UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

So true. The last thing I want to see is Machida vs JonesII followed by Shogun vs JonesII followed by Rashad vs Jones II. Really hope that Gustafsson will be ready to challenge for the title late 12 early 13.

That's my line of thinking.

Look at Jones' path to a title shot, it's quite similar to what Gustaf has done thus far. Give Gustaf to Ryan Bader and should Gustaf win, I think that would be enough to challenge Jones/Hendo winner.

I really think Gustaf should be the guy after Hendo

[GiantYankee]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

That's my line of thinking.

Look at Jones' path to a title shot, it's quite similar to what Gustaf has done thus far. Give Gustaf to Ryan Bader and should Gustaf win, I think that would be enough to challenge Jones/Hendo winner.

I really think Gustaf should be the guy after Hendo

What if Bader wins? He doesn't get Jones right, but who does? I'm worried that a lack of contenders could force Jones up to HW too early.

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

What if Bader wins? He doesn't get Jones right, but who does? I'm worried that a lack of contenders could force Jones up to HW too early.

You could make an argument for a Rua rematch if he wins his next fight impressively and Gus loses.. He arguably beat Henderson and while he got destroyed by Bones , it was a short notice fight with Rua coming off of knee surgery.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

The most surprising thing I learned from UFC 145 is that Jones tried to get a major clothing sponsor (i.e. Nike, Reebok, Under Armour) and they weren't even interested.

Jones is young, good looking, isn't going to say or do anything controversial, is the current champion, and was fighting on a PPV that was going to have a buyrate. I think MMA fighting still has a stigma attached to it. I read a comment from a NBC Sports exec that said one of the reasons they weren't interested in extending their UFC TV deal was that they had trouble getting advertising.

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

The most surprising thing I learned from UFC 145 is that Jones tried to get a major clothing sponsor (i.e. Nike, Reebok, Under Armour) and they weren't even interested.

Jones is young, good looking, isn't going to say or do anything controversial, is the current champion, and was fighting on a PPV that was going to have a buyrate. I think MMA fighting still has a stigma attached to it. I read a comment from a NBC Sports exec that said one of the reasons they weren't interested in extending their UFC TV deal was that they had trouble getting advertising.

Its crazy. Mayweather is signed to Reebok and Jones can't get signed? I bet Jones will have a major deal after the buyrate comes out for 145.

Also that NBC Sports guy is full of ****. NBC aired Strikeforce before Showtime did. Comcast also owned NBC during the UFC negotiations and Comcast owned Versus was airing WEC and UFC events. They were the number #2 option for the UFC behind Spike. The setup would've been exactly like the Fox deal with NBC, Versus (for the Ultimate Fighter) and G4.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

Its crazy. Mayweather is signed to Reebok and Jones can't get signed? I bet Jones will have a major deal after the buyrate comes out for 145.

Also that NBC Sports guy is full of ****. NBC aired Strikeforce before Showtime did. Comcast also owned NBC during the UFC negotiations and Comcast owned Versus was airing WEC and UFC events. They were the number #2 option for the UFC behind Spike. The setup would've been exactly like the Fox deal with NBC, Versus (for the Ultimate Fighter) and G4.

I do think it's crazy Jones doesn't have a single "mainstream" sponsor (he doesn't have K Swiss anymore after Form Athletics went out of business). I think the UFC needs to do more to promote him year round. The UFC should be using Jones not only to promote himself but the whole company.

Honestly I expected the UFC to raise its profile after signing the Fox deal but it hasn't happened.

[MachoMyers]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

I do think it's crazy Jones doesn't have a single "mainstream" sponsor (he doesn't have K Swiss anymore after Form Athletics went out of business). I think the UFC needs to do more to promote him year round. The UFC should be using Jones not only to promote himself but the whole company.

Honestly I expected the UFC to raise its profile after signing the Fox deal but it hasn't happened.

I remember when WWE was negotiating with his rights about putting him in a video game that Dana met with Vince McMahon and talked about how WWE promotes its wrestlers. UFC the brand is really strong right now but the fighters aren't. UFC needs to do more somehow.

[allBthere]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

I do think it's crazy Jones doesn't have a single "mainstream" sponsor (he doesn't have K Swiss anymore after Form Athletics went out of business). I think the UFC needs to do more to promote him year round. The UFC should be using Jones not only to promote himself but the whole company.

Honestly I expected the UFC to raise its profile after signing the Fox deal but it hasn't happened.

I find the whole FOX and FUEL stuff gives off a really fake vibe to me, trying to be something it's not. Spike was better imo. Instead of trying to be like an NFL broadcast, they should keep their own feel to it - UFC on Spike was like UFC ppv lite haha. UFC on FOX is like, "we want to be like the NFL"

Friday Night Fights, Boxing after dark, HBO Boxing etc.. all FEEL like boxing, I find the UFC non ppv ones awkward. I'm also not a fan of current active fighters being commentators a la Mir, Florian etc. IT's not that they are bad at it, it's that they are not retired and it seems strange "why are they doing this"? to add to that just because somone is retired also doesn't mean they are ready for prime time TV. That Randy Couture and Jon Jones broadcast was very awkward and weak at the desk.

[TheShizNo1]

I just wish they'd stop using the NFL theme.

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

I find the whole FOX and FUEL stuff gives off a really fake vibe to me, trying to be something it's not. Spike was better imo. Instead of trying to be like an NFL broadcast, they should keep their own feel to it - UFC on Spike was like UFC ppv lite haha. UFC on FOX is like, "we want to be like the NFL"

Friday Night Fights, Boxing after dark, HBO Boxing etc.. all FEEL like boxing, I find the UFC non ppv ones awkward. I'm also not a fan of current active fighters being commentators a la Mir, Florian etc. IT's not that they are bad at it, it's that they are not retired and it seems strange "why are they doing this"? to add to that just because somone is retired also doesn't mean they are ready for prime time TV. That Randy Couture and Jon Jones broadcast was very awkward and weak at the desk.

I don't get what you are saying at all. Fox uses the same production package for EVERY sport. They use the robots for Nascar, NFL and MLB. They use the same stat graphics for every sport. The only thing that the UFC and the NFL have used at the same time is the NFL/Fox theme and that only happened twice during the two Fox broadcasts. The FX and Fuel broadcasts use the UFC/"Face the Pain" theme.

Also Mir has never called a Fox fight. He hasn't called a Zuffa fight since the WEC was merged. As for Florian, he is pretty much retired because of his back injury and he is one of the best color men in the business already. The only people I would rate slightly higher are Miletich and Rogan. Its no different than HBO using Roy Jones or Showtime using Antonio Tarver while they are still fighting.

Regarding Couture and Jones, That was the first time either of them were studio analysts so it should be expected that it would be awkward. Brian Stann (who is great in studio) will be the regular Fox studio analyst from here on out so that should improve.

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

I do think it's crazy Jones doesn't have a single "mainstream" sponsor (he doesn't have K Swiss anymore after Form Athletics went out of business). I think the UFC needs to do more to promote him year round. The UFC should be using Jones not only to promote himself but the whole company.

Honestly I expected the UFC to raise its profile after signing the Fox deal but it hasn't happened.

Keep in mind the Fox deal is only 4 mos old. Jones was the first fighter to get a Fox commercial (It sucked but he at least got one). The two Fox fights were absolute disappointments from a fight perspective (good ratings though). The FX/Fuel numbers are growing now that people realize the prelims are on FX and not Spike.

If a year from now Jones' profile is still low then I will blame the UFC but we need to remember how little time has passed. A year and a half ago, Jones was main eventing Versus cards, now he is the biggest star in the sport. Sometimes it takes a while for the mainstream to catch up.

[p_rushing]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

I find the whole FOX and FUEL stuff gives off a really fake vibe to me, trying to be something it's not. Spike was better imo. Instead of trying to be like an NFL broadcast, they should keep their own feel to it - UFC on Spike was like UFC ppv lite haha. UFC on FOX is like, "we want to be like the NFL"

The UFC wants that. I still think that it is in their best interest to move away from PPV and go more to FOX and cable. The NFL wouldn't be successful if it was on PPV.

[BlueNGold]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

Apparently Dana White said Jones/Hendo could happen in Calgary.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

Keep in mind the Fox deal is only 4 mos old. Jones was the first fighter to get a Fox commercial (It sucked but he at least got one). The two Fox fights were absolute disappointments from a fight perspective (good ratings though). The FX/Fuel numbers are growing now that people realize the prelims are on FX and not Spike.

If a year from now Jones' profile is still low then I will blame the UFC but we need to remember how little time has passed. A year and a half ago, Jones was main eventing Versus cards, now he is the biggest star in the sport. Sometimes it takes a while for the mainstream to catch up.

While it's true little time has passed, Jones has been extremely active when it comes to fighting. I thought the Shogun fight was a perfect storm to boost his star power (he took the Shogun fight on short notice, beat him, and stopped a crime before the fight). I think its time Jones either gets rid of Malki Kawa or brings in a business agent.

[aholbert32]

Re: UFC 145 - Jon "Bones" Jones Vs Rashad Evans, April 21

While it's true little time has passed, Jones has been extremely active when it comes to fighting. I thought the Shogun fight was a perfect storm to boost his star power (he took the Shogun fight on short notice, beat him, and stopped a crime before the fight). I think its time Jones either gets rid of Malki Kawa or brings in a business agent.

The whole short notice/stopped a crime is one of those stories that goes away after a few days and thats what it did. But it did boost his star power. NOBODY outside of MMA fans knew who Jon Jones was before the Rua fight. Now he just came off a potential 1 million buy PPV. All in 1 yr. Thats progress.

Fans just need to be patient. This is a transition period with the UFC potentially losing 4 of its biggest PPV stars in the last 2 yrs (Liddell and Lesnar gone, Rampage almost out the door and GSP injured). GSP didn't become a PPV star instantly. Same goes for Rampage and Liddell. It takes time.