It was an off week on this planet of MMA this previous weekend, with zero main occasions happening. And whereas it’s all the time good to have a while off, we’re again at it this weekend with UFC Perth on Saturday.
Sadly, UFC Perth isn’t the best occasion of all-time, and as such, folks aren’t all that interested by speaking about it. What they’re into speaking about is Ronda Rousey’s attainable comeback, Kelvin Gastelum lacking weight, and, in fact, the UFC White Home card.
Ronda Rousey’s comeback?
“Kayla Harrison would annihilate Ronda if Ronda returned to UFC and acquired a right away title shot, wouldn’t she?”
I can hear the sounds of Dana White and Paramount executives salivating over the opportunity of a Ronda Rousey return. Hell, if Paramount knew Rousey could be coming again, the value of the deal might be nearer to $1.2 billion a yr than $1.1. billion.
Sadly, it’s unlikely that Rousey will return. I do know she just lately stated “by no means say by no means” about an MMA comeback, and no MMA fighter is ever actually retired, however I simply can’t see it for Rousey. For one factor, her exit was so unhealthy. Now, Rousey purchased and paid for a few of that, however the MMA neighborhood largely didn’t precisely ship her out in type. Even with years of house, it’s laborious to see what the downside could be, particularly since she might simply return to skilled wrestling. I’m not tremendous versed within the WWE world, but it surely looks as if they all the time have outdated stars crop again up and the followers love them for it. If Rousey was going to return to something, WWE appears the way in which to go.
Then once more, crazier issues have occurred. If 20 years in the past you advised me the UFC could be happening on the White Home garden in the future, I’d have thought you’d misplaced your thoughts. It’s a humorous outdated world, and the weirdest issues can occur. Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey each making a return to combat at UFC White Home could be fairly exceptional, and I assume it’s attainable. So let’s faux for a second.
Rousey goes on Instagram and pronounces that after eight years away from the game, she’s coming again to the UFC one closing time. She’s fallen in love with the game, and this time it’s not about ego or championships, it’s about love of the sport. The followers obtain her warmly. In any case, the game is desperately in want of stars, and Rousey has come again with a constructive perspective. And, in fact, the UFC isn’t mucking about. Rousey vs. Harrison for the 135-pound strap at UFC White Home. The Battle of Judo.
Issues get a bit chippy within the build-up. Whereas Rousey has a unique method this go round, Harrison needs to construct up the drama. Many issues are stated about their previous coaching collectively and their judo match 20 years in the past. Harrison says Rousey wasn’t half the judoka she was (true), and Rousey says Harrison is simply copying her life. Pressure builds.
Combat Week comes. Rousey is a big underdog. Harrison appears to be like like demise attempting to make 135 kilos. She does it. Rousey has a a lot simpler weight lower. Folks discuss themselves into Rousey having an opportunity. Isn’t that how the Disney story would finish?
Nope. It’s a sanctioned mauling. A salmon would have extra probability in opposition to a bear. Harrison tosses Rousey within the air like a toddler. Ippon after ippon for the two-time Olympic gold medalist. Rousey has been overwhelmed up and he or she’s been dominated, however she’s by no means been HOSSED earlier than. Harrison HOSSES her, lastly ending issues with an armbar, one closing exclamation level on her dominance.
Rousey leaves MMA once more, however this time she’s not less than cool about it. And whereas it’s not the storybook ending, it’s a greater one than she acquired final time round.
“With latest notable weight struggles this yr, together with however not restricted to guys like Kelvin Gastelum, Losene Keita, Bryan Battle, and Brian Ortega, what could be the perfect deterrent to keep away from weight misses sooner or later?
“A bigger fantastic, a right away transfer as much as a heavier division, a suspension to be added on to submit combat suspensions (like accidents/injury sustained within the bout, or a PED failure), or a right away launch? Or would one other resolution be higher to assist deter weight missers?“
So this isn’t precisely one thing new, but it surely’s however an incredible query.
First off, you’re by no means going to eliminate weight misses as a result of we’re not going to eliminate weight-cutting. It’s such a deeply ingrained a part of the game that it’s laborious to think about how the tradition might be modified at this level. It doesn’t matter that chopping weight is nearly actually going to result in the primary true disaster within the UFC sooner or later; the fighters received’t change. They need the sting they consider they achieve from it, in order that they’re going to chop weight, and there’s no solution to cease it. And in the event that they’re going to chop weight, some are going to overlook. It’s a numbers sport.
So far as deterrents, I’m skeptical that the majority of them would work. Typically, punishment will not be an incredible deterrent for something, however particularly not with one thing like weight-cutting as a result of it’s not premeditated. Fighters suppose they will make it, after which they screw up. Oops! And to be trustworthy, I’m already iffy about fining fighters. UFC fighters don’t make a ton already, and taking a few of that pay isn’t the perfect. And a suspension doesn’t really feel prefer it does something? However possibly there’s one thing there.
The very best plan of action, I feel, is for the UFC — or no matter promotion — to have a tough stance in opposition to it with clearly outlined guidelines. That means that, for a primary offense, for those who miss weight by greater than a pound, combat is off and the non-offending fighters will get present and win cash, offending fighter goes dwelling. Second offense, identical final result besides offending fighter is routinely moved up a weight class. That seems like it is going to remedy the difficulty as finest as attainable as a result of it removes the anomaly and units clear boundaries.
“Who headlines the primary UFC on Paramount+ card and also you’re minimal gymnastics rating it wants for it to be a profitable occasion? Scale is 1 to 10, 1 being so unhealthy it kills almost all momentum for the Paramount deal, 10 means its an ideal occasion and paramount provides 3 extra years to the deal because of the occasions success.”
Nice query. My finest guess is the primary Paramount+ occasion is NOT a numbered UFC occasion (AKA a pay-per-view occasion). Traditionally, when the UFC begins a brand new TV rights deal, they ease into issues with an enormous Combat Night time card, earlier than going to the numbered stuff. For the file, I’m predicting Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett for the primary numbered occasion of 2026, however I digress.
So the primary occasion might be going to be a highway present, not an APEX card, and it’s going to be headlined by an enormous combat, however not a mega combat. A number of prospects bounce out to me, however one stands above the remaining: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Joshua Van for the flyweight title.
It’s a title combat, and it’s a kind of fights that’s, at finest, a co-main on a numbered occasion, so it’s good. Additionally, Pantoja is among the prime pound-for-pound fighters within the sport and beloved by hardcore followers. However most significantly, the primary occasion on Paramount needs to be a banger, and that is it. Pantoja is rarely in a boring combat, and I’ll eat my hat if this one finally ends up being a snoozer. It’s exactly what they need to be seeking to convey to the desk.
As for a gymnastics rating, they want a strong 7 out of the gate. Something higher, and that’s gravy, however something worse, and issues appear to be a continuation of the ESPN deal, which isn’t an incredible factor.
“Ought to the fighter’s gear for UFC White Home replicate that worn by the frequent man 250 years in the past, as a tasteful & respectful tribute to your nice nation?”
If Michael Chandler doesn’t stroll out sporting a white powdered wig, what are we even doing right here, folks? In an ideal world, one fighter recreates Washington crossing the Delaware for his walkout, however there are roughly 400 nice concepts to have enjoyable with this, and we’re gonna have the identical outdated nonsense of dudes rocking Venum gear or no matter, and it’ll drive me up the wall.
Thanks for studying, and thanks to everybody who despatched in tweets (Xs?)! Do you’ve got any burning questions on issues not less than considerably associated to fight sports activities? Then you definitely’re in luck, as a result of you possibly can ship your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew, and I’ll reply my favourite ones! Doesn’t matter in the event that they’re topical or insane, simply as long as they’re good. Thanks once more, and see y’all subsequent week.
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