Mayweather vs. Ortiz Results: Why Boxing and MMA Need a Floyd Mayweather
by Fraser Coffeen on Sep 18, 2011 5:00 PM EDT
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Who exactly is Floyd "Money" Mayweather? It depends on who you ask. Is he the greatest boxer of his generation? Or is he a coward who ducks the best opponents? A showman playing the game? Or a disrespectful loudmouth?
Fans have debated this question for a number of years, and last night's controversial Victor Ortiz fight did nothing to quiet that debate. After an illegal Ortiz headbutt, Mayweather came back with a controversial fight-ending combo that, like so many other things about Mayweather, has divided fans. As if that wasn't enough, he followed up with a profanity-laced tirade against announcer Larry Merchant, drawing the ire of even more followers of the sport. But whatever you think of his actions against Ortiz and Merchant, the fact of the matter is this:
Sports need Floyd Mayweather.
The reality of sports is that fans drive the action. No fans, no sport. And it's these kinds of controversial actions that most strongly attract fans. Die-hard fans and purists often get prickly about this, but it is what it is, and Floyd Mayweather knows that. He knows how to get his name out there - how to make his fights the kind of major boxing events that draw the eyes of even non-fans.
Mayweather is not alone in this knowledge either. In the near 20 year history of the UFC, no man has ever been as big a draw as Brock Lesnar - a man who used his days as a professional wrestler to draw people into his fights. Lesnar is a fighter who slobbered at the camera, insulted sponsors, and acted in a way many long time fans found disrespectful to the sport. And every time he did it, over a million people turned in to watch. In the dark days of the UFC, it was Tito Ortiz who filled this role - flipping off Ken Shamrock, wearing profane shirts, and again, insulting the pride of purists everywhere. And just like Lesnar, Ortiz drew in the fans. In boxing over the years, this role has been played by Mike Tyson and, yes, Muhammad Ali. It's these unpredictable, controversial, and above all, supremely talented men that fans want to watch above all else.
Yes there are exceptions. Fighters like Georges St. Pierre and the Klitschko brothers can become big names without these antics, but their appeal remains rooted largely in home country pride, and will seldom reach the same wide audience as Mayweather.
Of course, for Mayweather, there is one man in boxing who draws a similar casual fan response, and it's the man many say he's been ducking for years. Manny Pacquiao doesn't need theatrics - his results speak for themselves. And so the purists ask, "We have a Pacquiao - why do we need a Mayweather at all?"
Because Floyd Mayweather makes people care. Whether you want to see him win, or you want to see him humbled in defeat, you want to know what will happen next, and you'll pay to find out. And that right there is what every sport needs.
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Who exactly is Floyd “Money” Mayweather? It depends on who you ask. Is he the greatest boxer of his generation? Or is he a coward who ducks the best opponents? A showman playing the game? Or a disrespectful loudmouth?
Is all of the above an acceptable answer?
Dear Brock Lesnar,
Please beat Alistair Overeem. That is all.
Sincerely, Me
He's a total wreck
But I don’t mind watching him every now and then.
my band
http://www.groggybikini.com
& people love train wrecks
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It's hard to say that he's truly the best until he fights Manny.
That said- I agree that Mayweather is great for boxing’s business. I think that Jon Jones could be similar, an incredibly talented fighter and mega heel… I just don’t think Jon wants to be the bad guy. He’s a Christian- he has a high view of himself and doesn’t see himself as the bad guy, although the vast majority of his natural actions indicate a great capacity for playing the villain.
If only Anderson were incredibly popular when he decided to play DDR in the cage against Maia, that would definitely be on a similar level to PBF.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Sep 18, 2011 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I hate him.
He’s good. He’s great even. He’s an asshole though and he can not beat Pacman and has no intention of trying to prove otherwise.
by Brandon Starr on Sep 18, 2011 5:05 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I gotta tell you. I think Floyd wins at least 8 of 12 rounds against Manny.
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
The Pacman has been outboxed before, it’s not a stretch for Mayweather to do the same.
by discoandherpes on Sep 18, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree, Mayweather is a different kind of beast.
A fight between Floyd and Khan would be completely pointless.
by theworldismine on Sep 18, 2011 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Also agree. Best technical fighter in the game.
Manny is probably the fastest in the game. But he’s never fought anyone like Floyd. Would Manny’s speed outshine Floyd’s technical acumen? I agree with Brett.
If you read the NY Times article about Floyd’s business model that eliminates the need for greedy promoters, you can get a better understanding as to why the fight hasn’t happened yet. It hasn’t happened yet because Floyd isn’t willing to take 10 mil out of his pocket to pay Bob Arum when he can make just as much money fighting anyone.
For that fight to happen, Arum is going to have to get creative…..and that’s not likely.
Floyd has never fought anyone like Manny, though.
And it’s pretty clear that he’s ducking him- for now, at least. Waiting for him to lose a step while he cherry- picks a beatable opponent once a year.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Sep 18, 2011 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions
It's hard to call Floyd the bad guy in those negotiations.
Both of them stand a lot to gain by arguing they are the best while they fight other people. Floyd also just fought a young, strong, massive, number 3 ranked guy in the division while Manny has fought a disgraced Margarito and guys who Floyd had JUST finished beating in Marquez and Mosley. Well… not JUST finished. Mosley also had that abomination of a fight against Sergio Mora.
I don’t think either is “ducking”. They just see more value elsewhere and are being prizefighters. Both burn through way too much money and will be broke soon, and not fighting each other actually supports their lifestyles longer. Shitty reality, but both are equally to blame for this fight not happening.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Sep 18, 2011 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Why is it, then,
that every third party close to the situation says that it’s obvious Mayweather is the one preventing the fight from happening? Striking while the iron is still hot is paramount to how much money can be made from the fight. If either of them lose or look lackluster, the matchup loses appeal.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Sep 18, 2011 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on, now.
You’re smart enough to know that these business negotiations are never as black and white as they appear. It’s the popular stance to say that Floyd is ducking Manny. It doesn’t mean it’s true.
Mayweather refuses to give in to Arum’s demands because he has figured out a way to make more money without having to deal with him. Mayweather promotes his own fights. He’d still prob make 40+ mil fighting Manny, but he’d probably make 60+ mil if he didn’t concede to Arum’s demands of fighting through Top Rank.
Mayweather seems like a jerk, but there are no bigger sleazebags, on earth, than boxing promoters.
The 50-50 spilt that Arum advertised referred to the fighters purses upfront, not the money Floyd would make on PPV and everything else.
by Gideon Jay on Sep 18, 2011 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Source?
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Sep 18, 2011 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Elliot,
I’ll say this.
All the posturing, and information concerning the contractual negotiations for the fight is bull. Unless we are privy to a copy of the papers being drawn up . . . it is bull. So the popular opinion that Floyd is the major road-block for this fight is anyone’s opinion.
People can continue to state that Mayweather is a coward and ducking Pacquiao if it makes them feel better but something tells me that the truth is very different.
-------- I LOVE MMA MATH! GSP > Anderson Silva > Fedor
Matt Serra <> GSP > Jake Shields > Dan Henderson > Ryo Chonan > Anderson Silva > Henderson > Fedor
by VeeisAnimated on Sep 18, 2011 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I wouldn’t call him a coward, but the truth is pretty close to that. PBF IS ducking Manny. PBF has made sound business decisions like that throughout his career. It’s just who he is. That’s why he never fought Margacheato, why he waited forever to fight Mosley, etc.
"You are a miserable human being." - Mike Fagan
My twitter: @TB_Money
Yes like Bob Arum is an angel.............. :S
Also the testing that Pacmans team lied about. They didn’t accept the test but still went out and lied their asses of and pretended they did. It leaked and they used the Bullshit USADA excuse. They wouldn’t accept USADA and demanded WADA who uses USADA LOL. So many excuses and people still eat them up. Unbelievable.
I love Pac but I hate to say it.
Take the test
by Mohammedini Hussein on Sep 19, 2011 4:38 AM EDT up reply actions
You don't even seem to know what the whole situation is and you call him a ducker!
lol so typical of casual boxing “fans” to repeat this over and over again with out knowing nothing about it.
by Mohammedini Hussein on Sep 19, 2011 4:33 AM EDT up reply actions
One would have to assume that the loser of Money/Pac would not get anything remotely close to what they are now getting in their next fight. Unless the ante is upped by a huge margin, why do it?
Keep making your money doing what you are doing at little real risk…
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Sep 19, 2011 2:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Fair enough.
Absolutely a fair opinion, but I disagree. It really doesnt matter though because mayweather seems to be taking all the steps to make the fight never happen. Mayweather is a great fighter and has looked dominant but so has pac and pac wants the fight; Mayweather wants 100 mil knowing he wont get it.
by Brandon Starr on Sep 18, 2011 9:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Do you realize that you’re spewing a lot of misinformation concerning back-door negotiations?
One, Bob Arum doesn’t present the whole truth.
Golden Boy doesn’t present the whole truth.
Freddie Roach doesn’t present the whole truth.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.‘s team doesn’t present all the facts.
I guess fans will decide who they want to believe but at the end of the day, that’s your prerogative.
One, you’re saying Pac wants the fight. He has already said that he doesn’t care about the fight. He’s moving on. His next opponent is Marquez.
-------- I LOVE MMA MATH! GSP > Anderson Silva > Fedor
Matt Serra <> GSP > Jake Shields > Dan Henderson > Ryo Chonan > Anderson Silva > Henderson > Fedor
by VeeisAnimated on Sep 18, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
IN OTHER NEWS
Brett Rogers wishes he was a multi time champ with the mouth to match so we’d glorify him and ignore the domestic violence
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 5:08 PM EDT via iPhone app reply actions
What's the difference between Brett Rogers and Floyd Mayweather?
Or even Brett Rogers and Mike Vick? How about Brett Rogers and Christian Bale?
Out of those four men, three of them have world class talents, and you can enjoy their performances without condoning anything else about them.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Bale does more juice than all of them put together
BOOSH
by Farthammer on Sep 18, 2011 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
i said he wishes he was
and mike vick is NOT world class talent.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Lolwut? The guy went to prison,came back, and still starts…u know what. Nevermind. Enjoy that planet u live on
If your not ready to fight shut your $@&%ING mouth! - BJ Penn
by warren305 on Sep 18, 2011 5:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
put his numbers
against the greats. he’s a world class ATHLETE who plays decent QB. Does everyone forget how pedestrian he was in ATL? oh no, he’s on your fantasy team now.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I dont think u know what “world class talent” means…
If your not ready to fight shut your $@&%ING mouth! - BJ Penn
by warren305 on Sep 18, 2011 5:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Go watch the guy play
He hasn’t maximized his talent, but he can do things on the field that no other QB in history can do. That’s like, the definition of talent.
Not afraid to nitpick
and there are stellar QBs
who have all done things he will NEVER do. ya’ll need to quit drinking that madden 2012 juice, and check the history books.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Everyone in pro sports is a talent.
c’mon
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions
when you're a professional athlete
your talent is measured against your peers. Vick doesn’t stand against his peers in terms of talent. Mayweather does. Anderson silva does. This is silly fanboyism. NUMBERS DONT LIE.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
You obviously don't actually watch NFL games
And still don’t understand the word talent.
Not afraid to nitpick
and i've asked to you give a viable definition
but while i can defend my point, you cannot yours
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions
It's pretty easy
Talent [tal-uhnt]
Noun
1. a special natural ability or aptitude: a talent for drawing.
2. a capacity for achievement or success; ability: young men of talent.
I would focus on the 2nd definition in the case of Michael Vick, though the first one works too. He has a monster strong arm and is one of the quickest players in the league running the ball. Vick can dominate games with his legs like no other QB in the history of the league, and has shown at times that he can be a great passer as well. Has he consistently done that? ABSOLUTELY not, in fact he’s basically only been above average for most of his career as a QB, but the word talent means the ability to do something, not the actual accomplishments. He has more than shown that he has world class ability.
Vick at his best can practically single handedly score points—-if the line sucks, Brady/Manning are toast. If you’re only going to be looking at completion percentage and all that, you’re obviously going to be missing whether Vick is talented. Look at the game last week, he by the numbers had a shitty passing game, yet he almost single handedly put up points on the board with his legs and a few incredible passing plays that no one else in the league can make because they would have been sacked. Half of why LeSean McCoy even puts up any numbers is because any D-player who gets penetration at the line is always worried that Vick is pulling it down himself—-Vick is a total game changer.
You’re absolutely, batshit insane if you don’t think Vick has “world class talent.” That’s not the same as the greatest QB ever.
Not afraid to nitpick
thank you
at least now i can see your reasoning. But it says capacity for achievement or success, and in Vick’s line of duty, where his talent lies, he has not proved that to have that capacity, just flashes. like Vince Young. like i said before, he has a small window to prove you right.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions
its like chris johnson saying he isnt a running back
he’s a “playmaker”. no. youre a running back.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions
-if the line sucks, Brady/Manning are toast
The line is criminally underrated…put me or you on an NFL team as a RB, then let me hand select 5 linemen from throughout the league and we could rush for 1000 yards.
On the other hand, let me hand select 5 linemen off current NFL rosters for Chris Johnson or AD to run behind and they wouldn’t come close…
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Sep 19, 2011 2:43 AM EDT up reply actions
World class talent,
but not (yet perhaps) among the top-10 QBs to ever play the game…
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Sep 19, 2011 2:39 AM EDT up reply actions
HE'S 32!
he had an average arm before, with good legs. come on. he is never going to maximize it.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
AND just this last week
he announced that he was finally really studying defenses and their responsibilities for the first time…
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Sep 19, 2011 2:44 AM EDT up reply actions
and kurt warner worked at a grocery store
came back. won a super bowl. get that shit out of here.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Ty Cobb...
savagely beat and disfigured a one armed fan. But my god could that racist, violent mother fucker pitch…
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
"could"
pitch…
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Haha...
damn I am a dumbass. I always manage to combine Ty Cobb and Cy Young together in my head. I don’t know why…
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Please don't talk about football ever again
Not afraid to nitpick
by joker24 on Sep 18, 2011 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
please show me
anything significant he’s done to anything outside of being a QB with a bunch of rushing yards? Please do. you can’t. 55% career completions? barely a 2-1 TD/INT ratio. No super bowl appearances? History of injury? He has a small window to prove you right.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I hate to defend a guy...
who did what Vick did to those dogs. I used to work in a vet clinic and would hate it when Halloween came around because the next day we would be getting cats that had been set on fire. Plus, it was just outside of Baltimore…so you can imagine the condition of dogs we would get from evil fuckers participating in the “sport” of dog fighting.
That said, Vick paid a hell of a lot more for his crimes than people who have murdered humans, ripped off billions, etc. The entire Madoff fiasco ripped off billions from retirees. Other than just Bernie, who needed a LOT of help to do what he did, no one else has been punished. What is Vick supposed to do other than what he has done?
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Kind of insane, but you are right.
The Internets: Where there are no girls and men become children.
by Unabomberman on Sep 18, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
where are you coming from?
we are debating his place as an athlete. I am all for forgiveness in Vick’s case. He is simply a decent QB.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I apologize...
as soon as Vick gets mentioned, almost always it becomes involved with the dog fighting.
I agree with you, that on a standard team, Vick’s actual talents are difficult to utilize. And worse, if the team is built around his talents, he gets hurt, the team is screwed as no one can replace him and the offense is built around such a unique skill set.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
thank you
you are dead on, and that was my point. People forget before his BEST year ever last year, he wasn’t that great. and that year barely helped his stats.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I will say this...
when he is on…there is nothing like him.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
did you see brady on last week?
thats a quarterback being ON
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Did you see my Flacco...
this week…I need a whiskey….
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions
yes.
thankfully i had lee evans on the bench this week. man. they looked like world beaters last weekend.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions
DID YOU SEE MY RYAN FITZPATRICK THE LAST TWO WEEKS?!
HE’S THE BEST! (or..you know…he has had two really good weeks against bad and mediocre teams)
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 6:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I swear...
Gregg Easterbrook creams his paints every time the Harvard grad has success. Can’t wait to see how pretentious that asshole is this week…
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
haha...
Hey man, all I know is that the Bills aren’t HORRIBLE this year (although, realistically they’re probably still a 5-6 win team) and I’m happy
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions
And I am sure...
the Toronto fans will love them once the move is finalized…
It is heartbreaking to see how that owner has destroyed that franchise…
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions
They are actually
a reasonably sound team this year…wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them win 8…
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Sep 19, 2011 2:47 AM EDT up reply actions
but that isn't
what we were debating.
by silent.bisonte33 on Sep 18, 2011 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
the fact of the matter is this:
Sports need Floyd Mayweather.
No that’s the opinion of the matter. Fans may need him, but you can have a sport as long as there are people doing an activity involving physical exertion and skill against another or others.
by Vonk on Sep 18, 2011 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 7 recs
We won't get someone like Mayweather
Because Dana White takes personal dislikes to fighters and looks for opportunities to get rid of them if need be. Unless they’re a big PPV draw, then they get kid glove treatment.
If the Boxing last night happened under the Zuffa promotional banner, and all major Boxing was contested as such, Dana White would probably fire Mayweather.
In Boxing you just get away with more and it’s more about the fighters than the sport (and definitely more than the promoters)
Bloody Elbow Grappling Editor.
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Mayweather fired by Dana, for what? Laughable sensationalism. Floyd did what he should have done. Manny did the same thing to Mosely in the 11th round. No one cares
If your not ready to fight shut your $@&%ING mouth! - BJ Penn
by warren305 on Sep 18, 2011 5:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What in the hell are you trying to say?
Dan Henderson faced no penalties for something clearly unsportsmanlike and dangerous against Michael Bisping. Anderson Silva shouted serious pejoratives at Demian Maia and nothing came of it besides an angry press conference rant that actually had nothing to do with that. Going lower profile: Manny Gamburyan faked the glove touch and threw a kick and went on to get a title shot. Jon Jones unleashed a hellish assault of illegal blows and was promoted like he won the bout anyways. Dana White has said in interviews that he straight up turns a blind eye to Chris Leben’s DUI arrests.
I can’t think of a time where a UFC champion faced any sort of meaningful issue for their actions since Josh Barnett got stripped of the title. Certainly none who are as talented, dominant, or valuable and Mayweather. What gives you the slightest inkling that Zuffa would fire a valuable commodity for winning the fight in a legal manner?
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
At that time, Dana liked Dan Henderson
So of course he faced no penalties. It is interesting the Flying Hendo is often edited out of the official replays, as well as the UFC 100 DVD though.
Dana likes Jon Jones and hates Tha Mazz.
Dana likes Chris Leben because he comes to fight and he’s an original TUFer.
Manny Gamburyan, didn’t he lose the fight he tried that cheap shot in? Even so the cheap shot to the body did virtually nothing. Dropping to Featherweight meant leaving the UFC. Less sponsorship, less eyeballs, less money. Doesn’t really matter if he had a title shot when the titles meant nothing compared to the established UFC ones. Hell, even the UFC FW and BW don’t mean anything yet because UFC hasn’t really promoted them. Maybe that will change with this season of TUF. Maybe not …
Do I need to go on? The only reason Dana wouldn’t fire Mayweather is if he took at look at the PPV numbers like he did with Lesnar’s flip out at UFC 100. Become a champ and draw, then you can act like a jackass and are more likely to get away with it. Until you reach that point you have to say “Yes sir, please sir, three bags full sir” to Dana White.
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Lolwut?
If your not ready to fight shut your $@&%ING mouth! - BJ Penn
by warren305 on Sep 18, 2011 5:53 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Why would he fire Mayweather?
You’ve given no reasoning for that besides implying that Dana White controls everything in the UFC (LOL) and that he’s petulant and vindictive enough to fire world class talent for winning a fight legally… and somehow that’s a good thing? Unless Mayweather was a champion (he is) and draws PPV numbers (he holds the record for individual purchases and revenue generated by a single event)?
Seriously, please clarify what you’re trying to say. It’s incomprehensible so far.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
He doesnt like Mayweather and wishes Dana White(?) would punish him. I bet he didnt even see the fight
If your not ready to fight shut your $@&%ING mouth! - BJ Penn
by warren305 on Sep 18, 2011 5:59 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yes I did
And Dana White doesn’t like Mayweather. You’re not going to tell me Dana’s a cool headed methodical thinker are you? The same guy who cut all of AKA in one day because they dared to question the life time likeness rights UFC wanted? Dana White has absolutely shown he can act petulant and vindictive.
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This is just like the last time I saw you talk about boxing on BE.
Incoherent drivel that means nothing but somehow lands on “BOXING SUCKS BECAUSE IT’S NOT UFC!” in your mind.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Sep 18, 2011 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Boxing sucks the way it's promoted and organised
And too many of the top ‘fighters’ are just points players. The whole ‘fight’ concept is gone.
I’d much rather Box than watch Boxing.
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Who is more of a "fighter", Jake Shields or Brandon Rios?
What looked more like a “fight”, GSP vs. Shields or Rios vs. Antillon?
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
Good one.
You’ve managed 2 fighters from MMA. Although, Jake Shields was in a FIGHT with Dan Henderson, and Jason Miller. He was also in a FIGHT with Ellenberger and got smoked.
GSP is the MMA equivolent of most Boxers. He’s also been getting a ton of criticism for how he’s been fighting the last 2 years and has decisioned opponents lesser fighters were able to finish.
Mayweather was on his way to a decision if it weren’t for taking advantage of Ortiz naivety.
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Marquez? Morales? Victor Ortiz? Margarito? Donaire? Cotto? Canelo?
Those guys are less of “fighters” than Chad Mendes, Charlie Brenneman, and Gray Maynard? Do tell, good sir. Do tell.
Oh, and LOL at knowing Mayweather was going to a decision. In my vision quest I saw Ortiz quitting on the stool after the 9th or 10th from a sustained, prolonged beating where he got put more and more out of the fight and Floyd was putting more snap on his right hand as he found his rhythm and timed his opponent. You must clean up on prop bets all the time if you know the outcome on every fight.
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Don't forget he also cut all of Golden Glory in one day.
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by Unabomberman on Sep 18, 2011 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Thank you
Another example. He cut Marquardt, not because he takes TRT, but because he messed up the main event. Chael Sonnen still competed in the main event and put on a hell of a fight. He still has a job.
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So your point is that boxing needs a vindictive asshole to be 100% in charge of every athlete's ability to compete and make a living, taking a massive cut off the top of revenue generated?
I’m sure Bob Arum could do that, is he your nominee for this position?
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I’d tell KJ to call any number of boxers who fucked up (in the ring or outside of it) and had their promoter give up on them. But a lot of them are dead, in jail or living on the streets.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions
late to the party but....
i get a kick out of all of the people that actually think that the BILLIONAIRE fertitta brothers think the best way to protect their investment is to let an aerobics instructor run their company. is dana a dick? sure. is he a loudmouthed, tough talking blowhard? definitely. is he just a figurehead in the UFC that has his strings pulled by the actual businessmen? you bet yer ass.
Mayweather does for himself what Dana White does for the UFC.
He has eliminated the need for a Dana White. So this argument doesn’t matter. Mayweather is the guy who writes the checks and pays the fighters. He’s also the guy who takes home the lions share of the profit.
If he was fighting under Dana White, however, he’d probably be forced to fight Manny.
"you want to know what will happen next, and you'll pay to find out"
Uh huh….How many people here watched that fight and paid for it?
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That event did more PPV buys than any UFC event this year. Guaranteed.
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And a rematch between Floyd and Ortiz next year on Cinco De Mayo or the Pacquaio fight both have a chance to be the biggest drawing PPV of all time.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
So you're saying Boxing can do monster PPV numbers
By only having one or two interesting fights per year? I wonder why that is …
In the meantime UFC will continue to put on 12+ PPVs that collectively do significantly more and entertain more people in the process.
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by KJ Gould on Sep 18, 2011 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Someone doesn’t watch boxing, apparently. There are good PPV boxing cards all the time.
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Isn't this the second boxing PPV so far this year?
I know they’re about to have 3 more, but Boxing has gone away from the PPV model for the most part.
There’s been at least 10 boxing PPV’s so far this year, I think. I think just HBO has 3 more this year. There are more than that for sure though.
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And how much buys
Did all those boxing ppv’s combined get?
I don’t know, but i’m betting UFC gets more buys than boxing in a year.
K-1 Level Predictions Team
Also
I said how many people HERE not how many people in the world.
And by people here I mean hardcore fight fans, and by people in the world I mean casual fans.
K-1 Level Predictions Team
I’m not sure what kind of point you’re making with that though. We’re a tiny segment of fans, who cares what we do or don’t buy? Fraser’s quote wasn’t aimed at us, it was meant in a broader sense.
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I’m not sure what the numbers are. The top 2-3 events of the year buy-wise will be boxing fights though, so it’d be close.
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The other ones have mostly been integrated PPV (minor shows that are put on PPV to make sure that fans who WANT to see them, can).
The Morales/Maidana show earlier this year did shit numbers. Like..horrible. But it at least kicked ass. It was a dumb decision to put it on PPV and everyone knew that but there were other factors at play.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 6:26 PM EDT up reply actions
PPV numbers though?
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um. yes, they watered down their PPVs for a few years and paid the price. Now they cut down on the major PPVs they put on and use the ones that draw well. Then they put events on showtime and HBO which pretty much always do between 700,000 viewers and 1.5 million which would seem to suggest that the sport of boxing is doing a pretty solid job of entertaining plenty of people.
But like. I guess if the idea is “GRR! BOXING! IT’S NOT AS GOOD!” then..sure.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions
And that’s fine, KJ. Here’s my thing: from a personal perspective, what matters to me first and foremost is whether or not the PPV sucks. The UFC has put on a bunch of collectively profitable lousy PPVs this year. Great for them. I get to watch more free major fights on HBO, which I’d probably have anyways boxing or not. Awesome for me.
by VirtualBalboa on Sep 18, 2011 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the Pac fight would break PPV records. I know there’s a storyline here for a rematch now, but I’m not sure it sells like people expect. They dressed this up as a competitive fight once, but I don’t think they can do it again.
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I almost want the Ortiz rematch
just because the emotional and casual bettors will drop cash on him after seeing that replay and the hype over and over again in the leadup. If I can get Floyd at -400 instead of -500, I’ll be a happy man. If I can watch it at a bar and get a sucker to drop a bill on Ortiz even, I’ll be ecstatic.
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If I can watch it at a bar and get a sucker to drop a bill on Ortiz even, I’ll be ecstatic.
Goading guys in bars into making heads-up bets they shouldn’t is the only way to make any money on guys like Jones, Money and Anderson…well, aside from using them as lay-ups in a parlay…
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by The American Ronin on Sep 19, 2011 3:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Mayweather vs Pacman is the only superfight Boxing has left
UFC’s potential for superfights continue to grow.
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by KJ Gould on Sep 18, 2011 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
What’s the working definition of superfight? Because it sounds like “that’s the only big fight I’m aware of”
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Superfights that have the imaginary pound for pound and goat status implications.
GSP vs Silva is the obvious one.
Silva vs Jon Jones.
Silva vs Rashad Evans is really interesting to me personally.
Jon Jones vs Cain Velasquez / JDS.
Aldo vs Edgar / Maynard.
Cruz vs Aldo.
And who knows what else in 6 months to a year’s time.
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I would throw in there..
Overeem and Brock just because it would bring in insane buzz and seeing to giants, one kick boxing, the other wrestling, plus thinking it would never happened, is so fucking cool.
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by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah. It'll be like a comic book fight.
But I fear Brock will just blanket over Alistair and pound him out. The latter has not developed enough to fight pure grade-A successful wrestlers, I happen to think—or at least not that we have seen yet. He could well take well-rounded guys much better—fighters that have a strong dependence on their standup and that use wrestling as a complement to their overall game.
Brock’s one-dimensionality may actually serve him right for this fight in the event that he does not get rocked early.
I’m assuming that Brock shows up healthy and well trained, though.
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by Unabomberman on Sep 18, 2011 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah...
I am still expecting something to happen where the fight can’t go down.
It may end up disappointing but the hype leading up to it will be INSANE!
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah...now that you mention it...
Brock’s diverticulitis may decide to show up all of a sudden, or Overeem will get into a contractual dispute, or…something.
I enjoy the nonsense hype that fights like these generate b/c fans get rowdy and things get fun, but I fear that something may well show up and shit all over it.
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by Unabomberman on Sep 18, 2011 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Right
I tend to think that a healthy, wrestling-first Cain or Brock takes either Overeem or JDS…
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by The American Ronin on Sep 19, 2011 3:24 AM EDT up reply actions
well. okay GSP/Silva is Floyd/Manny
Silva vs. Jon Jones or Silva vs. Evans or Aldo vs. Edgar/Maynard or Cruz vs. Aldo? There are plenty of hypothetical fights that level in boxing.
Jones vs. Silva = unlikely fight with a #1 fighter moving up a division to face another #1 fighter in a sure fire exciting superfight that will draw big #’s = Manny vs. Sergio Martinez
Silva vs. Evans = #1 Guy moves up a division to face a recognizable top level guy (but not #1) in a fight that does decent viewership numbers = Amir Khan or Tim Bradley moving up to fight Victor Ortiz, Floyd Mayweather or Manny pacquiao
Jones vs. Cain/JDS = Already had that with Cruiserweight (200 lb) top guy in David Haye moving up to fight Klitschko. I’m sure you’ll go “yeah, but it was boring” but it also did really good numbers and Haye vs. Vitali will too.
Aldo vs. Edgar/Maynard = two small division champions meeting in a fight that won’t draw but is likely to be awesome = Happening in October when Omar Navarez (#1 Super Flyweight, 35-0-2) vs. Nonito Donaire (#1 Bantamweight, 26-1) happens
Cruz vs. Aldo = again, won’t draw a dime. see above or see something like Agbeko vs. Mares (happening) or any other number of fights.
I mean, your argument is basically “boxing has few fights which interest me, nothing like these MMA fights” but that argument would work exactly in reverse.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
UFC also has champions and fighters people can remember and care about
Not so much in the lighter weights (yet), but there’s none of this WBA/WBF/WBC whatever. And while there aren’t that many more classes in Boxing to UFC’s on display, at least UFC has division names that you can remember and none of this-light-heavy-cruiser-catch-welterweight cluster fuck of a division name. Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light-Heavyweight, Heavyweight. Much easier to remember, and it’s still all UFC.
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What does that have to do with anything? I didn’t mention a single title in my response. It’s top guys fighting. That’s what people actually pay attention to. You’re acting like the alphabet titles are something that dictates fan interest…they don’t. Boxing fans care about best fighting best and they get it WAY more often than people like you are willing to admit.
The names are too hard to remember? Because they have more weight classes because there are a lot of guys who fight below 135. Otherwise you’re talking about 2 more weight classes than the UFC has from 135 to heavyweight.
it’s really not hard for people to remember those extra two divisions. And there are more at lighter weights because the difference between 122 pounds and 118 is a fucking lot.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Top guys even a lot of casual Boxing fans will have a hard time recognising
Far less the case with Casual UFC fans (other than Aldo / Cruz).
Fans want to know who the champ is, not the “He’s the ABC champ, he’s the CBA champ, he’s the … whatever”. Fans want undisputed, unified titles. If Boxing doesn’t merge the titles it’s going to have more problems getting and keeping new fans.
122-118 is 4 lbs. MMA? 115-125, Strawweight to Flyweight. Keep It Simple Stupid philosophy in effect, and for good reason.
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This is why wrestling sucks.
132lbs, 163, 211 or whatever? It’s bullshit and I’m glad that it’s dying as a sport because nobody ever cared about it.
K-1 has it right. Real fights.
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Commercially it is dying as a sport.
Scholastic Programs are getting dropped left and right. The weight classes are harder to remember by not being round numbers. The only reason to compete is if you’re championship caliber and qualify for the medal fund (Jordan Burroughs got $50k from that fund for today’s win) and are going to compete at the Olympics.
Wrestling could definitely do with some restructuring. Just like Boxing does.
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I would love to see submission grappling supplant freestyle/ folkstyle/ Greco Roman
It’s a much more complete grappling sport.
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by ElliotMatheny on Sep 18, 2011 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions
As long as Butt scooting is banned.
That kind of takes away from the completeness. Also Guard Pulling should be penalised if nothing is done with it within 10 seconds. A bit like a shot clock. It’s too easy to pull guard because your takedown defense sucks and you don’t want to give up 2 points.
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Excessive butt scooting should be banned for sure,
but a successful guard pull is at least securing a position and engaging the opponent on the ground.
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by ElliotMatheny on Sep 18, 2011 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Successful guard pulling should resort in a sweep or sub
There’s too much stalling going on.
The only but scooting allowed should be the dynamic rolling leglock entries of Imanari.
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115 – 125 = 10 lbs. 10 lbs = over 8.5% of body weight. That’s a fucking lot when it comes to a sport where you get punched in the head for 12 rounds.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions
OK, why 118-122?
Why not 115-120?
Unless it’s purely because of the metric to imperial conversion. Which is annoying beyond words.
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I’m not going to go into a history lesson because it’s unimportant and takes a lot of tracking to really get to (because the sport has been around for a fucking long time). Your argument is that round numbers are better because…um…5’s and 0’s are cool? 118 Bantamweight, 122 Super Bantamweight. That’s not hard for people who follow boxing to remember.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It's hard for casuals
MMA weight classes are much easier. 5’s and 0’s are easier to remember, it’s just simple psychology. Easier to remember = easier to follow.
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And besides you can't tell me 10lbs as 8% body mass difference is huge
When no one said anything about Haye vs Valuev, the 100lbs difference and how that’s basically 30% body mass difference
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You’re doing the thing where you’re ignoring size. At heavyweight you’re still talking about a guy who is at least 200 pounds. That’s a lot different frame for punishment than a guy has at 118 pounds.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 19, 2011 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
And no. boxing fans do not have problems recognizing the klitschkos, haye, Adamek, Arreola, Cunningham, Huck, Lebedov, Hopkins, Pascal, Dawson, Ward, Bute, Froch, Kessler, Johnson, Martinez, Sturm, Cotto, Alvarez, Pacquiao, Mosley, Berto, Mosley, Gomez, Bradley, Khan, Maidana, Matthysse, Alexander, Judah, Morales, Marquez, Rios, Vasquez, Accosta, Linares, Antillon, Solis, Broner, Martinez, Gamboa, John, Salido, Lopez, Marquez, Arce, Vazquez, Donaire, Mares, Agbeko, Darchinyan, Perez, Narvaez, Martinez, Wonjongkam, Gonzalez, Solis, Calderon…
those are just 58 guys who are easy for boxing fans to remember, and I’d say a good 50 of them are guys “casual” boxing fans would recognize. and most of them have fought other guys on the list. And what alphabet titles those guys hold don’t matter…to anyone.
You know what title Floyd held last night? None, and he’s pretty much the PPV king.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions
He fought for a title
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Which didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. No one ordered the PPV to get a title fight. Floyd (and other boxers) care about titles a lot more than the fans.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions
MMA’s 115 lb division probably doesn’t have 50 active fighters. It might not even have a 100 active 123/125lb fighters either. What is your point here other than to say that at lighter weights, there is a significantly smaller base of talent?
by VirtualBalboa on Sep 18, 2011 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Jones vs. Silva = unlikely fight with a #1 fighter moving up a division to face another #1 fighter in a sure fire exciting superfight that will draw big #’s = Manny vs. Sergio Martinez
there’s no fight in boxing that really compares to this MMA fight. you’re talking about the GOAT status #1 MW fighting the freakish and on fire next generation LHW champ.
the best boxing could do there is if Canelo Alvarez moved down to fight or met at catchweight with Manny Pacquiao, but Canelo isn’t even as good right now as Jones is in their respective sports.
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But the reason you’re “talking about the GOAT status” is because MMA hasn’t been around long enough to have Sugar Ray Robinson and tons of other fighters. And no…Pacquiao vs. Canelo isn’t anything like that fight at all.
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions
That's just so sad.
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by Unabomberman on Sep 18, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions
So boxing is producing non-superfights that exceed the interest level and buyrates of the UFC’s superfights? And it is dying. Interesting thesis.
by VirtualBalboa on Sep 18, 2011 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions
It's putting on superfights that they put 100% promotion behind
Where as their other PPV’s they promote as well as Zuffa promoted the recent Ultimate Fight Night and Strikeforce.
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You don’t think Mosley/Pacquiao and Ortiz/Mayweather received 100% promotion?
I’d hate to see boxing promote something as well as Zuffa’s management of Strikeforce again. Hasn’t happened since Top Rank Live on Versus.
by VirtualBalboa on Sep 19, 2011 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Mayweather is great for the sport of boxing. People are captivated by his personality and his villainous persona. A big reason people care about Manny Pacquiao is because they think he is the guy to defeat Mayweather.
I hope you were a supporter of Brock Lesnar then. What Mayweather did was a hundred times worse then what Brock has ever done in MMA.
Not a fan of Lesnar or Mayweather, but I don’t irrationally hate them either.
by discoandherpes on Sep 18, 2011 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions
The dude is a fucking Congressman in the Philippines, I don’t think you can just chalk that up to residual PBF hype…
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
I’m talking about his interest in his home country, I’m talking about the casual boxing audience.
by discoandherpes on Sep 18, 2011 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Floyd Mayweather is too good. Even if it didn’t end by controversy, Mayweather still would have won. He is the better boxer. A lot of hate for someone but that is standard when you win (Mayweather, GSP, Anderson, The Yankees). I think Mayweather would beat Pac Man but the fight will never happen.
You know what they say
Having the whole boxing experience this weekend made me appreciate MMA that much more.
Throughout the whole weekend Floyd disrespected everyone in his way. Putting his hand in Ortiz’s throat at the weigh in, sucker punching directly after an apology, telling an frail old interviewer “You ain’t shit” “You should be fired because you don’t know shit”
Boxing is already popular, everyone on my facebook (especially my fellow latinos) were all talking about the fight. Any boxer could go Chael Sonnen and reap the rewards of an already hugely popular sport. In my opinion a person like Floyd is the reason boxing is going downhill. People didn’t feel great about paying $70 to watch a sucker punch end the fight. Floyd being such a great talent didn’t need to win that way, if he was clearly superior he could have continued using his boxing skill instead.
And now after this whole mess we get a reason to keep holding off on the Pacquiao fight?! That’s ridiculous. I can’t believe how much more I appreciate MMA more than boxing.
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Something surprising is how second rate everything look
The presser looked so bush league. There were 300 people on the stage and most of the weigh in of the main event consisted of the respective camps talking **** to fighters they aren’t going to fight.
In my opinion a person like Floyd is the reason boxing is going downhill
Exactly.
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This maybe seen as pointless...
but I have a real hard time imagining anyone having a problem with what went down if it involved different people.
No one can convince me that if some upstart did a blatant illegal and down right disrespectful move on Anderson Silva, there would be the same number of people taking Silva to task for punking out the dude.
I mean if someone did that to Silva, then had the idiocy to walk up to Silva and act like they should keep hugging it out, after being told the match was back on, that little shit would have been struck by a half a dozen blows before he hit the ground.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 5:49 PM EDT reply actions
Anderson wouldn't do something like that I don't think
He would have either accepted it or he would have shown he was pissed off. He wouldn’t have faked the hug then went for the sucker punch.
No I get that...
we could argue around the clock over which fighter might or might not in the same situation.
All I am saying is that the same situation, with different people, would result in different opinion.
I can see it from Floyd’s point of view. He is in there, considers himself the best on the planet, just begining to pick this kid apart, and he does the most insulting, BS move short of a Tyson inspired ear chew. He is giving this guy his biggest paycheck in his career and pulling move like that?
I think Floyd realized that Ortiz didn’t deserve the next 8 rounds getting his face rearranged. At that point, he deserved to be made a fool.
Not to say I was not royally pissed by this whole mess. The Ref totally lost control of the entire situation. And Ortiz has to be an idiot to piss off the man with the fastest hands in the world…
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions
If you think Floyd faked a hug...
You are fucking blind. He so obviously brings his guard up after the glove tap that Ortiz should feel extremely stupid for coming in for a second hug.
by IRH on Sep 18, 2011 6:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
EXACTLY!!!
How many times is Floyd supposed to let the clown that disrespected him try to hug it out?!? Its the middle of a fucking boxing match…
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Not everyone has Mirko's soft heart.
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by Unabomberman on Sep 18, 2011 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Anderson wouldn’t feel the need to cheap shot the opponent. Because he’s Anderson Silva and no one in the weight class is his equal. He might intentionally embarrass them for the entire fight in revenge, but that’s different then straight up sucker punching the opponent.
I think a LOT of fighters...
who are head and shoulders above their competition, getting that disrespected, would not exactly have the calmest heads right afterward.
And I am sure everyone is sick of hearing this, but Ortiz is an idiot for leaving his hands down like that. An idiot…
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions
He might intentionally embarrass them for the entire fight in revenge, but that’s different then straight up sucker punching the opponent.
To this day, how Anderson thinks that dancing around, refusing to engage or just plain running is somehow more embarrassing or humiliating to an opponent than what he did to Forrest or Okami is just completely beyond me…it just made him look afraid to engage…
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by The American Ronin on Sep 19, 2011 3:38 AM EDT up reply actions
I'll have to agree. Diaz may be an irresponsible mess but he hasn't done anything near the scope of what Mayweather has to be thought of as a scum of a human being.
Sure, people call him a punk here and there, but Nick’s shortcomings have never extended beyond the confines of his career. Nick Diaz doesn’t hit women, he doesn’t confront old men, he doesn’t even fight shittily [sic], an dhe hasn’t really been thought of as a ‘ducker’.
Nick is an everyday homie compared to Mayweather.
The Internets: Where there are no girls and men become children.
by Unabomberman on Sep 18, 2011 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions
1. Nick Diaz was involved in the Strikeforce brawl.
2. Doesn’t confront old men? Didn’t he get into it with KJ Noons and his dad one time?
3. Mayweather does not fight “shittily” just because he doesn’t fight to a style that may appease you most visually.
4. Nick Diaz WAS INVOLVED IN THE STRIKEFORCE BRAWL.
UFC is my favorite sport and I’ve been watching and training it since Dana White invented it back in the early 90s. I’m not really into all the ground stuff, and every time I’ve ever tried any of it I end up getting banned from the gyms for my "problem" with frequent erections. My favorite fighter is without a doubt War Machine who’s just too real for all of you pussies to handle, and I wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice my anus to him anytime if need be (it’s not gay if you’re an ALPHA).
Gus Johnson, best p4p commentator in the business.
Completely true, and
to which I will add that he was certainly a ‘ducker’ when it came to fighting Mayhem before and GSP now…
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Sep 19, 2011 3:40 AM EDT up reply actions
Boxing does need Mayweathers
but it also needs its own UFC. does anyone really give a flying crap about the billions of belts they have in boxing?
"Your spelling and grammar errors belie a seriously skilled thought process"- therealCatnuts
by justsomehawkeyefan on Sep 18, 2011 6:03 PM EDT reply actions
Keep your damned meta out of my sports.
I’d rather watch a historic fight between two great fighters than a pissing match between overhyped personalities.
No.
Yo, one last time lets lay this out. Y'all are mad at Floyd Mayweather for punching a dude during a boxing match.
You’re mad that Floyd Mayweather, a man highly trained in the art of face-punching, a man who you only know because he punches people in the face in public for money, punched a dude in the face during a sporting event where face-punching is the primary goal.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
by pdl on Sep 18, 2011 6:10 PM EDT reply actions 7 recs
Mobile Rec
People are considerably more up in arms over a legal punch because of some perceived lack of sportsmanship, that Victor Ortiz is getting free pass for breaking the rules.
by IRH on Sep 18, 2011 6:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He got a point deduced as per the rules. What more do you want?
It’s like whining that you crashed your car b/c you were watching a gorgeous brunette strutting by, and instead insisting that it was her fault. You did something silly, that’s it.
The Internets: Where there are no girls and men become children.
by Unabomberman on Sep 18, 2011 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions
How about some outrage over his lack of sportsmanship?
Mayweather did nothing wrong and is getting shit on by a large number of people while Ortiz is being propped up as a victim.
by IRH on Sep 18, 2011 6:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He got as much outrage as Jake Shields' flagrant eye poke, Hendo's back-to-the-head stunners, Gonzaga's descendance erasing kick, Bisping's illegal knee, etc.
As long as an illegal move doesn’t end the fight you are bound to the rules, sadly.
mayweather ended the fight, not stupid Ortiz and his Balrog impersonation.
The Internets: Where there are no girls and men become children.
by Unabomberman on Sep 18, 2011 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Mayweather ended the fight legally...
Nothing else you mentioned was a legal move. Floyd was perfectly within the rules to do what he did, Ortiz was not.
by IRH on Sep 18, 2011 9:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What I would have wanted is this...
The ref fully separating the two in opposite neutral corners. Then going directly to Floyd and making sure he can continue. Then, with the men still away from each other, deducting the point and getting the time right. Once everything else is done, with his attention fully engaged by the fighters, he lets them continue. Until them, they aren’t anywhere near each other, and the ref isn’t distracted…
and then the same damn thing happens as Ortiz would still be an idiot, trying hug the shit out of a pissed off man he just disrespected, and Floyd smacks the shit out of his mouth…only this time, there is zero controversy.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Mobile rec… Its like people dont understand that Ortiz just headbutted Floyd. Then kissed him on the head like it was a joke. And Floyd is wrong for not accepting another bs apology? I call bs on this Floyd hate. No one said a word when Manny did it to Mosely
If your not ready to fight shut your $@&%ING mouth! - BJ Penn
by warren305 on Sep 18, 2011 6:55 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
I'm 'Mad' a geriatric like Cortez is still reffing fights
He lost control of HIS ring.
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yeah
Ring Girls should be naked, Fedor should rob a bank, Dana White should assault Bob Arum, and GSP should get a tattoo on his face. Whatever we can do to get more attention right?
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WAR peace
Sports do not "need" Floyd Mayweather.
MLB does not need a Floyd Mayweather.
The NBA does not need a Floyd Mayweather.
NASCAR does not need a Floyd Mayweather.
The NHL needs more Canadian teams, but not a Floyd Mayweather.
The NFL has never needed a Floyd Mayweather, and consistently takes significant action against any athletes who even begin to rise to that level. If Floyd was a RB or a DB, he’d be a broken man in debt to Roger Goodell or he’d be out of the league.
A guy like Mayweather is only necessary when a sport becomes fractured by various interests to the point where no cohesive plan for growth and expansion is in place and thus money becomes scarce and battled for by a few organizations living the media equivalent of hand-to-mouth.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
by sBruce24 on Sep 18, 2011 6:34 PM EDT reply actions 7 recs
Just to argue...for the sake of arguing...
MLB needs the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry…despite the damage it does to the health of the league…
NBA needs the Heat, Lakers, and any number of big market teams for fans to root against…
NASCAR has a slew of polarizing drivers…
NHL needs more teams in Canada as much as it needs teams in Cuba….
Fans like to argue. That is why we follow sports to talk shit to each other. That doesn’t happen if every team/competitor is the same lily white limp toast chump. We want controversy…we feed off of it…
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions
nothing done by any player on the Sox, Yanks, Heat, Lakers, or a NASCAR driver has risen to the level of Mayweather’s behavior, especially over the past few year, without being severely chastised or legally reprimanded in some way.
I recall not to long ago Mayweather making racist rants directed at Pacquiao, and nobody gave a shit except for like the one Asian civil rights org out there. nobody in any of the major sports leagues has ever gone that route because they’d be fucking done. especially if it happened in the NBA (because of their relationship with China) or the NFL (because its the goddamn NFL). he got away with it because a) people take him about as seriously as favor flav and b) nobody really gives a shit about boxing anymore.
controversy is one thing, but this kind of behavior he’s exhibited only flourishes because public apathy buffers it from any true significance.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
Floyd Mayweather doesnt work for any organization
He boxes for money, and people literally pay just to see it. So I guess you can take your complaint to Congress
If your not ready to fight shut your $@&%ING mouth! - BJ Penn
by warren305 on Sep 18, 2011 7:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
some people pay to see it. but this notion that a sport like boxing “needs” mayweather’s scumbag personality, whether genuine or staged or somewhere in between, for ratings is nonsense. he doesn’t draw much better, if at all, than pacquiao.
mayweather draws viewers and ratings in the same way and for the same reason that shows like Maury Povich and Jerry Springer will be on forever but never be seen in any time slot after the late afternoon.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
Brian Vickers...
during a caution, drove his car into Marcos Ambrose, just because he was pissed off. Then he drove half way around the track, during an active caution, fucking backwards with cars still on the track. This occurred about a week ago.
But I agree…Brian Vickers is a much…MUCH bigger ass than Mayweather. But we aren’t talking about him I guess…
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Sep 18, 2011 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
There's a reason why the Lakers/Heat sell more tickets than the Spurs/Bulls
LeBron James - 0 Charles Barkley - 0 Karl Malone/John Stockton - 0 Sun Yue -1
you’re not seriously comparing a big market basketball rivalry to cursing out an ancient Larry Merchant, are you? there’s a reason Lakers/Heat sell well, but there’s also a reason Mayweather will never draw that kind of ratings and interest, either.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
You know what was GREAT for NBA ratings? the aftermatch of the fan brawl
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions
it wasn’t great for Indiana Pacers basketball or the careers of those involved. and you don’t exactly see it on ESPN Classic, either.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
ESPN Classic means shit.
I mean, yeah, it sucked but sometimes bullshit gets ratings.
Floyd yelled at a dude who (honestly) has treated him like shit. It was the wrong moment for it in that Larry was 100% right for once, but that ignores the actual history between the two.
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Larry Merchant was just one example, there are plenty others, some way more serious.
also, you forget that David Stern basically neutered the NBA after the fan brawl. it was in no way good for the sport, and temporary car wreck viewership increases are a poor gauge of the severe negative impact it had on the league’s image.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
so we need more fan brawls at NBA games?
or just one every so often?
Youre comparing the drawing power of one individual, one independant business entity, to entire leagues.
Fyi, Floyd Mayweather makes anywhere from 20-40 million dollars for each of these events, and is one of the highest paid athletes in the world. Hes doing something right
If your not ready to fight shut your $@&%ING mouth! - BJ Penn
by warren305 on Sep 18, 2011 7:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
and good for him. boxing is a merciless sport, I hope he gets as much out of it as he can. but this article wasn’t about what is good for Mayweather. we know he’s doing something right for him. it was an article claiming that Mayweather is good for boxing, and individuals like him are good for sports generally. I disagree.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
Good for boxing? Yes
Mayweather and Pacquiao are the lifeblood of boxing as a sport. If you are talking about public interest, money generated, views by the public being good for a sport, yes Floyd is extremely important. You take him away, then you cut boxing gdp down by half or more
If your not ready to fight shut your $@&%ING mouth! - BJ Penn
by warren305 on Sep 18, 2011 7:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You take him away, then you cut boxing gdp down by half or more
thats the problem. nobody new is going to watch boxing for Floyd Mayweather, he has very little appeal to folks who aren’t a) already combat sports fans, b) poeple who hold a weird attraction to car wreck TV and personalities, or c) the same people who consider Lil Wayne and 50 Cent to be gods.
Lodz made this point a little further down.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
I didn't mean a Lakers/Heat game vs a Spurs/Bulls game,
rather, what I meat to say was that more fans pay for games where the Lakers or the Heat are visiting than when the Spurs or the Bulls visit. Despite the fact that the Bulls were the number 1 seed and the Spurs are probably the best NBA franchise over the past decade. The bad guy will always have a place in sports.
LeBron James - 0 Charles Barkley - 0 Karl Malone/John Stockton - 0 Sun Yue -1
From what I could find, NASCAR officials verbally reprimanded Vickers, and other than that, I can’t find too many NASCAR fans outraging over it on the interwebs.
So best as I can tell, sometimes these things just happen in NASCAR.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
not all bad guys are looked at as equal though. I think its just kind of a simplistic argument to make.
I mean, there are a lot of fans who view both Michael Vick and Nnamdi Asomougha (spelling aside) as “bad guys” b/c they play for the Eagles, but are they equally viewed in that capacity. there are a lot of people who refuse to watch/support the eagles because of what makes Vick the “bad guy”, whereas the same cannot be said because of Nnamdi.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
You’re correct on this, of course. Team sports have regionally invested fans that provide a guaranteed fan base, and collectively they lift entire leagues. Golf and tennis have millions of fans who also play the sport. Nascar is understandable to even the most naive fans and each season a substantial number of drivers could be in contention for the title or, at least, for an individual race victory. Even boxing is easily grasped by new fans.
MMA has an arcane scoring system, requires a wider understanding of multiple fight disciplines to appreciate fights in which there isn’t a finish, a constant churning of the top 10 within a promotion, and a perceived brutality that exceeds even that of boxing. Having a Mayweather-type fighter in MMA would probably only drive viewership for that guy’s fights, just as the real Mayweather probably hasn’t led to a single extra viewer for boxing in general.
.....
by Scabby Knuckle on Sep 18, 2011 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions
This is the most absurd thing I’ve read in awhile. First of all, a lot of those team sports that aren’t the NFL wish they had a single polarizing guy atop the sport. The NBA, of course, does. Oh, sure, there’s Kobe and Tim Duncan playing supporting roles and they’re famous too, just like other boxers are famous. But everyone knows Lebron is the biggest thing going in the NBA.
As for NASCAR: Man, does it ever wish it had a Floyd Mayweather. Maybe then attendance would stabilize and ratings go up again.
by VirtualBalboa on Sep 19, 2011 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions
100% truth here.
I don’t understand why people tend to think that this type of behaviour helps anything.
To me all these articles of this type are just written because there is nothing else to talk about. Casual viewers of the sport are not going to tune in to watch a guy that calls out old men in the ring.
Rediculous. Mayweather is a disgrace, and it does nothing to help boxing survive going forward.
Sheeeeeeeee-it
The absolute last thing I want to see is MMA start filling up with irritating dipshits like Mayweather. To me, he is almost a perfect caricature of what is keeping my interest in boxing at a lukewarm level, compared to 10 years ago when I was constantly watching every fight I could get.
Seriously, boxing was classier ten years ago back when Tyson, Riddick Bowe, Roy Jones, James Toney, Evander Holifield etc were around
If your not ready to fight shut your $@&%ING mouth! - BJ Penn
by warren305 on Sep 18, 2011 7:12 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Replace 'classier" with 'more interesting' and you nail it I guess...
"Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid." -John Wayne
Death before dishonor, drinks before lunch.
Never send sheep to kill a wolf.
by The American Ronin on Sep 19, 2011 4:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Depends on the sort of MMA fan you are
Do you need theatrics or is the combat enough?
by Fatty Fish Belly on Sep 18, 2011 7:26 PM EDT reply actions
I don't think it's just an MMA thing
Storylines are appealing.
LeBron James - 0 Charles Barkley - 0 Karl Malone/John Stockton - 0 Sun Yue -1
I don't believe the referee's words that he restarted the fight
the dude wasn’t watching when it all went down, he was looking/talking to the judges while the other two bro-hugged. He just wanted to save Mayweather some of the trouble he’s still getting…
"To me, there's nothing freer than a bird, you know, just flying wherever he wants to go. And, I don't know, that's what this country is all about, being free. I think everyone wants to be a free bird."
— Ronnie Van Zant, spoken during an interview while fishing.
You are right, he had
That of FUCK look on his face, like I shouldnt have turned my back on them…
by Bombadilillo on Sep 18, 2011 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Video shows him clearly restarting it though. He admonishes Ortiz, says “let’s go” does the hand signal to restart it.
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Absolutely
Mayweather is too wily of a veteran to have his record blemished with a DQ loss. His peek at the distracted ref before he threw that first left is priceless.
whether boxing needs mayweather or not, the longer he waits to fight manny, the more he HURTS the sport.
to me, he is such an over the top a**hole that i have no interest in watching him UNLESS he will fight manny.
and i really believe that will never happen
Yeeeeeeeaaaaaah, see…both he and Manny are making huge dollar figures and keeping some attention on the sport.
Ortiz is worth more money today than he was yesterday and can carry a card on his own a lot easier after a KO loss than he could before. It’s not really that hurtful for the sport that a single fight isn’t happening.
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 18, 2011 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions
What's with all the drama?
I can’t speak for others but where I come from drama and controversy, manufactured or not just does not fly.
I understand that this is a cultural difference between southern hemisphere Commonwealth countries and the North American sporting psyche, but can someone please explain it to me. Why don’t people simply go out and enjoy the sport? From here it appears that North America is absolutely obsessed with trash talk, controversy, the focus on that aspect it would seem often eclipses the appreciation of what takes place inside the ring/cage. I don’t get it?
I'm with you.
And i’m in North America.
I watch the sports for the sport itself. I oculd care less who is talking shit, that doesn’t get me excited to watch a PPV.
But some people really need that. Maybe they just aren’t fans of the sport as much as they think if they need all this stupid made up heat.
Sheeeeeeeee-it
Fighters like Georges St. Pierre and the Klitschko brothers can become big names without these antics, but their appeal remains rooted largely in home country pride
Can someone please show me the stats on GSP and how much “Canadian revenue” he brings in? I’m tired of hearing GSP is popular because most of his fans are in Canada.
Can we not just accept that he is a global (as far as MMA is concerned) star in the sport, which he built from his talent and exciting fights (up until recently). If I’m wrong, I’m wrong, but I’m tired of this assumption
"i hate signatures...that, and hypocrisy"
I think you’re overstating it a bit. Mayweather, Koscheck, Lesnar, they’re good at playing one role that makes people care. But one has to ask if it’s worth it? You end up like Tito where your role is all you have. You’ve become popular not through something positive, but by pretending to be something negative.
It’s one way, and frankly it’s the easy way, but it isn’t the only way to draw fans. You’re statement that GSP’s is rooted in a foreign audience is inaccurate. He’s popular due to a particular path that he’s taken. It’s the hard way but it’s got to be more satisfying than playing a total heel. I don’t speak for the Klitchkos, but Manny and GSP are far greater, and if anything the sport needs more of them, not idiots like Mayweather that people only like because they hate them.
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I thought this would be interesting.
For boxing, here are the guys currently ranked in the top 10 in their weight class that the #1 guy in each class has faced (using the BadLeftHook rankings):
Heavyweight – We’ll count Wlad and Vitali together here – #3 Haye (Wlad W), #4 Adamek (Vitali W), #5 Arreola (Vitali W), #7 Chambers (Wlad W), #9 Thompson (Wlad W) = brothers 5-0 vs. top 10
Cruiserweight – Steve Cunningham - #2 Huck (Cunningham W), #4 Ross (Cunningham W), #5 Wlodarczyk (Cunningham W and L), #6 Hernandez (fight scheduled for 10/1), #9 Jones (Cunningham W) = Cunningham 4-1 vs. top 10 with one more scheduled.
Light Heavyweight – Bernard Hopkins – #2 Pascal (Hopkins W and D), #3 Chad Dawson (Scheduled for 10/15). Hopkins is old and turnover at LHW has made this one tricky, but feel free to say Hopkins doesn’t fight anyone.
Super Middleweight – Andre Ward – #3 Froch (Scheduled for 10/29), #4 Kessler (Ward W), #6 Bika (Ward W), #9 Abraham (Ward W) = 3-0 vs. top 10, with one more scheduled.
Middleweight – Sergio Martinez - Scheduled against #9 Barker. Holds a win over #1 Junior Middleweight Dzinziruk, and beat legit MW at the time in Paul Williams who is currently unranked because of his move down to Junior MW and subsequent controversial decision win over Lara. Took the middleweight crown from Pavlik who was undefeated and had won three straight undisputed title fights at the time. Another guy who has fought legit opposition even if the current rankings don’t reflect that.
Junior Middleweight – Dzinziruk – I’d be lying if I claimed to really know anything about Sergiy Dzinziruk. Scott has him ranked #1, I assume he’s legit but I’d be lying if I tried to say anything about him.
Welterweight – Pacquiao – Yeah, we want to see him fight Mayweather. But, old or not, Mosley WAS #2 in the world when they fought. And Margarito is legitimate despite the hand wrap thing, and he’s set to fight the #1 lightweight in the world in his next fight. Mayweather just fought #2 Ortiz (#2 because Floyd was unranked due to inactivity) and Mosley was an even bigger threat at the time Floyd fought him.
Junior Welterweight – Bradley – You can make an argument it should be Khan here. Bradley has wins over #5 Peterson, #6 Alexander, #7 Holt. (Yes, I have changed format while doing this comment). Khan has wins over #3 Maidana and #9 Judah. Khan will be fighting Peterson next, and possibly Mayweather in 2012.
Lightweight – Juan Manuel Marquez - hasn’t beaten anyone in the current lightweight top 10 but…uh…try to tell me that Juan Manuel Marquez hasn’t fought anyone and I’ll hunt you down and punch you in the head. It’s also a product of the vast majority of his career being at featherweight (and a little time at super feather) before moving to lightweight. And then he jumped up to fight Mayweather and for a third fight with Pacquiao. #2 Brandon Rios has already fought (and beat) #4 Acosta and #6 Antillon.
Now, I’m bored with this so i’ll stop there (since it lines up with the UFC’s weight classes anyway.
Between yesterday (floyd/ortiz) and the end of the year, there are currently at least 17 fights between top 10 fighters on the schedule, and that number will probably go up by 5 or so as guys get official opponents for december fights.
In October alone:
- #7 HW Chambers vs. #9 HW Thompson
- #1 CW Cunningham vs. #6 CW Hernandez
- #1 LHW Hopkins vs. #3 LHW Dawson
- #1 SMW Ward vs. #3 SMW Froch
- #1 MW Martinez vs. #9 MW Barker
- #5 LW Linhares vs. #8 LW DeMarco
- #1 SBW Nishioka vs. #5 FW Rafael Marquez
- #9 FW Caballero vs. #10 FW Barros
- #1 BW Donaire vs. #1 SFW Navarez
- #1 Fly Wonjongkam vs. #6 Sosa
- #5 JFly Hirales vs. #6 SW Nietes
That’s 11 major fights in October alone. 8 #1 fighters in action all in major fights.
So yeah. No one fights anyone in boxing ever. Every fight sucks and everyone is protected.
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 19, 2011 12:23 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs
This looks like Brent has been drinking and decided to awesome all over everybody.
That I can only give you a rec makes me disappointed in myself, sir.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe
It's the same posting to me
as if you’d listed upcoming NASCAR events. And I’m not being facetious.
There was no bigger fan of boxing than me, in my 20’s, but 48 weight-classes and 200 titleing “Organizations” (now I am being facetious) just ground me out. I don’t look down on boxing; it’s just left me and my buddies behind, I guess…I know we’re not the only ones. I would hate to see MMA go down that same path.
Look – I agree with your premise here and there’s some amazing fights on there. But the majority of people one this board will see MMA and boxing as being mutually exclusive. Being a hardcore fan of both is exceedingly difficult and time consuming and I think it is probably easier to be a hardcore MMA fan than it is to be a hardcore boxing fan. There’s fewer weight classes, fewer fighters, basically no international MMA scene of real value, and so there’s no worry you’ll miss highly competitive international fights because someone is a name in some developing world nation that doesn’t have a sizeable expat community in the US. Yeah, there’s stuff like the flyweight division that is obscure, but pretty much no one cares about that because it isn’t associated with the UFC.
by VirtualBalboa on Sep 19, 2011 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions
And they SHOULD see them as being different sports. That’s kind of my point. Guys here don’t follow boxing but they constantly say there are never top guys fighting each other..etc. The top guys became top guys by fighting top guys and remain top guys by continuing to fight top guys.
There’s this idea that “if I haven’t heard of them, they’re not big or that good” well…I could not name more than 2 (if that) of the world’s best soccer players. My lack of knowledge on a sport that I choose to remain ignorant of has no bearing on that sport’s overall standing in the world. I thought that USA vs. Mexico game was boring as all hell, that doesn’t mean that everyone else did..etc.
Managing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 19, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Rec
Because no way I ever put that much work into a comment.
"Rather than love, than money, than faith, than fame, than fairness... give me truth."
Chris McCandless A.K.A. Alexander Supertramp
1968-1992
sensitive.
A true MMA fan from the great state of Arkansas.
(no longer a) Proud BElitest.
by MMArazorback on Sep 19, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
ignorant
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by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 19, 2011 1:26 PM EDT up reply actions
"Well you, sir, are a festizio."
“See? I can make up words too” – Peter Griffin
by Brandon Starr on Sep 19, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Replace Floyd Mayweather with Nick Diaz and you will have an equally coherent statement
Because Floyd Mayweather makes people care. Whether you want to see him win, or you want to see him humbled in defeat, you want to know what will happen next, and you’ll pay to find out. And that right there is what every sport needs.
Nick Diaz is IMO the most polarizing figure in MMA.
ONE FC NEVER DIE
Have to disagree
I could care less about either fighters. There antics do nothing but make them look like children. I watch these sports for the fighting not the rediculous banter these two spew out all the time.
Diaz is going to get knocked into irrelevancy by BJ Penn soon. And he will have no one to blame but himself, and i doubt he’ll even be able to do that.
Sheeeeeeeee-it
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