- Joined
- Oct 2, 2007
- Messages
- 3,633
- Reaction score
- 0
In my Sherdog history I used to create very detailed rankings and suggested fight cards that I can comfortably say were pretty well received. (If you would like, feel free to look at a previous Breakdown of mine from about 2.5 years ago: http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/breaking-down-the-ufc-hw-division.2550389/#post-86475869 )
Given the recent circumstances of UFC 200 and Conor McGregor's "retirement," I felt compelled to share new, detailed explanation as to how I would handle UFC 200 now that Conor McGregor has been taken off the card.
"SAVING" UFC 200
First off, I DO NOT think that this card needs "saving." I think that the UFC can just flat out scrap the concept of finding a replacement for Diaz on this card and it would still debatably be one of the best UFC cards, top-to-bottom (on paper), of all time.
That being said, this is UFC 200. DW has said he plans to make this one of the biggest cards of all time. So what do we do to the card to make it the best card (on paper) of all time?
UFC HISTORY: TWO CARDS. ONE DAY.
This is how this card differentiates itself from ANY previous UFC card ever. UFC 200 is not marketed as one card. It is marketed as a day of fights that is, "SO BIG, ONE PPV IS NOT ENOUGH!!!"
For the first time ever the UFC airs the fights leading up to a major PPV on FOX. Not Fox Sports 1. Not FX. Not UFC Fightpass (although that will get some play as well...).
One night. Two cards. Two Co-Main-Events. Two Main-Events.
The beauty of this from the UFC's standpoint is that the FOX card will essentially serve as an advertisement leading into the PPV. That being said, the FOX card has to be fights that are likely to be very entertaining.
That being said, they would have to start with the Fightpass prelims...
UFC FIGHTPASS PRELIMINAY CARD:
Sage Northcutt v Enrique Marin: If the golden boy is to be built back up he needs to start from the bottom.
Another Random Fight- Something to fill the space Maybe Ian McCall v Ali Bagautinov? Something that is still serviceable within this huge card full of names from top to bottom.
Johny Hendricks v Kevin Gastelum- UFC has been trying this 'Fightpass Prelim Headliners.' This is a solid Headliner for Fightpass that could be easily bumped up to the FOX or PPV card if an injury were to take away one of the other fights.
UFC 200 - FOX CARD:
Takanori Gomi v Jim Miller- A very fun fight to start the FOX card.
Diego Sanchez v Joe Lauzon- Pretty much a guaranteed barn burner.
Cat Zingano v Julianna Pena- Awesome FOX co-main. Two top 5 female 135 contenders. Should be an awesome fight.
JDS v Mark Hunt II- HWs are always a big draw. Title implications for this fight. Two sluggers with good chins. Hunt wants the rematch. Has the makings of being something amazing.
UFC 200 - PPV MAIN CARD:
Cain Velasquez v Travis Browne- The former HW King returns to kick off the PPV portion of UFC 200.
Gegard Mousasi v Derek Brunson- Perfect fight to carry us into the "Big Three" for the night.
Miesha Tate v Amanda Nunes (Women's BW Championship)- First title fight of the night featuring one of the marquee female fighters in the world.
Jose Aldo v Frankie Edgar (Undisputed FW Championship)- This becomes the fight to crown the new champion now the McGregor is gone. Simply having his name attached will bring the fight to another level.
GSP v Anderson Silva (The Fight of the Ages)- The ONLY main event that is big enough to replace Conor McGregor. Likely the only fight that would be bigger than and Conor McGregor fight in general (admittedly, very debatably). It can be marketed as the MMA version of the Mayweather/Pacquiao. The fight that the MMA world has been waiting for, for years. Two legends finally meet.
WHAT ABOUT NATE?
I honestly don't believe Nate fits into the UFC 200 card. The McGregor shadow already will loom over the card. If Nate were to fight on this card I believe the shadow would be far to large for anyone to give Nate the attention he deserves.
My solution is (obviously) to take him off of the card. But then, what to do with him?
For his troubles, I would give Nate his choice of three fights.
Nate Diaz v Pettis/Barboza Winner OR Khabib Nurmagomedov OR Carlos Condit.
No matter which fight he chooses, it would be considered a #1 contender fight for him. He could choose to stay at WW and face Condit with the winner of that fight going on to fight for the WW belt. Obviously the same would go for him facing the Pettis/Barboza winner or Khabib, with the title implications being at LW instead (where I think he should go).
Any of those fights could be a PPV Co-Main, or a FOX Main Event, and likely a huge payday.
Well, that's my thoughts. Let me know what you think.
Dana White, I'll be waiting to hear from you.
Given the recent circumstances of UFC 200 and Conor McGregor's "retirement," I felt compelled to share new, detailed explanation as to how I would handle UFC 200 now that Conor McGregor has been taken off the card.
"SAVING" UFC 200
First off, I DO NOT think that this card needs "saving." I think that the UFC can just flat out scrap the concept of finding a replacement for Diaz on this card and it would still debatably be one of the best UFC cards, top-to-bottom (on paper), of all time.
That being said, this is UFC 200. DW has said he plans to make this one of the biggest cards of all time. So what do we do to the card to make it the best card (on paper) of all time?
UFC HISTORY: TWO CARDS. ONE DAY.
This is how this card differentiates itself from ANY previous UFC card ever. UFC 200 is not marketed as one card. It is marketed as a day of fights that is, "SO BIG, ONE PPV IS NOT ENOUGH!!!"
For the first time ever the UFC airs the fights leading up to a major PPV on FOX. Not Fox Sports 1. Not FX. Not UFC Fightpass (although that will get some play as well...).
One night. Two cards. Two Co-Main-Events. Two Main-Events.
The beauty of this from the UFC's standpoint is that the FOX card will essentially serve as an advertisement leading into the PPV. That being said, the FOX card has to be fights that are likely to be very entertaining.
That being said, they would have to start with the Fightpass prelims...
UFC FIGHTPASS PRELIMINAY CARD:
Sage Northcutt v Enrique Marin: If the golden boy is to be built back up he needs to start from the bottom.
Another Random Fight- Something to fill the space Maybe Ian McCall v Ali Bagautinov? Something that is still serviceable within this huge card full of names from top to bottom.
Johny Hendricks v Kevin Gastelum- UFC has been trying this 'Fightpass Prelim Headliners.' This is a solid Headliner for Fightpass that could be easily bumped up to the FOX or PPV card if an injury were to take away one of the other fights.
UFC 200 - FOX CARD:
Takanori Gomi v Jim Miller- A very fun fight to start the FOX card.
Diego Sanchez v Joe Lauzon- Pretty much a guaranteed barn burner.
Cat Zingano v Julianna Pena- Awesome FOX co-main. Two top 5 female 135 contenders. Should be an awesome fight.
JDS v Mark Hunt II- HWs are always a big draw. Title implications for this fight. Two sluggers with good chins. Hunt wants the rematch. Has the makings of being something amazing.
UFC 200 - PPV MAIN CARD:
Cain Velasquez v Travis Browne- The former HW King returns to kick off the PPV portion of UFC 200.
Gegard Mousasi v Derek Brunson- Perfect fight to carry us into the "Big Three" for the night.
Miesha Tate v Amanda Nunes (Women's BW Championship)- First title fight of the night featuring one of the marquee female fighters in the world.
Jose Aldo v Frankie Edgar (Undisputed FW Championship)- This becomes the fight to crown the new champion now the McGregor is gone. Simply having his name attached will bring the fight to another level.
GSP v Anderson Silva (The Fight of the Ages)- The ONLY main event that is big enough to replace Conor McGregor. Likely the only fight that would be bigger than and Conor McGregor fight in general (admittedly, very debatably). It can be marketed as the MMA version of the Mayweather/Pacquiao. The fight that the MMA world has been waiting for, for years. Two legends finally meet.
WHAT ABOUT NATE?
I honestly don't believe Nate fits into the UFC 200 card. The McGregor shadow already will loom over the card. If Nate were to fight on this card I believe the shadow would be far to large for anyone to give Nate the attention he deserves.
My solution is (obviously) to take him off of the card. But then, what to do with him?
For his troubles, I would give Nate his choice of three fights.
Nate Diaz v Pettis/Barboza Winner OR Khabib Nurmagomedov OR Carlos Condit.
No matter which fight he chooses, it would be considered a #1 contender fight for him. He could choose to stay at WW and face Condit with the winner of that fight going on to fight for the WW belt. Obviously the same would go for him facing the Pettis/Barboza winner or Khabib, with the title implications being at LW instead (where I think he should go).
Any of those fights could be a PPV Co-Main, or a FOX Main Event, and likely a huge payday.
Well, that's my thoughts. Let me know what you think.
Dana White, I'll be waiting to hear from you.
