Between The Ropes
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Central Florida's Sports Radio 740 The Team
Simulcast online at BetweenTheRopes.com
On Wednesday night, May 9, the voice of the UFC Mike Goldberg joined hosts Brian Fritz, Dickerman, and Vito DeNucci live on Between The Ropes on Central Florida's Sports Radio 740 The Team to discuss the impact of the resent upsets in the UFC, how he feels about being left off the future HBO broadcasts, the improving media coverage of the UFC, and much more.
The interview began with a discussion about the fact that it wasn't too long ago that Mike was in negotiations with Vince McMahon to commentate for WWE. Mike said
"What was going through my mind? I think about that sometimes and I wonder. Obviously the big man upstairs smartened me up at the right moment. I would have been heartbroken to leave the UFC and the family we've built over so many years, but it really would have crushed me if I would have made that decision and to look from afar at all the momentum UFC has gained…and not been a part of it after all those nights in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and Casino Magic and all those other places we went to keep the sport alive. It would have been a bummer, that's for sure."
Next the recent rash of upsets was brought up. Mike said that he was most surprised with the victories by Serra and Gonzaga because of how they happened.
-Regarding Serra beating St. Pierre: Mike said this was the most shocking of the upsets to him and that "I thought if Matt was going to defeat him he would have to take him down and keep him down and utilize his jujitsu since I didn't think Matt would win a striking battle."
-Regarding Couture beating Sylvia: "I was one of the few guys who didn't doubt Randy Couture, even at 43 years old."
-Regarding Gonzaga over Cro Cop and the upcoming Gonzaga – Couture match up: "I though Gonzaga would clinch, maybe take Cro Cop down and utilize some jujitsu. But, then with the left kick Gonzaga did to Cro Cop what Cro Cop had done to so many other people." Mike also noted that he feels Gonzaga will be a much worse match up for Couture. "Though I don't think Randy will be without a game plan, I think his game plan would have been more simple and more toward his strengths in a match up against Mirco Cro Cop."
Have the upsets hurt business to some extent? "We'll find out, I think that's a legit question. But, the good thing if you think about it is that Serra is a star. Matt Serra became a big star on The Ultimate Fighter 4 and Matt's been around a long time. He's an instant sound bite and has great personality…If you had Gabriel Gonzaga and someone who is an unknown to some of the new fans you might have problems, but now you'll still have Captain America Randy Couture step into the octagon, so at this point it's too early to tell." Mike also said that while the upsets have put some potential mega match ups on the back burner Joe Silva, the UFC match maker, would stack future cards so that they are less dependant on just one main match. Mike then said that the upsets have made the UFC stop predicting too far out in the future, but the upsets have also created new marketable stars that are needed.
The increase of UFC programming was then mentioned and Mike was asked if there was any fear of over saturation. Mike did admit that it was a fear, but so long as they are showing entertaining fights they will be able to convert new viewers into fans.
Mike was asked about his reaction to being left off of the HBO broadcasts and said that neither he, his bosses, nor anyone on the production crew was very happy with that situation, but in the end he wants to be part of the solution rather than be a problem. He also said that "perhaps our fans will gain an appreciation for the show we're able to put on, because given what HBO put on the air last Saturday night (the Mayweather v. De La Hoya fight), which I don't think was anything special in terms of production, I'll put our product up against theirs."
Next Mike was asked if the UFC learned anything from the promotion of the Mayweather – De La Hoya fight? Mike said that he feels the UFC countdown shows are very good, but that they are always better when there is a good story between the fighters. With that in mind Mike said "HBO had the perfect story to tell. It would have been a bloody shame if they would have messed it up. They had Oscar De La Hoya, arguably the most popular fighter in the last decade. They had Floyd Mayweather Jr., with the estranged father on the other side of the ropes…the street kid versus the golden boy. If you can't tell that story and make it intriguing then you can't tell a story. I think you learn that what they did they did very well, but you also learn that every piece of the puzzle was in place."
The discussion then turned to the build up for Chuck Liddell v. Rampage Jackson with Mike talking about what a great story the fight has behind it. Mike emphasized how Rampage's personality and the severity of the beat down he gave to Chuck make for a particularly great story. "I have no doubt that we'll be able to tell the story very well because it's a great story to tell and also because Rampage brings so much. Rampage just captures the lens. He redefines charisma and superstar ability…Chuck has already established his personality, as soft spoken as he is you listen to everything he says." Mike then said that these conflicting personalities should be a great complement for the conflict in the ring.
The interview wrapped up with Mike discussing the changes in how MMA has been covered in the main stream media lately. Mike said that the coverage has been much fairer lately and he has seen two main changes as a result. "First fans don't come up to me and ask if Royce Gracie is still fighting. That's what I got in 1997, 1998 and into 2000 when I was fist starting with the UFC. Everybody was wondering about Tank Abbott, Ken Shamrock, Kimo, or Royce Gracie...Now we have people talk about Liddell, Couture, Serra, St. Pierre, and on down the line. Secondly…people talk about the sport in an educated fashion now. They understand that our guys train very hard, that they are skilled, that they are diversified, and that they are educated like Chuck Liddell with an accounting degree from Cal Poly. They tell those stories. Not everybody has gotten it right, but now the majority of the media that has covered us has gotten it right. What impresses me most is that reporters are taking pride in doing their own research and not just relying on the old stories like the John McCain quote."
To listen to the Mike Goldberg interview, including his thoughts on the increased depth of the heavyweight division in the UFC, the impact of the Pride acquisition on giving losing fighters a second chance, the atmosphere in Vegas before a fight, as well as the entire May 9 edition of Between The Ropes in streaming audio, visit the show online at
http://www.BetweenTheRopes.com. Join us for Between The Ropes for two hours every Wednesday night at 10:00pm ET on Central Florida's Sports Radio 740 The Team and worldwide on BetweenTheRopes.com.
