Ribas has star potential:
-cute
-interesting personality
-funny quirks
-very well rounded and skilled
-so far dominated all fights in UFC
-got ducked by Esparza, then Waterson
-Rodriguez some months ago said she didn't even want to fight Ribas.
Why does the UFC keep insisting on investing in frauds like Dern and Brapper? Why can't they see where the stars are at?
you're right about Ribas having 'star potential' but wrong about everything else.
- UFC can very well recognise her 'star potential', that's why they booked her against PVZ - big name, easy fight and UFC didn't want her anymore; even when PVZ withdrew a few times they didn't find a new opponent but made sure Ribas got her prey - why do you think they wanted that? - the plan worked (it doesn't always), everyone saw PVZ get smashed and Ribas got over huge. After that she was all over promo material, even getting to be
Daddy Dana's new best friend for a bit at Fight Island, I don't think that was just for him to sleaze on her but to tell her how they were gonna push her to the moon (another fighter who got that treatment around the same time was Khamzat, who now has a main event lined up despite having no ranked wins). The UFC are also getting her
featured in commercials for mainstream companies/products, increasing her profile and her income (beyond the fight purses). Are they doing that for Barber/Dern?
They then tried booking her directly vs a title contender (Carla), which would be a big jump up the rankings and straight into title contention if she won; then found another big name/higher ranked fighter who was an easy win (Waterson), even when that fell through they made sure to give her another ranked, relevant opponent (Rodriguez) on shortish notice and booked that fight on....
....the
MAIN CARD of a Conman McGregor show, that's the
biggest possible exposure for a fighter, now why do you think they chose to put her in that slot, over every other possible girl who would have wanted it?
What the
more do you think they should do to promote her?
- Esparza didn't duck Ribas, she got offered a short notice title shot and accepted, it fell through for unknown reasons; now she's in limbo as the UFC is trying to book Rose/Weili while using Carla as a pawn to threaten Rose with in negotiations - that they'll give Carla the shot instead (even though Carla deserves it more, the 'fans' would much rather see Rose) if she doesn't come to terms.
- Dern isn't a 'fraud', she's a very highly credentialed BJJ fighter and undefeated in MMA except for Ribas (why do people always trash the fighter they're trying to hype's best win?
OK, she's a fraud, therefore Ribas has no good wins; why are you so keen on her then?
), ranked #11, I see her kicking around the top 10 long term; just beat a very good fighter who is also top 10 material; even if she currently has some limitations to her game, she carries a dangerous weapon at all times into the ring - kind of like a HW boxer with huge KO power, an omnipresent sense of danger - which is rare in WMMA, so whoever you are you have to bring your A game and not fuck up bigly because it could end in an instant (ask Randa or Cifers about that).
I don't like being an asshole (no really! I don't!..... OK maybe just a little, sometimes) but if you don't think UFC are investing heavily in Ribas, and are more invested in Dern or Barber over her at present, you're blind as f00k.