An MMA Christmas List: 2014 Edition

MMA needs more events like UFC 181, where Johny Hendricks & Robbie Lawler met again. | Photo: D. Mandel

TJ De Santis, Sherdog Radio Network program director: For years my MMA Christmas wish was for the sport to be taken more seriously, to be featured on network television alongside other “real” sports like baseball, football and basketball. With that wish having been largely granted, I think I just want the current system refined.

The UFC has an oversaturation problem, mainly due to the content deal it signed with Fox, the demand for live events on its UFC Fight Pass platform and the adherence to a business model still heavily reliant on pay-per-view buys. This one-event-after-another schedule has made for some undesirable weekends that were chores to get through. You cannot blame the UFC for this trend. The UFC is a fight promotion that makes money based on promoting fights. Obviously, there is a demand for it. However, we have seen that the UFC is susceptible to canceling shows based on a main event falling apart. It seems short-sighted from a business standpoint, but I wish more cards throughout the year would have the anticipation level of a UFC 181. “Hendricks vs. Lawler 2” was a throwback to the days of having only four to six UFC cards a year.

I think 2003 was the best year in MMA history. The UFC put on amazing fight cards in every respect. The year started with UFC 41, which featured an amazing upset of Ricco Rodriguez on the end of Tim Sylvia’s right hand. UFC 42 gave rise to one of the first-ever high-level UFC welterweight title fights, as Matt Hughes defended his crown against a very game and battered Sean Sherk. UFC 43 was highlighted by Randy Couture’s victory over Chuck Liddell, and UFC 44 saw “The Natural” spank Tito Ortiz. On the eve of every one of those events, I slept little, scanning the forums and clicking through the Sherdog.com Fight Finder with anticipation; and those were only the offerings from the UFC.

Gone are the days of Pride Fighting Championships and the grand prix. Bellator is ramping up the importance of its cards, yet they still lack significance. The UFC still has plenty of top-shelf cards, but I would be lying if I said I can remember the last time there was night where I lost sleep due to anticipation.

Am I jaded? I don’t think so. I still love MMA more than any other sport, but as a hardcore fan and someone who must consume every fight, I would be lying if I said that seven hours of fight watching per event was entirely enjoyable. The fact is there are a lot of fights inside the UFC that just don’t matter much. On top of that, Bellator and World Series of Fighting prelims make it even harder to find something intriguing.

If I could have one wish, it would be to see less quantity and more quality, but with 45 events scheduled for 2015, it seems I won’t be getting my wish anytime soon. As I read this back, I can tell this will draw the ire of some readers, but ask yourself if you’re still as excited as ever for every MMA card on the horizon. I have a feeling that if you’re honest with yourself, your sentiments won’t be that far off from mine.

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