The Current State of MMA

[Green Eyed Pit]

Following are a few thoughts and opinions on the current state of Mixed Martial Arts as it pertains to the American fanbase. Topics included will be Pride FC, the ever expanding UFC, and what the WEC could mean to stateside fans. Right now is a beautiful time for hardcore followers as well as newcomers to the sport. Enjoy.

Pride was good, Pride was great, but Pride is dead.

And how could it not be? With the UFC signing all the top talent from their (PrideFC) organization they simply have no recognizable names anymore. Did the Fertittas and Dana White have this planned all along? Maybe, and I personally think that it is great for all fans stateside. And why not? The dream matches will come. Now cards will be filled with ex Pride fighters and we will be entertained with matches only our wildest dreams could fathom before. Wandy vs. Chuck, AA vs. CC, Fedor vs. Couture, Minotauro vs. Couture, Shogun vs. Liddell, Hendo vs. A. Silva, Aoki vs. Diaz/Sherk, Gomi vs Sherk. We should all be salivating at the thought of finally getting to see these great matches. Just as in life, things change. And this time it's for the better. With the aquisition of Pride and all subsequent contracts we will be treated to all of the blockbuster MMA matches that we have yearned for. Kudos to Zuffa, and with respect to DSE, things would have never been this way if they had run their business better. Why have another Pride event when the card would be filled with yesterdays leftovers? I see the UFC having several events in Japan in the very near future, selling out big arenas and bringing the brand to the overseas market. We should all be ecstatic, not pissed at the wonderful matches that are to come.

UFC is on the Road to Global Domination

Manchester, London, Belfast. More cards, more fights, more MMA entertainment. And that's really what we all want, right? This trend will continue into other countries like Mexico and Japan, and before you know it we will be having three UFC's (at least) every month. It's already started, in fact, this month alone we have the Fight Night(free),UFC 72, as well as the TUF Finals(free). Again I stress, why is this not a good thing? I hear so many people bashing the UFC and what it is doing to MMA right now and I think that the things those people are saying are absolutely rediculous. I'm glad the UFC brass has made this major step in the right direction. We WILL know who the best fighters in the world are, because simply put, they will fight each other. As an era ends, so a new one begins. This is something that MMA fans around the world should embrace and support.

Hello WEC

I would be lying if I said I was a large follower of this organization before its aquisition by Zuffa. I knew Faber, but had never seen many of it's other top fighters before. Just like the minor leagues, the WEC will farm more top talent for the Ultimate Fighting Championships. With Filho's current signing to the WEC there is no telling who else they will bring in. Their production values were great. The show was great. And I look forward to catching every subsequent card they hold in the future. Zuffa is going to build the WEC into an absolute powerhouse. And I predict that in the future it will look more like top selling UFC cards. Pitting big name fighters against each other is what brings in the money, and Zuffa knows this. That's why Filho is going to be the first step in an influx of ex Pride fighters to the organization. Simply outstanding, and I couldn't be happier. I look forward to many great events from what will become(and already is) the UFC's sister company. Expect big things from the WEC in the future.

In Conclusion..

We can all finally rest our MMA filled heads peacefully on our pillows at night. Things that were pure speculation have now become a reality. A dream come true for longtime followers as well as the new fans. As in life, for every man who dies a child is born. We mourn our losses, but celebrate bright futures. And the outlook of the MMA world is extremely bright.

Thanks for reading. And feedback is always welcome.

[Green Eyed Pit]

ttt

[Green Eyed Pit]

ttt yet again.. this an actually an intelligent post.

[Mochan]

UFC has not signed all the Pride top talent. Where is Fedor? Gomi? Aoki? Sokoudjou? Filho? Wandy? Barnett? Hunt? We're still missing a lot.

I still can't rest my head I miss Pride rules and I don't like the boring and bland UFC production. I'll rest easier once K1 Hero gains a stronger foot hold, a larger talent pool, and gets crossover fights with the UFC.

And peace bro but you sound pathetic calling your own post intelligent.

[Green Eyed Pit]

Originally Posted by Mochan

UFC has not signed all the Pride top talent. Where is Fedor? Gomi? Aoki? Sokoudjou? Filho? Wandy? Barnett? Hunt? We're still missing a lot.

I still can't rest my head I miss Pride rules and I don't like the boring and bland UFC production. I'll rest easier once K1 Hero gains a stronger foot hold, a larger talent pool, and gets crossover fights with the UFC.

And peace bro but you sound pathetic calling your own post intelligent.

Well compared to 90% of the garbage on this site it most definitely is. And Filho just signed with WEC. Wandy is going to fight Chuck next. Where have you been sir? K-1 will NEVER compete with the UFC in the U.S. market. As evidenced by their poor showing this past weekend. You just sound bitter... like you're grasping onto a dying puppy. You can't save him. I knew the fanboys would be out in force.

And furthermore, the UFC has the financial backing to bring in the fighters that the people really want to see. Will Barnett and Hunt have a home? I don't know.. the UFC HW division has become pretty stacked... *snicker*

[Green Eyed Pit]

ttt

[soohrednaB]

Originally Posted by Green Eyed Pit

Following are a few thoughts and opinions on the currect state of Mixed Martial Arts as it pertains to the American fanbase. Topics included will be Pride FC, the ever expanding UFC, and what the WEC could mean to stateside fans. Right now is a beautiful time for hardcore followers as well as newcomers to the sport. Enjoy.

Pride was good, Pride was great, but Pride is dead.

And how could it not be? With the UFC signing all the top talent from their (PrideFC) organization they simply have no recognizable names anymore. Did the Fertittas and Dana White have this planned all along? Maybe, and I personally think that it is great for all fans stateside. And why not? The dream matches will come. Now cards will be filled with ex Pride fighters and we will be entertained with matches only our wildest dreams could fathom before. Wandy vs. Chuck, AA vs. CC, Fedor vs. Couture, Minotauro vs. Couture, Shogun vs. Liddell, Hendo vs. A. Silva, Aoki vs. Diaz/Sherk, Gomi vs Sherk. We should all be salivating at the thought of finally getting to see these great matches. Just as in life, things change. And this time it's for the better. With the aquisition of Pride and all subsequent contracts we will be treated to all of the blockbuster MMA matches that we have yearned for. Kudos to Zuffa, and with respect to DSE, things would have never been this way if they had run their business better. Why have another Pride event when the card would be filled with yesterdays leftovers? I see the UFC having several events in Japan in the very near future, selling out big arenas and bringing the brand to the overseas market. We should all be ecstatic, not pissed at the wonderful matches that are to come.

UFC is on the Road to Global Domination

Manchester, London, Belfast. More cards, more fights, more MMA entertainment. And that's really what we all want, right? This trend will continue into other countries like Mexico and Japan, and before you know it we will be having three UFC's (at least) every month. It's already started, in fact, this month alone we have the Fight Night(free),UFC 72, as well as the TUF Finals(free). Again I stress, why is this not a good thing? I hear so many people bashing the UFC and what it is doing to MMA right now and I think that the things those people are saying are absolutely rediculous. I'm glad the UFC brass has made this major step in the right direction. We WILL know who the best fighters in the world are, because simply put, they will fight each other. As an era ends, so a new one begins. This is something that MMA fans around the world should embrace and support.

Hello WEC

I would be lying if I said I was a large follower of this organization before its aquisition by Zuffa. I knew Faber, but had never seen many of it's other top fighters before. Just like the minor leagues, the WEC will farm more top talent for the Ultimate Fighting Championships. With Filho's current signing to the WEC there is no telling who else they will bring in. Their production values were great. The show was great. And I look forward to catching every subsequent card they hold in the future. Zuffa is going to build the WEC into an absolute powerhouse. And I predict that in the future it will look more like top selling UFC cards. Pitting big name fighters against each is what brings in the money, and Zuffa knows this. That's why Filho is going to be the first step in an influx of ex Pride fighters to the organization. Simply outstanding, and I couldn't be happier. I look forward to many great events from what will become(and already is) the UFC's sister company. Expect big things from the WEC in the future.

In Conclusion..

We can all finally rest our MMA filled heads peacefully on our pillows at night. Things that were pure speculation have now become a reality. A dream come true for longtime followers as well as the new fans. As in life, for every man who dies a child is born. We mourn our losses, but celebrate bright futures. And the outlook of the MMA world is extremely bright.

Thanks for reading. And feedback is always welcome.

When UFC rules finally allow knees to the head on the ground, ALL will be right.....good post.

[caliborn]

Please stop posting until you actually have other people responding.

Is Pride dead? Obviously.

Will K-1 be able to compete with the UFC in the U.S. market? Well, I don't know and niether do you. They have the money and the recognition to be pretty successfull, but not more so than the UFC.

K-1 will hopefully have better fighters than the WEC for the sake of competition but all three are likely to be the main stages of MMA.

I also hope K-1 takes over where Pride left off and the UFC seems unlikely to grow ... Japan.

UFC is the #1 org without a doubt and will have great fights in the future but it falls short of the showmanship that Pride FC was known for (inside and outside the fight stage), and that I will miss dearly.

K-1 Heros will be the next best thing to Pride.

[phizban]

PRIDE is dead, UFC is dominating, WEC will probably get bigger

but....

somewhere in your post i missed how this is a "dream come true" instead of a "nightmare"

well, thank god we at least get to see all the dream matchups now like.... Nog vs. Herring

and thank god we get to see Filho in the WEC, when everybody knows he would murder Silva in the UFC

[TheSpartan]

I'd love to see the IFL come up. I love the whole team aspect. Its very dissapointing that PRIDE is no longer kicking. It was a great organization that put up some insane cards.