[bankerboy]

It is no secret that the UFC is the 10,000 pound gorilla of the sport and I for one am a fan of the UFC. I know people enjoy bashing the UFC and Dana White, however, I think that the UFC continues to professionally promote the sport and Dana White was a major part of legitimizing a sport that was ridiculed as barbaric. Dana White is still working to grow the sport and is constantly faced with critics and adverse elements. There are still people in the media such as Jim Lampley that are so worried about protecting their livilihood that they are not responsible with there comments. I would have no problem with Lampley's criticism of the sport if he was a legitimate journalist and actually investigated, but that's a topic for another thread. With that said, I think Dana needs to assess the future of his promotion.

If you look at the feeder promotions that have developed the current talent pool, the most respected have recently been purchased including King of the Cage, the Gladiator series, ICON and Cage Rage. Additionally, new organizations with competing business plans and cash are further depleting the talent pool. All in all, I think that the future of MMA as a whole is bright as it becomes more mainstream with people like Mark Cuban involved. Cuban can make introductions to corporate American giants like Nike and Reebok and it is only a matter of time before they become a part of the MMA world.

However, the dilemma facing the UFC is going to be developing talent. The current Champions are rapidly aging before our eyes and it is only a matter of time before they fade away. The Ultimate Fighter Series is not going to develop enough talent to keep the promotion at the top of its game. If the UFC is going to continue to be the pre-eminent power of the sport, they need to develop relationships or form a minor league system. If they fail to do so soon, they will ultimately be surpassed by the competition.

Any thought?

[Fear_Wanderlei]

I can definately understand what you're saying. However, I think Dana's too stubburn.

[chunkylover63]

I thought that was what WEC was for.

[Rematch]

You must understand that to the UFC every other org is the feeder org.

[MrGreen]

They have the WEC as a great breeding ground as well as the $$ to snatch most fighters away from there current orgs if they are needed. Plus new and exciting fighters are popping up left and right in the UFC (Houston Alexander anyone?) so I see them being just fine.

[boxerdoug]

UFC still has its talent but the competition must be offering good money, elite xc, wec, etc seem to have lured some of the best fighters. either they were on the outs with ufc, ala Robbie Lawler, good for fans, so I wont complain

[will1984]

i thought dana wasnt going to touch the fighters in the WEC. I thought it was agreed upon that the fighters in the WEC will remain in the WEC and the will not fight between organizations?

Does anyone know if that was true?

Cause if not, then dana needs to bring filho to fight a few fights in the UFC.