Selling Them Short: The Case For Featherweights in the UFC
by JudoFTW on Apr 26, 2010 4:44 PM EDT
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Pictured above: A Jose Aldo beatdown that practically nobody saw.
In light of the recent WEC 48 card, otherwise known as the PPV from the org-that-must-not-be-named, there has been a lot of discussion about the talent that the lighter divisions bring to the table and what the ppv means for the future of the WEC. I think its high time the UFC brought in another top 5 p4p fighter, and luckily they already have him signed. Lets look at some reasons why the UFC should introduce a featherweight division:
Featherweights Rock
GIF Above: Something that is better than anything on TUF 10
One of the main consensus opinions on this site is how exciting and talented the featherweights are. Dana White said that the Korean Zombie vs Garcia was better than Griffin vs Bonnar. The UFC has always said they want to bring their audiences exciting and compelling fights. Not only does adding an additional division give them more match-making leeway to make sure a barn burner is on every card, but I don't think its unreasonable to say that fights at 145 are more exciting than most.
More Featherweight Super Fights
GIF Above: Top Featherweight Hatsu Hioki owning
The UFC is the great unifier. When the UFC bought PRIDE, whether or not you are nostaligic for foot stomps, you have to appreciate the super fights. The fame and fortune that comes with a UFC signing can bring in some of these wandering featherweights to truly show who is the best in the world. If you want to see Aldo put a hurting on anyone who isn't in the WEC, you'll want the 145 division in the UFC.
Development of Featherweight Talent
GIF Above: Two fighters who got into fighting despite the lack of reward
For the same reason you would see super fights if the UFC picked up the featherweights, you will see a greater development of talent in the long term if featherweights have the potential to get into the UFC. Its hard to justify quitting your full time job and joining a training camp to your wife/mom for a WEC salary. Its probably hard to justify doing anything for a WEC salary.
Zuffa Will Profit More From Featherweights Under The UFC Banner
GIF Above: TUF 5 Finalist Manny Gamburyan introduces Mike Brown to a Traditional Armenian Greeting
WEC 48 featured, according to mmaweekly's rankings, a 1 vs 3 match-up and a 2 vs 7 match-up. That is the Light Heavyweight Equivalent of backing up Machida vs Shogun II with Rashad vs Griffin. Why are those names not comparable in actual PPV draws? Because only the light heavyweights have had years of UFC hype building to enhance their draw power. If the exact same card was a UFC PPV it would have had 100k more buys. Not because of the UFC name, because Zuffa went out of their way to negate that problem. In the UFC a TUF veteran vs a former champion would headline a PPV, yet that's what Gamburyan vs Brown was.
The trend is for more cards. Another division means more title matches, it means more number one contender fights. It means more UFC stars. The added hype for Penn vs Aldo is almost worth it all on its own.
Its not like Zuffa is going to lose alot from WEC either. As argued in this fan post: http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/4/26/1444727/the-wec-illusion-why-ben-henderson the WEC does just fine hyping fights that aren't really all that important. WEC only had 25 featherweight fights in 2009. If WEC is to continue putting on periodic PPVs it will weaken its other cards because of the talent they need to concentrate. The UFC makes for easier match-making, especially if injuries hamper things. Coupled with a flyweight addition to WEC and the UFC on versus cards and MMA on Versus does just fine.
In addition, the potential for the best TUF season ever is there.
Ends The Bottleneck at Lightweight
Pictured Above: Our beloved UFC champion being put in his place by a natural lightweight.
Because there is no money or prestige below lightweight, there are natural featherweights hanging around at 155 so they can stay in the division. Being a top ten lightweight is more profitable than being a WEC champion, and who knows, you might even out point BJ 50-45.
MMA fans should want to see fighters in their optimal weight classes first and foremost. It makes for more competitive fights and less one sided decisions. The UFC lightweight division isn't lacking talent right now, so they can afford to let their smaller guys cut weight.
Plus, hey, wouldn't you pay to see Edgar vs Aldo?
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
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dont leave out the case for bantamweights in the UFC
dominick cruz, joseph benevidez, scott jorgenson, and miguel torres put on some of the best fights in mma
what the UFC should simply do is formally merge the WEC and UFC not just fold the WEC into the UFC, brand everything under the UFC label and keep the WECs deal with versus and turn all of those future shows into UFC on versus events
Isn't the point
that if the PPV was successful that the “little guys” would be able to make UFC kind of money?
I like the featherweights
I have to disagree with a couple of your points.
-As others have commented, there’s nothing quite like the physicality of the big guys. No matter how athletic a 145 (or smaller) champ is, they are so much smaller than a large segment of the audience that they will not inspire awe in the same way. This isn’t to discount their skill, but I think it affects their drawing power.
-I’m not exactly sure where the breaking point is, but it seems like the 145 guys may have enough popularity to justify their existence in the UFC. But it wasn’t so long ago that there wasn’t even a 155 division, so I think Zuffa will be slow to commit. The biggest problem may just be depth. The UFC felt like they were short-handed once BJ left with a contract dispute. If they were going to add 145, the UFC wouldn’t want to feel dependent on Aldo staying healthy and happy to support the division all by himself.
-I think this was a bit of a test to see what a “little guy” card could bring in. The sales will theoretically indicate how viable these devisions are.
Use all ten points.
-I think this was a bit of a test to see what a "little guy" card could bring in. The sales will theoretically indicate how viable these devisions are.
The problem with this, and the OP’s point I assume, is that there was no UFC-branding behind this. Put them in the UFC, get the UFC hype-machine behind them, and the ceiling on popularity, exposure, and pay rises dramatically.
I agree
The problem lies with the TV stations, Dana said they will have trouble merging the 2 brands with the existing TV deals. I think the best idea is to fold the WEC fighers into the UFC, and then make the WEC into a feeder org consisting of tired old vets who need money, early prospects that aren’t ready for the UFC, and washouts that they don’t want going to other orgs.
The new divisions can be used to fill out more UFN’s, or they could make a “Bushido” type show where they showcase the lighter weight fighters.
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I’m fine with the feeder-system idea, but the way I’d do it is I’d move the divisions over to the UFC one at a time while adding lower ones. In roughly this order:
-Start by adding a Flyweight division. Sign guys, start doing matches.
-Lobby to have the Unified Rules add a Strawweight division at 115 lbs. Try and get that established in as many major MMA states as possible.
-Move the top 4-6 LWs to the UFC, and sign some more LW prospects
-Hold a 4-man tournament for a new LW Champion.
-Hold a 4-man tournament to crown the first Flyweight Champion.
-Move the top 15 or so Featherweights over the UFC and establish a UFC FW division. Start signing more FW prospects to the WEC. I assume some existing UFC LWs will also drop down to FW, and the appeal of a UFC FW division might be enough to convince some top FWs not currently with Zuffa to sign with them now, like Marlon Sandro or Joe Warren.
-Do a season of The Ultimate Fighter where half the competitors are Featherweights, and have Featherweight coaches. Have the two coaches meet at a PPV afterwords to determine the first UFC Featherweight Champion.
-Hold a 4-man tournament to determine the new WEC FW Champion.
-Establish a Strawweight division. Obviously it’ll be a very small division at first (no pun intended).
-Send whoever the top 2-4 WEC LWs are at this point over to the UFC, including the champion. Have another 4-man tournament to fill the void.
-Hold a 4-man tournament to determine the first Strawweight Champion.
-Buy another regional promotion like UWC or MFC or something. Use it develop prospects in weight classes at LW or higher, except possibly HW. Send those at Featherweight and below over to the WEC or if warranted, straight to the UFC.
-Send the top 15 or so Bantamweights over to the UFC, including the WEC Champion, and establish a UFC BW division. Sign some more prospects prospects to the WEC. I assume a few UFC FWs might drop down to Bantamweight at this point. Unlike Featherweight, Zuffa already has Bantamweight division pretty much sown up as much as they do LHWs and WWs, but they still may be able to lure a few guys who they previously couldn’t, like Hatsu Hioki.
-Do a season of The Ultimate Fighter where half the competitors are Bantamweights, and have Bantamweight coaches. Have the two coaches meet at a PPV afterwords to determine the first UFC Bantamweight Champion.
-Hold a 4-man tournament to determine the new WEC BW Champion.
-Send the top 2-4 WEC FWs at this point over to the UFC. Hold another 4-man tournament to determine the new WEC FW Champion. Repeat every 18 months or so.
-Fold what’s left of the WEC LW division entirely into the UFC. Send some of the other LW prospects to the other afforementioned regional promotion.
-Eventually send the top 2-4 WEC BWs over to the UFC. Hold another 4-man tournament to determine the new WEC BW Champion. Repeat every 18 months or so.
From there, whatever. Add Flyweights and Strawweights to the UFC in much the same way, and maybe look at some women’s divisions (Zuffa could have almost anyone they wanted at 125 and 115, and much like Men’s MMA, Women’s MMA tends to be faster and more exciting at smaller weight classes).
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