The MMA world is still basking in all the glory and wonder that was UFC 189. However, the Zuffa production machine is not one to idly sit back and enjoy the fruits of its labor. For the seventh time, the Octagon descends upon Rio de Janeiro in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s second home. The company is bringing along a slew of Brazilian fighting legends, a pair of “Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” finals and a main event that promises public execution-level violence with UFC 190 on Saturday at the HSBC Arena. Can you believe it is August already and the UFC has only put on 26 events so far?
SLOW TO THE DRAW: Pay-per-view drawing power is the most important measureable when deciding fighter equity. Magazine covers, ESPYs and celebrity tweets are all invaluable assets and fine measuring sticks for Rousey’s stardom. However, the goal is to get North Americans to fork over $60 on a Saturday night for the pleasure of watching a fighter perform. In three of Rousey’s five previous UFC bouts, she was scheduled as the co-main event -- not a place you would normally slot a big draw. The turning point came at UFC 184. After the scheduled Chris Weidman-Vitor Belfort middleweight title clash fell through, Rousey was left to headline the card solo. UFC 184 reportedly did very well, but Rousey has her work cut out for her at UFC 190, not inside the cage but at the bank. She is competing against a relative no-name opponent, as Correia’s three UFC wins have come against fighters with a 0-7 combined record inside the Octagon; the fight is in Brazil, and whenever events are held outside of North America, pay-per-views take a 10-15 percent hit; and the rest of the main card lacks relevant, competitive fighters. Should UFC 190 score a big buy rate, Rousey is a combat sports star by every measureable number.
TAKE TWO: A total of 3,688 days will stand between the first Rua-Nogueira fight in Pride and their second encounter at UFC 190 -- the most time between bouts for any rematch the UFC has ever promoted. It begs the question: How much time must pass before the first chapter is irrelevant as it relates to the second? Well, it oozes nostalgia. Their battle in the 2005 Pride middleweight grand prix quarterfinals was Sherdog.com’s “Fight of the Year.” It played a part in launching Rua’s incredible career to new heights and threw gasoline on the old Chute Boxe-Brazilian Top Team rivalry. Fast forward to 2015, and neither fighter has won a fight in two years. Almost 30 combined years of fighting have worn down their bodies. It reminds the Smartest Guy at the Bar of the final scene from “The Wrestler” in which Ram Jam rematches Ayatolah for the 20th anniversary of their first match. There are plenty of fond memories attached, but as far as sequels go, it is likely less “The Empire Strikes Back” and more “Speed 2.”
USELESS FACT: The UFC seems to be going for quantity over quality by putting seven fights on the pay-per-view lineup. What exactly has this massive stable done lately? In the last year, the 14 fighters on the main card have engaged in eight combined fights in the UFC, going 3-5. Rousey and Correia each have a win in the past year, along with Soa Palelei. The Nogueiras and the four “Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” finalists have zero fights in that time span. Rua, Stefan Struve and Claudia Gadelha are all coming off losses, and Antonio Silva has lost twice.
BREWING CONTENDERS: Women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk bludgeoned “The Ultimate Fighter 20” contestants Carla Esparza and Jessica Penne in brutal and dominant fashion. Some of the more short-sighted MMA fans were quick to use words like “unbeatable” and “out of contenders” when describing the Polish fighter. This thought process is just not factual. Look no further than her split decision victory against Gadelha in her sophomore UFC effort. The Smartest Guy at the Bar, along with most of the media, thought the Brazilian won that matchup on the strength of her takedowns and ground game. If you are into competitive matchups between prime fighters that involve serious divisional repercussions, the strawweight fight between Gadelha and Aguilar is the best on the card. The winner will give Joanna Champion a fight about which to get excited.
SAY WHAT: After UFC on Fox 16 on July 25, current bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw and former titleholder Dominick Cruz spent the week dogging each other’s skills and selling their abilities over their potential opponent’s. This is normally what happens prior to title fights. Not with Rousey. She is consistently a massive favorite, such a big favorite, in fact, that it becomes a little too easy to dismiss the challenger’s chances. In response, Rousey went on the offensive, hyping her opponent in a way that makes the Smartest Guy at the Bar feel like he is being sold a used 2007 Nissan Altima: “Bethe Correia is definitely my biggest challenge to date,” the 28-year-old champion said during Episode 3 of UFC “Embedded.” “She is an undefeated fighter, a pure MMA fighter with no gaps in her game. I’m expecting a really gritty fight.”
AWARDS WATCH: Rua and “Minotoro” Nogueira put on the best fight of 2005, but that took place back when George W. Bush was just starting his second term in the White House. That is a lot of water under the bridge. Still, “Shogun” is an all-offense type of fighter and Nogueira is a competent striker with the ability to keep fighting under pressure. That combination, plus the nostalgia associated with the rematch, should lead to “Fight of the Night” honors … Palalei probably did not even know judges existed until his fight with Jared Rosholt in 2014, when he went the distance for the first time in his career and lost a unanimous decision to the wrestler. He has finished all 22 of his victories. His opponent, “Bigfoot” Silva, has suffered five knockout losses in his past eight fights. There is a good chance the big Aussie blasts Silva on his way to an extra 50,000 clams ... Rousey has the second-shortest average fight time in the UFC among fighters with at least five appearances. If UFC President Dana White offered to give Rousey either a $49,000 check before her fight or $50,000 if she earned a “Performance of the Night” bonus, which option do you think she would choose? I will take the latter.