Is the UFC getting more boring by the year or is it just me?

[Kneedragger]

I believe UFC made ALL main events starting in 2013 5 round fights. Whether it's title or not.

I don't remember if this was mentioned in this thread but UFC also changed the fight bonus. I don't know exactly if this will be better or worse.. http://mmajunkie.com/2014/02/ufc-an...bonus-structure-based-on-fighter-performance/

Fights not getting finished has been going on for years but has got worse. I agree with others I think it's more noticeable now since we see UFC having fights every other week.

I have seen some really good grappling fight go to decision so i don't know if UFC can really do anything to change the scenario.. im not a fighter nor do I train. So i don't want to sound like an expert..

 

[DAPUNISHER]

A couple of good points in this thread:

1 - Main events should never be limited to 3 rounds. That's stupid.

2 - Fighters positioning themselves for a decision win should be punished. I have no idea how to do this, I'm just saying it sucks when you're halfway into a fight and one or both fighters start trying to play a numbers game rather than KO'ing/submitting their opponent.

The only time main events in the UFC would be 3 rounds, is if there were only 1 5 round fight scheduled, and it was cancelled late due to a fighter injury. And they could not find someone willing to step in late.

Training camps are very specifically focused, and asking the fighters to go 5 instead of 3 might be a problem late in the camp. Though I am fairly certain they would be pressured to do it to keep a 5 round main event on the card. They doubtless give a nice financial incentive. Plus you get in the good graces of the company. And they usually do not hold the loss against them where getting dropped from the promotion is concerned.

The other issue is much trickier. Back mount is the best dominate position in grappling imo. Add the triangle body lock and it is serious business. So, it is nearly impossible to justify a stand up if you are the ref. As long as the guy keeps striking and hand fighting for the choke, what can be done?

That is why I think we are starting to see it exploited more now. Why risk losing position when you can hold the body triangle and keep busy? The hooks position opens up more offense like the armbar. But the likelyhood of ending up with the fighter in your guard, or escaping, increases significantly.

It is the kind of thing they have to fix "backstage". I remember Chuck Liddel saying he was told before his first fight, that if he went out there and wrestled the way he could, it would also be his last fight for the promotion. Which is why he always used his wrestling to keep it standing so he could look for KO.

 

[smackababy]

The only time main events in the UFC would be 3 rounds, is if there were only 1 5 round fight scheduled, and it was cancelled late due to a fighter injury. And they could not find someone willing to step in late.

Training camps are very specifically focused, and asking the fighters to go 5 instead of 3 might be a problem late in the camp. Though I am fairly certain they would be pressured to do it to keep a 5 round main event on the card. They doubtless give a nice financial incentive. Plus you get in the good graces of the company. And they usually do not hold the loss against them where getting dropped from the promotion is concerned.

The other issue is much trickier. Back mount is the best dominate position in grappling imo. Add the triangle body lock and it is serious business. So, it is nearly impossible to justify a stand up if you are the ref. As long as the guy keeps striking and hand fighting for the choke, what can be done?

That is why I think we are starting to see it exploited more now. Why risk losing position when you can hold the body triangle and keep busy? The hooks position opens up more offense like the armbar. But the likelyhood of ending up with the fighter in your guard, or escaping, increases significantly.

It is the kind of thing they have to fix "backstage". I remember Chuck Liddel saying he was told before his first fight, that if he went out there and wrestled the way he could, it would also be his last fight for the promotion. Which is why he always used his wrestling to keep it standing so he could look for KO.

I don't recall Liddel saying that, but I can see it in a lot of his fights. He almost never wrestled, even early on. He used his grappling skills to stand up after any take down and keep striking.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

You're probably past their target demographic which is 14 to 20 year olds.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I don't recall Liddel saying that, but I can see it in a lot of his fights. He almost never wrestled, even early on. He used his grappling skills to stand up after any take down and keep striking.

His takedown defense was excellent. That was the most oft used application of his wrestling. His TD defense was legendary. http://blog.fightmetric.com/2011/02/ufc-leaders-takedown-defense.html

 

[Childs]

2 - Fighters positioning themselves for a decision win should be punished. I have no idea how to do this, I'm just saying it sucks when you're halfway into a fight and one or both fighters start trying to play a numbers game rather than KO'ing/submitting their opponent.

They just need decent bonuses for finishing. Maybe 2x up to $100K or something. If finishes are basically required, they should go back to no judges and maybe 30+ minutes fight. You can't blame fighters for point fighting when the fights are judged by points.

 

[smackababy]

They just need decent bonuses for finishing. Maybe 2x up to $100K or something. If finishes are basically required, they should go back to no judges and maybe 30+ minutes fight. You can't blame fighters for point fighting when the fights are judged by points.

Really, the only "fix" they can do is giving a bonus for not going to decision. In a 5 round fight, if you clearly dominated the first 3 rounds, there is little incentive to "finish the fight" if you can safely grind out the next two rounds and win. The other guy will be getting more desperate as you win rounds, and start taking more risk, so being more careful and just exploiting that makes the most sense. Take the same amount of risk when you're winning is pretty stupid in every sport.

 

[smackababy]

His takedown defense was excellent. That was the most oft used application of his wrestling. His TD defense was legendary. http://blog.fightmetric.com/2011/02/ufc-leaders-takedown-defense.html

I wasn't aware Arlovski had such a high take down defense percentage either. I didn't really start paying attention to him until after he became a lot more timid (after getting his bell rung pretty hard for the first time).

 

[norseamd]

I don't remember if this was mentioned in this thread but UFC also changed the fight bonus. I don't know exactly if this will be better or worse.. http://mmajunkie.com/2014/02/ufc-ann...r-performance/

probably worse. now they can use their discrition more and not give fighters they do not like a bonus. before if a fighter got the only knockout or submission on the card they were guarenteed a bonus. now they are not. they should just give a finish bonus for ending the fight instead and give the rest of the money to the other fighters. remember when there was complaints about fighter pay and then dana white came out and started making a lot of noise saying well we will just get rid of bonuses. well that did not happen. personal bonuses are given out a lot. they talk about how they take care of their fighters more than people think and that fighters sometimes recieve a check in the mail. this is so they can control fighters not to give them a nice wage.

 

[norseamd]

It is the kind of thing they have to fix "backstage". I remember Chuck Liddel saying he was told before his first fight, that if he went out there and wrestled the way he could, it would also be his last fight for the promotion. Which is why he always used his wrestling to keep it standing so he could look for KO.

this is also chuck liddell. he talks all the time about how fighters do not want to lose now. yet he always would fight counter striker and let the other guy come to him. chuck has a big ego. always easier to fight someone when they have to do the offense and you get to play defense.

 

[blankslate]

You've been desensitized they just have to up the violence level and it won't be boring anymore.

 

[norseamd]

His takedown defense was excellent. That was the most oft used application of his wrestling. His TD defense was legendary. http://blog.fightmetric.com/2011/02/...n-defense.html

I wasn't aware Arlovski had such a high take down defense percentage either. I didn't really start paying attention to him until after he became a lot more timid (after getting his bell rung pretty hard for the first time).

for sure. he is a good fighter except for his chin. mirko also has good takedown defense with his grappling considered sub par. mirko just came into the ufc after his prime. and his hard training gave him too many injuries. not good to train like that. nick diaz talks about how gsp might not be able to fight soon and gsp is not fighting right now

 

[Northern Lawn]

I like how caeser gracie threatened to take all his fighters to bellator a few days ago, so far dana hasn't replied.

If you can believe it, Nate Diaz only gets $15,000 to show. God, that guy headlines.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I like how caeser gracie threatened to take all his fighters to bellator a few days ago, so far dana hasn't replied.

If you can believe it, Nate Diaz only gets $15,000 to show. God, that guy headlines.

I am a big fan of Bellator's tournament format. I would applaud any new influx of talent to the promotion.

 

[waggy]

I like how caeser gracie threatened to take all his fighters to bellator a few days ago, so far dana hasn't replied.

If you can believe it, Nate Diaz only gets $15,000 to show. God, that guy headlines.

the pay is a huge reason so many champs fight for points. They make more from just being champ with outside stuff then they get from the UFC> look at JBJ and GSP. both make tons from outside sources.

why blow that? as long as they stay champ they get paid tons.

Also with the UFC having a tendency to cut people with 3 loses why take that risk?

I think the UFC is shooting itself in the foot with how they treat the fighters.

though i gotta say the "just bleed" mentality is fucking annoying. to expect most fights to end in a KO or Sub is silly.

 

[norseamd]

I like how caeser gracie threatened to take all his fighters to bellator a few days ago, so far dana hasn't replied. If you can believe it, Nate Diaz only gets $15,000 to show. God, that guy headlines.

and i hope he does. bellator is not any better than ufc but to have them as competition would only be better. one fc does have some strength and talent. like both the single fight and tournament formats. would be interesting to bring back single day tournaments. that way you have to be careful how much damage and exhaustion you take.

anybody watch one fc? masukazu imanari or aoki?

though i gotta say the "just bleed" mentality is fucking annoying. to expect most fights to end in a KO or Sub is silly.

like to watch the cerebral fight. have been planning on watching royce gracie vs sakuraba for some time now. all 90 minutes of it. have never got around to it. anybody watch the full fight?

what is annoying is that american fans say they only want to see someone get knocked out or such and then they say knees and kicks and stomps to a grounded opponent and headbutts are too dangerous.

 

[Rudee]

I thought UFC peaked when Lesnar was kicking ass.