was responsible for me hating most of the SW contenders (at one point), that is why I will always roll my eyes when Rose talks about anti-bullying, peace and about JJ's lack of humility. It's easy to say of all that, but judging by her time on the show, she did not act on those things at all. I remember Randa being upset at her, and Rose was like "but I didn't take part in the bullying".... and that's why she was upset, she was just a bystander. Is JJ even wrong for calling her emotionally weak?

The worst thing Randa did was leave Tri-Star imo, electing to train at The Garage Gym, some lower end place in Windsor. She bounces a lot from smaller places a lot too, but it hasn't helped her progress at all. She made some great strides under Firas, I find a lot of the female fighters leaving Tri Star though, it just happened recently with Joanne Calderwood.

[AirCanadaMouse]

I stopped tuning into Ariel's show just based on how they uploaded the videos. It was a complete mess, really unorganized, and I didn't want to sub to ESPN's youtube channel just for Ariel's show. It's funny, because ESPN is obviously a bigger platform for him, but the views don't reflect that at ll. Uploading the full shows only on Twitter was a huge mistake too.

I believe they just recently uploaded the videos in a more structured format, but it took them far too long to clue in. Also, I realize most MMA media outlets just post the real meat and potatoes of the interviews during the week, providing me the quotes that I actually care for.

[REDDzone]

It was responsible for me hating most of the SW contenders (at one point), that is why I will always roll my eyes when Rose talks about anti-bullying, peace and about JJ's lack of humility. It's easy to say of all that, but judging by her time on the show, she did not act on those things at all. I remember Randa being upset at her, and Rose was like "but I didn't take part in the bullying".... and that's why she was upset, she was just a bystander. Is JJ even wrong for calling her emotionally weak?

The worst thing Randa did was leave Tri-Star imo, electing to train at The Garage Gym, some lower end place in Windsor. She bounces a lot from smaller places a lot too, but it hasn't helped her progress at all. She made some great strides under Firas, I find a lot of the female fighters leaving Tri Star though, it just happened recently with Joanne Calderwood.

Yep. Carla, Rose, Felice, Angela Hill, Angela Magana, Bec Rawlings. All trash IIRC.

[spykelee]

Cowboy blasted Mike winklejohn on JRE. I didn't disagree with his Assessment on the Perry fight. As if he's the one who had to train outside of the camp

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[lilfishi22]

Listening to it now. Good thing they get right into the meat of that topic early.

I'm with Cowboy on this. It's a bit ridiculous to join a new crew and then call out of the mainstays for a fight. That being said, it seems like Cowboy and Wink never really saw eye to eye ( ) on since the Jackson-Wink merger and with Jackson stepping back and Wink turning the place into a puppy mill. I can see why Wink would take the side of the new blood and someone that is paying him.

It's tough to know what kind of arrangement they have but it does seem to me like Wink made a business decision to take on a younger guy, who's bringing money in (paying for training, I gathered), hasn't hit his peak yet and if successful could bring in more money going forward while Cowboy is a bit over the hill at this point in his career and won't have the longevity.

[Nemesis21]

I hope Cowboy wrecks Perry, then tells Wink to suck it DX style

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