http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=10888&zoneid=2 If Strike Force moves their CBS card up a week to compete with the WEC's first PPV, that is a HUGE return shot...as well as a brilliant one, against Zuffa. While Strike Force is clearly no match for the UFC at this point, to counter program against the WEC PPV, a PPV that many fans are angered over having to pay $44.99 for, and one that isn't getting anywhere near the hype a UFC PPV gets, especially considering that WEC only airs on Versus, and people with DirectTV (like myself) don't get Versus anymore, is a major blow against Zuffa. Strike Force certainly isn't in a position to damage the UFC, but they certainly can put a big dent in the WEC's PPV buyrate, especially with the loaded show they have scheduled for CBS (Henderson-Shields, King Mo-Mousasi, Melendez-Aoki). Things are getting very interesting. TFK
I personally think putting this card on PPV is bullshit and a poor choice on Zuffa anyway.:flip: So I am hoping Strikeforce kicks the shit out of it.:fightme:
That seems to be the consensus among MMA fans. I think it's way too early for a WEC PPV, but if they have to have one, it shouldn't be $45. Honestly, I think this may be the first step toward a WEC\UFC merger. If the UFC is gonna keep on expanding the way they plan, with 12-15 PPV's a year, plus all the live cards on Spike and now Versus, as well as any live cards on future networks they may deal with (ESPN, HBO, Fox, etc), they're gonna have to expand their roster, and adding the lighter weight classes is a much better way of doing that then signing more Phil Baroni's and Frank Trigg's to fill up your cards. And if the WEC PPV bombs, I think it's a very strong possibility that the WEC will be on it's way out. Fighters like Aldo, Faber, Brown, Torres and others could be legit PPV stars, but I think they need the UFC banner for it to happen. TFK
So many things to be pissed about. First, like TFK, I can't watch Versus cards anymore. Second, pushed to pay 44 bucks for a WEC card. Third, bickering and posturing by UFC and Strikeforce will ultimately only hurt the fans.
I really hope you're wrong there. The UFC would be stupid not to merge and have the lighter divisions. Guys like Faber, Aldo, Torres, Brown, put butts in seats and although might not sell PPV's on their own, they would make just stacked cards in the UFC ppv's(as you said). It would also put a huge kick to the balls of Strikeforce, as well.
They are already making Aldo vs Faber a damn WEC pay per view! When will they stop watering their product down and charging us the same for it?
Apparently the WEC card last night was pretty good. Of course, because I have DirectTV, I couldn't see it. I couldn't even find a stream. This really sucks because the UFC card on Versus is pretty stacked. TFK
Yeah, this is getting pretty shitty. I keep DirectTV for the NFL package and miss all the WEC cards now. I read the results and it seemed like there were a couple of good scraps. Hell, just seeing Torres subbed and Bowles stopped make it worthy of watching, yet I missed it. And next week I get to miss 3 decent UFC fights. This blows for the MMA fan.
That is what the WEC gets for being stupid enough to try to do a PPV card. They don't have near the star power to start doing PPV's. I would watch Strikeforce for free over a WEC PPV no doubt about it.
I completely agree Z. And for those who missed it. Torres was straight up manhandled by Joseph Benavidez. There was not one point in this fight that I thought Torres even had an upperhand. Benavidez was a beast. He trains with Faber and practically could be his twin as far as stylistically. Vicious ground and pound. Vicious takedowns with great timing. There was a takedown in round 2 where Torres through a right hook, JB ducked and went perfectly into the double leg. Textbook perfect. He went from elbows in the guard where he opened up Torres forehead to a guillotine choke. Rolled it over so he was actually mounted on top with the choke in and his legs almost in a figure 4. It was crazy, Torres tried to fight it, but when you see JB really squeeze the choke, the blood is just dumping out the gash on Torres's forehead. He tapped with a quickness then Brian Bowles is a tough dude, but Cruz just has ten times the speed. Was hitting him almost at will with the jab and Bowles could not catch up to him. It was obvious after the first round Bowles was just hoping on his one punch KO to come through. Cruz/JB should be very interesting.:cheer:
Thats a great analogy Bob. It was like Bowles just couldn't understand how to even get close enough to pull the trigger.
