UFC 91 = Don King Style MMA

by Dese Nutz on Oct 10, 2008 9:39 AM EDT Comment 23 comments

In his many media appearance, Dana White likes to talk about the differences between MMA and Boxing. One of the differences that he's most proud of is the fact that UFC cards aren't about a single fight:

"Pretty much every UFC fight is dam exciting. The difference is that we showcase nine fights that night, not just one. Let me tell everybody on this call something and go off on a rant for a second. I always talk about how much trouble boxing is in. Boxing is in trouble for one reason and one reason only...Greed. They are all greedy." (http://sportsbiznews.blogspot.com/2007/05/critics-aside-ufc-is-having-amazing.html)

In the interests of full disclosure I should mention that my fiancee and I will be travelling to Las Vegas for the UFC 91 show. We decided to go for a mini-honeymoon and because I've always wanted to see a UFC live. We'll be watching on the big screens from our seats in the rafters but that's ok because those were the only affordable tickets in the house. Everything about the trip would be great except UFC 91 is a one trick pony. Here's the card (rumours have a *) for UFC 91:

265 lbs.: UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture (16-8) vs. Brock Lesnar (2-1)

155 lbs.: Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson

170 lbs.: Dustin Hazelett vs. Tamdan McCrory
155 lbs.: Alvin Robinson vs. Mark Bocek

155 lbs.: Jorge Gurgel vs. Aaron Riley

185 lbs.: Matthew Riddle vs. Ryan Thomas

185 lbs.: Demian Maia vs. Nate Quarry*

265 lbs.: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Josh Hendricks *

155 lbs.: Jeremy Stephens vs. Rafael dos Anjos *

185 lbs.: Amir Sadollah vs. Nick Catone *

155 lbs.: Mark Bocek vs. Alvin Robinson

While I give all of the fighters respect, I fail to see how this card "showcases 9 fights". The main event is made for PPV sales. There's precedent for getting a title shot after beating up Herring so I won't complain too much or make Kimbo comparisons for Lesnar.

Ken Flo vs. Joe Daddy has some significance for the lightweights but it's the battle of two fighters who've had and lost title shots in recent memory. If Maia vs. Quarry is added it could answer some questions about who takes the next ass kicknig from Anderson Silva but otherwise this card is "stacked" with recent losers, has-beens, never-weres and unknowns. The poster for the event really says it all:

UFC 91 poster

Lonely in there boys?

Couple the weak card with the ridiculous seat prices (as the UFC tries to break another gate record) and you've got the exact same problem as boxing. Add the relatively successful EliteXC show, Affliction, Adreline, WAMMA etc. and you have conflicting organizations with different belts - another boxing problem.

Pot? This is the kettle calling...

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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According to MMAWeekly the main card is…

-Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar
-Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Josh Hendricks
-Joe Stevenson vs. Kenny Florian
-Demian Maia vs. Nathan Quarry
-Amir Sadollah vs. Nick Catone

To me – It’s still missing a co-main event… and we’re not the only one who thinks that.

by Nick Thomas on Oct 10, 2008 10:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Def a VERY weak card. Dana knows they will do a million buys and doesn’t need to pay a co-main event guy like a Silva or a Rampage to help carry this show.

I’;m not even sure im ordering this one yet. It’s still missing something.

by lbk on Oct 10, 2008 10:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s not the best card, but it definitely is not a one trick pony… I mean event.

Stevenson/Florian
Quarry/Maia
Sadollah fighting again

Those are the fights I’m looking forward to besides the main event. I’m really curious to see how much Sadollah has improved since TUF. More importantly is what happens after this fight. Depending on Sadollah’s performance he may be another babied TUF champion. Hopefully Sadollah performs well and takes a step up in competition, instead of a step sideways.

by Discman2 on Oct 10, 2008 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I bought tickets to this event and was pretty hyped up for it.

I can’t go now – no sitter available. If anyone wants to buy 4 tickets I got ’em. $150 each.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Oct 10, 2008 10:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tix

Hey man,

I know some people looking for tickets if you still have some.

dj_krisko@hotmail.com

"Men like me are like comets, destined to be consumed by lighting up their century"

- Napolean

by Kris McKillop on Oct 10, 2008 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You have mail.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Oct 10, 2008 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is “no sitter available” code for “They moved Wandy-Rampge to UFC 92”?

by Day Man on Oct 10, 2008 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, it’s the truth. I bought the tickets the first day they went on sale. We had someone lined up, but they backed out a few days ago.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Oct 13, 2008 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DId they blow that picture of Randy Couture up a little bit?? HAHA

by Mirjitsu on Oct 10, 2008 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

weak card?? is anyone seeing something that Im not??

by beersnbroads on Oct 10, 2008 10:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"Showcasing 9 fights" = a lot of fight for your money

What Dana is saying is that, at your average UFC event, you’ll have at least nine fights throughout the course of the night. Most headline boxing matches have perhaps one or two other bouts in addition to the main bout. Therein lies the difference.

I also have to say that, at the eight UFC events I’ve attended so far, a lot of the most compelling and balls-to-the-wall action has been on the undercard i.e. the non-televised portion.

The one that immediately springs to mind is the Paul Kelly vs. Paul Taylor three-round barroom brawl that took place at UFC 85. Another stellar match was Cole Miller vs. Jorge Gurgel; again a back and forth war with an I can’t believe what I’m seeing dramatic finish with just twelve seconds left at UFC 86.

Hardcore and casual alike fans can get a lot of fight for their money at a UFC event. My pet peeve is when I see folks turning up only for the headliner

by VikingPhotography on Oct 10, 2008 11:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

People do that? That’s a waste of money. Why would someone show up just for the headliner?

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Oct 10, 2008 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is how the wealthy people who have ring-side (or floor) seats typically roll. It’s not like they don’t have the money to burn anyhow (if they, in fact, even paid for the tickets).

by Estrada on Oct 10, 2008 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This card.

I find if the UFC can string together (time permitting) the best fights of the nights, or have a night showcased with quick subs, it makes for a great night. I’m not watching for title contention, I’m watching to be entertained, quell my bloodlust and see why the UFC is leading the pack with talen.

This one has alot of potential highlight reel stuff.

Subs by : Maia, Gonzaga & Sandollah

Fight of Night Candidates: Hazelett & Mcrory, Ken Flo & Daddy, Randy & Brock, Robinson & Bocek

Another lame-assed performance you’re dying to see: The fall of Grugel. :)

Man, I hate that dude…

"Men like me are like comets, destined to be consumed by lighting up their century"

- Napolean

by Kris McKillop on Oct 10, 2008 11:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Aside from the name fights, I’m really looking forward to Hazelett/McCrory and Robinson/Bocek. This should be a fun card.

by Chris Nelson on Oct 10, 2008 11:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Couture looks his age on that poster…

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Oct 10, 2008 1:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think most of the fights look fun. The reality is they wanted Jackson/Silva on here and then there were all sorts of problems getting the fight booked by this date.

by Michael Rome on Oct 10, 2008 1:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This card needed a Silva/Machida type match as co-main event.

by lbk on Oct 10, 2008 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I know that Silva/Jackson 3 was supposed to be on this card but that doesn’t make it any better. But now UFC 92 is stacked and 91 is hurting. Moving the Kongo/Al-Turk fight or the Okami/Lister fight to 91 would at least add some contenders to the card.

I think that the UFC is over-extending itself here. A few months ago they were cutting fighters all over the place and now they have 3 shows in 2 months (with the Army UFN) and this card has suffered as a result.

by Dese Nutz on Oct 10, 2008 2:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You are out of your mind!

First of all, Couture vs. Lesnar is THE MOST IMPORTANT fight of the year. After Lesnar does to Couture what he did to Herring, no one can deny that Lesnar is the most dangerous fighter in the HW division — except, of course, the Fedor nut huggers. It’s important on so many other levels as well.

Florian vs. Stevenson: After Florian demolishes stevenson, just like penn did, can Penn continue to dodge Florian? The Penn elitists will still say so.

Sadolloh vs. whoever: who doesn’t want to see Sadollah fight again?

Hazellet vs. McCrory: If you don’t want to see this, you’re not a fan of MMA. This is fight of the night already!

Quarry vs. Maia: “The next ass kicking for Anderson Silva”??? When is White gonna stop putting punching bags in front of Silva and throw a a professional grappler at him. Maia is very dangerous for Silva.

This card points to the genius of Zuffa. Instead of trying to fix fights (elite xc), Zuffa lets the fights fix themselves. This card is going to spawn some interesting match ups down the line. (Florian/Penn, Silva/Maia, Lesnar/the #2 contender, Hazellet or McCrory/the #2 contender)

ZUFFA genius — why is it so difficult for some people to get?

I told you I can't build your candy house! It will fall apart, the sun will melt the candy, it won't work!

by mma_dude on Oct 10, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs