With the Ultimate Fighting Championship taking a rare three week break in between events, I figured it would be a good time to address some of your questions regarding the state of MMA today.
From Twitter
We kick things off with BossmanBrian:
Weigh-ins taking place 24 hours before a bout has been going on for quite some time. While it is the norm in modern day MMA, it may not be in the future.
With more studies being conducted regarding the dangers in weight cutting and the advancements we are seeing with some of the protocols being used in amateur wrestling, look for these changes to be adopted by athletic commissions in the very near future.
Hydrostatic testing, which measures the gravity in a combatant’s urine, helps determine how hydrated a fighter is. If a fighter passes the test, and weighs in accordingly, skin fold measurements are taken to determine their body-to-fat ratio.
If a male has more than 7 percent body fat and/or a female measures in at 12 percent, a specific minimum weight is given. This weight is the lowest they will be safely allowed to compete at.
This is just a surface level explanation of what may be coming to MMA. I will go more in depth in the coming weeks.
Toyoburn asked:
This has been a topic that has been discussed for over a decade. Many have tried, but none have succeeded. Can it happen? Yes. Will it happen anytime soon? I sincerely doubt it.
Ufcvancouverbc asked:
If I was a betting man, I’d throw some serious coin on a UFC event taking place at The Bell Centre in Montreal on March 14, 2015. I may also throw an insurance bet or parlay it with March 7 as well. Both dates are open at the venue.
RyanSBrowning asked:
To my understanding, both are infringements on Zuffa copyrights, as Zuffa are offering up and broadcasting a copyrighted product that can only be shown by those who have paid for the right to show it.
If it was an unlicensed product, then I believe anyone can watch/stream/download it, as it would not be illegal.
On this week’s UFC Central radio show, I will discuss this very topic with Erik Magraken of CombatSportsLaw.com.
Beachcomba asked:
Sportsnet will. It’s business as usual. The network will continue to show The Ultimate Fighter on Wednesdays, as well as prelims for Pay Per View Events as well as prelims and main cards for Fight Nights.
Powerjason asked:
Technically, that doesn’t fall under the UFC’s umbrella, as it belongs to the state or provincial athletic commission (unless it’s a UFC regulated show overseas).
It’s generally the same for men and women. They can only wear what can be allowed by the commission’s inspectors.
Now, in the case of a wardrobe malfunction, I’d assume we can look for the referee to step in and cover the fighter accordingly and for the production team to likely not show it during the broadcast, returning to the fighter once it’s safe to do so. Just a hunch, but we’ll know the truth should it ever take place inside the octagon.
MMAMadOfficial asked:
Based on my interactions outside of the MMA bubble, I’d say it’s Jon Jones, Ronda Rousey then Conor McGregor.
It’s a different story inside of it, but I know when I’m talking to the casual fan, I get more questions and comments about Jones than I do about Rousey. Now, this is me speaking about living in Canada.
Ask me the same question if I resided in New York, California or Ireland, and I would give you three different answers.
And, ask me the same question whenever these three fight, and again, I’ll give you three different answers. It’s all about timing.
As for my own personal graph of trending and forecasts, Jones will drop down with McGregor and/or Rousey taking over the top spot soon.
That is until January, when Anderson Silva comes back. Then later in 2015, if Georges St-Pierre gets the itch to make a return.
RJLilleyNEWS:
In my honest opinion, it has plateaued in North America, with another boom coming soon.
There are pockets globally that are beginning to catch up. Eventually, the majority of them will all meet around the same level, with the sport being bigger than ever.
What some people call saturation, others call grinding and growing pains in North America. People are putting in the work in far off lands so one day the sport will be massive.
One can choose to believe it, or not. Over a decade ago, there was no MMA on television. Now, there is too much. Or, people complain that they cannot watch it when it’s going down at 4:00 AM. Or that they can’t keep up with the amount of fighters on the UFC roster, let alone what’s going down with other organizations.
Is there too much hockey? Too many games on one night? Too much football, soccer or baseball? Are there those who say that these sports are saturated and have peaked?
The next MMA boom is coming. Mark my words. And remember, in 1998, I was told the UFC and the sport was just a fad. It’s now 2014, and I still hear the same thing. Take that for what it’s worth.
From Facebook
Calum Pointon asked: “How on gods green earth is Overreem still with the UFC??”
I guess he moves the needle. I was of the belief he was going to be released after his loss to Ben Rothwell. I was wrong.
Joe Botnick: “Every good business has a succession plan for the key players (should someone be unfortunate and fall off a bus), who could/should step up and fill Dana White’s shoes if needed?”
Whoever it may be, I would suggest they do not act like Dana White. There is only one Dana, so it is best to be yourself. White is a polarizing figure who captivates people. He is loved and he is hated, but for the UFC, he has been golden.
Should White leave, look for the UFC to bring someone in who is far more toned down, yet knows the fight business and promotional game inside and out. There are a few people that come to mind, but I don’t believe they are ready yet, so there’s no point in me mentioning their names.
Joe Botnick (again): “I never bought into the UFC Fight Pass because I think it’s another money grab by Zuffa, are there any stats supporting how well FP is doing?”
There are no public stats and there likely will never be. And if there were, I sincerely doubt it would change anyone’s mind as to whether or not to subscribe. One either sees value in Fight Pass or they don’t. That’s what it boils down to.
As for it being a money grab, I respectfully disagree, as it’s perfect for yours truly. Plus, every fan I’ve spoken to, that has it, including fighters on the UFC roster, rave about how incredible it is.
My VHS/DVD collection is obsolete. I don’t have to scroll through tape or scan a DVD anymore. Whatever fight or event I want to watch, be it for fun or for work, is a few clicks away.