Dana White: Greg Hardy’s Return is Guaranteed (Unlike Henry Cejudo’s Flyweight Division)

[ReadWrite]

The Snake Handler

This is where we are in 2019: Greg Hardy, he of the notorious background, bungled his way into a disqualification loss at Saturday night’s UFC Brooklyn event. For that, he left with a guaranteed return fight. And Henry Cejudo, who beat the hell out of a pound-for-pound great who normally fights one weight class above him, left wondering what exactly his future held.

. . .

UFC president Dana White rarely makes big proclamations in the afterglow of an event, and he has been unusually coy about whether the 125-pound class will continue on. It is possible he has already made up his mind, but if he hasn’t, it’s worth saying that it would be ridiculous to cut the division now, when it’s as fresh as it’s been in years.

Cejudo offers a new and charismatic standard-bearer that is worth rallying around. . .

It’s not like he doesn’t have a compelling personal history beyond that, either. . .

Cejudo regularly visits schools, attempting to send a message of perseverance and purpose. His is an incredible American success story, one that should be an easy sell, yet one that has only been told in passing by the UFC. . . .

Whether the UFC goes for the ride is the next question. The argument against Cejudo (and the rest of the flyweights) is that none of them have ever become draws at the box office or on television. . . .

Draws have never been exclusive to particular weight classes; they rely solely on star power. Cejudo has some necessary raw ingredients of it, but needs a little help from his employer. Endeavor could move him forward with a little muscle-flexing. Hopefully it’s coming, although the early returns last night were not exactly positive.

In the post-fight press conference, White went out of his way to endorse Hardy, repeatedly praising his fight skills despite the fact the controversial former NFL star landed a blatantly illegal knee to his grounded opponent Allen Crowder, leading to the DQ. To most trained eyes, Hardy looked physically talented but also wildly inexperienced, yet White quickly guaranteed him another bout in the Octagon.

Cejudo, meanwhile, looked sensational. In a 32-second fight, he knocked Dillashaw down twice en route to a TKO, yet White described the finish as a “horrible stoppage.” In truth, it was mildly controversial at best. . . .

White also wouldn’t commit to the division’s future, this despite the fact it has now produced the longest-reigning champion in major MMA history, scores of entertaining fights, and a belt holder who crushed a champ a division above him.

So that’s what we’re left with, a place and time when Hardy has more certainty than Cejudo. The flyweight king will have some kind of opportunity ahead of him but may be forced to bounce up to 135 whether he wants to or not. That would be a mistake. Let him continue what he started. Cejudo is building a legacy, one his employer would be wise to embrace.

https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/1/...d-unlike-henry-cejudos-flyweight-division-huh

 

[NILLI]

Did not read but flyweight should go and HW division is crap.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Just send Greg to the PI and he'll be ship-shape!

 

[brawlnsprawl]

And Cowboy is a contender at 155 lol wtf?

 

[KONG-D'SNT-TAP]

Scumbags are all attracted to each other. Hence why Dana white also loves Donald trump.. He has no character. Just look at how he shits on classy ex champs like Randy and GSP because they didn’t suck His pole.

White is a garbage human being.

 

[Pakman]

Did not read but flyweight should go and HW division is crap.

FLW is literally leagues better as a division than either LHW or HW. It should stay.

 

[allheartwarrior]

The Snake Handler

This is where we are in 2019: Greg Hardy, he of the notorious background, bungled his way into a disqualification loss at Saturday night’s UFC Brooklyn event. For that, he left with a guaranteed return fight. And Henry Cejudo, who beat the hell out of a pound-for-pound great who normally fights one weight class above him, left wondering what exactly his future held.

. . .

UFC president Dana White rarely makes big proclamations in the afterglow of an event, and he has been unusually coy about whether the 125-pound class will continue on. It is possible he has already made up his mind, but if he hasn’t, it’s worth saying that it would be ridiculous to cut the division now, when it’s as fresh as it’s been in years.

Cejudo offers a new and charismatic standard-bearer that is worth rallying around. . .

It’s not like he doesn’t have a compelling personal history beyond that, either. . .

Cejudo regularly visits schools, attempting to send a message of perseverance and purpose. His is an incredible American success story, one that should be an easy sell, yet one that has only been told in passing by the UFC. . . .

Whether the UFC goes for the ride is the next question. The argument against Cejudo (and the rest of the flyweights) is that none of them have ever become draws at the box office or on television. . . .

Draws have never been exclusive to particular weight classes; they rely solely on star power. Cejudo has some necessary raw ingredients of it, but needs a little help from his employer. Endeavor could move him forward with a little muscle-flexing. Hopefully it’s coming, although the early returns last night were not exactly positive.

In the post-fight press conference, White went out of his way to endorse Hardy, repeatedly praising his fight skills despite the fact the controversial former NFL star landed a blatantly illegal knee to his grounded opponent Allen Crowder, leading to the DQ. To most trained eyes, Hardy looked physically talented but also wildly inexperienced, yet White quickly guaranteed him another bout in the Octagon.

Cejudo, meanwhile, looked sensational. In a 32-second fight, he knocked Dillashaw down twice en route to a TKO, yet White described the finish as a “horrible stoppage.” In truth, it was mildly controversial at best. . . .

White also wouldn’t commit to the division’s future, this despite the fact it has now produced the longest-reigning champion in major MMA history, scores of entertaining fights, and a belt holder who crushed a champ a division above him.

So that’s what we’re left with, a place and time when Hardy has more certainty than Cejudo. The flyweight king will have some kind of opportunity ahead of him but may be forced to bounce up to 135 whether he wants to or not. That would be a mistake. Let him continue what he started. Cejudo is building a legacy, one his employer would be wise to embrace.

https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/1/...d-unlike-henry-cejudos-flyweight-division-huh

 

[DLX]

Didn't read

 

[allheartwarrior]

The UFC is becoming a strange paradox where a success story like Henry Cejudo is left in limbo but Greg Hardy is getting praise even though he comes with a lot of baggage (No NFL team will give him the time of day). I might have to get my MMA fix at Bellator and One Championship.

 

[Pain4Pain]

Competition is good for MMA, the old days of Zuffa-era UFC, WEC, EliteXC, Strikeforce and Pride boasted world class talent in different organizations.

If flyweight was to be cut, the talent pool would just grow elsewhere like in OneFc, Rizin or Bellator and fighters would have more leverage on contracts and salary.

 

[soulsstealer]

yes bring back flyweight div. i hate it but u gotta beat the champ to kill the div.

 

[Mixedfights]

Dana thinks Hardy sells and he hates Henrys division.

That division was nuked regardless. Now Henry has a win over the Champ a division up. All good for him.

 

[Fluffernutter]

Cejudo beats Hardy by TKO 3rd

 

[Sherdognut]

Cejudo winning doesn't change the fact that flyweights are a dead division with boring fighters.

 

[ufc_vs_pride]

Sad that a women beater gets second chance when he sucks

 

[Credo]

 

[ReadWrite]

The basis of shutting down the division was not a lack of skill or exciting performances by its champion, DJ. It was always about his personality and self-promotion (or lack thereof). Therefore the new win by HC, notwithstanding the spectacular performance, is beside the point. Henry tried to make the future of the division dependent on his performance (he tried to make a bet with Dana), but Dana never made the bet.

 

[KeepItRealist]

What is up with the UFC? They think Greg Hardy is going to make money for them. They invested in CM Punk and the numbers for the cards he were on seem exactly on par with PPV cards without him. Why they want these circus sideshow bouts is beyond me.

 

[moonwolf]

who cares. it will be gone until it grows so big in other orgs that ufc can't ignore it and eventually will have to bring it back. same thing happened w/ the 155lb division back in the day.

 

[ReadWrite]

Has Henry done enough to get his picture on a Breakfast of Champions cereal box? Absolutely. Nice guy, great story, Olympic medal... and he's defeated two champions. But Dana White isn't in the business of selling Wheaties; he's selling Pay Per Views. Unless and until he sees big numbers for HC and/or the division, he won't change his mind.

I think HC is a bit more likeable than DJ, but his personality isn't much greater, and his style isn't much more engaging. Gold jacket, gold medal, fake snake. Is that enough?