MMA needs more coverage on ESPN.

[Dave Gray]

The one thing I'd like the UFC to do is make it more accessible through network TV, rather than going all PPV and alienating a big chunk of audience.

I still watch WEC, which I like just as much.  Those little guys fight like crazy.  My favorite fighter right now is Uriah Faber.  But it'd be great to see regularly scheduled bouts every single week in a specific time slot, with a defined ladder of contenders.

[Tepop84]

The one thing I'd like the UFC to do is make it more accessible through network TV, rather than going all PPV and alienating a big chunk of audience.

I still watch WEC, which I like just as much.  Those little guys fight like crazy.  My favorite fighter right now is Uriah Faber.  But it'd be great to see regularly scheduled bouts every single week in a specific time slot, with a defined ladder of contenders.

yea urijah is fun to watch.  i dont know if he will ever be able to beat mike brown though. Kimbo is going to be on UFC's the ultimate fighter show.  He will most likely be exposed as a hack.

[bsmooth]

yea urijah is fun to watch.  i dont know if he will ever be able to beat mike brown though. Kimbo is going to be on UFC's the ultimate fighter show.  He will most likely be exposed as a hack.

Faber is a stud. I was hoping the rematch would be better after watching Faber get caught in the first fight. Too bad he broke his hand, as I believe he can beat Brown. These two could have a great rivalry ala Ali v Frazier.

[BigDaddyFin]

I hope they catch on and get a deal.  I doubt seriously that it will be a network but even if they get a deal with a basic cable channel ie Spike TV it would do a lot for them. 

[Dave Gray]

yea urijah is fun to watch.  i dont know if he will ever be able to beat mike brown though. Kimbo is going to be on UFC's the ultimate fighter show.  He will most likely be exposed as a hack.

I think that not only can he beat Brown, but would've without the broken hand.  In Faber/Brown II, Urijah had Brown in some pretty severe chokes on more than one occasion, but with the broken hand, he didn't have the grip to apply enough pressure to close the deal. 

They went toe to toe for 5 rounds and the guy's hand was broken in the first round.  He was stuck using only elbows.  Here's the x-ray of his right hand after the fight:

[Dave Gray]

Kimbo is going to be on UFC's the ultimate fighter show.  He will most likely be exposed as a hack.

I don't know.  Kimbo is a beast with fists; he's just inexperienced with dealing with the ground game and submissions.  Once he gets a good trainer and learns more about the different techniques, he could be dangerous.  He reminds me of Butterbean, kinda.

[Fau Teixeira]

i think the answer to your original question is:

because espn doesn't have any self interest in promoting MMA

if they had a contract to show MMA, they'd be talking about it 24-7 on sportscenter

just like they hype up the big 10 vs. the sec on espn .. because abc has a big 10 deal .. even though everyone knows the SEC is the better more competitive conference

[bsmooth]

I don't know.  Kimbo is a beast with fists; he's just inexperienced with dealing with the ground game and submissions.  Once he gets a good trainer and learns more about the different techniques, he could be dangerous.  He reminds me of Butterbean, kinda.

Where? I have yet to see any real striking skills much above a street brawler.

[Dave Gray]

Where? I have yet to see any real striking skills much above a street brawler.

The fact that he's a street brawler doesn't discount his abilities.  He's rough around the edges.  Even in his EliteXC fights, he showed that he can fight standing up -- it's the ground that gives him trouble.

...and on top of that, he's got the physical gifts.  The guy is pretty large and strong.

[Dave Gray]

i think the answer to your original question is:

because espn doesn't have any self interest in promoting MMA

if they had a contract to show MMA, they'd be talking about it 24-7 on sportscenter

just like they hype up the big 10 vs. the sec on espn .. because abc has a big 10 deal .. even though everyone knows the SEC is the better more competitive conference

I think that this is the right answer.  I wonder why ESPN and UFC don't snuggle up.  It's not like ESPN has more compelling programming in every slot.  They have room for the dog show and spelling bee and bass fishing and crap like that.

[bsmooth]

The fact that he's a street brawler doesn't discount his abilities.  He's rough around the edges.  Even in his EliteXC fights, he showed that he can fight standing up -- it's the ground that gives him trouble.

...and on top of that, he's got the physical gifts.  The guy is pretty large and strong.

The last fight I saw him in, against a smaller and trained opponent, ended less than a minute in the first round with him cowering defensless while the other guy was hitting him. It never went to the ground.
He is a taller, black version of Tank Abbott. All power and brawling, and not much else.

[Tepop84]

Kimbo doesn't have much power at all though.  He just looks really strong, but he has poor form when he punches.  Look at his fight against james thompson.  the guy had been knocked out in the first round in 4 out his last 8 fights. It took kimbo 3 rounds before getting a bullshit stoppage.

[MaineDolFan]

^^I agree 100%.  Strength, of course, plays a lot into how effective your strikes are.  But so much more of that is form and training.  The hardest punches I've ever taken were from guys that were 50-60 pounds lighter than I am but they have amazing form and knew where to draw their strength.

That said - you put Slice into the ring with someone like Brock Lesner and it wouldn't be pretty.  Lesner would end that fight in under one minute.

[Dave Gray]

^^I agree 100%.  Strength, of course, plays a lot into how effective your strikes are.  But so much more of that is form and training.  The hardest punches I've ever taken were from guys that were 50-60 pounds lighter than I am but they have amazing form and knew where to draw their strength.

That said - you put Slice into the ring with someone like Brock Lesner and it wouldn't be pretty.  Lesner would end that fight in under one minute.

I agree with you.  Kimbo is unpolished, but if he gets the training, he can put his physical talents to good use.  ...that's all I'm saying.

(and I think he's a better stand-up striker than either of you are giving him credit for.  ....but we'll see.)

[Tepop84]

^^I agree 100%.  Strength, of course, plays a lot into how effective your strikes are.  But so much more of that is form and training.  The hardest punches I've ever taken were from guys that were 50-60 pounds lighter than I am but they have amazing form and knew where to draw their strength.

That said - you put Slice into the ring with someone like Brock Lesner and it wouldn't be pretty.  Lesner would end that fight in under one minute.

If Lesnar had a reason to finish the match in under 20 seconds. I would happily lay odds that he could do it.