Is it even possible to offer every UFC fighter 3 fights a year?

[Willy Knuckles]

I remember earlier in 2020 Dana said that he HAS to offer every UFC fighter 3 fights a year.

"We're offering fights, because in our contract, I have to give you three fights a year. I owe you three fights"


Recently that has got me thinking. Is that even mathematically possible?
According to this site, the UFC has 724 active fighters

"As of 2020, the UFC roster consists of fighters from as many as 71 countries. On its official website, the promotion has listed a total of 724 active fighters (comprising 117 women and 607 men)"
https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-how-many-fighters-ufc#:~:text=As of 2020, the UFC,117 women and 607 men).

If they have 724, and it takes two fighters to make up a fight obviously, to offer all of them 3 fights per year, the UFC would have to be putting on 1,086 fights a year. But according to Wikipedia, the UFC only put on 456 with 5 events cancelled do to covid. So to be generous that add 60 fights, to account for the Covid cancelled events. At 516 they still aren't even at half the amount of fights you would need to offer every fighter 3 fights a year.

So my question is, what do you make of what Dana said? Was he blatantly lying(again)? Or is there something I'm missing? Please discuss.

 

[VinceArch]

Seems kind of hard to imagine nowadays. I do remember when Dana said 'we have champions defend 3 times a year.' as well and that has been far from true, maybe back when Matt Hughes was wearing gold did the champions fight frequently.

 

[Satan's Daddy.]

Depends on their contract maybe, or they tend to offer fighters less amount of fights because they're well known for turning them down anyways.

 

[Willy Knuckles]

Seems kind of hard to imagine nowadays. I do remember when Dana said 'we have champions defend 3 times a year.' as well and that has been far from true, maybe back when Matt Hughes was wearing gold did the champions fight frequently.

It's impossible to offer every fighter 3 fights a year, they simply don't hold enough events. Him saying that, after giving it proper thought, was the most outrageous lie he has ever said

 

[Katsushyro]

He offer 3 fights a year, that doesn't mean that they are all acepted or they all end up hapening.

He have to give 3 options a year, that's it. He may give absurd offers so the guy don't acept or the fighter chooses from the options and fights only 1 or 2 of those oportunities, if that's what is convenient.

I think you question should be: Is it possible for every athlete to fight 3 times a year?

 

[Willy Knuckles]

Depends on their contract maybe, or they tend to offer fighters less amount of fights because they're well known for turning them down anyways.

You didn't read the quote? He says by contract he HAS TO offer fighters 3 fights a year

 

[VinceArch]

It's impossible to offer every fighter 3 fights a year, they simply don't hold enough events. Him saying that, after giving it proper thought, was the most outrageous lie he has ever said

Him claiming he used to thump on Tito is forever the biggest lie, which isn't an easy feat for him.

 

[Willy Knuckles]

He offer 3 fights a year, that doesn't mean that they are all acepted or they all end up hapening.

I think you question should be: Is it possible for every athlete to fight 3 times a year?

It's the same question though. If he is offering every fighter 3 fights a year, the UFC has to be able to have the events for those fights. They aren't even at half the amount of events necessary to offer every fighter 3 fights a year

 

[Katsushyro]

It's the same question though. If he is offering every fighter 3 fights a year, the UFC has to be able to have the events for those fights. They aren't even at half the amount of events necessary to offer every fighter 3 fights a year

No, is not the same question by any means.

 

[NinjaSkillZ]

You have too much time on your hands TS

 

[Willy Knuckles]

No, is not the same question by any means.

Explain? Are you saying physically is it possible or what?

 

[Willy Knuckles]

You have too much time on your hands TS

For simple mathematics ? Wtf lol

 

[Captain Crunch28]

It would be easy to offer nick Diaz a fight if you don’t want him fighting. Just offer him to fight Nate 3 times

 

[JosephTessaro]

Could you imagine if every fighter accepted all 3 fights a year Dana offers? Wholly shit, people complaining about watered down cards now...

 

[Willy Knuckles]

Could you imagine if every fighter accepted all 3 fights a year Dana offers? Wholly shit, people complaining about watered down cards now...

The thing is, the UFC couldn't even air those fights lol. They would have to double the amount of fights they have now, and find a network to air them on. It. Is. Impossible. Another Dana lie, broken down for all the shills to see

 

[dc007]

They have to offer them but the fighter doesn't have to take them and when they get comfortable enough with their finances, they usually don't take them all. You see the bald goof constantly talk about "he didn't want the fight" when really it was a timing issue because said fighter was nursing an injury or had some personal stuff going on.

 

[Willy Knuckles]

They have to offer them but the fighter doesn't have to take them and when they get comfortable enough with their finances, they usually don't take them all. You see the bald goof constantly talk about "he didn't want the fight" when really it was a timing issue because said fighter was nursing an injury or had some personal stuff going on.

So you think that if, hypothetically, fighters were willing to accept every fight, the UFC would double the amount of events/fights they throw? Doesn't seem to be based in reality. Dana just lied right again.

 

[JayPettryMMA]

No, not with the schedule the UFC keeps today. 600 fighters on the roster (roughly), three fights each = 900 total bouts assuming an even number of fighters in every division. 724 is a very high estimate.

That's almost exactly double how many went down in 2020. Even if everything stayed together and there were an average of 12 bouts per event this year, that would mean there are 492 fights that could happen with 41 UFC cards.

 

[Willy Knuckles]

No, not with the schedule the UFC keeps today. 600 fighters on the roster (roughly), three fights each = 900 total bouts assuming an even number of fighters in every division.

That's almost exactly double how many went down in 2020. Even if everything stayed together and there were an average of 12 bouts per event this year, that would mean there are 492 fights that could happen with 41 UFC cards.

This is exactly my point. So how in the world does Dana offer every fighter 3 fights a year? Was this a lie? Or was he just misspoken you think? Because he did say this in response to why a lot of big names weren't fighting very often

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

I
So my question is, what do you make of what Dana said? Was he blatantly lying(again)? Or is there something I'm missing? Please discuss.

First it is 100% true. Fighters have corroborated the three fight rule in many interviews and leaked UFC contracts have language showing that this is the case.

There is provision in the UFC contracts that allows the UFC to give fighters fights in other ZUFFA promotions but they get paid the same as if they were fighting in the UFC. The UFC did this for a couple guys when their London show got cancelled.


Also the “year” starts and ends on different date for each fighter. EXAMPLE: Some fighters sign in October so their contract goes from October to October other sign in July

Also, the UFC is also taking into account injured fighters, or guys that are on vacation. Not to mention the UFC is constantly releasing fighters throughout the year.