Another Franklin loss bad for the UFC hype machine great for MMA fans

murryball4 · 08-22-2007, 08:08 PM

If Silva pulls off another victory over Rich Franklin it doesn't help the UFC's plans for gaining MMA exposure, because Rich is very marketable and a guy who an average Joe casual fan can relate to. But a second loss puts Rich pretty far back down the ladder and opens the door for the UFC return of Jeremy Horn or, gasp, Matt Lindland; two guys I think the UFC would be eager to retain if Rich goes down again. Do you guys think we'll see these two in the octagon soon if Rich loses.

juggo · 08-22-2007, 08:14 PM

Horn/Lindland? How about signing Denis Kang, that's what I'm waiting for.

Horn is a possible signing though. Lindland? It's up to him. He doesn't want to sign an exclusive contract. And the UFC isn't going to sign, much less give a title shot, to a guy they can't control.

OcelotlX · 08-22-2007, 08:16 PM

Lindland is definetly possible, especially with the quote from the dana interview the other day, IMHO horn is on the downside of his career and i really think he is going to concentrate on training others rather than trying to make a run at a belt. Im with juggo though...where the hell IS dennis kang?

DisposableHero · 08-22-2007, 08:17 PM

Jeremy Horn? I don't see him making a title run in the UFC anymore. He may have been an A-class fighter 5 years ago but I don't see him there anymore at all.

hyde97 · 08-22-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OcelotlX

Lindland is definetly possible, especially with the quote from the dana interview the other day, IMHO horn is on the downside of his career and i really think he is going to concentrate on training others rather than trying to make a run at a belt. Im with juggo though...where the hell IS dennis kang?

What did Dana say? I would have thought Lindland was a long shot given the history.
And, I agree, Denis Kang needs to be signed immediately, and get Filho in the mix soon as well.

HxC · 08-22-2007, 08:20 PM

i want to see kang in there more than anyone else.

Kaloo · 08-22-2007, 08:30 PM

I don't understand how Anderson Silva can't be "marketable." Just because he can't speak english? Ok, so wouldn't that make guys like Fedor, Wanderlei, and Shogun.. guys who are at the top of their weight classes un-marketable? That's bullshit. It should based on the way they fight, and Anderson is a knockout artist. That alone should draw huge crowds. He's already had highlight reel finishes against Leben and Franklin. THe Marquardt finish wasn't all that flashy, but it was still pretty brutal. With all that accomplished, he should be pretty well known amongst the casual UFC fans already. I say keep showing his fights on Unleashed or something. But i'm just getting sick of fighters getting the "unmarketable" tag just because they aren't bilingual.

MyChemicalRonin · 08-22-2007, 08:33 PM

Umm..Why does DOORS OPENING in the MW division hinge on Franklin losing?!!?!?

Why does everybody on this site act like Franklin's some sort of devil keeping more talent from entering the MW division??

Idiots.

murryball4 · 08-22-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaloo

I don't understand how Anderson Silva can't be "marketable." Just because he can't speak english? Ok, so wouldn't that make guys like Fedor, Wanderlei, and Shogun.. guys who are at the top of their weight classes un-marketable? That's bullshit. It should based on the way they fight, and Anderson is a knockout artist. That alone should draw huge crowds. He's already had highlight reel finishes against Leben and Franklin. THe Marquardt finish wasn't all that flashy, but it was still pretty brutal. With all that accomplished, he should be pretty well known amongst the casual UFC fans already. I say keep showing his fights on Unleashed or something. But i'm just getting sick of fighters getting the "unmarketable" tag just because they aren't bilingual.

It has more to do with Franklin being SO marketable more than anything. He like Couture is one of those guys who a first time viewer sees and says, "Whoa, he looks like my neighbor not some angry meat head, I would watch more of him." He used to be a school teacher for God's sake.
Silva can be marketable, it's just not as much of a slam dunk.

MyChemicalRonin · 08-22-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaloo

I don't understand how Anderson Silva can't be "marketable." Just because he can't speak english? Ok, so wouldn't that make guys like Fedor, Wanderlei, and Shogun.. guys who are at the top of their weight classes un-marketable? That's bullshit. It should based on the way they fight, and Anderson is a knockout artist. That alone should draw huge crowds. He's already had highlight reel finishes against Leben and Franklin. THe Marquardt finish wasn't all that flashy, but it was still pretty brutal. With all that accomplished, he should be pretty well known amongst the casual UFC fans already. I say keep showing his fights on Unleashed or something. But i'm just getting sick of fighters getting the "unmarketable" tag just because they aren't bilingual.

B/c right now..the UFC is still not favorable in MOST states in the U.S. If Dana is going to have somebody to come w/ him to smooze politicians and speak on the UFC's behalf as a fighter. Is he going to want the Brazilian who's NOT AMERICAN and can't speak english???

Or..Is he going to want the American who is clean cut, has a master's degree, and use to teach high school children??/

Nuff said.

I'm not sayin that Silva is a bad champ. I'm just saying that for the purposes of making the UFC palatable so that they can bring more fights to US THE FANS in different states...I can understand why Dana would prefer Rich.

BTW...If Rich wins...HOW THE HELL WILL IT BE BAD FOR THE FANS!??!!? <--That's for the OP. Not u.