World Cup of MMA

[A.S. Deep]

An idea I've had for a while: a world-cup style MMA tournament spread out over a few months to a year. The winner is the Baddest Man on the Planet. Rules are UFC 1 style (no rounds, finishes only, openweight, etc.)

The main issues would be pull-outs, so there will be a bunch of alternates ready. Matches will be months apart so fighters get time to heal. Also, matches have no effect on MMA belts.

Example:
Round of 16: Sixteen fighters fight in 8 matches.
-3 months later-
Quarterfinals: The 8 winners fight in 4 matches.
-3 months-
Semifinals: The 4 winners fight in 2 matches.
-3 months-
Final and 3rd Place Match

Yeah, it's a pipe dream, but it's fun to think about. How many of you would watch?
--------------------------
Hypothetical tournament if they did it now (because I'm bored):
*** Suspended fighters brought back for extra fun

Round of 16:
1. Stipe/ Ngannou: Stipe
2. DC/ Volkan: DC
3. Cain/ Werdum: Werdum
4. JDS/ Minakov: JDS
5. Blaydes/ Hunt: Blaydes
6. Rockhold/ Romero: Rockhold
7. Rumble/Reem: Rumble
8. Jones/Gus: Jones
*** Rockhold brought in since he once wanted to fight Werdum

Quarterfinals:
1. Stipe/DC: Stipe
2. Werdum/JDS: Werdum
3. Blaydes/Rockhold: Blaydes
4. Jones/Rumble: Jones

Semifinals:
1. Stipe/Werdum: Stipe
2. Blaydes/Jones: Jones

Third Place:
Werdum/Blaydes: Werdum

Final:
Stipe/Jones: Stipe

 

[13 others]

Id watch the shit out of it. Its a ways away but MMA in the olympics would be unreal and I think itd be one of the most watched olympic sports.

 

[JayJayFrench]

Yes please.

 

[21 Savage]

would not watch unless conor was in it

 

[A.S. Deep]

Id watch the shit out of it. Its a ways away but MMA in the olympics would be unreal and I think itd be one of the most watched olympic sports.

I'd be too worried of Olympics changing MMA's rules for the worse like in Judo or making it more 'safe' like with boxing. It'd definitely increase MMA's popularity, though, by showing the sport to fresh viewers.

 

[Katsumi Yamada]

16 participants means 16 countries?

Oh and when it comes to tournaments, it's best to get it done in the least time possible...don't drag it out (talking to you Scott Coker)

 

[accolyte1022]

would not watch unless conor was in it

As long as the belt isn't on the line.

 

[13 others]

Bro...is you a penis?

Let it be.

 

[13 others]

hahah u know I love you brotha

I love you too my man.

 

[magicmarker]

would not watch unless conor was in it

 

[gosuasus]

That Croatian motherfucker who's destroying everyone...

 

[Leonard Haid]

Sounds good as long as Paige Vanzant gets to dance.

 

[Diet Butcher]

This will never happen.....it makes too much sense

 

[A.S. Deep]

16 participants means 16 countries?

Oh and when it comes to tournaments, it's best to get it done in the least time possible...don't drag it out (talking to you Scott Coker)

16 fighters. Having 16 countries would leave out too many good US and Brazilian fighters, and I don't even think there are 16 countries with world class fighters at this point for an OW contest.

 

[vcmmafan]

That Croatian motherfucker who's destroying everyone...

Except he only speaks English. Thick ass American accent.

Born in the US

Learned to fight and wrestle in the US

And loves his damn city more than anything

Last I checked his UFC kit has the American flag.

 

[Willek]

16 fighters. Having 16 countries would leave out too many good US and Brazilian fighters, and I don't even think there are 16 countries with world class fighters at this point for an OW contest.

So it's not a fucking World Cup then is it?

 

[Katsumi Yamada]

16 fighters. Having 16 countries would leave out too many good US and Brazilian fighters, and I don't even think there are 16 countries with world class fighters at this point for an OW contest.

So let me get this straight:

1. 16 fighter openweight tournament
2. fighters from anywhere,not limited by nationality
3. UFC 1 rules.

That happened in 1994 at UFC 2 bro haha, except they did it one night instead of one year.

If you want to see openweoght tournaments featuring The best fighters in the world try PRIDE 2000GP (32 man tournament) or PRIDE openweight GP 2006.

Agree it would be great to see another tournament with today's fighters, but I was more on board with 1 fighter from each country to be honest. Yes there would be mismatches but that's just like the real world cup then isn't it?

 

[UL]

Brazil wins

 

[Katsumi Yamada]

Last I checked his UFC kit has the American flag.

Only because they make him wear those now

 

[A.S. Deep]

So it's not a fucking World Cup then is it?

So let me get this straight:

1. 16 fighter openweight tournament
2. fighters from anywhere,not limited by nationality
3. UFC 1 rules.

That happened in 1994 at UFC 2 bro haha, except they did it one night instead of one year.

If you want to see openweoght tournaments featuring The best fighters in the world try PRIDE 2000GP (32 man tournament) or PRIDE openweight GP 2006.

Agree it would be great to see another tournament with today's fighters, but I was more on board with 1 fighter from each country to be honest. Yes there would be mismatches but that's just like the real world cup then isn't it?

Hmmmm, guess the world cup analogy doesn't work then haha.

Having one fighter per nation would be interesting, and mismatches like we see in international soccer are always fun. Which 16 nations would you pick, and who would represent them?

US- Stipe (Jones if Stipe chooses Croatia)
Brazil- Werdum
Sweden- Gus?
Canada- GSP
Mexico- Cain? (If he chooses to)
Netherlands- Reem
Cameroon- Ngannou