probably between 7-37

Saturday 4:15 p.m E.T on Showtime.

I'd think it's a lot. Awhile ago people used to compare boxing to MMA, and said MMA was growing way faster and becoming more popular due to the fact that their cards were stacked with lots of #5-15 ranked contender guys. Where as boxing would have a big main event and then a bunch of crap fights.

Personally I think the mid ranked guys add a ton of value even to PPVs.

Then again this is usually hardcore fans talking about these things. No idea how it affects casuals. But even hardcores carry a lot of UFC cards, the vast majority of cards only do like 200-350k buys from hardcore fans and those buys are still important to keep the UFC going. Don't think they can survive off like 3-4 big cards a year.

I would argue if you even know the name Al Iaquinta you don't count as a casual fan. Just from gathering various tidbits from various sources I would estimate it's like 85% of viewers couldn't name a third fighter after Rousey and Conor.

The mid-tier fighters are vitally important, yes. 5 hour cards = more advertising $$. And if you're the UFC you want to develop your own talent. So the UFC very much needs guys like Al, but they don't need Al.

One of the best things about America is you are allowed to tell your boss to eat a dick. But you shouldn't act surprised when your boss does not give you a raise after you tell him to suck your chode. And try not to blame everyone but yourself when you go live with Ariel because your chodesucking boss won't give you a raise and it's sooooooooooooooo unfair

I thought it was funny that Al got booed again, you could tell he was ready to blow his top but Stann calmed him down.

To Augie's point, I once watched a PPV at a bar with a cover where literally nobody around me knew who the main event fighters were. They were there to watch the fights...

Ronda is retired and Conor might be as well. If he's not, the best they can hope for imo is he'll fight a few more times, like 3-5, while demanding a much bigger piece of the pie.

Pretty sure all their cards this year have done pretty bad numbers.

Seems now more than ever they need to rely on stacking cards with good fights and attempting to build new stars.

I don't think a matchup between two Al Iaquinta's adds many PPVs compared to a fight between two random #200 ranked guys. Like, very few. If the UFC made $30 per PPV the Al Iaquintas bout needs to shift 2100 more sales than the two #200 ranked guys on $5k + $5k. That's an extra ~1% on a non marquee PPV & I don't think Iaquinta brings that. If your argument is putting Al Iaquintas on PPV over #200 guy makes a better product which leads to more repeat customers - maybe. But #200 guys are skilled and plenty capable of producing a brawl or an ESPN top 10 moment.

MMA fighters get underpaid (less than their marginal product) because the UFC is a monopoly. That is tough to dispute. The guys that get underpaid are the ones who sell PPVs. Look at boxing purses - undercard guys like Al Iaquinta aren't getting $52k for a win. The Reebok deal is another matter.

This is the elephant in the room.

If Conor gets 75+ million, why in the world is he going to come back and seriously risk his health when the big paydays are 10-15 million?

The answer is: when he starts going broke. Expect a GSP-like sabbatical.

conor will absolutely do more fights. he got 10M total for the MSG fight. they can probably afford to bump him to 25M guaranteed and Conor is smart enough to realize that's still good money.

The UFC's brand is having most of the good talent.

This is all an example of the Sorites paradox:

Basically there's a tipping point of letting talent go where they stop becoming the UFC and become another MMA org. Where that is? No one knows, it doesn't come down to a single Iaquinta tho - we all agree.

Even if they do keep Conor fighting, does anyone really think he's good enough to stay dominant at LW? I certainly don't, which is why I say best case scenario he's got like 3-5 fights left. Once he starts eating more losses his value will keep dropping until he decides to retire.

And if he faces Khabib/GSP/Wrestler X and has his face smashed in, the math changes re: risk/reward.

if he gets the floyd payday, i'd bet my left nut his next fight is nate

Stolen from Reddit

wew lad. Snake got venom.

Starts at about 29:42 in

http://podbay.fm/show/1124228879/e/1...60?autostart=1

Which goes along with Nate holding out on fighting until then also.

If Nate came back and got whooped by RDA again or something, the legitimacy of his challenge against Conor looks farcical.

Conor may try to cherry pick opponents, but that will only last for so long regarding his pull and thus the amount he's worth being paid.

It's all going to come down to his spending habits.

He seems to really be playing the famous boxer role in that regard...

Must have been a Mighty Mouse card!

Funny you say that, and to be fair....
I'm pretty sure it was, because I remember someone saying their GF is bigger than him and she could prob kick his ass lol.

Travis Browne was there?

lol no

Woodley says he's got an opponent for July...

uh who? Conor? Nick? Those seem like the only two options and both are ridiculous. I guess there is a small hope that WME saw the backlash for the GSP vs Bisping fight and decided to make GSP vs Woodley. But I'd say Nick is the most likely.

highly unlikely it's diaz. it could be GSP, but if anyone wants action i'll bet it's robbie lawler, someone lay me some odds

i'll give you 4-1 odds for however much you want.


Augie, don't read this spoiler. It's not meant for you.

Gunnar Nelson