Bloody Elbow: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:

Network Bar & Login
Section Navigation
Main Blog Content
Secondary Sidebar: Links to Recent Stories, FanPosts and FanShots
Masthead

New Blog: World Soccer Digest for Soccer Fans!

Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

by Luke Thomas on Apr 11, 2008 9:51 AM EDT in News Comment 13 comments

Yes. Yes, it could. I'm not sure if this is a re-printed press release or the writer's own words, but the quote from Gary Goodridge is evidence enough he shouldn't be fighting:

"There are a few differences between YAMMA and UFC," says Barrie, Ont.-based former UFC champ Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge. "But the main difference to be concerned with is that there's no division weight class. A 300 lb. fighter can be paired up with a 200 lb. fighter."

The event will feature an eight-man elimination tournament to crown the YAMMA champion. Each match is one round and lasts five minutes. The championship round will be a tougher test of mettle as the two remaining fighters face off for three five-minute rounds of merciless blood-spattering action.

As low-rent as YAMMA is, it's not unreasonable to think they would try to nix weightclasses in favor of the old days of NHB, but they're not. And they can't. The athletic commission won't let them. Why Goodridge believes or said this - and without the reporter checking it - is beyond me. As is the "blood-spattering action" hyperbole. I understand there are low-rent boxing matches all over the country each weekend, but boxing isn't vying for credibility. MMA, by contrast, is. And YAMMA is doing nothing but making the march to full credibility for would-be fans and sports media alike just a little bit slower.

Thanks for nothing, Bob.

0 recs | Comment 13 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

Here's the weigh in video - http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=1521

Ricco Rodriguez missed the 265-pound limit on his first try.

by Nick Thomas on Apr 11, 2008 10:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

The commitment Ricco has shown to conditioning during his comeback should really be an example to everyone. Ricco and Kerr aren't training together again are they? That ended badly for everyone last time...

by Kid Nate on Apr 11, 2008 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

There do appear to be two SHW vs HW matches taking place. Perhaps they're bending the rules in some way? For example, could they just let the SHW fighter miss weight and get the HW fighter to accept the fight anyway, and pay the 10% purse fine? What about if they set catchweights of the heavier fighter's fighting weight, how far below a catchweight are you allowed to weigh in at without the commission canceling the fight? From what I can remember I've seen at least 10 lbs before.

by catch on Apr 11, 2008 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

Which fights are like this?

by Luke Thomas on Apr 11, 2008 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

Oleg Taktarov (221.2) vs. Mark Kerr (266.2)
Patrick Smith (240) vs. Eric " Butterbean" Esch (416.2)

I saw these weights listed in a thread on the UG, not certain that they are accurate, but that's what I based my comment on.

by catch on Apr 11, 2008 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

Ok, so the Butterbean fight definitely is. I wonder if there are special rules for this one.

But Kerr is only a pound above super heavyweight, so that's not necessarily a real difference.

by Luke Thomas on Apr 11, 2008 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

There would be a 1 pound allowance, so he's actually only .2 lb over, but as far as I know missing weight is missing weight, I've never heard of the rules distinguishing between missing weight by a lot or a little.

by catch on Apr 11, 2008 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

The difference is the tournament matches vs. the superfights. The superfights aren't a weight class thing. The tourney is a heavyweight only tourney though. At least that I understand.

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 11, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

I'd call YAMMA a train wreck, but I have too much respect for train wrecks to do that. I'll be surprised if this isn't the worst MMA card in a number of years, if not of all time.

I agree that this fiasco has the potential to hurt the sport, but here's the good news: NO ONE WILL BE WATCHING! Knowledgeable MMA fans know that to watch an event headlined by Butterbean vs. Pat Smith the promotion should be paying them not the other way around. And why would casual "curiosity seeker" fans want to pay for Butterbean and a bunch of guys they've never heard of when they can see the UFC or EliteXC for free?

Consider this--the BoDog Fight PPV from Russia did around 13,000 PPV buys. That's with Calvin Ayre's money and couple of pretty fair fighters named Fedor and Lindland headlining. This has less PR and a Butterbean v. Pat Smith main event. To top it off BoDog had a TV show to promote the event (albeit one on a fourth or fifth tier network)and Yamma doesn't. They'll be very lucky to do 10,000 buys and I'm thinking more along the lines of 7,000.

By way of contrast, UFC 81 did 650,000 buys. The only good thing about Yamma is that assuming no one dies on the show (knock on wood) no matter how bad it is no one will notice and it'll fade away into obscurity where it belongs.

by savagescience on Apr 11, 2008 10:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

Butterbean is probably a bigger draw than Fedor.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Apr 11, 2008 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

I'll watch in hopes that Antwain Britt ends up replacing someone. He is in an alternate match against Brian Vettell is what is his toughest fight to date. Frankly, I'm stunned he's fighting today and then scheduled to fight Rex Richards in two weeks. I really, really hope this does not mean that Britt will no longer be on the UWC show; I am really looking froward to seeing him live again.

by Brett Jones on Apr 11, 2008 10:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

Trainwreck or not, people will watch. I even heard a YAMMA ad repeating continually on Chicago's 670 AM (The Score to Chicago people) this morning as I went to work. They have some heavy marketing which is surprising.

The heavyweight tournament is interesting regardless if anyone believes the card has crap fights. One round fights kind of sucks though.

by Leland Roling on Apr 11, 2008 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Could YAMMA Be Any Worse?

Didn't realize you were in the area Leland. I heard it on 670 yesterday also when I tuned in only to hear the Sox game was PPD.

I'm going to be watching the show tonight and may very well liveblog it...just for the hell of it.

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 11, 2008 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Search

Recent Posts