Can we go ahead and accept that the UFC is officially done treating MMA as a sport?

[TripTictonic]

It's not a sport to WME anymore. It's purely entertainment. The UFC is going in the direction of pro wrestling. Helwani has confirmed what we are all expecting, Nate vs Woodley is in the works. Yes, I know this crap has been going on for a while, but I feel this is the straw that has broken the camel's back. Yes, I get it, it's a business first and foremost, but come on. The "money" fights aren't even fights fans want to see anymore. It's about their pocket only. Who the fuck has been sitting around with their fingers crossed hoping for Nate Diaz vs Tyron Woodley? A fringe top ten LW who is coming off a loss, has REFUSED to fight for over a year and notoriously struggles against wrestlers ......against Woodley? For a title shot?! WTF? I won't even be surprised if they start fixing fights at this point, like they did in Pride.

And it's obvious this is just a plot to try and get McGregor a run at the WW belt. So good luck with seeing McGregor fight Ferguson or defend his belt at all. Atleast not for a while. And he will definitely be holding onto it. They won't strip him. If you're a contender in the UFC who has been working your ass off for the prize, or perhaps rooting for a contender who has been working their way up....good luck because the circus will always take priority.

 

[THEGOATOFMMA]

Tldr

 

[Arm Barbarian]

Champs not defending against top contenders, 'money fights'.....

Yep. shit has certainly been moronic in recent history.

 

[nanika]

it should be nick. what are they thinking???

 

[Fatal Catro]

It's beyond saving.

 

[LikeItIs]

Anyone with half a brain did this ages ago.

Not sure what the fuck took some of you others so long. It was blatantly evident years ago.

 

[FedorGOAT]

This is called the irony. After throwing shades towards Pride for so many years now UFC has become the same thing that it once hated to be.

 

[Gamer007]

It's officially over boys, UFC had a good run

 

[clutchCAT420]

CAnner is the filth of mma...

 

[Dirge]

it should be nick. what are they thinking???

Is Nick even cleared to fight? He owed fines from his last failed drug test and he got dinged for not reporting his location to USADA recently. He has been out of the testing pool for too long to even be considered for a fight this year.

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

Yup 100% agree with you TS. Its only a sport 2nd to them, but 1st its just about filling their pockets and making these dumbass fights. Its been getting worse and worse over the years, but this year has really sealed it.

Nate is 1-4 at WW in UFC. This sh*t is beyond a joke now.

 

[ImNotSurpisedDonks!]

And the irony is UFC shills used to rage on Pride for 'freak shows'. Coker is our last hope. Atleast with tournies, the winner moves on, not some guy that loses to a featherweight and gets the welterweight title.

 

[Ginn]

shut up crybaby

it's been this way for years

 

[TripTictonic]

Anyone with half a brain did this ages ago.

Not sure what the fuck took some of you others so long. It was blatantly evident years ago.

Years ago? Show me evidence of this from YEARS ago. We've all seen this coming for about a year or two, but now we have gatekeeper lightweights getting immediate WW titleshots. Obviously the UFC is always going to have its financial interests at hand, but this is crazy.

 

[notori0us1]

Conor's going to defend his belt against Tony and bring some legitimacy back into the sport.

 

[LikeItIs]

Years ago? Show me evidence of this from YEARS ago. We've all seen this coming for about a year or two, but now we have gatekeeper lightweights getting getting immediate WW titleshots.

This started around if not before Brock Lesnar entered the cage (2007). And I'm not taking anything away from Brock, he's a freak athlete, but let's be honest here... his title shot was based purely on MONEY and not legitimate sports rankings. He beat Heath Herring for a title shot.

It was around this point when the UFC started to focus more on sports ENTERTAINMENT and not on being a legitimate sport. Title shots started being handed out like handjobs at a Riley Reid convention and about 4-5 years later, interim titles were being found in cracker jack boxes.

The sport, at least the bigger-named promotions, have been heading in this direction for quite a long time and rankings and rightful contenders mean absolutely jack-shit. This sudo-sport is all about money, unfortunately.

 

[TripTictonic]

shut up crybaby

it's been this way for years

Really? Give me all the examples.

 

[Zeroinnes]

BUSINESS AS USUAL​

 

[Tze]

' Good point. MMA is UFCs bitch baby. Not a sport, as the sport does not generate profits enough. WWF. WWE. Call it whatever... Sorry to say that. '
- Tze

 

[nanika]

Is Nick even cleared to fight? He owed fines from his last failed drug test and he got dinged for not reporting his location to USADA recently. He has been out of the testing pool for too long to even be considered for a fight this year.

it wasn't a serious comment. a joke on undeserved Diaz title shots. but even if it was a serious comment Nick is the more appropriate Diaz to fight Woodley because of his history at 170. Plus general audiences probably don't know the difference. And even if they do they can promote Nick as the bigger, badder older brother of Nate Diaz who defeated Conor.

i suspect they are putting on Woodley vs Nate in the hopes Nate wins so that Nate can fight Conor in a Conor vs Nate III at WW for the belt.