The Cuts: Sound Strategy or Potential to Backfire?

[mkw]

60 fighters are projected to be cut from the UFC in the coming months. The firing of Yoel, and Dana's subsequent comments regarding other "name" fighters, indicates that many of these will be high profile guys.

This coincides with unprecedented signings off the Contender Series. It seems that the UFC's strategy is to flood the company with hungry young fighters working for the minimum while dumping what they see to be inflated veteran contracts. This could be a sound financial strategy.

Could it also backfire? A guy like Yoel still has a lot of cache in my eyes. If the UFC cuts many more Romero level guys all at once (the Cowboys and Aldos of the world for example) could this provide enough juice for competitors to finally gain widespread attention? Does a Bellator or ONE even have the capital to take advantage of a huge influx of name value fighters onto the market? Because these fighters will all be entering free agency at once, I could see many of them being lost in the shuffle unfortunately.

The team element of MMA should also be considered. Those 60 fighters will have close ties to innumerable other fighters and camps. Will that further damage fighter perception of UFC? Could we see a Masvidal type guy follow his best friend to another company when his contract is up?

Like Vince McMahon, Dana White believes in brand over performer. Ultimately, the UFC itself is his biggest star. Dana's goal, it seems, would be to churn out future stars from scratch at performance institutes across the globe. He would have a star for each geographical region, they would all be homegrown in the UFC, loyal, and replaceable.

If this is the strategy, is it viable? Will the upcoming cuts prove a good move or a blunder for the UFC?

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

They do this every year.

It’s work so far.

Don’t see how these cuts are any different from all their other cuts

 

[flowoftruth]

sounded like he just wanting to scare guys.. im sure Romero pushed for his release himself

 

[mkw]

They do this every year.

It’s work so far.

Don’t see how these cuts are any different from all their other cuts

Do they? Maybe that is the case. I don' recall a Top 10 star like Yoel being cut mid contract last year or 60 fighters being cut in a month as is being proposed this year. I think the biggest star cut last year was Lineker. I could very well be misremembering though.

In this thread I am specifically referring to the strategy of incrementally replacing a large portion of the UFC roster with DWCS and PI guys working for minimum in a brand over performer system.

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

In this thread I am specifically referring to the strategy of incrementally replacing a large portion of the UFC roster with DWCS and PI guys
working for minimum in a brand over performer system.

Okay I think I get what your saying.

The key factor here I feel like a key factor people are over looking is age.

The UFC is going to get rid of guys in their late 30's early 40's because they have little mileage left.

And they are getting replaced with fighters who are in their early/mid 20's, early 30's.

3-5 years down the road was Romero still going to be a top guy? Why keep investing money and resources into someone who has such little mileage left?

These younger fighters are only going to get better. Over time new stars are going to emerge from the pack of 20 somethings they keep hiring. 5-10 years down the road they'll be the new faces of MMA.

I was in the military and whenever budget cuts came it was always the oldest and most experienced guys that got the boot. Meanwhile every weekend a new batch of pimple face teenagers came into the squadron. Companies like this hire/fire based on future projected needs

 

[Willy Knuckles]

They do this every year.

It’s work so far.

Don’t see how these cuts are any different from all their other cuts

Because the amount is higher and the names will most likely be bigger than normal I'm guessing from what Dana said

 

[Sweater of AV]

Dana is flooding the UFC with cheap contracts and top talent is leaving. They are far from being able to claim they have the best fighters in the world. Their success will depend on whether people actually realize the level of MMA in the UFC isn't what is claimed.

 

[brackis1]

I will do what little is in my power to help this backfire.
Fuck the UFC. It's literally watching corporate America bulldoze yet another legitimate industry with mcdonalds level trash.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Do they? Maybe that is the case. I don' recall a Top 10 star like Yoel being cut mid contract last year or 60 fighters being cut in a month as is being proposed this year. I think the biggest star cut last year was Lineker. I could very well be misremembering though.

In this thread I am specifically referring to the strategy of incrementally replacing a large portion of the UFC roster with DWCS and PI guys working for minimum in a brand over performer system.

Last year they cut Cyborg, BJ, Lineker, Carmouche, Branch, Dollaway, Dustin Ortiz, Elias, Melendez, Okami, Reis, Sergio Pettis, Barao, Jury, Pearson, Moraga and Big Titty.

So a few names and ranked fighters in there.

 

[mkw]

Okay I think I get what your saying.

The key factor here I feel like a key factor people are over looking is age.

The UFC is going to get rid of guys in their late 30's early 40's because they have little mileage left.

And they are getting replaced with fighters who are in their early/mid 20's, early 30's.

3-5 years down the road was Romero still going to be a top guy? We keep investing money and resources into someone who has such little mileage left.

These guy fighters are only going to get better. Over time new stars are going to emerge from the pack of 20 somethings they keep hiring. 5-10 years down the road they'll be the new faces of MMA.

I was in the military and whenever budget cuts came it was always the oldest and most experienced guys that got the boot. Meanwhile every weekend a new batch of pimple face teenagers came into the squadron. Companies like this hire/fire based on future projected needs

It makes sense business-wise, yeah. I do wonder if these name value guys just past their prime like Yoel can provide a springboard for other companies to become more mainstream. If a Bellator has the resources to take advantage of the cuts, they could potentially put on a card that gain a lot of attention.

Some more context: the UFC PI development model is one that the WWE transitioned towards years ago. Historically, the WWE's biggest stars (think Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, etc.) developed elsewhere and came to the company as pretty seasoned performers. Now, the WWE tries to develop guys from the ground up in their own PI. It has not produced any true megastars. The WWE brand remains more popular than any one star. I wonder if the UFC is heading in a similar direction. It is probably smart in terms of business strategy, but also contributes to a certain blandness.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Dana is flooding the UFC with cheap contracts and top talent is leaving. They are far from being able to claim they have the best fighters in the world. Their success will depend on whether people actually realize the level of MMA in the UFC isn't what is claimed.

They also signed Khamzat, Gamrot, Chandler, Mason Jones, Valiev, Du Plessis, Guram, Shavkat, Umar, Jiri, Kape, Maverick, Klein, Aspinall and other interesting fighters this year outside the contender series.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

It makes sense business-wise, yeah. I do wonder if these name value guys just past their prime like Yoel can provide a springboard for other companies to become more mainstream. If a Bellator has the resources to take advantage of the cuts, they could potentially put on a card that gain a lot of attention.

Some more context: the UFC PI development model is one that the WWE transitioned towards years ago. Historically, the WWE's biggest stars (think Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, etc.) developed elsewhere and came to the company as pretty seasoned performers. Now, the WWE tries to develop guys from the ground up in their own PI. It has not produced any true megastars. The WWE brand remains more popular than any one star. I wonder if the UFC is heading in a similar direction. It is probably smart in terms of business strategy, but also contributes to a certain blandness.

The downside for a company like Bellator is that if they sign 44 year old Yoel and he easily beats their champion, then it makes them look shit.

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

It makes sense business-wise, yeah. I do wonder if these name value guys just past their prime like Yoel can provide a springboard for other companies to become more mainstream. If a Bellator has the resources to take advantage of the cuts, they could potentially put on a card that gain a lot of attention.

Some more context: the UFC PI development model is one that the WWE transitioned towards years ago. Historically, the WWE's biggest stars (think Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, etc.) developed elsewhere and came to the company as pretty seasoned performers. Now, the WWE tries to develop guys from the ground up in their own PI. It has not produced any true megastars. The WWE brand remains more popular than any one star. I wonder if the UFC is heading in a similar direction. It is probably smart in terms of business strategy, but also contributes to a certain blandness.

FUN FACT: Did you know the UFC actually brought in the guys from the into their offices to to teach them how to promote fighters and build up events? Dana and company literally learned how to sell fights by copying Vince's strategies. Any similarities between the UFC and WWE exist on purpose.

 

[mkw]

Last year they cut Cyborg, BJ, Lineker, Carmouche, Branch, Dollaway, Dustin Ortiz, Elias, Melendez, Okami, Reis, Sergio Pettis, Barao, Jury, Pearson, Moraga and Big Titty.

So a few names and ranked fighters in there.

Cyborg was big, although her problems with the company are well documented. The rest didn't raise an eyebrow. I think everyone is talking about this Yoel cut because it really is out of the ordinary. And to say you will cut 60 more before the end of the year? Maybe Dana was hyperbolizing, but that's less than a month away haha. That the cuts align with massive signings of DWCS guys also adds extra intrigue.

 

[Willy Knuckles]

Last year they cut Cyborg, BJ, Lineker, Carmouche, Branch, Dollaway, Dustin Ortiz, Elias, Melendez, Okami, Reis, Sergio Pettis, Barao, Jury, Pearson, Moraga and Big Titty.

So a few names and ranked fighters in there.

Alot of aging vets on losing streaks way worse than Yoel's. BJ hadn't won in years, Pearson was never good, Big titty I don't think has fought since Blaydes made him famous, Okami was old and done, Branch was on a losing streak and got suspended if IIRC, Dollaway was done. I mean we I don't think any of those cuts were as significant as releasing a top 5 MW who just fought for a belt and had a FOY candidate before that. This isn't just business as usual lol

 

[Sweater of AV]

They also signed Khamzat, Gamrot, Chandler, Mason Jones, Valiev, Du Plessis, Guram, Shavkat, Umar, Jiri, Kape, Maverick, Klein, Aspinall and other interesting fighters this year outside the contender series.

A few good signings in there in comparison to a hundred that "like to bang" and will fight for cheap. The content is getting worse.

 

[Dreyga_King of Sherbums]

The downside for a company like Bellator is that if they sign 44 year old Yoel and he easily beats their champion, then it makes them look shit.

Not to mention if they spend millions in marketing to build cards around Romero and it is successful their investment will go down the toilet when Romero retires in 3-5 years.

 

[Hellowhosthat]

Cyborg was big, although her problems with the company are well documented. The rest didn't raise an eyebrow. I think everyone is talking about this Yoel cut because it really is out of the ordinary. And to say you will cut 60 more before the end of the year? Maybe Dana was hyperbolizing, but that's less than a month away haha. That the cuts align with massive signings of DWCS guys also adds extra intrigue.

I don't think they'll be huge names though. Probably people like Nik Lentz with maybe a Claudia Gadelha or maybe even a Woodley sprinkled in there.

They're not going to let anyone they think is a draw go I wouldn't think.

 

[mkw]

FUN FACT: Did you know the UFC actually brought in the guys from the into their offices to to teach them how to promote fighters and build up events? Dana and company literally learned how to sell fights by copying Vince's strategies. Any similarities between the UFC and WWE exist on purpose.

I'm not surprised they did that. MMA has always followed a pro wresting model and UFC has largely replaced pro wrestling in the cultural landscape. But I also don't think it was a good idea to bring in WWE writers for promotional purposes. The WWE are themselves incapable of creating new stars from scratch.

 

[Willy Knuckles]

Not to mention if they spend millions in marketing to build cards around Romero and it is successful their investment will go down the toilet when Romero retires in 3-5 years.

Yoel is a freak, I feel like we should hold off on the retirement talk until he at least shows consistent signs of slowing down. The man just had a FOY with Costa but now he's done in 3 years? Let's just wait and see