Curtis blaydes belong to the prelims now ?

[Thesnake101]

PPV prelim headliner is a great spot to be in, shows the UFC is trusting you to put on a show to make people want to buy the main card.

 

[SamuraiBro]

I heard on a podcast that this fight is the last one of his contract... this will be his 20th fight on the organization, he's making good money


maybe UFC will let him go and bring a new guy from the contender on a 10/10... they dont seem too keen to pay HWs..

Win or lose, I hope he gets another contract.

But with that being said, I won’t be devastated if he’s cut/not renewed either.

 

[RoseHDCovington]

Yeah. Placement as the "featured prelim" is supposed to semi-prestigious. I wonder though, is there any tangible benefit for the fighters, particularly a financial one?

I doubt it. Probably more of a "do as you're told" situation. But it's Alex so it's gonna be a big card and a lot of people will be watching the prelims. And if you think about it, regardless of your spot on the card, you have a chance to make a statement. Being on the main card would probably be more about ego than anything else and Blaydes doesn't seem like that type.

Edit- it's actually probably worse to stink up the place on a ppv than a prelim. He's pretty hit or miss in my opinion. If he has a boring fight it might be better he's not on the ppv

 

[Tito Tapped]

Didn't read any replies so I don't know if it's been said but UFC tries to put a decent name lower on the card for what I suspect is a few reasons:

1. Makes the card look "stacked" when a big name is on the early prelims (can't fool us though)

2. Makes (some) people tune in earlier that they normally would (better ratings). Blaydes ain't getting me to tune in early though. I tune in for the last hour of prelims on cards like this. I don't need 7 hours of MMA every Saturday night, call me crazy

3. Makes the ticket buyer feel like they got their money's worth (see #1)

4. It's the last fight of his contract, he's not getting resigned, and they don't want to promote him before he jumps ship.

 

[CatchtheseHands]

I had the same sentiments. Curtis just fought for the Interim and co-mained last years London card and now he's demoted to feature prelim? Anyhow I can't see any reason for them not to resign him, HW is already thin as it is and it's not like Curtis is at the tail end of his career or anything like that. But who knows, maybe the UFC would rather use that money to sign more Junior Tafa's to fill Apex cards

 

[Swamp Rat Jones]

Being the main event on a prelim card isn't bad at all. Especially for a fighter like him that isn't very "fan-friendly" to watch. My favorite fights with him involved are only him getting ko'd

 

[Bubzeh]

Boy's getting the Jairzinho treatment and eventually being replaced by these regional level HW's from the Contender Series.

 

[RockyLockridge]

It's ridiculous.

The man fought for the interim title less than a year ago … how to call it a total disrespect here…

It's normal I can name several times this has happened

Cruz vs Mizayaki, Sterling vs katter for example are even worse as these are former title holders being regulated to prelims

 

[egk]

The UFC always tries to put a big name or big fight as the last fight on the prelims in order to hawk the PPV.

 

[HHJ]

That too. He isn't worth what he used to be, perfect for an early prelim on a "stacked" card

Yeah, if he was ever gonna be anything than what he is, he woulda done it by now.

 

[RockyLockridge]

2. Makes (some) people tune in earlier that they normally would (better ratings). Blaydes ain't getting me to tune in early though. I tune in for the last hour of prelims on cards like this. I don't need 7 hours of MMA every Saturday night, call me crazy

Last weekends card was great, only 9 fights. How every card should be. No one wants to do any one thing for that long.

Fight cards should be 4 prelims, 4 main card fights and should air in about 4 1/2-5 hours.

 

[RoseHDCovington]

Last weekends card was great, only 9 fights. How every card should be. No one wants to do any one thing for that long.

Fight cards should be 4 prelims, 4 main card fights and should air in about 4 1/2-5 hours.

They can do 11 fights total and be done in 6 hours instead of 7 hours.

My (realistic) ideal card/pacing would be 3 hour prelims with 5 fights (it's usually 2 hours for 4 fights). That way they can put most of the ads on the prelims (more people with see the ads) and significantly cut down on ads/commercials for the main card. Instead of 5 fights in 3 hours, they could do 6.

The pacing on the main card would be quicker and keep people's interest. And an extra fight on the ppv would make the idiots who actually pay for it feel like they're getting a little more value.

Dana, call my people. I got ideas

 

[jooohnmatrix]

Probably a personal decision but I’d rather be champ of a smaller organisation than a punch bag in the best decision. He should leave.

 

[Domitian]

The man fought for the interim title less than a year ago … how to call it a total disrespect here…

And he beat Almeida exactly one year ago. He definitely belongs on the main card but I've heard that the last fight on the prelims is supposed to be a better spot.

 

[Domitian]

Probably a personal decision but I’d rather be champ of a smaller organisation than a punch bag in the best decision. He should leave.

What smaller org? He could maybe get a fight with Ngannou due to their being nobody else for Francis to fight, but they've already fought twice so not sure how high the interest would be in that. Probably not much.

ONE has a hard time getting their fighters fights but I suppose is an option.

After that nobody even comes close to being able to pay him what UFC would pay him to be a jobber.

 

[RockyLockridge]

They can do 11 fights total and be done in 6 hours instead of 7 hours.

My (realistic) ideal card/pacing would be 3 hour prelims with 5 fights (it's usually 2 hours for 4 fights). That way they can put most of the ads on the prelims (more people with see the ads) and significantly cut down on ads/commercials for the main card. Instead of 5 fights in 3 hours, they could do 6.

The pacing on the main card would be quicker and keep people's interest. And an extra fight on the ppv would make the idiots who actually pay for it feel like they're getting a little more value.

Dana, call my people. I got ideas

I still think LESS fights is the better solution. If you can make it LESS fights and even less time then that would be EVEN better.

Less fights per card would make it easier for people to follow and get into it.

 

[Domitian]

Yeah, if he was ever gonna be anything than what he is, he woulda done it by now.

Opposed to King Green being on the main card? HW needs new blood. If this newcomer can KO Blaydes that would be a pleasant surprise for the UFC and he'd have the main card as a platform. Long shot but potential there.

 

[HHJ]

Opposed to King Green being on the main card? HW needs new blood. If this newcomer can KO Blaydes that would be a pleasant surprise for the UFC and he'd have the main card as a platform. Long shot but potential there.

Queen Green*

 

[RoseHDCovington]

I still think LESS fights is the better solution. If you can make it LESS fights and even less time then that would be EVEN better.

Less fights per card would make it easier for people to follow and get into it.

Less fights isn't realistic though. They gotta offer everyone on the roster fights. They'd have to trim their roster down to do that and I don't think that's happening.

I think the main card needs to move quicker. 5 fights in 3 hours is too slow. 6 fights, less ads, same 3 hours ppv slot, more "value" for the paying customer.

Longer prelims is fine for me, I'm still only watching 4 hours total

 

[El Fernas]

He is the Feature Prelim, most PPV´s have a decent matchup in that spot.