McKee is easily the best prospect in MMA right now

[StewDogg11]

It’s funny because I was just thinking that if McKee goes 18-0, wins this whole thing, and cashes thats $1m, this might be the first time a Coker homegrown has panned out 100%. This would be a new milestone. He never got the chance to finish with Woodley or Cormier or the other SF guys but even so those guys had 1 or 2 pro fights and had wrestling pedigrees before mma. Coker literally found McKee as a 19 year old ammy. He would’ve taken this kid from ammy to championship level fighter from scratch. Dana has never done that.

I don’t think he was really that hard to find considering his dad is Antonio McKee who fought in the UFC and he’s been bred to be a fighter from a young age.

 

[StewDogg11]

I wonder if they'd make an exception if someone like Jordan Burroughs decided he wanted to try MMA. I don't think they should put people straight into the UFC but I wouldn't be opposed to having people under developmental contracts and have them fight in LFA or CFFC for a few fights initially. I suspect they might be helping LFA out with Alex Pereira, personally.


Actually, just remembered they did do it once in recent years and the guy they did it with was CM Punk lol.

Meathead was 0-0.

 

[GueseGuy]

I don’t think he was really that hard to find considering his dad is Antonio McKee who fought in the UFC and he’s been bred to be a fighter from a young age.

Still need to sign him and give him a shot. Dana could’ve but he didn’t.

 

[Momentosis]

Still need to sign him and give him a shot. Dana could’ve but he didn’t.

Sign him at 0-0?

Not to mention there's always been bad blood between Antonio and Dana.

I think it's good AJ has had the slow buildup to what he is now today. He had a lot of time to fight absolute nobodies in Bellator for a while that he wouldn't have gotten if he was signed directly to the UFC.

 

[GueseGuy]

Sign him at 0-0?

Not to mention there's always been bad blood between Antonio and Dana.

I think it's good AJ has had the slow buildup to what he is now today. He had a lot of time to fight absolute nobodies in Bellator for a while that he wouldn't have gotten if he was signed directly to the UFC.

Yes sign him at 0-0. Believe it or not there are different styles of promotion. Coker has the ability to build fighters up. Dana can’t. Or hasn’t shown the ability to do it yet. Ppl are so used to UFC style of promoting that they don’t realize that signing guys as ammys and building them up is another skill of promoting. A skill that Dana has yet to demonstrate. And let’s not act like there aren’t absolute nobodies in the UFC. Ppl act like every single fighter in the UFC is fucking Jon Jones. It’s comical.

 

[careto]

Yes sign him at 0-0. Believe it or not there are different styles of promotion. Coker has the ability to build fighters up. Dana can’t. Or hasn’t shown the ability to do it yet. Ppl are so used to UFC style of promoting that they don’t realize that signing guys as ammys and building them up is another skill of promoting. A skill that Dana has yet to demonstrate. And let’s not act like there aren’t absolute nobodies in the UFC. Ppl act like every single fighter in the UFC is fucking Jon Jones. It’s comical.

Both styles of promoting have their flaws and benefits. The UFC throws you to the wolves right off the bat, there are no easy fights in the UFC, or at least that is the way it was 5 years ago. Today with 1,000 fighters in the roster there plenty of easy fights to go around.
Bellator builds you up slowly and gives you a few fights to develop your skills. The problem is that sometimes the fighters are built waaaay to slowly, and tend become overrated. You can see this with Gallagher, MVP, even AJ, and the list goes on and on. Lately they have done better match making so they are moving in the right direction.

 

[CorninginChristianburg]

In order to fill the now weekly cards, UFC fighter has kinda taken on a now meaning. The top guys are still there in the overwhelming majority of cases. But now a lot of more entertaining regional fighters are there as well. It's honestly dried up the regional scene a bit, the regional scene is not as quality as it used to be because so many regional fighters have been signed to the UFC to fight undercards.

The specialists of the UFC are still truly elite, whether they're like elite strikers, elite wrestlers, elite BJJ guys. I'd say Dana's one weakness is he and the UFC fanbases' irrational fear of wrestlers. But now the UFC has basically scraped the barrel for every scrappy stand-and-bang regional fighter who will put on a decent show, do everything kinda mediocre, but never have the potential to actually be a meaningful contender. "UFC quality" means nothing with these guys because these are just the same regional scene guys that Bellator stars often beat before they enter the promotion, the organization that fighter fights for changed but nothing else did.

 

[CC27]

The UFC is the premier organization in the world, fighters shouldnt be making their pro debuts in the UFC. They should sign to the UFC once they have proven to be elite and be there to prove they are the best. Only the best of the best SHOULD be fighting in the UFC. We all know that this is not how things are done but that is the whole gist of the UFC should be.
They should be signing prospects to developmental contracts and loaning them out to regionals (LFA, CFFC, Titan, etc.) and once they prove themselves make their way to the UFC.
Bellator does a good job at signing great prospects but sometimes do a shitty job at building those fighters.

UFC did that with Hardy I think between contender series and letting him fight on another show.

Thats an advantage Bellator has, they can take a guy with no fights and hide them on prelims vs beef plant workers and let them build into fighters and then have them under contract if/when they turn into something.

UFC cant do that, you cant hide in UFC. Dont have 0-0 or 0-3 guys on the roster to build a prospect up against. I think like CM Punk and that dude he fought were like it. Eventually you're gonna have to fight a guy with alot more experience you arent ready for.

They are really more about taking the prospect who is ready for the next step not building the prospect from nothing to that point.

But thats why they will miss out on some talent while Bellator gets them, guys like McKee or danis or some of these wrestlers, kickboxers, bjj guys. And for Bellator its smart. If someone like one of those Gracies on the prelims dont pan out so what. You bring in a bunch of them and you're bound to get guys like McKee, Joey Davis, Danis maybe if he turns into something, Ruth, Fortune etc.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

UFC did that with Hardy I think between contender series and letting him fight on another show.

Thats an advantage Bellator has, they can take a guy with no fights and hide them on prelims vs beef plant workers and let them build into fighters and then have them under contract if/when they turn into something.

UFC cant do that, you cant hide in UFC. Dont have 0-0 or 0-3 guys on the roster to build a prospect up against. I think like CM Punk and that dude he fought were like it. Eventually you're gonna have to fight a guy with alot more experience you arent ready for.

They are really more about taking the prospect who is ready for the next step not building the prospect from nothing to that point.

But thats why they will miss out on some talent while Bellator gets them, guys like McKee or danis or some of these wrestlers, kickboxers, bjj guys. And for Bellator its smart. If someone like one of those Gracies on the prelims dont pan out so what. You bring in a bunch of them and you're bound to get guys like McKee, Joey Davis, Danis maybe if he turns into something, Ruth, Fortune etc.

Yeah, someone like Max Rohskopf is a good example. In Bellator, he would probably have been fed cans initially coming in as a highly talented but inexperienced guy. In the UFC he's immediately matched with a solid fighter like Austin Hubbard and it goes wrong for him.

There just aren't really easy fights you can give people to build them up in the UFC except maybe at women's FW and HW.

 

[GueseGuy]

The UFC is the premier organization in the world, fighters shouldnt be making their pro debuts in the UFC. They should sign to the UFC once they have proven to be elite and be there to prove they are the best. Only the best of the best SHOULD be fighting in the UFC. We all know that this is not how things are done but that is the whole gist of the UFC should be.
They should be signing prospects to developmental contracts and loaning them out to regionals (LFA, CFFC, Titan, etc.) and once they prove themselves make their way to the UFC.
Bellator does a good job at signing great prospects but sometimes do a shitty job at building those fighters.

Sorry just saw this. Naturally that’s how it would be, if there were no alternative. But Bellator is really starting to become a thorn in the UFC’s side when it comes to talent poaching. Bellator has a very deep roster of 200 high level fighters. The UFC has always been average at fighter development. Yes they are good at making stars but they struggle with breeding young talent. The UFC’s best method of fighter development has historically been promotion absorption. We saw it with Pride and SF, when a promotion rivals the UFC and has a solid talent pool, the UFC moves to buy and eventually absorb. SF and Pride provided an immediate injection of new developed fighters.

Right now, it feels like Bellator is approaching SF levels of talent pool depth and it’s hurting the free agent talent pool. The UFC is left with having to sign regional level fighters to fill out their cards. If history tells us anything, this is when UFC and Dana would look to buy and absorb. But it doesn’t look like that’s an option right now. To me, UFC will have to start getting creative to find the next best talent. Because Coker and Bellator are willing to spend years to find top talent. And if you let Bellator have 3 or 4 McKee’s, at what point do we start to question where is the top talent really at?

 

[David Street]

I suspect they might be helping LFA out with Alex Pereira, personally.

Hope so.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Sorry just saw this. Naturally that’s how it would be, if there were no alternative. But Bellator is really starting to become a thorn in the UFC’s side when it comes to talent poaching. Bellator has a very deep roster of 200 high level fighters. The UFC has always been average at fighter development. Yes they are good at making stars but they struggle with breeding young talent. The UFC’s best method of fighter development has historically been promotion absorption. We saw it with Pride and SF, when a promotion rivals the UFC and has a solid talent pool, the UFC moves to buy and eventually absorb. SF and Pride provided an immediate injection of new developed fighters.

Right now, it feels like Bellator is approaching SF levels of talent pool depth and it’s hurting the free agent talent pool. The UFC is left with having to sign regional level fighters to fill out their cards. If history tells us anything, this is when UFC and Dana would look to buy and absorb. But it doesn’t look like that’s an option right now. To me, UFC will have to start getting creative to find the next best talent. Because Coker and Bellator are willing to spend years to find top talent. And if you let Bellator have 3 or 4 McKee’s, at what point do we start to question where is the top talent really at?

I think 200 is a bit on the high side. I think Bellator probably has about 50 high level fighters (ones that would likely stay on the UFC roster long term if there was a buyout), which is still good.

 

[GueseGuy]

I think 200 is a bit on the high side. I think Bellator probably has about 50 high level fighters (ones that would likely stay on the UFC roster long term if there was a buyout), which is still good.

With the way the UFC is going, they would sign pretty much the entire Bellator roster without a doubt in my mind. DWCS is below Bellator level IMO.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

With the way the UFC is going, they would sign pretty much the entire Bellator roster without a doubt in my mind. DWCS is below Bellator level IMO.

A few fighters from DWCS are doing well in Bellator tbf. Vanderford and Anglickas especially.

 

[GueseGuy]

A few fighters from DWCS are doing well in Bellator tbf. Vanderford and Anglickas especially.

I think the talent level has decreased severely in 2020 during Covid.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

I think the talent level has decreased severely in 2020 during Covid.

They've signed more regional journeymen that they wouldn't ordinarily sign as late replacements, but I don't think they'll be around for long.

 

[careto]

UFC did that with Hardy I think between contender series and letting him fight on another show.

Thats an advantage Bellator has, they can take a guy with no fights and hide them on prelims vs beef plant workers and let them build into fighters and then have them under contract if/when they turn into something.

UFC cant do that, you cant hide in UFC. Dont have 0-0 or 0-3 guys on the roster to build a prospect up against. I think like CM Punk and that dude he fought were like it. Eventually you're gonna have to fight a guy with alot more experience you arent ready for.

They are really more about taking the prospect who is ready for the next step not building the prospect from nothing to that point.

But thats why they will miss out on some talent while Bellator gets them, guys like McKee or danis or some of these wrestlers, kickboxers, bjj guys. And for Bellator its smart. If someone like one of those Gracies on the prelims dont pan out so what. You bring in a bunch of them and you're bound to get guys like McKee, Joey Davis, Danis maybe if he turns into something, Ruth, Fortune etc.

I like that a lot about the UFC, actually. The idea of fighting the best of the best all the time. You dont go there to get easy fights. Even when they were obviously pushing fighters, they will get only a few gimme fights and then get thrown to the wolves. Sometimes it works like Conor, Bones, Chiamev, Ngannu, and sometimes it doesnt like Sage, Edmen, or Van Zant. Its still sink or swim, because you need to fight the best consistently.

You dont see that in Bellator that much because they are actively trying to build up a fighter and in the process they tend to overhype them like MVP, Gallagher, Storley, etc. This works for Bellator because they have a smaller roster, so they will have fewer elite fighters but they cant risk having those fighters they have been grooming to get thrown to the wolves and lose. The UFC can build stars over night so they dont care much about slowly building fighters.

 

[careto]

Yeah, someone like Max Rohskopf is a good example. In Bellator, he would probably have been fed cans initially coming in as a highly talented but inexperienced guy. In the UFC he's immediately matched with a solid fighter like Austin Hubbard and it goes wrong for him.

There just aren't really easy fights you can give people to build them up in the UFC except maybe at women's FW and HW.

Poor Max, I think he would have been fed 3 o 4 cans in Bellator and get overhyed only to be eventually derailed by the first decent fighter he fought.
He was supposed to be a blue chip prospect but the kid just doesnt have the mental aspect of the game. It was a bit embarrasing to be exposed like that on national television, he just was not ready for that level yet. If anything, his case shows how important the mental aspect is aside from the skills and discipline.

 

[careto]

Sorry just saw this. Naturally that’s how it would be, if there were no alternative. But Bellator is really starting to become a thorn in the UFC’s side when it comes to talent poaching. Bellator has a very deep roster of 200 high level fighters. The UFC has always been average at fighter development. Yes they are good at making stars but they struggle with breeding young talent. The UFC’s best method of fighter development has historically been promotion absorption. We saw it with Pride and SF, when a promotion rivals the UFC and has a solid talent pool, the UFC moves to buy and eventually absorb. SF and Pride provided an immediate injection of new developed fighters.

Right now, it feels like Bellator is approaching SF levels of talent pool depth and it’s hurting the free agent talent pool. The UFC is left with having to sign regional level fighters to fill out their cards. If history tells us anything, this is when UFC and Dana would look to buy and absorb. But it doesn’t look like that’s an option right now. To me, UFC will have to start getting creative to find the next best talent. Because Coker and Bellator are willing to spend years to find top talent. And if you let Bellator have 3 or 4 McKee’s, at what point do we start to question where is the top talent really at?

Bellator does a great job at scouting prospects but does a mediocre job at matchmaking, and a horrible job at marketing. I think with the level of roster they have they should be way more mainstream than they are. Their other problem is that the UFC is a jaggernaut, i mean just look at their popularity, size of the roster, elite fighters, and consistency in putting on great shows. Their upcoming Dec. 19 show looks fucking amazing, like something Bellator should aspire to have once a year...and is a regular fight night show.

Its is hard for Bellator to get any type of momentum because their bad matchmaking does not allow them to take advantage of their roster. And when they have great cards, like the Nov. 12 and 19, they tend to fly under the radar. If Bellator had the marketing the UFC has, guys like McKee, Pitbull, Lima, MVP, Archuleta, Neiman, Nemkov, etc woule be bonfide stars, like legit mainstream stars. But alas, their poor marketing makes them only popular to us the hardcores.

 

[tehMoose]

Bellator does a great job at scouting prospects but does a mediocre job at matchmaking, and a horrible job at marketing. I think with the level of roster they have they should be way more mainstream than they are. Their other problem is that the UFC is a jaggernaut, i mean just look at their popularity, size of the roster, elite fighters, and consistency in putting on great shows. Their upcoming Dec. 19 show looks fucking amazing, like something Bellator should aspire to have once a year...and is a regular fight night show.

Its is hard for Bellator to get any type of momentum because their bad matchmaking does not allow them to take advantage of their roster. And when they have great cards, like the Nov. 12 and 19, they tend to fly under the radar. If Bellator had the marketing the UFC has, guys like McKee, Pitbull, Lima, MVP, Archuleta, Neiman, Nemkov, etc woule be bonfide stars, like legit mainstream stars. But alas, their poor marketing makes them only popular to us the hardcores.

UFC cards recently are terrible, I don't know what you're watching but 80% of every card is filled with no names. The cards were way better before. LIKE WAAAAAAAAAAAAY WAAAAAAAAAAY BETTER

I used to watch every UFC card and now I can barely find in the entire year 3,4 fights I'm curious to see. A lot of my friends stopped watching UFC and they were hardcore fans also.

And about the matchmaking, they protect the UFC "stars" also and give them only favorable opponents but people are too blind to notice. It's easier to shit on Bellator but UFC does nothing better tbh

UFC has more legit mainstream stars because of the dumb fanbase, Dana says Ronda can beat HW male boxers and the dumb fans think it's true. Coker is an honorable man and I'm glad he doesn't say stupid shit like that