UFC fighters are subject to the same drug testing as boxers. They are tested before every fight. Maybe you are thinking of the former org named Pride out of Japan where there was no testing. Of the most recent UFC champs I can only think of Sean Sherk having a recent(last 12-24 months) positive steroid test. Entertainment is subjective so if you feel its too violent then your welcome to your opinion. That being said I don't think MMA fighters take more damage than an average boxer. There is no standing 8 count. The moment that a fighter fails to defend himself the fight is over. For a good example see the Koscheck fight from last night.
Most bad government has grown out of too much government. Thomas Jefferson
Yeah i'm fed up watching one sided beatings. Just watched Cotto-Jennings and Pavlik-Rubio and they were both exactly what i expected.
Collazo - Berto is a perfect example of what should be happening. Two very good fighters, very well matched going all out. That's whats great about the sport but these fights are so few and far between.
Problem is, when a fight like that takes place if someone has an off night (maybe you could say berto did slightly...or did he?) we as fans start getting on their backs....mainly because we are used to seeing un-competitive fights.
We build fighters up only to knock them down again. One belt would ensure that we only see the very best fights out there. No more 30-0 records and no more ppv's consisting of an over-protected champion going at it against another sacrifical lamb.
Well there is ups and downs to that like everything. Yes we'd have 1 champ per weight division, but if boxing was run in organizations, like MMA is, we would miss out on a lot of great matchups.
For anyone who has followed MMA for a few years, you'll remember the Pride/UFC rivalry. There were great fighters and champs in both orgs, but because they were different organizations, the potential fights were limited. Whereas in boxing, anyone can fight anyone as long as both camps agree on the purse split.
How about Thunderbox. That was sort of like the UFC model where boxers were a part of a league, and had to fight who ever the league told them to.
FWIW Diaz was never the Lightweight champ, he was a strap holder, a unified strap holder, but a strap holder none the less. Casamayor was the champ until JMM beat him and took the title. To answer the original question, I don't think a UFC type organization would be good for boxing. Sure there are plenty of things that could be changed, but we already have the Ring, and if people recognize that first and foremost then that is covered.
For every story told that divides us, I believe there are a thousand untold that unite us.
First, I am a fan of MMA and Boxing, but Boxing should NEVER be run like the UFC (nor could it ever be).
UFC is just one MMA promotion of many, and they don't allow their fighters to fight with fighters signed to other promotions.
There's a lot of them, some top names listed later.
The UFC boss has to be given credit for taking MMA mainstream, but unfortunately he's used the same business model as Vince McMahon's WWE pro-wrestling business model complete with long-term contracts and non-compete clauses. Basically the fighters are employees of the UFC, and their contracts are ridiculous concerning the inordinate amount of control the UFC has over them.
Could a boxer ever be fired off the program or after leaving the promotion, not be allowed to compete elsewhere for many months because of a non-compete clause. It's unethical and not a legitimate business model for a real sport.
The fighters give up so much, and the UFC pays them peanuts for it.
After fees, taxes, and expenses, Anderson Silva probably takes home only 70 thousand per fight, maybe 80 thousand.
I guarartee the UFC's making a lot more than that off him.
The UFC keeps the lion's share and they divide up the short-end amongst all the fighters.
It's not a legitimate model for any real sport.
When the UFC began, it was viewed somewhat as a carnival circus sideshow attraction. It strived for credibilty as a real sport and seemed to be succeeding, but they recently returned it to its carnival-like beginnings.
Allowing a man with only 3 fights and 18 months experience to compete for the UFC Heavyweight Title was a joke. 2 wins, 1 loss...earned him a shot at the Title.
Who did he beat to earn the shot? Journeyman Heath Herring?
There were experienced Heavyweights with years of experience right there.
The UFC Heavyweight Champ Randy Couture attempted to walk away from the UFC because he disagreed with how it is run. Many top fighters would not sign with them for the same reasons so there's a ton of great matchups that won't happen.
Top talents like:
Josh Barnett
Nick Diaz
Aoki
Joaquin Hansen
Gegard Mousasi
Frank Shamrock
Antonio Silva
Jacare
Cung Le
Arlovski
Jake Shields
Krazy Horse Bennett
Benji Radach
Aleksander Emelianenko
Matt Lindland
Tim Sylvia
Vitor Belfort
Carano
Joey Villasenor
Gilbert Melendez
Renato Sobral
KJ Noons
Sokoudjou
Robbie Lawler
Overeem
Takanori Gomi
^ Quite a list of top talnets who don't fight for the UFC. Some wouldn't sign, some had major problems during their time with the UFC.
The Greatest MMA fighter there's ever been, Fedor, would not sign with them because of these 1-sided slave contracts.
That's a scathing indictment of the UFC.
Boxing is corrupt and dirty, but it could never be run like the UFC anyway, but it should also never even be considered because of how the UFC railroads the fighters and puts the Jesse James to them.
Here at Saddoboxing, everybody already knows the multitudes of problems within boxing, but I think MMA is just as phucked as Boxing.
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Last edited by bradlee180; 02-23-2009 at 01:01 PM.
Your list doesn't really tell the story
Diaz/Lawler/Sylvia/Belfort/Arlovski/Sokoudju
All simply ran their course in the UFC or were not performing at the level they once were. Sobral was released for holding a choke to long. Lindland/Barnett/Shamrock have all had long time differences with Dana White. Shields has said multiple times that he would like to come to the UFC. Aleks isn't fighting for anyone b/c of allegedly having hepititis or a visa issue depending on who you ask. I don't think a UFC type system would work for boxing either though. UFC has 12-16 shows a year and they still have a hard time showcasing all of their fighters. With the number of boxers in the world it would be impossible to get all of the fights we wanted
Most bad government has grown out of too much government. Thomas Jefferson
Who says the UFC always has great undercards? That's BS. I've watched main events that stunk. and a competitive fight in Boxing is uncomparable to a competitive MMA fight. MMA is so broad that a competitive fight could end up with both fighters barely scratched. On the other hand, a great boxing fight more often than not leaves both boxers bloodied, bruised and a candidate for brain damage. A single fight can decide the future of a boxer, the accumulation of punches just gradually takes it's toll sooner or later. So to sum it up, asking a competitive fight everytime for a boxer is just asking too much. They deserve breaks. You guys ever heard of tune-up fights?
An empty can is always noisy.
You are right in saying that not every UFC card is great but with 10 fights and 5 guaranteed televised bout you are getting more for your money (if you like mma that is) and have a better chance of seeing 1 or more good fights. Most boxing PPVs usually are one or two fights at best.
Most bad government has grown out of too much government. Thomas Jefferson
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