To say that the past week or two has been busy for MMA news and blog discussion would be an understatement.
With several major events, including the Fighters Only World MMA Awards, and UFC 108 (click that link for results) featuring a much talked about “Cursed” fightcard, the rumor mills have been buzzing, and bloggers have been blogging like crazy. Just in case you couldn’t keep up (who has the time to wade through hundreds of great posts?) we here at FightCaps have brought you some of our favorites.
Unlike most fans, we eat, sleep, and drink MMA full-time, and our boss doesn’t yell at us when we get caught reading MMA Blogs. So here you go. Hopefully we can boil down all the news so you don’t get in trouble at work. Well, actually, we are probably just going to suck you deeper into your MMA blog addiction, but if the boss comes around, here are some double-leg takedown techniques to get you out of hot water.
UFC 108
- ‘UFC 108 Prelims’ Net 1.5 Million Viewers on Spike (Sherdog)
- ‘Cursed’ Event Delivers Big for UFC (MMAFighting)
- UFC 108 salaries: Rashad Evans earns top payday with $375K, leads $843K fighter payroll (MMAJunkie)
- Dana White Has to Answer to James Toney Following UFC 108 (MMAFighting, video above)
- Dana White Can’t Be Serious About James Toney Fighting in the UFC (Bloody Elbow)
- UFC 108 Musings (UFC)
- Paul Daley Misses Weight for UFC 108 (Video) (MMA Fighter Videos)
- Paul Daley’s Excuse Doesn’t Cut It (MMAFighting.com)
Future Fights
- The UFC Returns to NJ on March 27 with Championship Twinbill (UFC)
- UFC Officially Announces St. Pierre-Hardy, Mir-Carwin for UFC 111 (MMAFighting)
- GSP Still Contemplating Olympic Run, Wants ‘Spectacular’ Finish Against Hardy (Sherdog)
- Wanderlei Silva on Bisping, Nerves, Mending Ties with Anderson (Silva squares off against Michael Bisping at UFC 110 on Feb. 21, Sherdog)
- Robbie Lawler vs. Melvin Manhoef likely for “Strikeforce: Miami” (MMAJunkie)
- Poll results: Who will be the UFC heavyweight champion a year from now? (MMAJunkie)
- Fighters to Watch in the Next Decade (Sherdog)
- Mike “Joker” Guymon vs. Rory MacDonald official for UFC Fight Night 20 prelims (MMAJunkie)
- Interview with UFC Newcomer Rory MacDonald (MMASucka!)
- WEC 46 Lineup Finalized (Sherdog)
- Seth Petruzelli to Go Five Rounds With Ken Shamrock in Mexico (MMAFighting)
- 4-Pronged Plan for Strikeforce Takeover (Sherdog)
- UFC counter-programs Strikeforce; UFC 107 replay airs opposite “Strikeforce: Miami” (MMAJunkie)
Final Round
We’re not done, yet. Here are some other interesting posts and rumors. Apparently the UFC hasn’t learned anything from the Music industry’s failed attempts to sue customers into submission on the piracy front. A message to Dana White – instead of suing, make it easier to legitimately purchase content online, and put the same budget into marketing that. You’ll see much better results. Look at how bands are bypassing traditional major label channels to sell content directly to consumers online. Some are having huge success, and banking in the box office.
Here’s an idea: Team up with digital movie theaters to broadcast live PPV events around the globe, sell online live PPV to anybody with an internet connection, release the undercard fights FREE via YouTube and other online outlets, and sell digital downloads of the feature fights after the event is over. Wrap it all up with a box set collector’s edition featuring DVD, poster, and commentary for fans who want merch to remember the event. Then rake in the cash when all the free online content pulls more fans into the live events next time around.
- UFC and M-1 reopen talks; White hopeful for Emelianenko and Mousasi in the UFC (Updated) (MMAJunkie)
- M-1 Global exec says there’s “absolutely zero communication” with UFC (MMAJunkie)
- UFC officials vow to sue individuals for pay-per-view piracy in forthcoming crackdown (MMAJunkie)
- UFC Planning to Sue Individuals, Websites for Piracy (MMAPayout)
- Dynamite Quoteworthy: Aoki Names Sub That Fractured Hirota’s Humerus (Sherdog)
- Top Fighters of the Decade Voting (Bloody Elbow)
If you’re still not satisfied, check out Sherdog’s Weekly Wrap: Dec 26 -Jan1.
Did I miss your favorite blog or your favorite recent post? Post a comment… I’m tapping out for now…