The MMA thread

[jayrebb]

Originally Posted by Grimmlokk

They finally got rid of Tito, why would they want the vastly improved version?

Nice Arona interview up at Sherdog if you missed it.

Finding Ricardo Arona

He mentions how tailor made the cage is for him and that the UFC would be his ideal promotion. Personally, I am not a fan of The Iron Blanket, but there's no denying he would be a serious force in the cage. Not sure how much he'd actually dominate, but he'd be instant top 3-4 type guy I think.

His hands are garbage, true. But his leg kicks are easily the most vicious at 205. I assume you have seen them in action. Its been years since hes showcased them though.

Hes had some boring fights, but hes also had some great fights. Dana sounds like an ignorant ass when he called Arona boring 1+ year ago.

[Darph]

You guys argue too much!

Randy vs Fedor!

[Grimmlokk]

Originally Posted by Darph

You guys argue too much!

Randy vs Fedor!

zomg WB Darph!

[Ameraves Loyalheart]

Lindland and Belfort will fight for the middleweight title at Affliction 2.

- BELFORT VS. LINDLAND IN AFFLICTION 2 - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more

[Korbal]

GSP is going to wreck Fitch!

Huerta/Florian is going to be an awesome fight. Huerta by decision! Fight of the night most likely.

Chestner/Herring will be quite the spectacle. I hope chestner loses again but he will probably win via GNP.

[homsar]

Finally payed attention to the UFC 88 card and it has a lot of big names. I figured it was a BS card since Liddell was fighting Rashad but overall looks like some good fights with bad matchmaking.

87, 88, and 89 all look pretty exciting. There was alot of shitty UFC cards through the 70's.

[Grimmlokk]

Jesse Taylor is out of the UFC. Again.

Jesse Taylor Released By UFC - FightLine.com

After a short but tumultuous tenure in the UFC, it's being reported that the UFC has once again dropped Jesse Taylor from the organization. It's said to be both his disappointing performance against C.B. Dollaway and his comments regarding former 205lb. champ Quinton Jackson that earned him the boot. Here's a brief history of the Jesse Taylor saga:

After going on an alcohol fueled spree of property damage and lewd behavior in a Las Vegas Hotel after the taping of "TUF", finalist Jesse Taylor was kicked out of the competition and his dreams were dashed. Dana White told Taylor he needed to "go home and straighten his life out."

Shortly thereafter Taylor was invited back to the UFC to take on fellow cast member C.B. Dollaway on July 19 on the main card of the Silva/Irvin show. He lost that fight via Peruvian necktie in the first round to the Arizona wrestler Dollaway.

Then, after Quinton Jackson got in some trouble with law after his loss to Forrest Griffin, Taylor was quoted as saying, "what goes around comes around, I guess." This was a retort Jackson's comments that the UFC didn't need a guy like Taylor representing the company. Taylor later retracted him comments when he learned that Jackson was suffering from a mental health problem. It was too little too late for Taylor, who is now gone from the UFC once again.

Also, apparently Affliction is asking certain fighters to take 40-50% pay cuts to fight on the October 11th show. Josh Barnett has refused already. On top of that MMAWeekly says there's more failed drug tests about to be released from that show. And some from the EliteXC show.


edit:

Also, very nice interview with Roger Huerta in the latest issue of FIGHT!.
Huerta: I Don’t Care If I Fight In The UFC : MMAPayout.com: The Business of MMA

Some highlights of him talking about the money situation in the UFC.

Neal Taflinger has an explosive piece in this month’s Fight! Magazine, where he gets Latin Lightweight Superstar Roger Huerta to open up about his displeasure with some of the financial practices of the UFC.


Huerta is one of a growing number of Zuffa-contracted fighter who feel that there is a disconnection between the company’s success and the way fighters are compensated. Huerta’s disillusionment with the UFC began when he did press tours for his employer in Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, and London and received a $50 per diem for his troubles. It sounds like a a good deal until you factor in time away from training, friends, and family, days often stretch twelve hours or more, and an exchange rate of one UK pound for two American dollars. “Why do you think I don’t do PR for the UFC any more?” he asks.

He’s also unhappy with the terms of his current contract, but to Huerta, the press tours underscore a larger point: by and the large, Zuffa does not treat its contracted fighters with sufficient loyalty or respect. He argues that many UFC fighters barely make enough to cover their training expenses. He brings up teammate Keith Jardine repeatedly, incensed that a main event fighter is working for ten and ten- $10k to show and 10k to win - while his opponent regularly makes ten times as much.

Huerta’s expression hardens and becomes more animated as talk turns to endorsements. The common counter-argument for complaints about fighter pay is that fighters often make more from endorsements and sponsorships than they do for competing. But Huerta has soured on the system after receiving lowball offers from companies who expect fighters to jump at the chance to endorse products. He rails against a Fortune 500 company for offering a deal to build him as a spokesman that included unpaid work. “Are you serious?” Huerta ask. “I know Dale Earnhardt Jr isn’t doing appearances for free.”

“The truth is, I don’t really care if I fight in the UFC or somewhere else,” Huerta says. The fighter says he understands that Zuffa has to keep an eye on the bottom line, but he wants to work, “For a company that is as loyal to me as I am to them.”

The piece elaborates on Huerta’s contract status with the UFC. Roger has two fights left on his contract and if he beats Kenny Florian he could be held out of competition and be subject to the Zuffa Freeze-out, as used on Andre Arlovski and Brandon Vera during contract negotiations. Huerta has a back-up plan in case this tactic is used, as he can enroll in college and finish up his business management degree this fall at Augsburg College.

Fight! Magazine is available at a local bookstore or news stand near you. The entire article on Huerta is quite good and worth picking up if you get the chance.

When your poster boys keep coming out publicly against your practices, it's not a good sign.

[Guts]

UFC does underpay some of their fighters but it's also the fighter's fault for agreeing on the terms on the contract in the first place. It's stupid how Huerta is complaining. If they aren't liking their pay, do what Arlovski did. Wait and move on to a different org when the contract is up and don't be a bitch about it.

I hope Kenny rear naked chokes his big head.

[Guts]

DOUBLE POST.

[Haalen]

Well... we'll always have the DVDs of his old fights
- VICTIM MISCARRIES FOLLOWING CRASH WITH RAMPAGE JACKSON - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more
Looks like that's all she wrote.

[Darph]

It's ok guys, it was someone else's fault!

[Celebrindal]

[jayrebb]

You know things are getting real bad at Zuffa when Huerta is bashing the company openly.

When is the UFC going to satisfy someone (champs and future champs) besides the rednecks from TUF fighting for 2k?

[homsar]

Originally Posted by jayrebb

You know things are getting real bad at Zuffa when Huerta is bashing the company openly.

When is the UFC going to satisfy someone (champs and future champs) besides the rednecks from TUF fighting for 2k?

Thats funny since there are a ton of fighters that are happy with the UFC and they are current champs/former champs/or soon to be champions. Even barnett has said that the UFC pay and everything isnt bad and people need to shut there mouths about it.

Pretty much all the fighters that came over from pride have stated the Pay is much better and they get treated with much more respect.

[jayrebb]

Originally Posted by homsar

Thats funny since there are a ton of fighters that are happy with the UFC and they are current champs/former champs/or soon to be champions. Even barnett has said that the UFC pay and everything isnt bad and people need to shut there mouths about it.

Pretty much all the fighters that came over from pride have stated the Pay is much better and they get treated with much more respect.

The ones that are "happy" are recieving mediocre pay and are on the Dana White program, just like Tito said. Chuck Liddell is one of the guys on the Dana program.

Thats not even the point. The UFC has failed to retain nearly 10 big names and contenders this year. Even worse is their track record for aquiring new top talent. They have failed miserably there. So much for being the #1 organization.

Its time for Dana to cut the jewish games hes playing and throw some more money out there. They lost their whole heavyweight division. Mir for title shot? bahahahaha.