Why would elite put there biggest star up aginst Fedor to get destroyed only to have Fedor walk away that makes no sence what so ever ?

Being told to “grow up” is cracking me up. It really is. Ha.

Look: you can keep avoiding talking about the issues all you want by going ad hominem. But I’d rather argue the point.

Let me spell out my point for you, and hopefully this time you’ll read it: Every professional sport is a business – but there’s a continuum there, from all-business to almost-amateur. You can be comfortable with the UFC being at any particular point – I don’t care. But as a fan who wants to see fights based on the quality of the athletes and the quality of the fights, I don’t give a damn about who’s a bigger draw. Because I’m not the business owner. BUT! I am one of the many fans who pays for just about every PPV, and the UFC is in the business of showing the fights that I want to see, not the fights that teenagers who have to get mommy’s permission to have a sleepover while they watch their favorite pro wrestler want to see. I’m in the 18-34 demographic, and I’ve spent WAY more on the UFC that most people.

And you know what’s great about the UFC? They don’t seem to care as much as you do about drawing power. They put their champs – the ones that are big stars and making them millions – on the line all the time against serious – and seriously unmarketable – competition.

• Chuck vs. Rampage – Sure we all think of Rampage as marketable now (less so with the cuckoo thing), but Chuck is the moneymaker of the organization, and Rampage doesn’t sell PPVs.
• Franklin vs. Silva – The UFC may have gained a champion who is in the top 4 pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but they lost somebody who was well liked in the midwest where they’re trying to grow their brand and could speak English.
• Sylvia vs. Nogueira – Nobody may like Sylvia – I know I don’t – but at least the guy was a little marketable. Nog, for all his skills, a) doesn’t speak English and b) isn’t the sort of “action” fighter that sells PPVs. Luckily, Sylvia was becoming less of an “action” fighter, so it wasn’t much of a loss.

Here’s the point in a nutshell, so if you’re going to skip reading the rest of my comment, at least get this part: what separates WWE from the UFC isn’t the ring vs. the octagon, it isn’t the steroids vs. regulation, it isn’t the antics vs. the class. It’s that MMA is a sport, and as such, even businessmen like Dana are influenced to make decisions based on the good of the sport.

You can be as cynical as you like, but if you don’t believe me, make sense of the UFC matchmaking for me. Explain why they put marketable guys on the chopping block to be defeated by boring fighters. Explain why only 2 of their champions speak English as a first language. Explain why Machida is heading for a title shot.

Maybe you should go read my blog before you keep up the ad hominemn arguments though. I’ll save you some time: I’m a mid-30’s widower and single father with a teenage daughter and an 8-year-old son with autism. I’m 8 years into my second career after doing a stint in the military. Your “grow up” language, when directed at somebody who makes harder and more mature choices than you’ve ever had to each and every day of his life is pretty silly. You aren’t offending me – you aren’t even upsetting me. You’re just missing the point. Either address my arguments, or if you think they’re without merit, ignore them.

But arguing about me, my maturity or my business acumen (don’t know how that became germane, but would you like to see my ‘08 Acura TL? Sweet ride for somebody with no business sesnse!) is ducking the point. And it’s against your own site’s policy. Stick to the debate, Michael. You might have a point, but it’s getting lost behind your attacks.

Wait, I don’t know what fight you’re asking about. Which fight?

I agree also that Finkelstein is Fedors biggest obstacle to going to the UFc and becoming a MMA mega star in the U.S, sure Fedor is making good Money but nothing like he would be if he was doing what he has been doing in the UFC, Fedor would be making a hell of alot more loot if he signed with the UFC. Every dam casual fan would know his name and think he was the most bad ass thing sence Mike Tyson..He would have sponsors out the ass, He would make so much dam money from sponsors if he fought in the UFC it would be insane. I think deep down if Fedor never fights in the UFC and does not become a mega star he knows only the UFC can make him he will will regret it down the road looking back on it and the path the is manager lead him down ? I might just be wrong but I don’t think So ?

I have heard the same but just thought it was rumor.