Snapshot of the Day: Miguel Torres vs. Manny Tapia Staredown

by Luke Thomas on Dec 3, 2008 9:20 AM EST in News Comment 22 comments

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It's a shame, really. A fantastic and fairly meaningful fight that I am fairly confident virtually no one is going to watch.

Attention Zuffa officials: you need Gina Carano in the WEC...in a bad way.

View photos of the entire weigh-in here.

[UPDATE] by Nick Thomas - Betting Odds:

Miguel Torres -550
Brian Bowles -145
Wagnney Fabiano -360
Joseph Benavidez -295
Johny Hendricks -430
Mark Munoz -600
Diego Nunes -200
Bart Palaszewski -280
Cub Swanson -205
Shane Roller -255
Blas Avena -180

Manny Tapia +400
Will Ribeiro +115
Akitoshi Tamura +290
Danny Martinez +235
Justin Haskins +350
Ricardo Barros +450
Cole Province +160
Alex Karalexis +220
Hiroyuki Takaya +165
Mike Budnik +205
Kevin Knabjian +150

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I’m going to watch. Thats gotta count for something…

by Discman2 on Dec 3, 2008 12:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wonder how negatively the UFC-Spike relationship affects the WEC-Versus relationship. For example, everyone assumed the WEC would become a landing pad for UFC fighters, prospects in particular like TUF veterans, where they could develop. Aside from Pulver and Garcia moving to the lighter 145lb division and a few minor exceptions, that hasn’t really happened.

by smoogy on Dec 3, 2008 12:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'll probably get flamed for this but...

The WEC or MMA in general does NOT need Gina Carano or womens MMA. Period. The WEC will always play a second fiddle to the UFC. Gina Carano is not a savior, womens MMA is not the key to Zuffas financial success. Everyone is jockin Carano, but womens MMA is a joke, sorry. Think WNBA, Think Womens, NCAA BBall, Think LPGA, Think Softball, Think Womens Football…Oh wait, there is no womens football, because no one wants to see pretty girls get their faces smashed in. As a matter of fact, the only reason I watch Gina Carano is to see her sexy ass in short shorts, not to see her with a black eye or a fat lip. …There, i said it…Let the flaming begin

by nitro on Dec 3, 2008 12:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

…because no one wants to see pretty girls get their faces smashed in.

6. EliteXC on CBS (5/31/2008): Gina Carano vs. Kaitlin Young—- 5.508 million viewers (Aired from 10:09 PM to 10:17 PM)

9. EliteXC on CBS (10/4/08): Gina Carano vs. Kelly Kobold—- 5.171 million viewers (Aired from 9:45 PM to 9:59 PM)

Top 20 most watched MMA fights

by Discman2 on Dec 3, 2008 12:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If Girls Gone Wild was aired on CBS i’m sure the ratings would be high as well.

by nitro on Dec 3, 2008 1:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You are ignorant

And Gina Carano is a major MMA star. Deal with it dude.

by smoogy on Dec 3, 2008 1:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ignorant? If Carano looked like a skank, no one would give a shit. That’s a fact, not ignorance.

by nitro on Dec 3, 2008 1:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

While she gets a boost from her looks, people are clamoring for her to fight Cyborg, not Michelle Waterson et al. They want a competent fight, not beauty-pageant boxing.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Dec 3, 2008 1:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree, people want a competitive fight...

But Cyborg could beat Fedor and would never reach the popularity of Carano. It just seems as if the whole existence of womens MMA hinges on Gina Carano, and if/when she is exposed there will be no one to follow up and fill in the gap.

by nitro on Dec 3, 2008 2:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is just silly. It is extremely easy to make stars in female MMA, all it took for Gina was an exciting style, wins, and looks. There are a number of attractive and talented girls out there.

And yes, the looks count. There’s a reason female fighting is the only female sport that draws men in in huge numbers.

by Michael Rome on Dec 3, 2008 2:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt women’s mma will crumble when Carano loses, it’ll just take longer to build. Yes, her looks helped her rise to the top in popularity, but she has the talent to back up the hype. Ultimately, it does come down to what puts butts in the seats. Kimbo Slice is a bigger name than Fedor, despite the gap in talent, so guess who would get top billing? I don’t like it, but that’s the way it is, and there isn’t a way to change it. Stars = viewers = money = more mma. That’s indisputable mmath.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Dec 3, 2008 2:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Womens MMA has proven to be as competitive and exciting as mens

Do you forget that women’s boxing was exciting for a while when Laila Ali was big? Women’s fighting is fun and exciting. They always bring it hard because people like you are always hating on them. They are so game. I enjoy watching watching a good women’s match more than any.

by EazyEismydad on Dec 3, 2008 12:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The difference between Carano and the examples of other women’s sports you listed is those are all sports, whereas this is an individual. That’s like saying Patrick Cote would make a great draw because he’s a guy…look at the NFL, NBA, and World Cup. Carano has legit drawing power on her own, and I think that’s where Luke was going.

Would viewers give a hoot about what else is on the card? Maybe, maybe not. But I know I’d tune in wherever she does show up so I can see that sexy ass in short shorts. I’d probably watch the rest of the card too, even though I know squat about WEC’s roster. Odds are, if they’re already watching the fight, they’ll probably give the rest of the fights a look-see as well. Some will drop off…but since you’re already watching, what’s another fight or two?

by Dabashire on Dec 3, 2008 12:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agree with nitro

The Houston Comets of the WNBA won the first four championships and were just folded because the league could not find an owner. You can title nine this country as much as you want, but there is a reason the free market will not sustain an inferior product. Just my opinion, look forward to alternate thoughts.

Being on the internet gives me a right...nay a responsibility to bitch about things

by beery_pbr on Dec 3, 2008 10:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Title IX is forced. Carano generates appeal. Very, very different.

by Luke Thomas on Dec 3, 2008 11:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Carano is the exception to the rule.
(Blind speculation on my part) Say she fights cyborg, then what? Are all women fighters expected to fight in Carano’s weight class? No, you have to open multiple classes for the sake of fairness. Next thing you know, at least once a ppv we as fan’s will be subjected to a repeat of Kim Coutre’s last fight. A one sided drubbing of an under experienced fighter.

Being on the internet gives me a right...nay a responsibility to bitch about things

by beery_pbr on Dec 3, 2008 11:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That is...

the fault of the promotion not the fighter or women in general. To say that women’s mma shouldn’t be considered legitimate because on a smaller level show Kim Couture beat up someone who didn’t belong in the cage…then you could say the same for men’s mma for all the times guys with a month or two of training get their faces pounded by a more experienced fighter on regional shows.

The WEC could absolutely say “we’re going to have a single weight class…if it turns out to be successful we could look into expanding that” and they would be within their rights.

There are MANY talented women that could step up after Cyborg.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 3, 2008 11:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One of the best fight cards of the year

Its rare so many top 10 fighters face each other at an event. Plus you get a top P4P fighter fighting a strong opponent. I can’t believe people aren’t more excited about it.

by EazyEismydad on Dec 3, 2008 12:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

by Nick Thomas on Dec 3, 2008 8:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Manny back in the day in 2003 with a few guys at the old MILLENNIA Academy in Pomona

About a year ago at the new MILLENNIA in Rancho Cucamonga

by Nick Thomas on Dec 3, 2008 9:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Let’s see if Hendricks can do better than his Tapout reality show partner (Roshalt) did.

by Dexerion on Dec 3, 2008 12:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think its a stretch

to say that women’s MMA is as exciting as mens.

Sure, women’s is good competition and exciting fighting…just not AS exciting as men. However, I do hope that the WEC starts a women’s division and signs Gina.

Also, I will be Tivoing the WEC card.

by Razreshat on Dec 3, 2008 2:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs