Stripping Aldo of the title

[lookoutawhale]

I've felt this way for a long time, but part of it, and this sucks to admit, but part of it comes with aging. I'm just speaking for myself here. There are maybe a couple of decades of life when everything is vibrant, and then after that comes this slow slide into grey, stupid muck.

I still get pumped for great fights and all, but I'm much cooler these days about missing a show. It's just MMA---and frankly, it's a very weird sport. I'm not overjoyed to finally realize this. But what is this sport? Some desperate goofballs get together to punch each other in the face in a cage. Why the fuck are they doing this again? I can't always remember. It seemed like I knew, at one time. I could swear I really knew. Now? Sometimes I watch these fights and I don't understand a single second of it, or myself.

Anyway. We're very far removed now from those early days when every show was amazing, even when it actually wasn't. It was new, and we were new along with it. This is what time does. Little by little it brings a worse version of the past into the present, and little by little, you realize how much better the past was, and how much better---even if slightly---the past before that was. It's the same for everything. The first girlfriend/steady lay you had, it'll never be like that again. It's over. It's OVER now. Now you're just a struggling insect on the sidewalk with some unnecessary powers of self-awareness, and a long jumble of memories---thousands of MMA fights---trailing out the back of your head. Spaghetti circuits, your own death yawning out the back of your pitiful head. What are you going to do? Become Richard Branson and rage against the dying of the light? Jump out of airplanes at age 70 to keep time from murdering you with little jokes about the past?

Forget all that. Suppose you're trapped in an elevator with Dana. It's 120 degrees, with no power but some very dim emergency lights. The small talk is over and the conversation has turned to MMA. He knows you're a fan, and wants your honest opinion. You tell him what's up, and he just shrugs, lifts his eyebrows like, hm, okay. "But there's so much you don't know." He tells you what goes on behind the scenes, and you start sympathizing for a minute. He's making some sense. He tells one little story, then another. After about an hour, you feel like he made a point.

But then he keeps talking, and he goes on and on. He's starting to ramble. He's becoming angry, his voice is starting to carry. He's really fucking loud. The elevator is small, and you're not deaf. You want to tell him to chill out but he won't stop. You just sit there, hostage in this elevator, listening to Dana go on and on. A rant about how greedy and misguided all the fighters are, what pains in the ass they are, except for maybe one or two of them. About what a bunch of motherfuckers everybody's managers are. How nasty and brutal this business is, and how nobody understands that you have to fuck the fighters or they'll fuck you. His face red, sweat gushing down, globules of sweat dripping from his chin. "All these motherfuckers, I'll tell you what, it's a shark tank out here. Hold on, I'm getting a text from my mom. What the fuck does SHE want? Jesus Christ, it ain't easy bein' me."

I feel like we've been in that elevator for over ten years now. Waiting for, fuck, I don't know. Possibly---this is the worst thing it could be, but possibly---1993. I think that's what we're waiting for, but this elevator can't go there. Nothing can, but the fucking screaming spaghetti trailing behind your skull. Where all the good times are.

I agree with the time factor. I believe a certain amount of excitement is lost because of getting used to the novelty of the sport. But i think a large part of me losing interest has to do with the inability of the UFC to be innovative. They refuse to change stuck in their old boxing ways, stifling creativity. Keeping a stale product and milking it as much as they can before its left to die on the pasture.

People wanted a proper arm reach in the tale of the tape. The current one measures widthspan, knuckle to knuckle with arms held up. A useless stat. Some guys may have longer arms and a smaller torso and some may have a large torso and smaller arms but they can have the same widthspan. Arm reach would cover simply armpit to knuckle so we can get an actual reach stat that can be used in a fight like they do in boxing. Dana said... um... nope. we will keep the way its always been.

People wanted a leg reach because of how integral kicking is to this sport. How long is someones legs. It may matter when they are trying for the triangle from the bottom or a high kick. Dana said.. no. we will keep it the way its always been.

People wanted a new intro because the teenage angst nu-metal opening had becomes old and cheesy. Dana decided to keep it.

Many asked for a ranking system with a point structure so there could be standings. Then we could see who would fight who and where someone stood. The UFC said no.. we will let some mma fans who work in the media create a structure that we don't really care to use. They didnt want to make it themselves because they didn't want people to hold them to that if they decided to deviate when someone got boring and they wanted them fired.

They were asked for fight day weigh in statistics like boxing. Since weight cutting itself is an art and can affect the outcome of a fight if one guy weighs a lot more than the other. Dana said nope.. we will stay stagnant.

These are some of many reasons why i find it boring compared to other sports. Either make put effort into the presentation and make it entertainment or put effort into the standings, rankings if you want this to be a sport. They do neither. They put a rock bottom amount of effort into making it look great and they put no effort into making it a sport. Im not even sure what im watching.

Pride put it in more creativity and art into the few years they were alive then all of the UFC ever did. Heck Premier Boxing just started and their set looked so nice.

look at this entrance by Wladimir Klitchko vs David Haye. The stadium in Germany looked beautiful. Concert type of fireworks going off for a big fight

great lighting inside

fantastic prestantation for the walk in to build hype. And this was in 2011.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1I8XPSAWEs


Pride always tried to stay fresh. Great intros.

Great workmanship on a Bushido stage

Orchestra. Fantastic panning camera work. Great set.

When I see the UFC i see something stagnant. A group of boring owners that cant seem to grasp innovation. Stuck in 1980 boxing mode.

Like a bunch of 70 year olds trying to make a new playstation game and coming up with Super Mario 4.

 

[WoodenPupa]

But i think a large part of me losing interest has to do with the inability of the UFC to be innovative. They refuse to change stuck in their old boxing ways, stifling creativity. Keeping a stale product and milking it as much as they can before its left to die on the pasture.

Agreed in full. Great examples as well.

 

[WoodenPupa]

Awesome entrances/stage setting on those pics too LOAW. Yep, you look at the UFC, and think---what could be.

 

[WoodenPupa]

Like a bunch of 70 year olds trying to make a new playstation game and coming up with Super Mario 4.

LOL! What about that Miss Pacman! She was so cute, getting chased by those ghosts in that crazy maze! Kids'll love that all over again!

 

[Wild]

Great post @lookoutawhale !

 

[lookoutawhale]

LOL! What about that Miss Pacman! She was so cute, getting chased by those ghosts in that crazy maze! Kids'll love that all over again!

Dana - BIG ANNOUNCEMENT JULY 1!

Media - What is it?

Dana - NEW GAME!!! MRS. PAC-MAN! trust me its going to sell millions.

Media - How is this different from Ms. Pac-man?

Dana - She finally married Pac-man and took the title of "Mrs." over the ambiguous "Ms."

Media - Well its still the same game from 1980..

Dana - IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT THEN DON'T PLAY IT U GOOF!

 

[lookoutawhale]

Awesome entrances/stage setting on those pics too LOAW. Yep, you look at the UFC, and think---what could be.

thanks. yeah its sad. They have a chance to make it more sport or to add more flair for entertainment value and they chose neither.

That Pride fighter walkout was soo fun to watch and the fighters like it too they mentioned in interviews. How the stage would twirl, fighters popping up from the ground in elevators, scafolding where they would stand. bushido props. very cool.UFC looks like a community level show compared to it.

I remember when some guys wanted to have some fun and have fun entrances and Dana thought it was stupid and not funny. he wanted serious intros and no fun music that he nixes. he hates the ramp too. kills the entertainment value. When Dennis Hallman wore those nut huggers i thought it was hilarious but they really hated that bit of creativity from them.

when people then give up on that idea and wanted chances to make it more sport he killed that too. so its this weird limbo where they want a watered down version of both.

Im bored of waiting for Joe Silva to pick random matchups for everyone. I want some type of structure. If there is none then it just random dudes fighting one another for the most part other than the main fight.

 

[Zeph]

thanks. yeah its sad. They have a chance to make it more sport or to add more flair for entertainment value and they chose neither.

That Pride fighter walkout was soo fun to watch and the fighters like it too they mentioned in interviews. How the stage would twirl, fighters popping up from the ground in elevators, scafolding where they would stand. bushido props. very cool.UFC looks like a community level show compared to it.

I remember when some guys wanted to have some fun and have fun entrances and Dana thought it was stupid and not funny. he wanted serious intros and no fun music that he nixes. he hates the ramp too. kills the entertainment value. When Dennis Hallman wore those nut huggers i thought it was hilarious but they really hated that bit of creativity from them.

when people then give up on that idea and wanted chances to make it more sport he killed that too. so its this weird limbo where they want a watered down version of both.

Im bored of waiting for Joe Silva to pick random matchups for everyone. I want some type of structure. If there is none then it just random dudes fighting one another for the most part other than the main fight.

I've heard talk of Conor wanting to be lowered in on wires like Prince Naseem Hamed. I doubt it will happen, but it would awesome, if only for all the tears from the haters.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYxAfGfNg14

 

[lookoutawhale]

I've heard talk of Conor wanting to be lowered in on wires like Prince Naseem Hamed. I doubt it will happen, but it would awesome, if only for all the tears from the haters.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYxAfGfNg14

I hope that happens with Conor that would be great!

I loved Prince Naseem Hamed fights! He was pure entertainment one of my favourite boxers ever.

From his cartoon windmill punches, his trash talk, always doing this weird cartwheel into the ring over the ropes, cheetah shorts, dancing in the middle of the fight for no reason.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azEatWLF9hI


I remember watching this one fight where he starts dancing in his entrance and the crowd is cheering him loudly, but he keeps dancing. it goes on for like 5 minutes until the crowd starts to boo him and the whole time he doesnt give a shit, he just keeps dancing in his own world it was one of the funniest things ever.

 

[lookoutawhale]

HOLY CRAP I found it hahahahahah!

i cant stop laughing


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fDsaost1lE


Naseem starts dancing.. the crowd loves it.. the commentators dig it. his competitor is warming up in the ring.

2 minutes in people are confused at what is going on.. commentators not like this

4 minutes in, the other boxer Kevin Kelly is furious.. hes getting cold

7 minutes in Naseem still dancing not giving a shit, crowd booing, Prince does a front flip over the ropes into the ring

he bumps into Kevin "accidentally on purpose" then keeps dancing.

hahaha the guy burned more calories getting into the ring then actually in it. gotta love him.

 

[WoodenPupa]

I've heard talk of Conor wanting to be lowered in on wires like Prince Naseem Hamed. I doubt it will happen, but it would awesome, if only for all the tears from the haters.

Hamed was up there with my favorite fighters of the 90's. The wire act was unbeatable!! SO over the top---it fit him perfectly.

 

[WoodenPupa]

His in-fight antics were gold as well. Break-dancing, bolo punches. Switching stances, ducking punches with backward leans so far back his back was parallel with the ring canvas. Fucking loved his fights.

 

[WoodenPupa]

Yeah, it sucks that a fighter can't really differentiate himself with a unique entrance. They all just have to do the same walk, with Dana-approved music. They can costume-up for the walk, to some extent, and that's about it.

 

[Wild]

HOLY CRAP I found it hahahahahah!

i cant stop laughing


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fDsaost1lE


Naseem starts dancing.. the crowd loves it.. the commentators dig it. his competitor is warming up in the ring.

2 minutes in people are confused at what is going on.. commentators not like this

4 minutes in, the other boxer Kevin Kelly is furious.. hes getting cold

7 minutes in Naseem still dancing not giving a shit, crowd booing, Prince does a front flip over the ropes into the ring

he bumps into Kevin "accidentally on purpose" then keeps dancing.

hahaha the guy burned more calories getting into the ring then actually in it. gotta love him.

LOL you're play by play is almost as funny as the entrance. Absolutely no fucks given there by Prince Naseem lol.

 

[WoodenPupa]

Im bored of waiting for Joe Silva to pick random matchups for everyone

This is my biggest complaint, and for me, anyway, the thing that really matters. The carny-logic of UFC matchmaking is just unbearable at times. The redundant music, the uncreative fighter walkouts, the lack of stats and all that---while I want those things to change, truth be told I can (begrudgingly, of course) live without them. I tune in for the fights above all. And in 2015 I want fights that make sense, that are free from favoritism and other tainting elements.

 

[Zeph]

This is my biggest complaint, and for me, anyway, the thing that really matters. The carny-logic of UFC matchmaking is just unbearable at times. The redundant music, the uncreative fighter walkouts, the lack of stats and all that---while I want those things to change, truth be told I can (begrudgingly, of course) live without them. I tune in for the fights above all. And in 2015 I want fights that make sense, that are free from favoritism and other tainting elements.

The match making in the UFC is probably the gold standard in my eyes. I think they do a really good job.

 

[WoodenPupa]

The match making in the UFC is probably the gold standard in my eyes. I think they do a really good job.

It could be worse, but certain fighters get favorable title-shot paths. And I dislike not knowing what a loss or a win means for any given fighter 50% of the time.

 

[Zeph]

It could be worse, but certain fighters get favorable title-shot paths. And I dislike not knowing what a loss or a win means for any given fighter 50% of the time.

Well, I don't think title shots are decided by match makers. I guess, I mean everything, but the top echelons, which has more nuts and bolts(and people), involved in the decisions.

 

[OhWhopDaChamp]

I really wish I knew Jon Jones or had contact other than thru a friends poon. I need him to challenge his contract so the UFC can be found in breach by withholding fights without releasing him. The contract states he has to be offered x amount of fights on PPV with points, by suspending him indefinitely and refusing to supply the contracted offers, he could completely fuck Zuffa's shit up publicly.
My dick is so hard for this. Yeah yeah belt thread and belt post (with a dif fella. Stfu.) I'm going to fap now.

 

[lookoutawhale]

Yeah, it sucks that a fighter can't really differentiate himself with a unique entrance. They all just have to do the same walk, with Dana-approved music. They can costume-up for the walk, to some extent, and that's about it.

now with them all wearing reebok apparel, showcasing their indvidual personality will be even less disgtinguinshable. generic fighter vs generic fighter.

 

[lookoutawhale]

This is my biggest complaint, and for me, anyway, the thing that really matters. The carny-logic of UFC matchmaking is just unbearable at times. The redundant music, the uncreative fighter walkouts, the lack of stats and all that---while I want those things to change, truth be told I can (begrudgingly, of course) live without them. I tune in for the fights above all. And in 2015 I want fights that make sense, that are free from favoritism and other tainting elements.

Totally agree. The match making is the most important factor in all of this. I want to be able to see where the winner goes before the fight even takes place. A clear path to the championship based on a fixed route like other sports would make it more interesting. Not an interesting tweet, or out of fight antics, or trash talk.

I had hoped that UFC would become more of a sport where it could be on cable tv like other sports. But im starting to think that will never happen. That they make more money off ppv and so they want to balance entertainment and sport while not really focusing on either to sell a ppv.

The other stuff would be cool to add on but it is secondary and Zuffa hates change. They want to stay in 1990's boxing mode.

 

[WoodenPupa]

A clear path to the championship based on a fixed route like other sports would make it more interesting. Not an interesting tweet, or out of fight antics, or trash talk.

Exactly. Not to mention the benefits from the fighters' point of view, as well. Every significant fight generates "Who's next for x?" threads, with argumentation going around in a swirl. Romero is just the latest example. If I'm Romero, I sure would have liked to know exactly what's in store for me after beating Machida.

And as you mention, trash-talk/twitter warz often play a part in what should be an objective scenario, determined by a formula. We now get otherwise humble, quiet fighters trying their best to stir the pot, with embarrassing results.

 

[lookoutawhale]

now with them all wearing reebok apparel, showcasing their indvidual personality will be even less disgtinguinshable. generic fighter vs generic fighter.

BOOM!