A few weeks ago, I detailed how just one injury to a UFC fighter could have negatively affected the whole balance of two of UFC’s biggest shows of 2016. How fortunate for them that an injury did occur, but instead it brought more positive fortune for the company. UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael Dos Anjos suffered a broken foot in training for his UFC 196 title bout with Connor McGregor, requiring him to take 4-6 weeks off. As it stands, the bout has been pushed back and will most likely occur as the main event of UFC 200 in July, giving the company the big storyline they were looking for to headline the show: their hottest star’s quest to become a champion in 2 different weight classes.
But meanwhile, there are about 10,000 cavorting Irishmen (and women) who have hotel rooms and flights booked for Las Vegas for March 5th, and they demand a show. In order to protect the McGregor gravy train, and to ensure that there are no requests for refunds, a call went out to any contender in a 25 lb range and they found someone with enough fight and enough mouth to make it work. Nate Diaz will be McGregor’s next opponent and the recipient of a McGregor “Red Panty Night”. What’s intriguing about the fight is that it will be held at Welterweight (170lbs) as opposed to either of the weights McGregor has previously competed at (145 & 155 lbs). This covers all angles of risk for UFC, as it ensures a big buy rate for the show with a tough, trash talking opponent while it protects McGregor, in the event of a loss, from being derailed on championship quests for either title. There is risk for McGregor as to this date he hasn’t faced anyone with Diaz’ chin, long reach and jab, but Diaz also comes in on a 2-week camp. A loss for McGregor at a weight class where he has no intent on pursuing the title only puts the blemish on his current 15 fight win streak (7 of those since joining UFC). Were Diaz to lose, he’ll certainly mouth off about not having a full camp and will insert himself in line for a title shot should McGregor accomplish his goal of winning the Lightweight title.
0 Comments
“Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure.”
Earl Wilson As UFC closes the books on a spectacular 2015, their ability to replicate and exceed such success hinges on factors that are nearly out of their control as they prepare for 2016. In fact, UFC 197 in March may wind up being the biggest show of the year. While Ultimate Fighting Championships has successfully branded itself as the premier promotion in oshark_mma_ufc_logoMixed Martial Arts across the world for years, 2015 saw the company reach new heights thanks to a pair of megastars that have eclipsed in popularity any other fighter to put on the iconic UFC gloves. From Anderson Silva, Randy Couture, Chuck Lidell, Brock Lesnar to George St. Pierre, none of these men (who all weigh over 175 lbs) can match the popularity behind UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor and former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey. In the last two years, McGregor and Rousey captivated two unique, and possibly, individual audiences: Those who were captivated by the well-dressed, charismatic, brash McGregor with speedy, powerful fists and fans who were absolutely mystified at the sight of the blond bombshell Rousey, who could be mistaken for a woman in Anywhere USA, physically dominating her opponents in a fashion rarely seen by anyone, including her male counterparts. Thanks to their fights, numerous media appearances, soundbytes and highlights, all carefully orchestrated by UFC, fans flocked to watch these two in record numbers in 2015, with four million pay per view buys between the 5 fights featuring either Rousey or McGregor in the main event. The roadmap to UFC’s big anniversary event, UFC 200 is currently laid out, but to make it a more successful show than UFC 100 (which had 1.6 million pay per view buys) is dependent on big star power for the main event and on a number of things to go perfectly right. UFC 197 has been booked for March 5th with a double main event featuring McGregor going up in weight to challenge Rafael Dos Anjos for his Lightweight title and Holly Holm defending her Women’s Bantamweight strap against #1 contender Meisha Tate. The women’s fight is intriguing because it will be Holm’s first title defense since her shocking victory over the celebrity Rousey. A win lines her up to defend her title in the fall against a returning Rousey in a fight that can take on legendary proportions for all the redemption storylines involved. It could legitimately be UFC’s single biggest fight of all time considering the media attention it will get. But what if Meisha Tate wins? Were that to happen, Rousey would find herself staring across the octagon at a familiar rival and someone that she shares few good feelings about. In fact, many would argue that Rousey’s popularity in UFC stemmed from the trash talking and near fisticuffs that occurred during their stint as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter. A rematch between those two will ensure more cross words and a true grudge match feel. As a result, no matter who wins the Holm/Tate fight, women’s fighting will remain a hot commodity in 2016. |
Steve TozinA connoisseur of global sports, entertainment, pro-wrestling and mixed martial arts. Archives
April 2016
Categories
All
|