Worlds Collide: Time to Bring in the WEC Cavalry

by Mike Fagan on Oct 31, 2009 7:00 PM EDT in News Comment 36 comments

"You have no idea of the magnitude of this thing. If she is allowed to infiltrate this world then George Costanza as you know him ceases to exist. You see, right now I have Relationship George. But there is also Independent George. That's the George you know, the George you grew up with... Movie George, Coffee Shop George, Liar George, Bawdy George."

-George Costanza, Seinfeld

Dana White must feel a lot like George Costanza. Outspoken. Male pattern baldness. Dreading his worlds colliding.

The UFC finds itself walking a very thin line. Coming off one of their biggest summers ever, complete with their centennial supershow, the company now finds themselves signing, resigning, scrapping, replacing, and moving fights all over the autumn and winter months. Quinton Jackson up and Mohawk'd himself to Vancouver. Brock Lesnar picked up a case of swine flu from a viking horn. Lyoto Machida's hand has eluded him. Anderson Silva has a recurring funny bone injury. Thiago Alves's knee won't even let him TRY to make weight. And despite Greg Jackson's best efforts, Georges St. Pierre CAN'T hit a guy with his pulled groin.

So what does a company do when a significant handful of their top stars are on the proverbial shelf? Well, promote Amir Sadollah and Phil "Oil Lantern" Baroni onto the main card.

Jesus. If only the UFC had a sister promotion from which they could pluck talent in cases of emergency. Perhaps a promotion whose fighters have clamored for a bigger stage and bigger paydays. A promotion that calls a small niche cable station its home, and could use exposure to a wide audience.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, as they say. Desperate times call for the implementation of rational measures long past due, as I say. Why not put Miguel Torres's comeback fight on at UFC 107? You don't take away a title fight from the WEC and Versus, you set up a Brian Bowles rematch (or build a new star if Torres falls) with millions watching, and you fill the spot vacated by Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves with two high level guys.

"If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right."

-Jerry Seinfeld, Seinfeld

1 recs | Comment 36 comments | Add comment | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Read More: ufc, wec, dana white, miguel torres, injury bug

Comments

Miguel doesn’t want to fight until next year, according to his recent interview with Ariel Helwani.

The merger will happen eventually just keep your pants on.

by dumbwhiteguy on Oct 31, 2009 7:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Miguel will man up, if he’s given the chance to fight on UFC 107.

This is the right time to put Miguel in the UFC, especially when they are in special need for a good fight.

by Razz on Oct 31, 2009 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Torres is not training. No chance he takes a bout with a month to train.

by Lynchman on Nov 1, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What hardcores want and what casual want are 2 different things.

To casual fans they are more about the name then the fight. The best card that Zuffa is putting on in November is WEC 44 but yet it will probably be the least watched.

The fact that Couture vs. Vera will probably draw 3-4 times the amount of viewers as Brown vs. Aldo is a sad state of affairs for mma but I dont think anything can change that.

Let’s say they put Torres on 107 and then what? #1 he would have to have a great fight to get people interested and then #2 you would have to keep plugging the fact that he is from the WEC and where to find it and considering that they plug the WEC now during UFC ppv’s and it hasnt increased viewership I dont see this doing much better.

by bigdmmafan on Oct 31, 2009 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Miguel Torres is gonna be in the UFC within 2 years tops. They need to show him on a big stage, to build up some increased hype. It’s not about promoting the WEC, it’s about promoting the UFC and Miguel Torres.

by Razz on Oct 31, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually, a lot of casual fans are all about the fight rather than the names. They see the names and are drawn to the events, but the fights matter. I know a lot of casual fans who are turned off by TUF 10, and they want excitement.

The WEC divisions aren’t going to bring increased PPV numbers. What they will bring is excitement for the first year, and the UFC will need to build those stars to the UFC casual fanbase, a fanbase that doesn’t view WEC cards.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 31, 2009 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt many of the casuals will follow them to the WEC. I say put Urijah, Torres, and maybe Brown and Bowles, on 1 or 2 numbered UFC events and then you can use them as at least co-main eventers.

by nottheface on Oct 31, 2009 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I say put Urijah, Torres, and maybe Brown and Bowles, on 1 or 2 numbered UFC events to introducer them to the casual UFC fan and then you can use them as at least co-main eventers on future cards.

Much better

by nottheface on Oct 31, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm sorry

but that might just be brilliant

by dugmouth on Oct 31, 2009 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

seconded

by casey manrique on Oct 31, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it’s just crazy

Facts don't come with points of view

by rector on Nov 1, 2009 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is what I though from the very beginning.

Why not have the main event guys fight on UFC ppvs and still have the WEC shows. When the fighters put themselves in the position to fight the champions do it on UFC ppvs.

by Dav11 on Oct 31, 2009 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

uummmmmm

because then the wec wouldn’t have any main event fighters, which is obviously bad for business.

Facts don't come with points of view

by rector on Nov 1, 2009 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dana White, for Christ’s sake, merge the WEC and UFC. Do it now!!!!!!

by kenpoboy67 on Oct 31, 2009 8:06 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Make Bowles and Torres opposing coaches on TUF.

I don’t think you can introduce a BM or FW division without a TUF lead in anyway

by Shaun32887 on Oct 31, 2009 8:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yes

n THOSE fights wouldnt suck

Facts don't come with points of view

by rector on Nov 1, 2009 3:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m surprised you didn’t work in a Soup Nazi reference, but for Dana White to leave the WEC roster untouched in these circumstances would be shortsighted.
The crossover appeal of smaller guys fighting on bigger cards will increase the WEC’s brand and fighter recognition and serve to grow the lower divisions into something more than an ugly sister sideshow.

by cyke on Oct 31, 2009 8:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

To be perfectly honest...

What is expected here?

Bringing in Torres isn’t going to solve anything. He isn’t a big name to UFC only casual fans. He isn’t going to bring in buys.

You have to bring those divisions in with a timetable. Not as an emergency act.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 31, 2009 9:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s not about solving anything, It’s about taking advantage of an opportunity. A Torres fight will almost certainly be wildly entertaining. Entertaining fights is what keep casual people, who are sure to see 107 in decent numbers, coming back to MMA. That’s good for ZUFFA and it’s good for Miguel.

by Razz on Oct 31, 2009 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jesus. If only the UFC had a sister promotion from which they could pluck talent in cases of emergency.

Actually, that is what we’re discussing. Solving a problem. I see your point, and I agree, but you said we aren’t talking about solving anything when we actually are.

Moving the divisions SHOULD NOT be about plucking talent in cases of emergency. There should be a timetable to move those divisions over. Featuring a few fights here and there in anticipation of moving the divisions over is a perfect move, but I don’t want to see the UFC doing what is suggested without actually going through with it.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 31, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

I didn’t say we aren’t talking about solving it. I’m saying that’s not something that can be addressed in this situation, so I moved on to what can be addressed by using Miguel in the UFC.

by Razz on Oct 31, 2009 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s good for the UFC in the short term too. Exciting fights build interest for subsequent cards.

by Razz on Oct 31, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.......

It’s not about solving anything

I didn’t say we aren’t talking about solving it

by ufc4 on Oct 31, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those 2 sync up perfectly, if you read all of what i wrote.

To clarify:
In my opinion, it won’t solve sales problems with 107, even though perhaps some of you guys thought it would.

by Razz on Oct 31, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

By God, I think he's got it!

"Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity." - Bullet Tooth Tony
@deowade

by Deo Wade on Oct 31, 2009 9:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Anderson Silva has a recurring funny bone injury.

Man, I laughed way harder at than line than it deserves. Poor Anderson can’t get no respect these days.

"I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by in the fight, what you saw, in the ring." - Tito Ortiz

by CasualMMAFan on Oct 31, 2009 9:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

*that line

"I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by in the fight, what you saw, in the ring." - Tito Ortiz

by CasualMMAFan on Oct 31, 2009 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m sorry but there is nothing desperate about what is going on right now, I swear it’s like people are acting like all of these guys like Brock and GSP are crippled or something.

Yeah injuries suck and there are alot of them but all of these fighters will be ok by spring next year and bringing in guys who have no name value and putting them on ppv cards ain’t solving anything.

Amir regardless of the cheap shot from the ts, has more name value than anyone in the WEC at the moment and he should be on the main card of UFC 106.

I swear people have really lost all sorts of perspective when it comes to what the UFC is doing and all of the quality fights they are putting on. So how about some articles on UFC 105, you know a free ppv that we are getting in a week and less hyperbole about how armaggendon has hit mma because it ain’t that serious people.

by Raker on Oct 31, 2009 11:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

UFC 105 is in two weeks. But you are right people should be rejoicing that we have a great and a good card , for FREE, back to back in the next two weeks. Good times.

by nottheface on Oct 31, 2009 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s the fact that the UFC IS struggling for legitimate heavy drawing main events. Talking about MMA means talking about the potentially negative stuff too.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 1, 2009 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

See this is my problem the UFC is struggling for Main Events compared to who?, they are the one’s putting on the biggest fights in mma and putting on big shows month after month. Yet it never seems to be enough, shit happens guys get injured, some like Rampage lose their minds and others get old but even with all of that the UFC still puts on top flight shows.

And instead of talking about all the good that is going on all I see are posts after posts about how many bad things happening with the UFC, while in reality the UFC continues to do great monitarily while delivering top quality shows. The sky isn’t falling and it’s time for people to stop acting like it is, there are 5 mma shows on November 3 from SF 2 from the UFC. Why don’t we actually focus on these and show people why this is going to be a great month instead of complaining about everything and that goes for the fans aswell not just guys like you Brent.

by Raker on Nov 1, 2009 5:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m THRILLED that the fights are happening. I just have to discuss the business side also. The more shows the better for us as fans…but at the same time if those shows aren’t drawing enough viewers because the main events aren’t strong enough…then that will lead to a cut back in the volume of shows by promotions. That’s all I’m saying.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 1, 2009 6:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I enjoy talking the business side of the sport as much as anyone but again like i’ve said before it’s all context the UFC is putting on very successful shows even with these rash of injuries. Yet if you just went by reading some of the post around here you’d swear they were losing money instead of making money as long as even their lesser shows continue to do well this overeaction seems silly to my anyways.

by Raker on Nov 1, 2009 11:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs