With all the interim title discussion recently and the UFCs lack of mainevent title fights slated for early 2017, do you think the UFC would be better off implementing regional championships? For example, we could have American, European, Australasian and Latino regional titles that would help determine the best fighter from each region and establish mandatory challengers. What do you think sherbros? Would this help or hinder the MMA landscape in 2017? Dana has touched on the subject in the past and seemed keen. http://www.cagepotato.com/dana-white-talks-international-expansion-and-ufc-regional-titles/
They kind of already have this. When they bought rights to show other promotions on fightpass, it was kind of like a seal of approval for the promotions they went into business with. They want Cage Warriors, EFN, Shooto Brazil etc to be the premier promotions in the region so that they can sign the best fighters from there and have their highlight reels in their own library.
Good point mate. My angle is more so about introducing the regional titles to UFC cards though. I'd much rather have a regional title on the line over an interim title that devalues the current standing champion and division as a whole.
Would you rather more interim title fights or regional title fights? Usually having some sort of title helps sell the card to casuals when it's otherwise bland.
it is an interesting idea, as K1 had the regional championships. The UFC likes to avoid controlling the more local events (would probably make their supply chain needlessly large) and MMA is not as equally diffuse as kickboxing is, so the Brazilian and US would be disproportionately competitive. It could have potential to rebuild Japanese MMA and explore the potential of other areas of the world. They should consider it in some form.
That's a very good point. I like the K1 format where you had to win you regional GP to qualify for the big K1 open weight GP. I attended a K1 GP show for Australasia and it was a great night of fights. Our champion went on to get brutally destroyed by roided Overeem but at least he earnt his spot. I'd love to see the UFC implement a Japanese yearly tournament with Pride rules. Thanks for the post mate, very good points raised.
Its a good idea in theory but in practice don't think there is enough depth on the roster(s) just yet. Interim titles have become a bigger joke than before lately though.
Hell no. MMA is an alternative to Boxing, copying anything they do will ruin it. Besides, would be excuse for legit prospects from big camps to pad their records and say "He's the champion of this and that" and hype fighters that would never fill the expectations.
Regional UFC belts are better than 4-5 league belts. We will end up with 4 major organizations belts like in boxing, if the UFC don't make an effort outside the US soon.
It should be broken down. State champs then regional champs (like Northwest champ, southwest champ...). Then American champ, then world champ....for each weight class. I can see the UFC eventually doing this combined with interim champs for each division.
