Will it happen and if so when?

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Daljit87
Date: September 16, 2011 at 09:49 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

The last 12 months have seen some major developments in the world of MMA and in particular the UFC. We've seen the promotions first stadium show, their groundbreaking network deal with FOX, a return to Brazil, the merger with the WEC, and with it the introduction of 2 new weight classes to the promotion, and, of course, Zuffa's purchase of Strikeforce.
In the coming months we can look forward to Overeem making his UFC debut (something many fans never thought they'd see), a return to Japan and the first TUF featuring 135/145lb fighters.
So what are the next big moves we hope/expect the UFC to make? A few have been talked about for a while, but will they ever come into fruition? I've compiled a list of of possible events, let me know if you think they'll happen and, if so, how long we'll have to wait.
1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown?
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG?
3. Introduction of a 125lb division?
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event?
5. Introduction of a women's division?
6. UFC purchase Bellator?
7. UFC/SF merger?
8. College MMA programs?

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Galgorian
Date: September 16, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

Daljit87 said:
1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown?
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG?
3. Introduction of a 125lb division?
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event?
5. Introduction of a women's division?
6. UFC purchase Bellator?
7. UFC/SF merger?
8. College MMA programs?
Click to expand...
Its almost getting to the point where I ask myself "What else CAN they do?" They almost have it all. But I think your list looks great. I don't think Dana is keen on Woman's MMA though. He says that their isn't enough good woman to create an entire division, but if you look back at his old interviews his reasoning was because he saw a really pretty girl get beat up by a girl who "looked like Randy Couture" and it made him feel uncomfortable. So deep down I just don't think its his thing.
What else might be possible...
- International versions of TUF
I think it would be awesome to have versions of TUF in the US, Canada, UK, Japan, Australia, Brazil, China, Somewhere else where each country crowns its own winner, and then they advance to The Ultimate Fighter World GP (or something to that extent) to declare who is the best unsigned talent in the world.
- Monthly FOX super shows, replacing pay-per-views.
- Reinventing Strikeforce as a place where marketable(but guys who may not be able to hang with the best) can go and still put on entertaining fights (Tito Ortiz, Rich Franklin, ect)
- Sponsors getting on board with the UFC, not just specific fighters. Nike brand UFC gloves?

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Waarheid
Date: September 16, 2011 at 10:15 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown? No.
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG? Yes, within two years.
3. Introduction of a 125lb division? Yes, 2012
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event? Yes, within two years.
5. Introduction of a women's division? Hopefully not.
6. UFC purchase Bellator? Don't care.
7. UFC/SF merger? No.
8. College MMA programs? Don't know, don't care.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: purgetheweak
Date: September 16, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown? Seriousy... This isn't happening, it's a bad idea anyways.
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG? That's really, really not up to the UFC.
3. Introduction of a 125lb division? That's already been announced.. Hardly breaking news.
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event? Where exactly would this be?
5. Introduction of a women's division? Hope not.
6. UFC purchase Bellator? More likely that Bellator will fill Strikeforce's old spot, they're already doing the same ratings.
7. UFC/SF merger? Think it's going to be more of UFC taking the half-decent fighters, and everyone else getting the can.
8. College MMA programs? Don't be retarded.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: MoJoJo
Date: September 16, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown?
Nope
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG?
Nope
3. Introduction of a 125lb division?
Yes
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event?
Would take your #1 to happen.
5. Introduction of a women's division?
Im down for it, Zuffa… No.
6. UFC purchase Bellator?
Wont happen
7. UFC/SF merger?
Basically already done.
8. College MMA programs?
Already have it, Its called D1 and D2 Wrestling

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: residency
Date: September 16, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

Daljit87 said:
1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown?
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG?
3. Introduction of a 125lb division?
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event?
5. Introduction of a women's division?
6. UFC purchase Bellator?
7. UFC/SF merger?
8. College MMA programs?
Click to expand...
1) No, it won't happen. I've held out hope after their past few fights, but I've kind of opened my eyes and noticed it won't happen.
2) Yes, but I'm saying 2014 at the very earliest.
3) Mid-2012.
4) Brazil's 2012 show.
5) Not happening in the UFC until there is enough depth in each division, and that could take years.
6) I don't see that happening for a very long time. Bellator aren't THAT big yet.
7) Mid 2012 at the earliest.
8) I doubt it, but who knows?

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: chriscrowing
Date: September 16, 2011 at 01:21 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown?
Maybe. If it does, it'll be in 2012.
If GSP beats Condit, he'll have no immediate, powerfully appealing challenger for the 170lbs strap - unless Ellenberger beats Shields and/or Diaz beats Penn (and convinces Dana & co. he'll play the game, second time around) and the pressure to vacate and step up will be almost irresistible.
I'd expect Silva to face the winner of Stann/Sonnen and then the winner of Leben/Munoz vs. Bisping/Miller and after he's done with that - should be late summer 2012, giving GSP plenty of time to build weight - and a late-summer/early autmn Silva vs. GSP bout would do REALLY well.
The only way I see this not happening is if either guy loses their belt or GSP flat out refuses to vacate and move up.
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG?
Yes, it'll happen eventually - the continued pressure towards this, combined with potential political cache of upcoming elections would make 2012 look plausible.
3. Introduction of a 125lb division?
Dana has mentioned this as something which is 'in the pipeline' for a while. Again, I reckon 2012 would be a plausible time for this to happen, probably using a tournament to crown the first champion and co-inciding with TUF series to help build knowledge of the roster.
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event?
Given the UFC's massive attendances in Canada and increasingly guaranteed sellouts wherever they go, this has to be a matter of time. Silva-GSP somewhere nice and central (Giants Stadium has been mentioned) with a solid undercard - off the top of my head, Brock-Mir III (assuming each man loses to Overeem & Nog) and a 'lesser' title fight should do the job.
5. Introduction of a women's division?
It makes sense, and I think it should happen but Dana has come out against this in the past. On the fence.
6. UFC purchase Bellator?
I don't think so. Bellator promote MMA in a very different way to Zuffa and are not in direct competition. I think Dana would appreciate Bellator thriving up to a point so he can cream off their best talent and 'promote' them to the UFC with offer of much more money. If anything it saves him having to scour the colleges of the US and the underground MMA of Brasil, Europe and Asia for awesome new talent. I think of this relationship in a similar way to WWE and ECW in the late 90s...with the caveat that Rebney is a better operator than Paul Heyman and won't run the company into the ground trying to compete with the bog dog in the yard.
7. UFC/SF merger?
Definite. I think SF is toast once the GP is over and the Showtime contract is up - which should coincide in the Spring. Two champions have been poached by the UFC, one is thinking about it (Dan Henderson) and of the rest, Dana either isn't interested (Tate, Cyborg, Rockhold) and we've heard strangely little about Melendez either way. Strikeforce is DONE...
8. College MMA programs?
No. For one thing, the establishment in colleges is hidebound to the extreme and I can't see the wrestling and boxing coaches being all that happy about this 'new fangled cagefighting' competing directly for campus space and students. For another thing, MMA is more something you train as a calling, a vocation, a passion and less something you do in high school hoping to get a scholarship...

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: ResoluteProtector
Date: September 16, 2011 at 01:23 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

Daljit87 said:
The last 12 months have seen some major developments in the world of MMA and in particular the UFC. We've seen the promotions first stadium show, their groundbreaking network deal with FOX, a return to Brazil, the merger with the WEC, and with it the introduction of 2 new weight classes to the promotion, and, of course, Zuffa's purchase of Strikeforce.
In the coming months we can look forward to Overeem making his UFC debut (something many fans never thought they'd see), a return to Japan and the first TUF featuring 135/145lb fighters.
So what are the next big moves we hope/expect the UFC to make? A few have been talked about for a while, but will they ever come into fruition? I've compiled a list of of possible events, let me know if you think they'll happen and, if so, how long we'll have to wait.
1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown?
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG?
3. Introduction of a 125lb division?
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event?
5. Introduction of a women's division?
6. UFC purchase Bellator?
7. UFC/SF merger?
8. College MMA programs?
Click to expand...
I see NY legalizing MMA in the next year.
I think the UFC has already said they will eventually have a 125lb division.
First 100,000 person attendance is at least a year off in my opinion.
UFC women's division? Not in the next ten years.
The rest.....

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Rookerman
Date: September 16, 2011 at 01:48 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

1. Late next year.
2. Definitely will happen, not sure when.
3. Early next year.
4. Next year in Brazil.
5. Don't think so.
6. No reason to at this time.
7. Very soon.
8. Don't think so (no time soon at least).

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: DeMo
Date: September 16, 2011 at 02:04 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

purgetheweak said:
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event? Where exactly would this be?
Click to expand...
in the days leading up to UFC129 first show in toronto Dana was saying the next stadium he wanted to do was cowboy stadium and that holds over 100k now without floor seats since they held a boxing fight there I think one of Pacquiao's, and he said they could do it better.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: buckhunter620
Date: September 16, 2011 at 06:22 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

I don't know when, but my answer is yes to all of them

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Daljit87
Date: September 16, 2011 at 08:47 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

chriscrowing said:
1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown?
Maybe. If it does, it'll be in 2012.
If GSP beats Condit, he'll have no immediate, powerfully appealing challenger for the 170lbs strap - unless Ellenberger beats Shields and/or Diaz beats Penn (and convinces Dana & co. he'll play the game, second time around) and the pressure to vacate and step up will be almost irresistible.
I'd expect Silva to face the winner of Stann/Sonnen and then the winner of Leben/Munoz vs. Bisping/Miller and after he's done with that - should be late summer 2012, giving GSP plenty of time to build weight - and a late-summer/early autmn Silva vs. GSP bout would do REALLY well.
The only way I see this not happening is if either guy loses their belt or GSP flat out refuses to vacate and move up.
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG?
Yes, it'll happen eventually - the continued pressure towards this, combined with potential political cache of upcoming elections would make 2012 look plausible.
3. Introduction of a 125lb division?
Dana has mentioned this as something which is 'in the pipeline' for a while. Again, I reckon 2012 would be a plausible time for this to happen, probably using a tournament to crown the first champion and co-inciding with TUF series to help build knowledge of the roster.
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event?
Given the UFC's massive attendances in Canada and increasingly guaranteed sellouts wherever they go, this has to be a matter of time. Silva-GSP somewhere nice and central (Giants Stadium has been mentioned) with a solid undercard - off the top of my head, Brock-Mir III (assuming each man loses to Overeem & Nog) and a 'lesser' title fight should do the job.
5. Introduction of a women's division?
It makes sense, and I think it should happen but Dana has come out against this in the past. On the fence.
6. UFC purchase Bellator?
I don't think so. Bellator promote MMA in a very different way to Zuffa and are not in direct competition. I think Dana would appreciate Bellator thriving up to a point so he can cream off their best talent and 'promote' them to the UFC with offer of much more money. If anything it saves him having to scour the colleges of the US and the underground MMA of Brasil, Europe and Asia for awesome new talent. I think of this relationship in a similar way to WWE and ECW in the late 90s...with the caveat that Rebney is a better operator than Paul Heyman and won't run the company into the ground trying to compete with the bog dog in the yard.
7. UFC/SF merger?
Definite. I think SF is toast once the GP is over and the Showtime contract is up - which should coincide in the Spring. Two champions have been poached by the UFC, one is thinking about it (Dan Henderson) and of the rest, Dana either isn't interested (Tate, Cyborg, Rockhold) and we've heard strangely little about Melendez either way. Strikeforce is DONE...
8. College MMA programs?
No. For one thing, the establishment in colleges is hidebound to the extreme and I can't see the wrestling and boxing coaches being all that happy about this 'new fangled cagefighting' competing directly for campus space and students. For another thing, MMA is more something you train as a calling, a vocation, a passion and less something you do in high school hoping to get a scholarship...
Click to expand...
Thanks for the comment dude, always good to get a bit of insight into the thought process behind someones answer.
Agree with most of what you're saying here, slightly less optimistic about 1/2 though. I think you're right in saying if #1 does happen it'll be next year, but it just seems less and less likely with every passing day. I'm starting to lose a bit interest now as well, it should have happened this year in my opinion. I just don't think GSP has the desire to move up, which is fair enough, he shouldn't be forced into that move, but it means us fans miss out on watching the #1 & #2 P4P guys throw down.
As for #2, I also believe it definitely will happen but I think we're more likely to happen in 2013/14...hope you're right though!
Also slightly more optimistic about #6, I think Bellator are developing nicely and by around 2014/15 I think they'll have a talent pool similar to SF just before the UFC poached Shields and bought them out. They've made some smart moves getting in talented youngsters with a lot of potential (Mann, Chandler, Askren etc.) who could develop into future top 10 guys in their respective weight classes. If/when they get to (or above) the level SF was at the UFC will start showing interest. I think Bellator's structure and Rebney's scouting ability would make it a better 'Minor League' or feeder organisation than SF as well (which I know a lot of fans are interested in seeing).

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: themmasupreme
Date: September 16, 2011 at 10:59 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

The Flyweights are coming over early next year Danas already said it's happening, and I cannot wait for them to introduce the 125ers into the UFC.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: mma_guru333
Date: September 17, 2011 at 03:13 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

Daljit87 said:
1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown?
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG?
3. Introduction of a 125lb division?
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event?
5. Introduction of a women's division?
6. UFC purchase Bellator?
7. UFC/SF merger?
8. College MMA programs?
Click to expand...
1) It's still possible, late next year, or not at all would be my guess. I lean towards not at all.
2) I think it could happen next year, more exposure with the Fox deal could really help out with this.
3) Absolutely, probably early 2012.
4) Yes, probably within 18 months.
5) No, there is not enough interest, and not enough money to make it worth anything in Dana's eyes.
6) I don't think so, anything's possible, but I think Bellator will stick around for a while but it'll never come close to competing with the UFC.
7) I'd say the merger is already in process. I don't think we'll see a complete "merger" but just a slow rooting out of all the "worthwhile" fightings in Strikeforce.
8) Eh, I've heard solid arguments both ways, but I'm skeptical that this ever happens. Maybe something like BJJ, but I don't think there will ever be MMA.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: BaconBits
Date: September 17, 2011 at 09:12 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown?
Click to expand...
Highly unlikely. I don't think GSP wants a fight where knows he'd get smoked.
2. New York legalizes MMA, UFC put on show at MSG?
Click to expand...
Only if the old boxing money greasing the right palms in New York politics goes away. Doubtful that happens any time soon
3. Introduction of a 125lb division?
Click to expand...
That's already in the works.
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event?
Click to expand...
Only if they put Brock Lesnar, GSP, Anderson Silva and Rashad Evans (the UFC's highest draws) on the same card, which I highly doubt they'd do. Even then, there's no guarantee that it would sell well at the gate. The ticket prices would have to be nasty high to afford all their salaries. That's just bad business and Zuffa didn't bring the UFC to where it is now with blatantly bad business practices.
5. Introduction of a women's division?
Click to expand...
Dana has said many times that he has no interest in a UFC women's division. I tend to agree with him that it's a bad idea. There's a large segment of society that is uncomfortable with the idea of women punching each other in the face.
6. UFC purchase Bellator?
Click to expand...
Only if Bellator is on the verge of failure. That's when Zuffa buys. I don't see that happening any time soon (but it will happen someday)
7. UFC/SF merger?
Click to expand...
That's going to happen when the heavyweight "grand prix" is done. The most telling sign is when long time Strikeforce poster boy Cung Le was shuttled to the UFC. Remnants of Strikeforce will hang on for a while (i.e. Women's fights and the Challengers series), but for all intents and purposes, as a viable "big time' promotion, go ahead and stick a fork in Strikeforce.
8. College MMA programs?
Click to expand...
Never going to happen on a wide spread scale.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: shaun00
Date: September 17, 2011 at 02:34 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/will-it-happen-and-if-so-when.42089/

Daljit87 said:
1. Anderson Silva vs. GSP for the MW crown?
2. New York legalises MMA, UFC put on show at MSG?
3. Introduction of a 125lb division?
4. First 100,000 person attendance at an MMA event?
5. Introduction of a women's division?
6. UFC purchase Bellator?
7. UFC/SF merger?
8. College MMA programs?
Click to expand...
1.Never
2.yes,2020
3.yes,2013
4.No clue
5.Never
6.yes,2014
7.yes,2012
8.yes,2020