You are Dana. You want to get Ronda back on track and sell WMMA tickets. What's the plan?

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Splinty

Shake 'em off
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Dec 31, 2014
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Who's the tune up fight? What do you do with Holm?

Cyborg still the bridesmaid, never the bride?


I'd give Ronda Julianna Pena. Its competitive enough but not over the top.

I'd give Tate to Holm as she would be an interesting fight anyways and Tate has been on tap.

Cyborg can make 135 and fight anybody you want to get her introduced to the division.
 
Oct 19, 2015
97
252
Who's the tune up fight? What do you do with Holm?

Cyborg still the bridesmaid, never the bride?


I'd give Ronda Julianna Pena. Its competitive enough but not over the top.

I'd give Tate to Holm as she would be an interesting fight anyways and Tate has been on tap.

Cyborg can make 135 and fight anybody you want to get her introduced to the division.
You send her here:

 

mysticmac

First 1025
Oct 18, 2015
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You hope to god she focuses on grappling rather than striking for the rematch, and you market Holly. If Ronda wins, great. If not, you can market your boxing champ that dethroned the GOAT WMMA fighter. If she's willing to do the media, you're set until she loses. Then you promote how competitive WMMA is.

You don't tie yourself to one fighter.
 

Qat

QoQ
Nov 3, 2015
16,385
22,624
If the plan was all along that Rousey wins here and then fights her last fight at UFC 200 (and it seemed that way, Dana hinted at it himself as well), then an immediate rematch would not be the best idea. It would draw big, but Ronda still might say bye then, win or lose. And a tune-up-fight for Ronda still draws a lot. And a win keeps her fighting in the UFC.

On the other hand, if she would actually lose a tune-up-fight, what then? Then Ronda's fall is complete, most of the Ronda-only-fans will go away, and Holly's win looks a bit lesser as well. Risky.
 

kneeblock

Drapetomaniac
Apr 18, 2015
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There is no way the UFC will not do an immediate rematch for Rousey. Anything else is leaving money on the table and taking a risk.
 

Chief

4070 = Legend
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Ronda diets down to 125 while that jaw heals. Give her a crack at an inaugural 125 belt and Holm continues to sell at 135.
 

Qat

QoQ
Nov 3, 2015
16,385
22,624
I would do the rematch with Zingano, or the trilogy with Miesha. I would not match her up with Nunes or Pena.
How would you promote a rematch with Zingano at this point? Find out who is the best out of the two losers who looked horrible in their last title-match? Maybe down the road, but not now.
You don't gain much if Ronda wins here as well.
 

MMAHAWK

Real Gs come from California.America Muthafucker
Feb 5, 2015
15,098
32,957
Holm vs Tate for the belt asap suberbowl weekend early February

4 woman tourney for number 1 contender first round same card

Nunes vs Pena
Cyborg vs cat

2nd round mid April

Winner fight Holm at co main at UFC 200 in July

Rousey returns and fight current champion New Years 2017 ideally in New York
 

Kinosis

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2015
483
596
I'd put her in against Cyborg. They already missed it when it was the big money fight but it's sink or swim. It's a fight people wanted to see, it hasn't happened yet. If Ronda beats Cyborg people will think she has a chance against Holm and it will bring her instant hype, if she doesn't win, well, she is probably on her way out anyway but at least they can then make Holm vs Cyborg for a stand up battle people will love.
 

dacofty

Yea..Ok..Whatever
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
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Who's the tune up fight? What do you do with Holm?

Cyborg still the bridesmaid, never the bride?


I'd give Ronda Julianna Pena. Its competitive enough but not over the top.

I'd give Tate to Holm as she would be an interesting fight anyways and Tate has been on tap.

Cyborg can make 135 and fight anybody you want to get her introduced to the division.
Rousey vs Pena is a good fight. Holms vs Tate. There wont be a Cyborg fight Im afraid not. If Rousey gets a tune up fight and wins, We knolw it will be atleast 6 to 8 months from now, then another 6 to 8 months to fight for title, then the rematch with holms/rousey should rousey win. So your talking 2017 i think one or both might be retired by then
 

Γαλάνης

The Wallabee Champ
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Jan 18, 2015
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Yo son this is about to be the biggest FRAT you ever read in your life so if you don't have the time or brain capacity, feel free to scroll through and mock me for wasting so much time. BUT to anyone who does read this shit, please let me know whether you agree or disagree, and why. I can also explain more on why I think the way I do, but I will leave that out cuz it's already too long (wrote this intro in post production kid).

I've been an avid listener to Dave Meltzer's radio show and reader of his newsletter for so many years now, that I feel like I know 10000x more about the actual business side of MMA than I ever did before by simply watching and reading forum posts. And to anyone out there who associates Dave with pro wrestling and doesn't understand that he is THE numbers guy when it comes to MMA, and has been covering it every single week since before the first UFC even happened? Well, then you probably don't really know a lot about the business side of this sport, because EVERY respectable writer/reporter/journalist will tell you, Meltzer is the godfather of this shit.

The only people who disagree are forum posters who think he is just a pro wrestling writer, and have never actually read his publication, listened to his several times weekly radio shows (that always focus on the business side of things in immense detail numbers wise to the point some may even consider it boring), or know the history of who he is and how long he has been covering MMA in depth. There is literally no argument against it, Meltzer is the foremost authority on the business side of this sport, and has been the #1 source to all journalists for everything we know about the UFC's PPV buys and business info for over 2 decades.

Through listening to his show every single week for over 5 years now, it's really helped me to keep up with and grasp the actual business part of this organization and the way it moves. Before I found out about his stuff, I even worked for an MMA promotion closely in New England that was owned by my cousin, and despite doing that for three years, I learned more from listening to Meltzer in six months than I ever did by actually doing the work myself.

So here goes.. my take on the shit, and why I can almost guarantee the rematch will be happening. So, put on some background music like this:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBU7cfXYWLo


Smoke a bowl (or blunt or vape, whatever your preferred method is), and read this shit.. respond.. and then come to the conclusion that "Holy fuck, this dude has way too much time on his hands to talk about MMA on a forum" ;)

PS sorry for typos BTW, I am too lazy to proof read this and try to make ti read like a fucking article or something, it's just a rant about shit. And, I think this picture below will give you an idea of my inspiration for tripping the fuck out and typing for a half hour while listening to Ghostface. This little cluster of herb in my hand just got ground up and rolled into a zig zag wrap :'( perhaps the greatest feeling in the world, so great, that I want to cry in fact. Hold me bros. It'll be okay.




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The rematch will be the biggest women's fight in MMA history, and depending on how things work out, could end up being the biggest UFC show ever.

There is NO WAY the UFC is gonna give up the massive pay day of an immediate rematch. None. Zero zip nada. Unless Rousey somehow flat out refuses, and says no to the tens of millions of dollars thrown in her face, they are doing the rematch.

Here's the thing.. SHOULD Ronda do it from a career stand point? Probably not.

However, can you just imagine if they have Holm fight someone like Tate or Nunes, let's say in Feb or March? That show will do less than 300,000 buys if that';s the headlining fight. However, Holm vs Rousey 2 is an EASY 800k-1mil plus show, depending on the undercard and co main. Easily.

People were buying Ronda's PPVs en masse when everyone knew her opponents had no chance and she was beating them in record time. Now there is an actual story, an actual desire from the main stream public to see ROnda face Holly Holm. Before that, the public had no interest in seeing Holly, they just wanted to see Ronda vs anybody.

Now they can play up the huge revenge angle, the comeback angle, etc. They'll build Rousey saying that her personal life was so crazy going into the fight and it screwed her up. Maybe they reveal she had some big injury. They will do everything they can to convey that the Ronda we saw at 193 was nowhere close to the "real" Ronda Rousey, and this time we will see her more motivated than ever, coming back to win her title.

That's how they'll paint it anyway. Think of how they promote Anderson vs Weidman 2. It was all about the "fluke" win and the long time dominant champ coming back to get his title again. They also had Rousey on the co main.. and that show was one of the most purchased in company history.

Now just think... Imagine if they do Rousey vs Holm at UFC 200? And let's just say someone like Conor wins his fight against Aldo, or loses a super close split decision? ORRR maybe they do Jones vs Cormier 2 on the show also? Point is, any huge marquee fight combined with Holm vs Rousey 2 is going to be massive, more than likely break a mil easy. Ronda was coming close to a mil when fighting people that all her fans (casuals unlike us) had no idea about, and didn't need to. Now there is a legit story for those people to sink their teeth into. It'll be so huge.

Depending on what may happen with Conor next month, if he were to win, just try to imagine how massive a Conor McGregor vs anyone show would be with Conor as the legit champ (possibly Aldo rematch, Frankie maybe, Mendes rematch if he beats Frankie, etc)... and then add if Holm/Rousey 2? AND throw those on UFC 200, with a ridiculous and rarely stacked, filled with names the public actually cares about?

Now that I have laid it out like that. Just imagine if Holm fights BEFORE the Rousey rematch. and then imagine her losing! Everything would be squandered, millions upon millions of dollars lost. There is no way they are gonna take that chance. Like I said, the only reason they'd have to not do this fight is if somehow, Ronda doesn't wanna make the biggest pay day of her entire career, and tells the UFC she would rather an easier fight to come back to... and even then, I feel like they would put so much money on the table for her it'd be impossible to say no.

The UFC is alllll about the money, and there is not a single doubt in my mind that we will see an immediate rematch. Cyborg is pretty much out of the picture at the moment.. the only thing she had going for her was a possible Rousey fight, and that won't happen right now, and may not ever. They definitely are not gonna bring in Cyborg out of nowhere without ever having made 135 previously to come in and face Holly

All signs point to rematch... and massive amounts of money

Again, all about the money in prize fighting.. That's why Fedor is making MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars to face guys like TK in Japan, who have been out of their prime for almost two decades. What would you rather do.. fight in the UFC for 500k flat rate and a $5,000 Reebok sponsorship (LOL) against tough, in their prime fighters who will train harder than ever in hopes of beating you and making a name off of your legendary status?

Or would you rather get paid multiple times the amount of that, again literally millions of dollars per fight, against someone who victory is almost guaranteed over? Not only is the money sweet, but someone like Fedor would be ridiculous to come out of retirement after 3+ years and try to jump in IMMEDIATELY with the best. Cage rust is real, and any fighter coming off a layoff that's nearly 1/3 a decade should get at least one fight under their belt before hopping in with the elite... now add in the fact you are being paid absolute millions of dollars in cash from Japan? Who in their right mind would ever say no?

Lol do people think if Jon Jones became a free agent tomorrow, and the UFC offered him 2.5 mil per fight, but some random organization offered him like 7 or 8 mil a fight against guys he knows he can beat easily.. does anyone think Jon Jones would stay in the UFC for a more than 50% pay cut and the risk of losing to guys who are at the top of the sport, training every day for years to take YOU down? (and yes I know about the champion's clause in contracts, Jones couldn't just walk away tomorrow, I'm just using him as an example of an elite fighter who, like anyone else with a brain, would happily take additional millions of dollars to face lesser competition)

So yeah, you must all be wondering, why the fuck is he talking about Fedor and Jon Jones?

Well, it's just to illustrate my point that this is prize fighting.. and when you are talking so many millions of dollars for massive events - events that'll probably make you more money in a single shot than you made in 50% of your careers timeline - people stop caring about legacy, stop caring about things like "am I facing the top ranked guy" or "am I being true to myself as a martial artist by accepting this massive pay day to secure the future of my family"?

NO, they are like, holy fuck, yes I would love millions of dollars people. Let's fight

And that's what will happen with Ronda.

Rousey vs Holm 2, UFC 200 (barring injury/extended medical suspension from Ronda).... bet on it, and if they put together the card on a HUGE scale the way they did at UFC 100, and no one gets hurt.. expect every record to be shattered son.

Imagine if UFC 200 is something like this?

Conor vs Aldo 2 (either way, if their fight is remotely close, you know the rematch is happening despite who wins)
Holm vs Rousey 2
Anderson vs Vitor 2

In that third spot where Andy and Vitor are, you can put in ANY big name, big time fight.. and if you add just 2 more to the main show, like Hendo vs Bisping or anything to get the public's interest.. you are going to have a huge show. I realize there's all rematches there, but somehow the scene in MMA has worked out to where all of those rematches would make sense for the night of the show (obviously barring Conor vs Aldo 2 since the fight hasn't happened yet and we have no idea how it'll play out)

Even if Conor gets his ass beat by Aldo, you could put him as the non title co main event on UFC 200 with Holm and Rousey headlining, and it'll still be huge

I could talk about this shit all day, but I feel like from everything I have ever observed about:

1) the fight business itself across all combat sports
2) prize fighters and their motivation
3) the UFC's mentality and approach to money being the most important aspect
4) the UFC's fascination with immediate rematches when their marketable champions lose

There is just no doubt in my mind that, like I said unless an injury or something weird happens... I would bet my life on Holm vs Rousey 2 being the next fight lined up. I had a lot of run writing this, I am so fucking bored sitting here lol, and typing this shit all out got me mad excited for the possibilities of future shows and the UFC 200 card itself

I know people have the misconception that 2015 was somehow a bad year for the UFC... yet they broke every single record, business wise, they ever had, except the single day PPV record set by UFC 100. The largest gate ever, the largest attendance ever, the largest FS1 rating ever (McGregor vs Siver, which nearly doubled the previous record of the FS1 debut show with Shogun vs Sonnen.. .that I happened to be at in attendance). Once 2015 has closed out, they will come quite close to the most PPV buys in a calendar year since 2009 (and we still have not had the 193 numbers come in, and 194 is going to add a massive chunk to the total.. we will definitely see at least another 1.5 mil PPV buys from the amount of 193 and 194 combined)

Yeah there has been some big time injuries, but compared to the disastrous 2013/14 PPV buy rate and ratings wise.. Things are actually looking up and quite a bit. Now keep in mind that UFC 200 is coming up in Summer next year, and I really believe that things are just going to continue getting better going into 2016.

I know this sounds crazy coming from me.. because as anyone who knows me understands quite well, I am the furthest thing from a Zuffa shill and don't always agree with their decisions. But, facts are facts, and trends show a pattern, and right now things are going up. This is a good thing, because it means fighters making more money and people being more interested in the sport. With Bellator putting on their massive show with Ken/Royce and surely a few other giant ratings grab freakshow events... 2016 could be one of the biggest years ever, numbers wise, for the sport of MMA as a whole in America.

I'm happy with that, because I love this shit
 

Γαλάνης

The Wallabee Champ
First 100
Jan 18, 2015
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I hope no one takes the time to read that shit, because it is the realest shit ever written. It is so real that upon reading it, you will realize what real is and become real yourself, but I don;t really want other dudes on my level of real so I am hesitant in sharing that much real in a post that is meant solely to be taken as real

In other words, I am high as fuck and love endlessly ranting about MMA with a blunt in my hand, lol.

I have no idea why I am still typing, but hope you dudes missed The FRAT Champ. peace
 

Splinty

Shake 'em off
Admin
Dec 31, 2014
44,116
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Imagine if UFC 200 is something like this?

Conor vs Aldo 2 (either way, if their fight is remotely close, you know the rematch is happening despite who wins)
Holm vs Rousey 2
Anderson vs Vitor 2
Jones Cormier 2

All 2 for 200!
 

Γαλάνης

The Wallabee Champ
First 100
Jan 18, 2015
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God itd be amazing if that happens

Imagine if the UFC finally says "fuck it, you know what, we are going to do a triple title fight show again as a one time deal for UFC 200"... I would die. I don't even care if they are all rematches. They did that one triple title show when Zuffa first took over and it was such a disaster but I feel like with these possible 3 fights -

Holly vs Rousey
DC vs Jones
Conor vs Aldo 2 (again this one is hypothetical but throwing it on there cuz it's the biggest possible)

Unlike the last time they did 3 title fights, I just cannot see all of those going to decision. I can't envision that card being a disaster in anyway. It would be a dream come true.

That would just be so fucking massive. I realize the UFC may not wanna do it cuz they'd spread things too thin for the summer, but fuck it, just put on a damn mega show PRIDE style that will shatter every single record and generate hype and buzz that has not been seen in MMA since 2009.. or maybe even ever
 

Chief

4070 = Legend
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I like that frat Γαλάνης @Galanis

A lot of what you said made me realize that my view of the sport is shifting slightly. I still want to see the best match making possible, but I'm starting to appreciate the entertainment side and wanting to see fights based on WHO the fighter is and not so much how skilled they are.

That's not to say that I want to see a hole card full of Tito/Shamrock, but I appreciate it more these days. So yeah, can see the Rousey rematch happening and selling big for the reasons you wrote about. I only tuned in to her before because:

1. I'm a fight fan.
2. Hoped she'd lose.

I bought into the "Once ever" hype and gave Holly no chance. But now that I know better, I will definitely buy the next ppv. I refused to buy a Rousey ppv after that one where the UFC raised the price because it was a "premium" card.
 

Joemacka

Bisping is GOAT
Oct 19, 2015
5,060
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If the Ufc want Ronda to be champ then they would be stupid to put her in there with Holly immediately. Ronda vs Nunes would be a tough but winnable fight for Ronda. Then have Holm vs Tate. I think that is probably the way to go.
 

Γαλάνης

The Wallabee Champ
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Same hree and agree. I really like exciting fights haha. I also love fights where two guys at the top of their game, best in the world, get in there with no fake BS/hype behind it and have an amazing competition in the martial arts against each other. I don't care if those do 200k PPV buys, I love them too

But I'd be a liar if I said I didn't wanna see matchups based on excitement generated in and outside of the cage.

I'd also be a liar if I said I am not gonna be tuning in to Shamrock vs Royce 3 with my eyes wide open, inches away from the screen, hyped as fuck

Basically, I just really love watching fights for a ton of different reasons.
 

Γαλάνης

The Wallabee Champ
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Jan 18, 2015
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If the Ufc want Ronda to be champ then they would be stupid to put her in there with Holly immediately. Ronda vs Nunes would be a tough but winnable fight for Ronda. Then have Holm vs Tate. I think that is probably the way to go.
Won't happen. They will not jeopardize the massive amount of cash generated by Holly vs Ronda 2 by risking either of them losing before it happens.
 

Joemacka

Bisping is GOAT
Oct 19, 2015
5,060
8,874
Won't happen. They will not jeopardize the massive amount of cash generated by Holly vs Ronda 2 by risking either of them losing before it happens.
Agree man but then they have to think about if Ronda loses again. Not good for buisness.
 

CaffeineBomb

Well-Known Member
Sep 8, 2015
260
353
It's a shame, but I 100% agree they'll do the rematch asap. Too much money at stake especially now that 193 is already the 3rd highest grossing PPV they've had and trending towards 2nd.

Sucks for Rousey's career as can't see here having enough time to improve enough that Holm won't just do the exact same thing again. Especially since she's already signed for films in that period and Holm will almost definitely be in the Gym, getting better all the time.
 

Zeph

TMMAC Addict
Jan 22, 2015
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Ronda diets down to 125 while that jaw heals. Give her a crack at an inaugural 125 belt and Holm continues to sell at 135.
You'd cannibalize two young divisions to create a third, when they each don't have sufficient depth to make a truly strong divison yet?
 
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