Biology says Bellator has a legitimate shot at signing UFC’s Rory MacDonald

[Punch]

Without question, UFC welterweight contender Rory MacDonald is the crown jewel of all free agent fighters currently eyeing new opportunities and paydays in the MMA landscape in 2016. At just 26 years of age, MacDonald is a battle hardened superstar still entering his prime and could be the missing piece Bellator MMA needs to claw its way one step closer to equal promotional footing with its behemoth UFC rival one day.

While Bellator has been making great strides under CEO Scott Coker in recent months with the acquisition of fighters like Benson Henderson, Wanderlei Silva, Matt Mitrione, and Sergei Kharitonov among others, Rory MacDonald is the only free agent on the right side of thirty who holds the potential to act as a catalyst to blow the doors off of the UFC’s death clutch on fighter talent and propel the Viacom owned promotion to the next level.

The fact that the UFC even let this situation with MacDonald spiral to this point is a testament to the fact the organization is not a “needle mover” when it comes to positive organizational culture, executive leadership, or the best interest of fighters. These are facts about the promotion we have all known for years, and it’s clear the seeds of resentment are continuing to be sown in the next generation of UFC fighters, much like the generation of fighters that proceeded them. While the UFC is quick to boast about WHAT they do and the premium nature of their MMA product, they consistently fail to communicate their sense of WHY they do it. Moreover, through manipulative tactics, the UFC’s interaction with its stable of fighters leads to transactions, not loyalty.

As best-selling author Simon Sinek tells us: “People don’t buy WHAT you do, they buy WHY you do it.” WHY is at the centerpiece of all we do as humans. It is the framework upon which organizations are built, seeds of inspiration are sown, and at the heart of movements to be led, to include the exodus of UFC fighters leaving the promotion to test the waters of free agency.

Part of the reason, Bellator has a legitimate shot at MacDonald is rooted in biology and the part of our brain known as the “limbic brain”, responsible for our feelings, decision making, and behavior. As humans, we feel the need to belong, and it’s a feeling we get when those around us share the same values and beliefs. It’s the same reason when a company communicates their WHY that we as humans are inclined to include those products in our lives as they become markers and symbols of values and beliefs we ascribe to. Those brands we endorse and display represent a sense of belonging and kinship with others who also buy the same things.

LINK to full article: Biology says Bellator has a legitimate shot at signing UFC’s Rory MacDonald

 

[Ted Williams' head]

Wow, forgot Rory was so young, I figured he was closer to 30.

I hope Rory sticks around in the UFC. He's still capable of becoming champion, and as much as people here hate the UFC and Zuffa, it's still the #1 organization and the one that matters most. You can't be the #1 in the world at any weight fighting outside of the UFC.

Bellator is great for a guy like Benson, who's "been there, done that", had his day in the sun, is still a great fighter but is likely on the downside of his career. I think it's a waste for a 26 year old who still likely has his best days ahead of him.

 

[Punch]

Wow, forgot Rory was so young, I figured he was closer to 30.

I hope Rory sticks around in the UFC. He's still capable of becoming champion, and as much as people here hate the UFC and Zuffa, it's still the #1 organization and the one that matters most. You can't be the #1 in the world at any weight fighting outside of the UFC.

Bellator is great for a guy like Benson, who's "been there, done that", had his day in the sun, is still a great fighter but is likely on the downside of his career. I think it's a waste for a 26 year old who still likely has his best days ahead of him.

 

[trick]

Wow, forgot Rory was so young, I figured he was closer to 30.

I hope Rory sticks around in the UFC. He's still capable of becoming champion, and as much as people here hate the UFC and Zuffa, it's still the #1 organization and the one that matters most. You can't be the #1 in the world at any weight fighting outside of the UFC.

Bellator is great for a guy like Benson, who's "been there, done that", had his day in the sun, is still a great fighter but is likely on the downside of his career. I think it's a waste for a 26 year old who still likely has his best days ahead of him.

Yeah, it would be horrible if he left. But he still should pick whatever is best for him financially. I think the UFC will match whatever Bellator will offer him, since he's so young and he's clearly a top tier fighter

 

[Punch]

Yeah, it would be horrible if he left. But he still should pick whatever is best for him financially. I think the UFC will match whatever Bellator will offer him, since he's so young and he's clearly a top tier fighter

I think it would be great if he left personally. Sponsorship money for a fighter of his caliber is no small thing. #Weakbok

 

[Ted Williams' head]

Yeah, it would be horrible if he left. But he still should pick whatever is best for him financially. I think the UFC will match whatever Bellator will offer him, since he's so young and he's clearly a top tier fighter

True, but I think these guys also have to look at long term financials as opposed to simply the immediate fight purse. Fighting in the UFC increases your profile and name/brand recognition, which can lead to more opportunities outside of the cage. And of course, if you do reach championship status, you're likely to earn a lot more than you would in a smaller organization like Bellator.

Then there are some many things that could change: the Reebok deal could be restructured in some way that would increase sponsorship payouts, Bellator could go tits-up (not out of the question when you see how many mma orgs have come and gone over the years and the financial trouble VIACOM has been having over the last few years).

It's a tough decision to make. I think it made a lot of sense for Benson to jump ship, but I wouldn't be so quick to have Rory jump.

 

[Punch]

True, but I think these guys also have to look at long term financials as opposed to simply the immediate fight purse. Fighting in the UFC increases your profile and name/brand recognition, which can lead to more opportunities outside of the cage. And of course, if you do reach championship status, you're likely to earn a lot more than you would in a smaller organization like Bellator.

Then there are some many things that could change: the Reebok deal could be restructured in some way that would increase sponsorship payouts, Bellator could go tits-up (not out of the question when you see how many mma orgs have come and gone over the years and the financial trouble VIACOM has been having over the last few years).

It's a tough decision to make. I think it made a lot of sense for Benson to jump ship, but I wouldn't be so quick to have Rory jump.

I thought Cindy O didn't post anymore?

 

[Ted Williams' head]

I thought Cindy O didn't post anymore?

Stick to being the sickeningly nice guy, the troll hat doesn't look good on you bro.

 

[Punch]

Stick to being the sickeningly nice guy, the troll hat doesn't look good on you bro.

I'm not trolling. You shill pretty hard. MMA =/= UFC. I'm an MMA fan.

 

[Ted Williams' head]

I'm not trolling. You shill pretty hard. MMA =/= UFC. I'm an MMA fan.

So which point of my post did you want to dispute?

The part where I said the UFC was the biggest organization? The part where I said fighting in the UFC offers more exposure than fighting in Bellator? That a UFC champ will likely earn more than a Bellator champ? That a non-UFC organization could go out of business?

I'd love to hear some arguments to the contrary! But I think I'll be waiting like....

lol

 

[trick]

True, but I think these guys also have to look at long term financials as opposed to simply the immediate fight purse. Fighting in the UFC increases your profile and name/brand recognition, which can lead to more opportunities outside of the cage. And of course, if you do reach championship status, you're likely to earn a lot more than you would in a smaller organization like Bellator.

Then there are some many things that could change: the Reebok deal could be restructured in some way that would increase sponsorship payouts, Bellator could go tits-up (not out of the question when you see how many mma orgs have come and gone over the years and the financial trouble VIACOM has been having over the last few years).

It's a tough decision to make. I think it made a lot of sense for Benson to jump ship, but I wouldn't be so quick to have Rory jump.

For sure, there's no doubt that you would make much more money as a UFC headliner. The risk/reward is big, but the rewards would be immense for someone like Rory.

I doubt Viacom will pull the plug on Bellator any time soon though. MMA is thriving, Bellator is #2 in the MMA world despite Spike's lack of promotion for it, they control the production costs and it's just cheaper than scripted programming. The only way Bellator dies is if they ran the company like WCW. WCW put the talent in charge of the business (people with zero business experience and zero common sense) and they spent it on dumb shit every week like this:


View: https://streamable.com/55f8

 

[Ted Williams' head]

loooooool and making David Arquette world champion.... it's like they wanted to go out of business smh

 

[Punch]

So which point of my post did you want to dispute?

The part where I said the UFC was the biggest organization? The part where I said fighting in the UFC offers more exposure than fighting in Bellator? That a UFC champ will likely earn more than a Bellator champ? That a non-UFC organization could go out of business?

I'd love to hear some arguments to the contrary! But I think I'll be waiting like....

lol

If it was just this single post and not a continued history of you going into one after another bellton thread and naysaying, i'd say you had a damn good point. But it's not, you have, and i don't feel you do. Glad you're losing weight though.

 

[trick]

loooooool and making David Arquette world champion.... it's like they wanted to go out of business smh

Hire Vince Russo bruhs

I'm not a wrestling fan anymore but WCW is such a fascinating business case. They were pretty much in the red EVERY year until they came up with the NWO idea. Then Bischoff gave creative control to Hogan and Nash (and eventually Vince Russo) and it was all downhill from there. Even the sale of WCW was idiotic, they sold it for $2 million to Vince when the video library itself was worth more. The ratings before WCW's demise are still better than the WWE's current ratings, they had a significant market share of fans that just never came back to wrestling after WCW died. A reboot with fresh talent and new writers would've worked and nothing drew those kind of ratings again for TNT and TBS besides their sports properties (which they had to pay out hundreds of millions for).

Incredibly poor decisions were made on every level...

 

[Punch]

Hire Vince Russo bruhs

I'm not a wrestling fan anymore but WCW is such a fascinating business case. They were pretty much in the red EVERY year until they came up with the NWO idea. Then Bischoff gave creative control to Hogan and Nash (and eventually Vince Russo) and it was all downhill from there. Even the sale of WCW was idiotic, they sold it for $2 million to Vince when the video library itself was worth more. The ratings before WCW's demise are still better than the WWE's current ratings, they had a significant market share of fans that just never came back to wrestling after WCW died. A reboot with fresh talent and new writers would've worked and nothing drew those kind of ratings again for TNT and TBS besides their sports properties (which they had to pay out hundreds of millions for).

Incredibly poor decisions were made on every level...

In regard to WCW, the overall product -in simplest terms- just started to suck. The NWO (which was an angle EB ripped off from NJPW) was their saving grace for a time, but also became a keystone in their downfall.

The minute i see the overall product in Bellaton start to suck, i'll be the first to call them out on it. Some might point to the Kimbo-Dada fight and say, "Look that sucked!" Yes it did. Every org is going to put on a shitty fight from time to time from the ufc on down to the lowest rated regional show. Overall product. Imma nip that BS in the bud right now.

 

[trick]

In regard to WCW, the overall product -in simplest terms- just started to suck. The NWO (which was an angle EB ripped off from NJPW) was their saving grace for a time, but also became a keystone in their downfall.

The minute i see the overall product in Bellaton start to suck, i'll be the first to call them out on it. Some might point to the Kimbo-Dada fight and say, "Look that sucked!" Yes it did. Every org is going to put on a shitty fight from time to time from the ufc on down to the lowest rated regional show. Overall product. Imma nip that BS in the bud right now.

I'm well aware to how much WCW began to suck, trust me

Scott Coker and Rich Chou know exactly what they're doing when they book and promote a show. Bischoff is a showman who conned his way into the wrestling business, and has not had any success since the NWO. Just looked at how he and Hogan destroyed TNA for Spike. Ratings were at 2.0 mark when they arrived and they were halved when he and Hogan were at the end of their tenure at TNA.

 

[jason73]

It would be retarded to let Rory MacDonald go to Bellator.they are waiting for an offer to be made and then they will match it.it would be a mistake to let him leave with so much future ahead of him

 

[Punch]

I'm well aware to how much WCW began to suck, trust me

Scott Coker and Rich Chou know exactly what they're doing when they book and promote a show. Bischoff is a showman who conned his way into the wrestling business, and has not had any success since the NWO. Just looked at how he and Hogan destroyed TNA for Spike. Ratings were at 2.0 mark when they arrived and they were halved when he and Hogan were at the end of their tenure at TNA.

Watching the finger poke of doom live, i thought to myself: "This is fuckin' stupid."

Then i flipped over to wwf. Ah, good times.

 

[Punch]

It would be retarded to let Rory MacDonald go to Bellator.they are waiting for an offer to be made and then they will match it.it would be a mistake to let him leave with so much future ahead of him

It would be an epic blunder to let a fighter of Rory's caliber go. Should've already been paying the man, imo. 59k? Fuck outta here.

 

[Wild]

To be fair to @DannyNL, I've seen him rip the UFC's ass about fighter pay and the Heebok deal on numerous occasions as well.

 

[trick]

Watching the finger poke of doom live, i thought to myself: "This is fuckin' stupid."

Then i flipped over to wwf. Ah, good times.

That first 2 hours of Nitro was always amazing, I loved watching Malenko, Psychosis, Jericho, Mysterio, Ultimo Dragon, etc. The WWF went downhill for me when they let HHH do 30 min promos at the top of the hour. Never liked him and him burying everyone just sucked.

 

[deepsea24]

To be fair to @DannyNL, I've seen him rip the UFC's ass about fighter pay and the Heebok deal on numerous occasions as well.

he's got to play both sides to try to look a little neutral

 

[Punch]

That first 2 hours of Nitro was always amazing, I loved watching Malenko, Psychosis, Jericho, Mysterio, Ultimo Dragon, etc. The WWF went downhill for me when they let HHH do 30 min promos at the top of the hour. Never liked him and him burying everyone just sucked.

The "cruiserweights" were almost always my favorite part of the show.

 

[jason73]

Rory came in to the ufc a young kid like sage but he fought straight up killers since day one.he managed to step out from gsps shadow and become his own man and fight the elite of his division

 

[Punch]

Rory came in to the ufc a young kid like sage but he fought straight up killers since day one.he managed to step out from gsps shadow and become his own man and fight the elite of his division

Hell yeah. He's got a bright future.