UFC Options

[Robert]

Any UFC fans?
I got bored with it a long time ago but now I'm interested again.
I happen to catch a marathon rerun of the ultimate fighter show (season 8). I normally can't stand reality shows but found this one entertaining. It was interesting to get a behind the scenes look at what their training regiment is like. I ended up liking it so much, I downloaded or ebayed the other 7 seasons of the show. Now I'm really hooked on watching all the UFC fights. Back in the early glory days it was amazing to watch Royce Gracie completely outclass every opponent. Now I see the same overwhelming technical abilities in Lyoto Machida. It's amazing this guy hasn't been given a title shot yet with a 14-0 record in MMA.
He already easily beaten several previous title holders.
I guess a lot of people have complained his fights are boring. I think he's the most interesting people to watch because his style is completely different than anyone else fighting. Everything from his stance to his striking method is just so far beyond everyone else out there right now. For example he landed a perfect switch-kick in his last match, never seen that before in a UFC fight. I read on 1 site which compiles fight stats, Lyoto Machida lands the highest percentage of strike of all the fighters in the UFC. Not only that, he also has one of the lowest percentages of received strikes, where an opponent tries to hit him an succeeds. It will be interesting to see how well he fights after taking a lot of damage, because it's never happened in his previous 14 fights.

I predict once he gets a title shot in the 205lb division, he will probably set a new record for the longest winning streak.

[Robert]

I remember both of those guys from back in the day. You have to love it, a 5 minute intro to the fight, then the actual fight only last 36 seconds.
Sadly you'll never see real worldwide matches due to the strict contracts these guys fight under. I love the UFC but Dana White is a P.O.S. bald white Don King.
For example if you've every watched the show "The Ultimate Fighter", they always talk about that golden 6 figure contract. Well it's really not that great.
It's 6 figures over 3 years. 3 fights per year with this purse.
1st year 12,000/fight with a $12,000 win bonus
2nd year 16,000/fight with a $16,000 win bonus
3rd year 22,000/fight with a $22,000 win bonus
You can win $300,000 over 3 years but you have to win every single fight, not what most people would consider a real 6 figure contract. If your good, you can make a lot of money but it's misleading how much most people make.

Someone else who is under rated right now is Forrest Griffin. Not a technical fighter, just plain 'ol badass.
In one of his early fights, while trying to make a name for himself. He suffered a separated shoulder in the 1st round, then came back an won the 2nd round by knock out.
Then in 2003 during another fight, his left arm was partial broken blocking a high kick, then completely snapped a later when it hit his opponents shoulder. He continued the round an knocked the guy out 15 seconds later. He didn't realize his arm was completely broken until after he won the fight. There is still a big knot on his left forearm where the bone didn't heal correctly. Sadly Griffin broke his hand in his last fight with Rashad Evans, he will now be out all of '09