Remember when MMA almost/sorta/kinda was a sport?

[FadeToBlack]

I was watching the McGeary/Davis replay on YouTube and it dawned on me: a) who cares who wins the b-league Bellator belt? and b) come to think of it, who cares about the UFC belt? The UFC belt has lost so much meaning lately. Remember when it used to mean that the dude was probably the best in his weight class? Dan Henderson getting a title shot is a recent prime example of just how meaningless that thing is. Granted he kicked Bisping's ass in a pointfighting loss, but regardless nobody should be able to jump the line like that. This is why guys are starting to chirp to the media about money and not being satisfied with their contract and wanting more. They can see there's no true ranking system that determines matchups so they may as well cash in while they wait for Dana to pick them. It's all bullshit. In the words of Trump, shit's "rigged."

 

[Punch]

I was watching the McGeary/Davis replay on YouTube and it dawned on me: a) who cares who wins the b-league Bellator belt? and b) come to think of it, who cares about the UFC belt? The UFC belt has lost so much meaning lately. Remember when it used to mean that the dude was probably the best in his weight class? Dan Henderson getting a title shot is a recent prime example of just how meaningless that thing is. Granted he kicked Bisping's ass in a pointfighting loss, but regardless nobody should be able to jump the line like that. This is why guys are starting to chirp to the media about money and not being satisfied with their contract and wanting more. They can see there's no true ranking system that determines matchups so they may as well cash in while they wait for Dana to pick them. It's all bullshit. In the words of Trump, shit's "rigged."

It's lost a lot of its sporting legitimacy in recent years i feel, yes.

 

[FadeToBlack]

It's lost a lot of its sporting legitimacy in recent years i feel, yes.

It has. I actually voted 75% sport so I am not as pessimistic as others. I still feel like in MOST cases, guys fight against other guys for legitimate reasons. But I'd rather it be more like 95% sport, 5% entertainment. By that I mean I want the belt to mean something, but I like to leave the door slightly open for super fights. I don't mean horseshit like Hendo/Bis 2, but I'm talking Diaz/McGregor type stuff sprinkled in every so often. But it shouldn't be overdone. Kinda like wasabi, a little of it is fine, too much of it and it makes me wanna puke.

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

It is the purest form of sport.

 

[dacofty]

Dana has abandoned the "professional sport" direction for "sports entertainment" direction. Its great to watch but its not MMA

 

[dacofty]

I was watching the McGeary/Davis replay on YouTube and it dawned on me: a) who cares who wins the b-league Bellator belt? and b) come to think of it, who cares about the UFC belt? The UFC belt has lost so much meaning lately. Remember when it used to mean that the dude was probably the best in his weight class? Dan Henderson getting a title shot is a recent prime example of just how meaningless that thing is. Granted he kicked Bisping's ass in a pointfighting loss, but regardless nobody should be able to jump the line like that. This is why guys are starting to chirp to the media about money and not being satisfied with their contract and wanting more. They can see there's no true ranking system that determines matchups so they may as well cash in while they wait for Dana to pick them. It's all bullshit. In the words of Trump, shit's "rigged."

thing is he kicked Bispings ass then and in the last fight as well.

 

[FadeToBlack]

It is the purest form of sport.

It is when it's just 2 guys going toe to toe. It isn't when one of the guys is ranked in the teens and he jumps the line to fight the champion all because the promoter can bank benjamins from a rematch.

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

It is when it's just 2 guys going toe to toe. It isn't when one of the guys is ranked in the teens and he jumps the line to fight the champion all because the promoter can bank benjamins from a rematch.

All sports are only active when the time starts. Are they playing football in the locker room?

 

[FadeToBlack]

All sports are only active when the time starts. Are they playing football in the locker room?

No, but the Cowboys don't get invited to the Super Bowl every year just because it would get the most viewers either.

 

[FadeToBlack]

NFL football is very close to, if not, a true sport. Yes, the quarterbacks are protected like fine China but otherwise your record dictates your rank, your rank dictates your matchups in the playoffs, and the playoffs determine a champion. There's no reason something similar couldn't be done in MMA, except a little thing called...

 

[Kingtony87]

NFL football is very close to, if not, a true sport. Yes, the quarterbacks are protected like fine China but otherwise your record dictates your rank, your rank dictates your matchups in the playoffs, and the playoffs determine a champion. There's no reason something similar couldn't be done in MMA, except a little thing called...

But during the season a great team will sometimes get upset by a team ranked far lower. In mma you don't get to see everyone fight everyone so occasionally you need a bsiping rockhold, or gsp serra. Much like the football season the matches don't always make sense. But fuck they are fun.

 

[FadeToBlack]

But during the season a great team will sometimes get upset by a team ranked far lower. In mma you don't get to see everyone fight everyone so occasionally you need a bsiping rockhold, or gsp serra. Much like the football season the matches don't always make sense. But fuck they are fun.

No, they are ALWAYS fun. But in the NFL, even the schedule in the regular season has a formula (play 2 games against your 3 division opponents home and away, play every team in your own conference that finished in the same place as you, etc.). I just think it sucks MMA matchmaking is going WWE. Forget the fighting, that part is real, it's the matchmaking.

 

[Kingtony87]

No, they are ALWAYS fun. But in the NFL, even the schedule in the regular season has a formula (play 2 games against your 3 division opponents home and away, play every team in your own conference that finished in the same place as you, etc.). I just think it sucks MMA matchmaking is going WWE. Forget the fighting, that part is real, it's the matchmaking.

putting new England against Buffalo and Miami every year is more ridiculous then most mma match making. They are practically guaranteed a playoff spot, comparatively to a super competitive division like the nfc east. It's just as arbitrary as any of the ufc's matchmaking. Brackets don't make it any more of a sport then mma.

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

No, but the Cowboys don't get invited to the Super Bowl every year just because it would get the most viewers either.

How does that effect what happens while the game is being played?

 

[FadeToBlack]

How does that effect what happens while the game is being played?

Nothing, except that game SHOULDN'T be played. The game I (and most sports fans) want to see is the best team from the NFC vs. the best team from the AFC so the Super Bowl trophy has meaning. The UFC belt has no meaning, that's the point.

 

[Kingtony87]

Nothing, except that game SHOULDN'T be played. The game I (and most sports fans) want to see is the best team from the NFC vs. the best team from the AFC so the Super Bowl trophy has meaning. The UFC belt has no meaning, that's the point.

For 13 years straight the Nfc won the Superbowl, that "championship game wasn't the two best teams competing.

 

[FadeToBlack]

For 13 years straight the Nfc won the Superbowl, that "championship game wasn't the two best teams competing.

No, but you at least knew the NFC Championship was the real Super Bowl those years. Because the NFL had rankings, which UFC doesn't. The NFL has a process that sorted teams, matched them up, and the best team was crowned the best team. The UFC has a "ranking system" but there is no known predictable path to a title. It's basically keep winning and hope the fans like you. That's less a sport than the NFL.

 

[Kingtony87]

No, but you at least knew the NFC Championship was the real Super Bowl those years. Because the NFL had rankings, which UFC doesn't. The NFL has a process that sorted teams, matched them up, and the best team was crowned the best team. The UFC has a "ranking system" but there is no known predictable path to a title. It's basically keep winning and hope the fans like you. That's less a sport than the NFL.

Just like mma new englands path to the Superbowl is a hell of a lot easier then say the ny giants. But any time they've competed in recent history ny takes it. Both are arbitrary but one offers the illusion of "sport".

 

[Punch]

The path to a world title is definitely not as clear as "keep winning".
Longest winning streaks without a title shot, name them | The MMA Community Forum

If you sell tickets and ppvs, you're generally more important to the ufc than a quiet dude who wins. There are exceptions to this, but often the pure fighter is taking a back seat to the entertainer.

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

Nothing, except that game SHOULDN'T be played. The game I (and most sports fans) want to see is the best team from the NFC vs. the best team from the AFC so the Super Bowl trophy has meaning. The UFC belt has no meaning, that's the point.

But on any given day could any team beat another?

 

[FadeToBlack]

Just like mma new englands path to the Superbowl is a hell of a lot easier then say the ny giants. But any time they've competed in recent history ny takes it. Both are arbitrary but one offers the illusion of "sport".

Even disregarding the difference in quality of division opponents, at least you can say the NFL has SOME process for sorting the top teams. May not be a perfect process, but at least everyone knows what's expected of them to get a title shot. In MMA, Machida was crushing everyone when he came on to the scene but never got a title shot because he was "boring" until the UFC finally caved in. That's like making the Giants play 20 games instead of 16 before they can get to the playoffs.

 

[Kingtony87]

Even disregarding the difference in quality of division opponents, at least you can say the NFL has SOME process for sorting the top teams. May not be a perfect process, but at least everyone knows what's expected of them to get a title shot. In MMA, Machida was crushing everyone when he came on to the scene but never got a title shot because he was "boring" until the UFC finally caved in. That's like making the Giants play 20 games instead of 16 before they can get to the playoffs.

Machida, thiago, and rashad were all undefeated around the same time. Machida got to the title one fight after rashad. I remember claims of him. Being boring, but i don't remember him being held away from a title shot.

 

[FadeToBlack]

Machida, thiago, and rashad were all undefeated around the same time. Machida got to the title one fight after rashad. I remember claims of him. Being boring, but i don't remember him being held away from a title shot.

Machida was put into the Max Holloway Program For Title Shots™ back in the day. Chuck never got matched with Machida, that tells you something.

 

[Kingtony87]

Machida was put into the Max Holloway Program For Title Shots™ back in the day. Chuck never got matched with Machida, that tells you something.

I disagree. rashad had 8 ufc fights to machida's 6. Before getting title fights. This ew during the height of the division a a right after joining with pride. Machida is one of my all time favorite fighters. But I definitely don't think they were trying to protect chuck from machida.

 

[Wild]

I voted 50/50. The rankings still have some relevancy, in terms of being a gauge for match ups. The problem is, money has corrupted the sport like it does most things. Fighters jump the line because match-up A will sell more than match-up B. Chael wrote the playbook on how to talk your way into title fights. McGregor has raised the bar, because he can actually talk & fight at the highest level. Now we see fighters trying to follow suit, and the promotion encouraging it because it lines their pockets.

But with all of that said, it's still the greatest sport on earth IMO.