BloodyElbow.com Exclusive: Randy Couture is Negotiating a Return to the UFC in November to Fight Brock Lesnar
by Michael Rome on Aug 29, 2008 11:16 PM EDT
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I've spoken with a lot of people about Randy Couture in the last day. Things are definitely happening.
First, I can say with 100% certainty that there are current negotiations for Randy Couture to return in November to main event, and that the current proposed opponent is Brock Lesnar. They can't get Fedor, too many issues to work out on short notice, and he has a US-only non compete with Affliction.
This will be a new contract, not a return to the old one. It will likely pay him more and give him more benefits, but it will lock him into the UFC for the long term. In exchange for signing it Zuffa would drop all breach of contract charges.
From there, things get hazy. Randy is now training full time as if he is expecting a fight soon, but he still hasn't signed anything as far as I know. As far as the details of the Lesnar fight, I don't know if it's title or non title.
Update: Dave Meltzer is now confirming the story:
A source close to Randy Couture has confirmed today that Couture is in negotiations with UFC for a new three-fight deal which would end the nearly nine month legal battle between the two sides.
If the deal is closed, and the source said they are hoping to conclude negotiations and announce the match sometime within the next week, Couture would face Brock Lesnar on 11/15, most likely in Portland, Oregon.
Couture was said to be hoping that if everything went well, the next two fights could involve Fedor, Nogueira, and/or Chuck Liddell. However, all previous hangups involving Emelianenko and UFC remain.
According to Ariel Helwani at MMA Rated, the UFC is planning to announce this deal on Tuesday if all goes well. He also says the UFC is considering an M-1 proposal to have Randy fight Fedor in his second fight:
Believe it or not, the UFC is also considering a proposal from M-1 Global to co-promote a Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko bout following the Lesnar fight in November. The third proposed fight would be a bout against either current interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira or Chuck Liddell - depending on where both fighters are in their respective careers. However, given the nature of the fight game and the fighters involved, it's hard to predict what will happen that far in advance.
Things are getting very exciting very fast.
Update: Some possible cold water from Dave Meltzer:
Dana White is adamant that nothing is happening right now regarding Randy Couture and UFC, and nothing has been talked about since Tuesday.
I have reason to think he is not being entirely truthful, but who knows. There's a reason every website is hearing this now, and a reason Randy is training full time again. I believe this is an effort to keep the focus on Rashad Evans vs. Chuck Liddell a week from today.
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News in mma that actually makes sense? Must not be true, lol.
Seriously, this was a ridiculously handled situation that got way out of hand.
Good for UFC, good for Randy, good for the fans. Now let’s get on with business!
Not sure I like the lesner matchup. They should strip Randy of the title as part of the negotiation, have him fight Nog(or Mir) next for the title, and have a clause in the contract that if Fedor fight is made in the UFC and Randy is the champ, he will get some type of escalated pay.
Unfortunately, I think the kryptonite for Lesner will be submission guys like Werdum, Mir, GG, Nog. I think he may just be to big and powerful for Randy to handle, but you never know.
"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"
by BJJDenver on Aug 29, 2008 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree 100%. Lesnar will crush Couture. I think the UFC would put this fight together. Kind of like the Tito/Machida fight, they know Randy won’t win and want to teach him a lesson. The UFC also knows that his Fedor fight will lose tons of hype after a thrashing by Lesnar.
by Josh H. on Aug 29, 2008 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Randy’s no Herring. And now no one is going to take Lesnar lightly. Randy by UD.
by Pantherhare on Aug 30, 2008 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I don’t understand why they want him to fight Lesnar for his first fight back it makes no sence to me what so ever, Bring him back let him fight a can for his first fight back then give him the winner of Nog-vs-Mir. That would be there best bet, then down the road if you can’t get the Fedor fight together let him fight Brock.
by Shocbomb on Aug 29, 2008 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Randy v Brock is a win win for zuffa…
first the numbers will be great for this fight… second the numbers will be great for this fight, third… well you know :)
But more importantly the winner of this fight no matter who it is will have a mega fight with the of mir-nog… and after all the tuf hype they’ll receive that means the numbers will be great for this fight, again, everyone with me this time: “the numbers will be great for this fight”.
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think it’s pretty obvious why. This would be an absolutely huge fight.
by Richard Wade on Aug 30, 2008 1:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And it goes without much thought, that this is probably very bad news for Affliction. I truly believe they were counting on Fedor/Randy in the near future.
"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"
by BJJDenver on Aug 29, 2008 4:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
and that may have been a clincher in UFC bringing him back in from the cold.
by Benicio on Aug 29, 2008 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yay Dana.
He has always been about sticking it to the competition. This one would take the cake. Fedor would have a Barnett fight, Arlovski, then what? Affliction must be pissed.
I think Lesnar is too big, too strong and too fast but, you can never count Randy out. Never.
He took it to Gonzaga and took it to Sylvia.
Yay UFC.
"Men like me are like comets, destined to be consumed by lighting up their century"
- Napolean
by Kris McKillop on Aug 29, 2008 4:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Uhh...
I think it’s a little fanboyish of you to assume that Affliction’s entire future is based on Randy Couture? Besides Couture not truly being of higher competitive value than both Barnett and Arlovski, Fedor fighting the latter pair would be pretty good for the future of Affliction’s events (comparatively). It’s a hell of a lot more exciting than having Couture lose in Herring-esque fashion and then fight who? Nogueira? He’d lose that in even more embarassing fashion. Couture would get outboxed and out-grappled by the far superior, actual champion.
by KneeToTheFace on Aug 29, 2008 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ya, because Barnett and Arlovski are better draws than Randy. Oh wait a sec…
by LiuLang on Aug 29, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they’re a lot more exciting fighters who have a lot more of a future ahead of them. Randy doesn’t even really have the ability to beat a top heavyweight (trust me, Sylvia is not a top heavyweight) and thus prolong his legacy.
by KneeToTheFace on Aug 29, 2008 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Affliction doesn’t really have the luxury of looking to the future. Randy Couture was to be their biggest draw RIGHT NOW. And right now is all that matters for them because of they don’t succeed right now, they won’t be around in the future.
by Richard Wade on Aug 29, 2008 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You may very well be right; but I cannot help but speculate regarding all of the funding they get. The MMA market is going to be a tough one to crack with the UFC growing and maintaining their current dominance. However I believe Trump and the other financiers of Affliction are aware of this and are prepared to be in this for the long haul.
by KneeToTheFace on Aug 29, 2008 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trump doesnt have any money tied in Affliction, he just gave them his ‘backing’. Quite a few companies he has ‘supported’ have gone under so I wouldnt use his name as a reason for confidence in their future.
by Benicio on Aug 29, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sylvia’s not a top heavyweight? Really? The same guy who beat Arlovski twice? You can hate on his behavior, his personality, and/or his fighting style, but the man is a top ten heavyweight.
by Pantherhare on Aug 30, 2008 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its pretty much what there entire future was based on if you listen to people talk whoi know there shit like Jordan Breen,Dave Meltzer,Kevin Iole,etc what Afflictions is hoping for is to just survive until Randy is freed up and then they can put on the mega fight.
by Shocbomb on Aug 29, 2008 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Gonzaga got his nose broken and freaked out, and Tim, well Tim just sucks.
by Josh H. on Aug 29, 2008 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If they let him fight Lesnar and it’s a title shot, I will lose all faith in the UFC. What a kick in the balls that would be to Nog.
Nog is my HW champ, Randy ducked him.
by ChillMike on Aug 29, 2008 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Which is why Randy should have to wait to face the winner of Nog and Mir. Randy is the paper champ right now. While Mir and Nog have been fighting Randy hasn’t.
by ChillMike on Aug 29, 2008 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very interesting if this happens. From Mir to Herring to Couture, Lesnar is racking up a respectable list of opponents. Just shows there are no easy fights in the UFC.
by pud333 on Aug 29, 2008 4:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
At heavyweight, there are easy fights, but the UFC isn’t giving them to him because they’re paying him a quarter million per show.
by Mike Fagan on Aug 30, 2008 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly, but just as a correction, he’s making more. It’s a quarter of a million plus substantial bonuses.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn’t mind seeing him lose to Lesnar….and how wild would it be if he lost…
http://mma4real.net/
by Tha Realness on Aug 29, 2008 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mindfart…^^ I meant to say I wouldn’tmind seeing him fight Lesnar….and how wild would it be if he lost.
http://mma4real.net/
by Tha Realness on Aug 29, 2008 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow…. Surely UFC doesn’t want Randy to come back in and hurt himself in his first fight?!?
by Heenan on Aug 29, 2008 4:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Couture vs Lesnar = interim winner #1
Mir vs Noguiera = interim winner #2
winner #1 vs #2 during superbowl event, a guaranteed draw no matter who wins the interim fights.
I expect Couture vs Lesnar would do pretty serious numbers.
by pr0cs on Aug 29, 2008 5:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Couture vs Lesnar would do ridiculis numbers!!! I hope that the sources are legit and there is truth to this. Although, I dont see the fight going Couture’s way, although he has proved mayn wrong again and again. But, I just Lesnar donkey konging poor Randy anywhere and everywhere around the Octagon.
I so not see a good picture at the end of this one, that is the fight or the UFC vs Randy battle
by fightfan on Aug 29, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe the next Montreal event could be Fedor vs. Couture after Couture still gets mauled by Lesnar?
by KneeToTheFace on Aug 29, 2008 5:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ha! It’s true what they say, “Money Time heals all wounds.”
by Higgz on Aug 29, 2008 6:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Randy is getting too old… but everytime you count him out he wins… so there ya go
Rob Dib
http://www.break-your-face.com
by Rob Dib on Aug 29, 2008 6:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Brock vs. Randy would do an insane buy
… and then Brock would murder Randy. Thus killing any hype he has for a fight with Fedor.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Aug 29, 2008 6:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The shit Lesnar would get for bull-riding Randy… makes me smile just to think about it.
by Eugene Schelfaut on Aug 29, 2008 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Randy who...
spanked Tito? I’d have to say he doesn’t get to complain too much if that were to happen…
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 29, 2008 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I also don’t think Randy would be one to smack talk Lesnar before the fight.
by Mike Fagan on Aug 30, 2008 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’ll be all Lesnar doing the smack talking I think :) He understands what his role is here.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Coleman first fight back !
I would think a first fight back that would make sence that would sell also is a fight with Mark Coleman. Alot of people have wanted to see that fight over the years.
by Shocbomb on Aug 29, 2008 8:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Here's hoping it's Randy vs. Brock
in Portland. That would make for one hell of a first live attended event for me.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Aug 29, 2008 10:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Randy needs to retire
He really does. He’d lose to Lesnar, Nogueira, and Fedor. If he fought Liddell, for a fourth time, I’d pick Liddell to beat him and I HATE Liddell.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Aug 29, 2008 11:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL@ him wanting to get KTFO by Liddell again….pffft….fight Fedor, Nogueira, and Lesnar and retire for good with 3 losses in a row.
http://mma4real.net/
by Tha Realness on Aug 29, 2008 11:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lesnar Vs. Couture would do at least twice the PPV buys of Fedor Vs. Couture. No matter who was promoting it. If Lesnar were to win, Lesnar Vs. Fedor could be huge as well.
by nitro on Aug 29, 2008 11:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It has the potential to be the biggest PPV ever, but it depends on how they market it. They have 2 months plus, which is enough. I think the mainstream media will bite on this fight.
by Michael Rome on Aug 29, 2008 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would be the biggest PPV ever
Think about it. Lesnar and Randy. Come on now. Hype versus Hope. That’s all it is. Everyone would buy that.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Aug 29, 2008 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jesus, Lesnar is gonna have what, 60+ pounds on him in the Octagon?
by Michael Rome on Aug 29, 2008 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Something like that
It’d be insane. It wouldn’t be right.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Aug 30, 2008 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
thats why I don’t want to see it, Lesnar would just take him down over and over again and out mussle him, It has the making of one broing ass fight if you ask me. A horrible first fight back for Randy. Give him Mark Coleman
by Shocbomb on Aug 30, 2008 3:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh come on. People will be going insane, it’s Randy Couture vs. a monster. This is going to be awesome.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 3:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey Michael,
I just read on urdirt.com that Fedor just signed a long term deal with Affliction.
So what will this potential long term deal with Randy affect his chances of facing Fedor? (since thats the fight that he wants the most)
Also i love this proposed match-up with Randy and Brock…I just love it lol
by bigislandboi808 on Aug 30, 2008 12:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The deal with Affliction is US exclusive. In other words, he could fight in the UFC against Randy Couture, but it would have to be in Canada or Europe. Canada is more likely because there wouldn’t be that kind of PPV time delay, but Europe would work if they’re doing that for a network TV plan.
Any deal though would need to involve locking in Fedor for multiple fights in a row. Now that they will have Randy, they really don’t need Fedor.
Honestly, I think they will strip Randy of the title, and just do 3 big matches with him. Title confusion is usually a bad thing, and Lesnar getting a title shot is hard to justify. It would also allow them to do a 205 dream fight if they wanted to. Imagine an Anderson Silva vs. Randy Couture fight. Now that’s another big one.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or Zuffa could just wait til affliction folds :)
You’re right… they have Couture, Lesnar, and Nog (especially after the tuf hype)…. they don’t need fedor.
Let Finkie put another org out of business and then when the well is dry Fedor will come.
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Affliction won't fold for a while
When you control the Heavyweight market like they do, and continue to put out great fights, it’ll be a tough organization to fold.
Especially with The Donald behind them. And I do like the way Atencio is guiding that business.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Aug 30, 2008 1:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only thing The Donald is behind is his eastern European wife’s ass …
Affliction is paying the donald per hour for his time and equity for his name… not to mention his son is a salaried executive in the deal as well.
He aint spending a nickel…
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 1:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
100% correct – Affliction is not going to be around that long I say 18 months tops maybe a year and thats it at the most.
by Shocbomb on Aug 30, 2008 3:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't 18 months more than a year?
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Aug 30, 2008 3:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes If you read what I said I give them a year maybe 18 months Tops its not hard to figure that one out and what I was saying, I don’t know maybe you had problems trying to understand it ????
by Shocbomb on Aug 30, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Generally you’d put the “tops” estimate after the shorter estimate. That’s probably what confused our fellow commenter.
by Richard Wade on Aug 30, 2008 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. I think a lot of fans were interested in Affliction, due to the potential Fedor/Randy fight. With that off the table, I think those fans will fade away and so will Affliction.
Sure AA/Barnett is a great fight, and the resulting fight with Fedor is big, but the more casual fans will lose interest without Randy at the end of the rainbow, imo.
"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"
by BJJDenver on Aug 30, 2008 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are right thats exactly what affliction was hoping for in its future. I think most of all Afflictions eggs were in that Randy-vs-Fedor Basket ?
by Shocbomb on Sep 1, 2008 5:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Lesnar beats Randy ...
… I could see him getting a title shot after Werdum. Think about it. He’d have beaten Herring and Couture. That’s basically all you need to do now in the UFC.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Aug 30, 2008 1:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the only thing Werdum is getting is probably a fight with kongo when he returns.
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 1:39 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right. I think the idea that we’re seeing Werdum get a title shot next is as likely as the idea that he would get one last time Dana White called him the top contender.
Sucks for him but Randy being back pushes him even further back.
People are way off thinking Dana is doing this to get back at Randy. They have him for these fights, they want to make money. This is about profit, not spite. If they promote right, and it’s tricky, it could be gigantic.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 1:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah...
were they doing things out of spite they’d just stay the course and let the legal battles drag out until he is too old to fight anywhere. You don’t get back at someone by giving them a contract that gives them a lot of money. This is a "lets just do business’ deal
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 30, 2008 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Indeed, I hardly think Randy’s being altruistic in this regard either. Nor is he being forced to face the big, bad Lesnar. He has to accept the fight and it has huge money written all over it and he probably comes into it being a huge underdog for the third time in a row with no pressure on him and it all on Lesnar. Seems like a no brainer for everyone involved.
by LiuLang on Aug 30, 2008 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly. His new contract is a stepped up version of the PPV bonus based one he had before. He wants to be in big fights.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Couldn't be more wrong
Werdum is getting the well-round Junior dos Santos at UFC 90. If Werdum wins, he’ll get his shot at Nogueira (or Mir).
You can’t keep Werdum down forever. He’ll keep killing the appeal of contenders which will force White to give him a shot. He’s already the next number one contender. His wins over Vera and Gonzaga have earned him that right, at least in my opinion. It’s amazing how disrespected Werdum has become. The guy is as well-round as they come and one of the best jits guys in the world for a Heavyweight. His fight against Nogueira proved that.
"A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on." - Sir Winston Churchill
by FlyByKnight on Aug 30, 2008 2:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope this is true....
Couture Vs Lesnar is an amazing fight to put on and its a win win.A lot of money will be made and the winner is w/e. If Couture wins then he should of won he is the champ and considered by a lot of people as one of the all time greats and he is fighting a guy in his 4th fight…If Lesnar wins same thing as Couture just opposite beat a Legend in his 4th fight i mean if anything couture would seem to have more to lose than brock. Brock is stil a rook in the sport so a win over Couture would do wonders to catapult him into the MMA Stratosphere as far as credibility a loss not gonna really hurt that much he has time to make up for it…randy on the other hand has who knows how many more fights left in him and he has been out over a year battling with the UFC and now he comes back with a win everything is forgiven a loss and people gonna be wondering why is it again he was on the self? if Ya don’t Beat Brock you Cant Beat Fedor. he hasn’t fought since august 07 and he is a great fighter but brock is a problem anyways let alone with ring rust. Plus where is his head at ive seen Randy every where the past year but inside the Octagon i don’t think Making the Scorpion King 2 helped his fighting ability or kept him in fighting shape..brocks been in the gym training non stop past two and a half years. He 10+ years older than brock..Shorter height shorter reach..Slower…A lot smaller in weight 60 pounds..a power disadvantage..his greatest attribute is also his opponents wrestling although two diff forms. what does all this mean probably jack shit because randy is great for the simple fact he wins when he isn’t suppose to or when he isn’t expected to every time the deck is stacked he ends up leaving with a W. Me personally win lose or draw for either fighter don’t matter to me but to see a Legend vs a Bright Prospect is awesome..Plus it makes Elite XC look dumb Kimbo vs Shamrock or Lesnar vs Couture which one would you rather see? plus this announcement would piss on that one badly
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 2:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They need to approach Spike about promoting this fight. 1 hour a week for 4 weeks leading in, like 24/7. Or maybe even try to broker a deal with another network just for this one fight. It has that kind of potential.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 2:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I see one potential problem...
November is heart of NCAA and NFL football season. On a Saturday night you’d be going heads up with a big college football game. The proposed 11/15 date would be heads up with whichever is the most juicy of (probably) Georgia/Auburn, Ohio State/Illinois or Texas/Kansas.
So i don’t know how excited a network would be to jump on this especially considering most of them have deals to carry football games.
If they moved it to Friday 11/14 it would only be up against the weaker Friday night college games (this date would put it against Cincinnati vs. Louisville which is a good game but not a huge ratings grab).
If I were the UFC I’d be doing my best to make sure that there is as little competition as possible for this fight and NCAA late season football can be some serious competition.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 30, 2008 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
me personally there is now way in the world im gonna miss a UFC PPV event specially of this magnitude over a college football game..TIVO that shit and watch it later just avoid espn or any sports news and it will feel live and ya want know the results or Buy the PPV and tape it and watch it after the Game whichever you prefer
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 2:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
YOU aren't...
…but a casual fan might. I’m not concerned about them losing hardcores…I’m worried about them losing the casual joe sportsfan who wants to watch a major sporting event on a Saturday night.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 30, 2008 2:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, I don’t see it being an issue. They did big numbers against the biggest non superbowl in years last december, and Saturday night football is often not as big as the day games in my experience. Fans will watch this fight if it has the right hype. Liddell-Silva did 650 against that game, this can do better.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 2:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree...
it will do big numbers regardless. But if I’m the UFC and I have this fight…I’m making sure I don’t have to deal with ANYTHING of reasonable importance up against it.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 30, 2008 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
how ya like the new info on Possible Fedor fight after this…Dana White is going for Total domination of the Sport
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with you, but they desparately need a main event for November. Do we know the football schedule and what is on that night this far in advance?
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed they do need a main event plus u make a good point by November the teams playing could suck ass..look how Michigan started last year and they was possible title contenders
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, the schedule is kind of out. Most of the games start at 7 eastern that night, with one on ABC starting at 8. I guess if that game is huge it could hurt them.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 2:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ya but ppv dont start till 10 and maing fights normly round 11-11:30 eastern
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 2:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Also...
they’ll swap out any bad games with the best option they have the rights to (I’m talking about the weekly primetime CBS game). If you look at schedules for the “big teams” that far from now most of them start at “TBA”
I’m just saying that if they want to get aggressive and pursue trying to get THIS show on something like network TV they’d be better off on Friday than Saturday.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 30, 2008 4:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Primetime ABC game I meant...
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 30, 2008 4:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My guess is they would still do better on a Saturday, there’s something about Saturday nights and fighting that is just conditioned in fans. I do think this is the show to get on Network TV though, I expect it would beat a lot of big games.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 4:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
dude you seriously think dana white would put this on network TV??? this is PPV 110%
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 4:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Trust me if the deal was there he would. It would be the biggest event in UFC history, primetime for a hotly anticipated fight, it’s worth more than any one PPV can be worth. It’s all about the long term growth.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 4:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely agree with you here.
If there was any way this could be a primetime network TV event, Dana would sell his soul to make it happen. The absolutely unreal publicity it would get is kind of shocking to think about.
How’s this for a follow-up, sometime in the next year or so: Chuck vs. Lesnar. If Brock beats Randy, then that would be the all-time highest PPV buy for an MMA event.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Aug 30, 2008 4:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i dont see dana white giving this fight away for free too much money involved there already #1 they dont need to worry about long term growth
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 6:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It wouldn’t be for free, as Rome said:
if the deal was there he would
Meaning if this is the fight that gets them the network television deal they want (read: NOT one like EXC’s, but with THEIR terms), they’re making money from the CBS contract and dramatically boosting their potential PPV purchasing base. And though they may not need to worry about their long term growth, I doubt they’re going to be complacent and assume that the status quo will work forever. It’s the old “if you aren’t moving forward you’re moving backwards,” business mentality.
by Estrada on Aug 30, 2008 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ya i can see where ya coming from if they would give them a contract on there terms with them in control i could see it happening but that’s why they don’t have a deal now nobody is willing to do it they all want a piece of the pie so to speak
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
True...but!!!
Every person who is a fan of MMA will get this fight there are enough hardcore fans to make this Huge plus where you think Casual fans came from? the UFC they fucking call MMA UFC lol..they would hype this Fight so Much on the Ultimate fighter it isn’t even funny…and dude its MMA this is the fastest growing sport in the world every day a casual Newb becomes a Hardcore or try’s to be anyways i get what ya saying though
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No way this fight is on Spike or something. You would have every MMA fan purchasing and crossover WWE fans who still ride Brocks jock.
Rob Dib
http://www.break-your-face.com
by Rob Dib on Aug 30, 2008 9:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, there's no point in putting an event like this on Spike.
But if there was a CBS/ABC/NBC deal to be had, that’s an opportunity to be jumped at.
You’d literally get every single one of Brock’s WWF/E fans tuning in, as well as all of the ‘new’ MMA crowd from CBS. Plus whatever extra UFC-only fans there are out there. Might be impressive raw numbers, but would certainly be an industry-shaping event.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Aug 30, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
At the same time...
I have some reservations on setting the bar too high your first time on network TV. Look at EXC. They had such a big first CBS show that you know the second go-round would be a big drop off…and CBS was upset with just how poorly it did.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Aug 30, 2008 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
there is no way in hell this show will ever be on any network or cable channel this could be possibly one of the biggest draws in UFC History i don’t see them putting on this fight unless its on a PPV and they can get 50 bucks a shot for every one who wants to see it
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's a legitimate argument for not wanting to set the bar too high.
Good point. But I think that, as the industry leader and solo trendsetter/superpower, the UFC has to consider what’s best for their industry just as seriously as what’s best for their company bottom-line. And a Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture mega-fight would quite literally launch MMA to a new level in the USA market.
If you’re averaging (just random number) 500k PPV’s today, then after a nationally televised Lesnar/Couture fight, you might seriously see it pop to 600k average based only on that event. I think interest seriously does increase at least that much from something like this. That’s good, not only for the industry, but for the company as well. They’d likely make their ‘lost’ money back in less than six months, and they’d still clear a bit with whatever the network deal paid them. Of course, going forward your fanbase is even stronger because of it.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Aug 30, 2008 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not spike… but the first live network show will be a high caliber "PPV’ type event much like this card… you can bet on that.
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m hearing its not just a 3 fight deal…
It’s a downside 3 fight deal for couture… meaning he is guaranteed the 3 fights win/lose…
No one ever said Zuffa doesnt have rights for more fights.
Make no mistake Couture will end his career in the UFC unless they choose otherwise/
The Fedor M-1 negotiation was more like when your kid asks if he have a pony and you say well clean your room and we’ll talk after.
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 12:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
By the way…
The UFC’s payscale for superstars is about to hit another level.
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The impression I have is that there are 2 hangups left, both of which they expect to get over in the next week:
1) Randy wants to come back as champion, and wants the fight to be a 5 round championship fight, because he thinks those terms favor him.
2) Randy wants some kind of control over picking his next opponents.
Mike
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 2:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
For a good reason
He knows the UFC can match make him into oblivion. I believe Dana will want to put Randy in there with the toughest guys for Randy. Big Nog, Lesnar, Cain Velasquez., maybe Shane Carwin or Werdum. Too bad Arlovski couldn’t fight Randy as well, all are tough fights for Randy though. Get a couple more losses on his record. Randy want’s some control over that fact, it’s too late for that imo though. If Randy comes back he needs to just shut up and fight whomever the UFC tell him to. Prove he’s the best in his fighting, not his opponent picking. The $ he’s getting for coming back, on top of all the financial loss being forgotten, he owes the UFC and his fans that much at least.
by Tommy7 on Aug 30, 2008 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can Fedor fight Randy in another country under UFC banner?
This is a question I had to ask myself. Do any of you guys know the answer yet?
by Tommy7 on Aug 30, 2008 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why wouldn’t the UFC take them both to another country and let them fight? If Affliction has American laws stipulating Fedor, maybe they could supercede or circumvent them in another country. Plus Fedor & Randy are both loved over there and it would sell big time. PPV here would take care of itself like every other time they’re in England or whatever.
by Tommy7 on Aug 30, 2008 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
elementary my dear watson… elementary…
Why would the UFC increase the value of someone else’s asset? for one fight?
Not happening.
Everybody continues to think that somehow, one of these days zuffa will become stupid.
Randy with his one fight deal mmajunkie reported…
M-1 with their co-promotion ambitions…
They will never co-promote… you’re better off asking for equity in the business.
And they will never promote a fighter that is not Zuffa controlled.
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Dana gets sold on Fedor or it gets to be proven he doesn’t have the best hw in his company, (say by destroying Arlovski and Barnett) I believe his pride will make him get Fedor. I’m not looking at co-promo here. Tie Fedor up overseas, own him there. (if that kind of thing is possible) Or wait out his 2-3 fight contract with Affliction and see what he’s done. And dude they would co-promo if the other company brought alot to the table. Say like Pride. Gotta be worth the dollars down the road and around the corner. Personally I see Lesnar beating Couture anyway. Teach Brock how to strike and avoid subs and Brock can do the rest to Mr. Couture I believe.
by Tommy7 on Aug 30, 2008 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brother tommy,
please search for my fan post:
UFC Co-promotion: The Reality
You’ll understand…
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Randy VS Fedor in Moscow…be like Ali and foreman in the jungle..plus no American fan could go see it so they’d have to buy it on PPV and fedors fight would be shown for free over there anyways could be used as another leverage tool against fedor to give him a Home based fight..thats prolly very far fetched but it would get around the US clause and might make fedor easier to sign into a deal
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 5:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Except a live show in Moscow would be an afternoon (or even morning, for the west coast) show in the States. And I could be wrong but I think the UFC’s PPV numbers for shows on tape delay have been less than stellar.
Plus you’re right, because of Fedor’s contract setup it would probably be on live for free in Russia, so it would hit the internet hours before the US PPV even started.
by Chris Nelson on Aug 30, 2008 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I never understood why an audience-based business like MMA
wouldn’t schedule their international events to coincide with their primary audience/revenue stream’s schedule. Make the fight at 7:00am in Moscow, to secure the $40 million PPV number, rather than only receive $20 million PPV since it’s not live.
Has never made sense to me whatsoever. If I’m a RINGS fan, and their primary audience is Russian, but they want to do an event where I live, I’d absolutely get the day off and go at 4:00am or whatever it took to see it live. Am I seriously so abnormal in this regard that it makes this type of logistical planning inconceivable?
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Aug 30, 2008 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I suspect you are, in fact, that abnormal.
by Richard Wade on Aug 31, 2008 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't discount that possibility for a second ;)
but it seems to me that the people attending these particular events are fairly hardcore. Would anyone here let a ridiculously screwy timeslot stop them from attending one of their favorite events live, if it were in their neighborhood?
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Aug 31, 2008 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I might if it were screwy enough.
by Richard Wade on Aug 31, 2008 4:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dont hold your breath on Fedor v Randy
After Nog’s stint on tuf…
Nog v Randy will do better than Randy V Fedor.
And even if Randy loses to Brock.
Lesnar v Nog will do better than Randy v Fedor.
Let me put this plainly in english:
Zuffa NO NEED FEDOR…
Fedor NEED Zuffa.
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 5:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
on another website MMA JUNKIE are now reporting fedor vs couture as part as the super bowl fight card which has been stated to have penn vs gsp on it aswell
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by Pitbull on Aug 30, 2008 5:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Probably not – Fedor is fighting NYE in Japan, and then “January or February” for Affliction against the winner of Arlovski/Barnett, according to Tom Atencio.
by Chris Nelson on Aug 30, 2008 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
old news that negotiation was going on before fedor signed an extension with affliction… same thing with the 1 fight deal they reported… very old. It seems they hear rumors and sit on it and then post it once it’s no longer plausible.
And unless atenctio is lying and finkie comes back to the table that is an inaccurate story.
Here’s the probable scenario of what’s going to happen:
Randy will fight Brock, Nog will Fight Mir,
Winner of Randy-Brock will fight winner of Nog-Mir to unify the belt, Fedor will fight winner of arlovski-barnett.
Affliction will more than likely be done after its 3rd show.
If Finkie comes to terms and Fedor hasn’t lost yet Fedor vs the UFC champion will happen sometime in late 09.
by mmalogic on Aug 30, 2008 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think Randy has until late 2009 myself. Then I wonder if Randy gets spanked in whatever his first fight is will he bother fighting again? Knowing him he’ll go back into retirement or change weight class. Maybe even divorce Kim.
by Tommy7 on Aug 30, 2008 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only reason that makes sense to me for Randy being HW
is to avoid Chuck. Chuck is Randy’s kryptonite, and I just don’t see any way he beats him as long as the two are athletically competitive, physically.
Other than that obstacle, Randy absolutely should be fighting LHW.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Aug 30, 2008 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aren’t you overstating this? He beat him once, got poked in the eye in the second, and was all messed up coming into the third. He came back with much better hands too, I think it would be extremely competitive.
by Michael Rome on Aug 30, 2008 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
All the more reason to drop back to LHW then, I suppose.
And maybe my memory is playing tricks on me. I just remember those fights looking awfully good for Chuck. But I will absolutely admit that I haven’t watched replays recently (it’s impossible to find Couture fights on dvd around here right now, and I’m not scheduled to come back to the USA for a few months, so I have to scrounge around the ’net for fight clips).
And to clarify my position, when I say I don’t think he beats Chuck, that just means that I don’t think he wins the fights. Chuck is the exact fighter Randy has trouble with (of guys his own size, that is). Anything’s possible in MMA, and Randy always comes prepared. But the matchup just seems slanted to me.
But again, I haven’t watched the replays in over a year, so my mind might be messing with me. I’ll concede to your analysis for the time being, lol.
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.
by misterjonez on Aug 30, 2008 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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