Message Boards

<Waits for Jim to go off>

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 11:23 AM ET  03.20 by Assassin: Simile Next year

<Waits for Jim to go off>

Or yoda or uno lol. Could it happen? Sure. Is it likely? I doubt it.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 11:43 AM ET  03.20 by SJ Pete

Or yoda or uno lol. Could it happen? Sure. Is it likely? I doubt it.

I never said it's happening.
But let me ask you something: when something odd happens, like a huge favorite losing in a strange fashion, or something hard to explain... how can you say for sure "this cannot happen in MMA"?

If UFC is the only promotion available, and although they are a business, they basically own the sport! And let's not forget that UFC as a business has the objective of making money, not further the sport (although they go hand in hand, we've seen decisions made by UFC that were not really for the sport, but simply to further their profits - or hinder their competition)....

To go further, let me add something more into perspective:

Accusations of cheating in sports is not new. We hear all the time about how NBA is fixed, Referees in soccer caught in betting scandals, etc. Yet, I don't think it is possible to really fix a team game. Too many players move teams, the owners of the losing teams would never agree, etc.

But MMA? There is only one promotion, so where would the disgruntled fighters go?
How CAN the prove?

And most conspicuous... who owns UFC? Exactly 2 guys who owns CASINOS in Vegas....

want more?

Come on now! To put out a conspiracy theory after Jones' most dominating performance is totally unfair. You know why Rua looked tentative its because he couldn't neutralize the speed or navigate the reach of Jones. Jones showed early in the fight that he wasn't scared of the moment or Rua. He established on their feet that he could hurt Shogun without Rua being in anykind of range to counter. Thats why Rua tried to start leaping in with punches he knew he was not going to walk Jones down and cut off distance without taking a lot of damage. On the ground Shogun tried what to go for sweeps and leg locks but Jones stopped them. Then inside the guard Jones was starting to tee off on him. If you want to say UFC owning Strikeforce is bad because of lack of competition from other promotions then I whole heartedly agree. If you want to say it increases the chances of fight fixing I won't disagree with that either. To say this fight could be examples of that is crazy. This wasn't Buster Douglass beating Mike Tyson this was a legit top five contender in Jones beating the best guy in the world at that weight class in Rua. If you casts doubts on this fight result then you have to cast aspersions on any decision ever in the UFC because White and the Fertitta's decide whose a contender and whose not. I'm sorry this short response has turned into a rant but I think its unfair for Jones/Rua to be evidence of some conspiracy.

Little problem here.

Rich Clementi would have been 155 champ had Zuffa been able- i could see a trilogy between him and Melvin rivaling Tito and Ken

Anderson Silva would have lost the title- no way Dana "fixes" that crap

Rampage stays 205 champ until the unhittable Lyoto comes along.

No chance Brock loses . . . . .

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 01:21 PM ET  03.20 by antwain

Come on now! To put out a conspiracy theory after Jones' most dominating performance is totally unfair. You know why Rua looked tentative its because he couldn't neutralize the speed or navigate the reach of Jones. Jones showed early in the fight that he wasn't scared of the moment or Rua. He established on their feet that he could hurt Shogun without Rua being in anykind of range to counter. Thats why Rua tried to start leaping in with punches he knew he was not going to walk Jones down and cut off distance without taking a lot of damage. On the ground Shogun tried what to go for sweeps and leg locks but Jones stopped them. Then inside the guard Jones was starting to tee off on him. If you want to say UFC owning Strikeforce is bad because of lack of competition from other promotions then I whole heartedly agree. If you want to say it increases the chances of fight fixing I won't disagree with that either. To say this fight could be examples of that is crazy. This wasn't Buster Douglass beating Mike Tyson this was a legit top five contender in Jones beating the best guy in the world at that weight class in Rua. If you casts doubts on this fight result then you have to cast aspersions on any decision ever in the UFC because White and the Fertitta's decide whose a contender and whose not. I'm sorry this short response has turned into a rant but I think its unfair for Jones/Rua to be evidence of some conspiracy.

I am not offering this as evidence.
I am just using as an example of what CAN happen if a company owns a sport.

I could have used the first Rua & machida also, but this is the first event after UFC purchased SF :)

And while I don't really agree with you (Rua fought plenty of guys as big or bigger than Jones and should have been ready for taking the fight to him).
In this fight Rua was simply not himself. And I am not now casting suspicion on the fight. But sometimes fighters fight out of character and endup losing. Happens all the time. I think this was one of those times for Rua.

But who is to say they didn't go to the octagon already knowing the result of the fight?

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 01:31 PM ET  03.20 by Bloggers Needed

Little problem here.Rich Clementi would have been 155 champ had Zuffa been able- i could see a trilogy between him and Melvin rivaling Tito and KenAnderson Silva would have lost the title- no way Dana "fixes" that crapRampage stays 205 champ until the unhittable Lyoto comes along.No chance Brock loses . . . . .

why is it?
How much money would they have made if Lesnar remained as champ? I bet that a well placed bet on Cain would have made more money.

But I didn't say this was then. Now Zuffa owns almost 85% of the sport. Give one more year and he will not co-promote with Dream probably killing that promotion also...

So do you think Hendo would go to Belator if he didn't like UFC's contract??? I don't think so...

The only possible conspiracy would be with the scale Jones got on for the weigh-in....he looked 40 lbs bigger than Shogun.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 02:20 PM ET  03.20 by TnerB57

What you're suggesting is less like WWE, and more like corrupt boxing promotions. Its not out of the realm of possibility.

well, yeah, but Boxing is not privately owned... WWE is :)

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 02:11 PM ET  03.20 by Roni

I am not offering this as evidence.I am just using as an example of what CAN happen if a company owns a sport.I could have used the first Rua & machida also, but this is the first event after UFC purchased SF :)And while I don't really agree with you (Rua fought plenty of guys as big or bigger than Jones and should have been ready for taking the fight to him).In this fight Rua was simply not himself. And I am not now casting suspicion on the fight. But sometimes fighters fight out of character and endup losing. Happens all the time. I think this was one of those times for Rua.But who is to say they didn't go to the octagon already knowing the result of the fight?

Shogun fought bigger guys yes but how many fighters put him at a considerable reach and speed disadvantage? You said he fought out of character how? Rua got hurt bad early in the first round did you expect him to keep coming forward eating combinations and countering at thin air? Shogun tried a leg kick in the second round but got countered by the reach of Jones. On the ground Shogun did what he usually does go for sweeps and leg locks. Jones gave him nothing on the ground and when Shogun used the closed guard he couldn't stop Jones from getting leverage on his strikes. I would buy Rua being tentative or rusty if he was in range to throw combinations and seemed a split second too slow and out of rythm. In this fight though he was never ever in his comfortable range.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 02:55 PM ET  03.20 by JimJ77 Can't make it up

I really do not know what Shoguns strategy was. Rogan asked him after what it was and he said something like, "I wanted to beat Jones wherever he took the fight." Really? WTF? Shogun was never aggressive, barely threw and leg kicks, and when he got Jones back to went for leg locks which were highly unlikely to get. Strange gameplan. He also gassed in the 1st round. Overall he looked like crap.

I think once Shogun knew he was going to be "owned" from his back, he lost all of his agressiveness.

If you noticed, as the ref was stopping the fight, Shogun was actually tapping out.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 02:55 PM ET  03.20 by JimJ77 Can't make it up

I really do not know what Shoguns strategy was. Rogan asked him after what it was and he said something like, "I wanted to beat Jones wherever he took the fight." Really? WTF? Shogun was never aggressive, barely threw and leg kicks, and when he got Jones back to went for leg locks which were highly unlikely to get. Strange gameplan. He also gassed in the 1st round. Overall he looked like crap.

exactly.
I counted during the fight 3 instances where Rua had positioning over Jones and all 3 he risked everything for a leglock and endup at the bottom taking a beating.

This rua is far from the guy who entered the ring against Machida twice...

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 11:50 AM ET  03.20 by Roni

I never said it's happening. But let me ask you something: when something odd happens, like a huge favorite losing in a strange fashion, or something hard to explain... how can you say for sure "this cannot happen in MMA"?If UFC is the only promotion available, and although they are a business, they basically own the sport! And let's not forget that UFC as a business has the objective of making money, not further the sport (although they go hand in hand, we've seen decisions made by UFC that were not really for the sport, but simply to further their profits - or hinder their competition)....

LMAO at this logic. Your "huge favorite" was a 2 to 1 underdog.
"Pride" apologists are littereing the MMA sites today with excuses.
How about giving it up to Jones for decimating an alltime great?
Another lame excuse to bash the UFC.

*littering