If UFC can do it, why can't the WBC/WBA/IBF Etc..

[Majesty]

Hope that made sense by the way...

But seriously, my question is Why a sanctioning body has never really tried to approach the TV networks in this way


Alternatively, HBO could create their own belt then that would be that

I have thought this my self a few times.

I think its only a matter of time before another big MMA company is formed to rivel the UFC then they will have the same problems as boxing.

Weren't around in the PRIDE vs UFC days were ya?

[porkypara]

Hope that made sense by the way...

But seriously, my question is Why a sanctioning body has never really tried to approach the TV networks in this way


Alternatively, HBO could create their own belt then that would be that

I have thought this my self a few times.

I think its only a matter of time before another big MMA company is formed to rivel the UFC then they will have the same problems as boxing.

Weren't around in the PRIDE vs UFC days were ya?

I guess not

Were they the ones that the UFC bought out?

[Majesty]

I have thought this my self a few times.

I think its only a matter of time before another big MMA company is formed to rivel the UFC then they will have the same problems as boxing.

Weren't around in the PRIDE vs UFC days were ya?

I guess not

Were they the ones that the UFC bought out?

yeah but they went at it for YEARS. And amazingly after the UFC bought them out the first thing they did was unify the UFC and Pride titles by having their champions fight their champions in unification bouts. So if a Pride fighter signs to fight in the UFC they will put their belt up for grabs in a unification bout so that they will remain a one belt organization. Sadly Dan Henderson(who was the Pride Middle and Light Heavyweight Champ at the same time, first in its history) came in and lost both of his belts, the Light Heavyweight to Rampage Jackson and the Middleweight to Anderson Silva. But it was still nice they unified immediately. of course I do miss the PRIDE vs UFC days.

because UFC tried to match whatever PRIDE did that was considered spectacular, like entrances. UFC entrances nowadays are all basically the same the fighters come out and fight. But when the UFC was going up against Pride they made their entrances like something out of Naseem Hamed's book. Here, I'll show you one of Tito Ortiz's entrances, and mind he used to ALWAYS come out like this prior to the UFC getting Pride.

YouTube - Tito Ortiz Entrance

PRIDES entrances would even more spectacular.

since UFC brought Pride i haven't seen any entrances like this. I miss those days lol. That was back at UFC 32.

now contrast that to the way Tito enters now, post UFC buying the UFC

YouTube - Tito Ortiz Mosh Entrance

night and day imo

[Kev]

Hope that made sense by the way...

But seriously, my question is Why a sanctioning body has never really tried to approach the TV networks in this way


Alternatively, HBO could create their own belt then that would be that

I have thought this my self a few times.

I think its only a matter of time before another big MMA company is formed to rivel the UFC then they will have the same problems as boxing.

Weren't around in the PRIDE vs UFC days were ya?

This is a point that often gets overlooked. In the UFC the best fight the best all the time and its great, but its only within that organisation.

When they bought Pride most of the best fighters not in the UFC were brought in under their new banner but not all.

We may never get to see the real giant best of matchups, Lesnar vs Fedor, Anderson Silva vs Cung Le, or as Le is a bit small for a middleweight maybe Cung le vs GSP, what a fight that would be.

Other strikeforce guys like Jake Shields, Robbie Lawler and Nate Diaz would make for some great fights against UFC stars as well yet realistically these fights are less likely to happen than any boxing matchups between rival sanctioning bodies.

We should also note the UFC has no space for the little guys, and popular stars like Uriah Faber and his two time conquerer Mike Brown fight outside of that organisation also.

The UFC isn't all encompassing and the absolute best fights in MMA don't in reality necessarily get made as some significant fighters are not controlled by Dana.

Strikeforce, with the backing of Showtime could go on to be a major force in mixed martial arts. Now that they have acquired Fedor as well they have arguably three of the most marketable stars in the world in Fedor, Cung Le and Gina Carrano.

I also like their willingness to take a risk and showcase women's martial arts which thanks largely to Carrano has proved a big attraction. In fact Carrano actually headlines the next Strikeforce event against Cyborg.