Comments on: Opportunity knocked: A look at personnel change in the UFC http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/ UFC news, event schedules, fight analysis, Octagon predictions, UFC fighters and MMA thoughts Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:16:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: areyoujellin http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-320751 areyoujellin Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:05:54 +0000 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-320751 crocop is joke in the octagon, he needs to go back to fighting bums and people not in his weight class to win. But i admit that seeing any kind of politician get KO'd with a head kick is awosome crocop is joke in the octagon, he needs to go back to fighting bums and people not in his weight class to win. But i admit that seeing any kind of politician get KO’d with a head kick is awosome

]]> By: Ryan http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-313976 Ryan Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:27:43 +0000 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-313976 brock has a GIANT following from WWE. UFC gained a lot of fans last UFC and I would say Dana will feel like he got his money worth (even with a loss) once those PPV #s come in. why is tim syliva bitching about brocks pay by the way? he is the most boring fighter ever who would not sell shit if he headlined a PPV on his own. my 2 cents :) brock has a GIANT following from WWE. UFC gained a lot of fans last UFC and I would say Dana will feel like he got his money worth (even with a loss) once those PPV #s come in.

why is tim syliva bitching about brocks pay by the way? he is the most boring fighter ever who would not sell shit if he headlined a PPV on his own.

my 2 cents :)

]]> By: Craig http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-313281 Craig Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:24:31 +0000 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-313281 Did Cro Cop run away from the UFC. Yeah, he kinda did. His "legacy" is somewhat tarnished now. But, he's still one of the great fighters we've seen. And, when he and Fedor fight again (which is going to happen), I think we'll see how good Cro Cop is again. As far as Arlovski goes, yeah, he's not the fighter he was when he won the title. He's a lil more timid in the ring. But, the guy can still fight. And, if given the opportunity, that HW title will be his again. You cant dog Arlovski. He lost to Sylvia and beat 2 opponents he was supposed to beat, and then got ridiculed for it. AA will show everyone he still has it in Columbus.[quote comment="311591"]Andrei is going to comeback in spectacular fashion. (I hope)...At least when Arlovski was fighting timidly he still won. I've said it numerous times before, no way should he be 1-2 against Tim. He got over aggressive trying to finish Tim the second time. The third time he destroyed his leg in the first round. Then he came back knocked Marcio Cruz out from the bottom. He then has one boring fight against Werdum a BJJ master who tries to pull guard and lies on the ground while Herb Dean stupidly waits half a minute to stand him up. One boring fight that Arlovski shouldn't have had, that's it. Hell he fought to win because they said with a win he'd get another shot at the title. His dispute is over money, Dana and co. won't give him what he wants, what M-1 can give him, so to save face and not look scabby they just say he was boring, had lost the fire blah blah blah. The heavyweight division is screaming out for Arlovski to tear through everyone again. He's a killer. If they lose him, the division loses a lot of credibility. I want to see: AA vs. GG AA vs. Vera AA vs. Nogueira AA vs. anyone. He will beat Nog. It will never go to the ground. Actually I would really like to see more of Andrei's ground game. I don't mean against Nog, no one should go to ground with him unless your name is Fedore. Arlovski to take Tim down and submit him...again[/quote] Those fights would be aight, but I'd like to see AA vs Cheik Congo (if he wins against Herring). AA vs Mir. AA vs Cro Cop would've made a lot of sense to me. Winner stays. Loser goes. But, oh well. Did Cro Cop run away from the UFC. Yeah, he kinda did. His “legacy” is somewhat tarnished now. But, he’s still one of the great fighters we’ve seen. And, when he and Fedor fight again (which is going to happen), I think we’ll see how good Cro Cop is again.

As far as Arlovski goes, yeah, he’s not the fighter he was when he won the title. He’s a lil more timid in the ring. But, the guy can still fight. And, if given the opportunity, that HW title will be his again. You cant dog Arlovski. He lost to Sylvia and beat 2 opponents he was supposed to beat, and then got ridiculed for it.

AA will show everyone he still has it in Columbus.[quote comment=”311591″]Andrei is going to comeback in spectacular fashion. (I hope)…At least when Arlovski was fighting timidly he still won. I’ve said it numerous times before, no way should he be 1-2 against Tim. He got over aggressive trying to finish Tim the second time. The third time he destroyed his leg in the first round.

Then he came back knocked Marcio Cruz out from the bottom. He then has one boring fight against Werdum a BJJ master who tries to pull guard and lies on the ground while Herb Dean stupidly waits half a minute to stand him up. One boring fight that Arlovski shouldn’t have had, that’s it. Hell he fought to win because they said with a win he’d get another shot at the title. His dispute is over money, Dana and co. won’t give him what he wants, what M-1 can give him, so to save face and not look scabby they just say he was boring, had lost the fire blah blah blah.

The heavyweight division is screaming out for Arlovski to tear through everyone again. He’s a killer. If they lose him, the division loses a lot of credibility.

I want to see:

AA vs. GG
AA vs. Vera
AA vs. Nogueira

AA vs. anyone. He will beat Nog. It will never go to the ground. Actually I would really like to see more of Andrei’s ground game. I don’t mean against Nog, no one should go to ground with him unless your name is Fedore. Arlovski to take Tim down and submit him…again[/quote]

Those fights would be aight, but I’d like to see AA vs Cheik Congo (if he wins against Herring). AA vs Mir. AA vs Cro Cop would’ve made a lot of sense to me. Winner stays. Loser goes. But, oh well.

]]> By: Craig http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-313267 Craig Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:19:22 +0000 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-313267 Did Cro Cop run away from the UFC. Yeah, he kinda did. His "legacy" is somewhat tarnished now. But, he's still one of the great fighters we've seen. And, when he and Fedor fight again (which is going to happen), I think we'll see how good Cro Cop is again. As far as Arlovski goes, yeah, he's not the fighter he was when he won the title. He's a lil more timid in the ring. But, the guy can still fight. And, if given the opportunity, that HW title will be his again. You cant dog Arlovski. He lost to Sylvia and beat 2 opponents he was supposed to beat, and then got ridiculed for it. AA will show everyone he still has it in Columbus. Did Cro Cop run away from the UFC. Yeah, he kinda did. His “legacy” is somewhat tarnished now. But, he’s still one of the great fighters we’ve seen. And, when he and Fedor fight again (which is going to happen), I think we’ll see how good Cro Cop is again.

As far as Arlovski goes, yeah, he’s not the fighter he was when he won the title. He’s a lil more timid in the ring. But, the guy can still fight. And, if given the opportunity, that HW title will be his again. You cant dog Arlovski. He lost to Sylvia and beat 2 opponents he was supposed to beat, and then got ridiculed for it.

AA will show everyone he still has it in Columbus.

]]> By: blah http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-312940 blah Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:21:52 +0000 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-312940 [quote comment="311142"]Blame Arlovski for Werdum not doing anything. I see how it is. Arlovski is top 3 heavyweight in the world in my opinion. The UFC will eventually be sorry they lost him. Cro Cop on the other hand may need to stick with Dream.[/quote] I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD SEE THIS! and sylvia also can be a boring fighter so thats why arlovski gets the bad rep. As a fighter, the most important thing should be winning! if you can do it with entertainment though, thats icing...but its all about styles, throw him a stand up fighter and u see excitement from the pit bull any day! look at werdum, he proved it with gonzaga that his style was the reason why it dictates a slower fight. [quote comment=”311142″]Blame Arlovski for Werdum not doing anything. I see how it is. Arlovski is top 3 heavyweight in the world in my opinion. The UFC will eventually be sorry they lost him. Cro Cop on the other hand may need to stick with Dream.[/quote]

I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD SEE THIS! and sylvia also can be a boring fighter so thats why arlovski gets the bad rep. As a fighter, the most important thing should be winning! if you can do it with entertainment though, thats icing…but its all about styles, throw him a stand up fighter and u see excitement from the pit bull any day! look at werdum, he proved it with gonzaga that his style was the reason why it dictates a slower fight.

]]> By: tallimeca http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-312599 tallimeca Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:28:22 +0000 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-312599 [quote post="4927"]I see, good points. So when Fedor and his management team recognize the one-sided structure of UFC's contract where the idea is "employment at will" and rejects this notion, hes a tool that is afraid to face top competition. If he does sign, then he is dumb for signing a contract that is ENTIRELY one sided...to the point where the compensation can be reduced after the agreement is signed... [/quote] Understand first, this is a business. UFC is an employer. When you get hired at your job, do you dictate what you are going to do, when you are gonna work and what you are going to get paid? Not likely. In a business like this, it's all about 2 things. Winning to stay on top. And Winning to keep fan interest, which leads to merchandise sales, PPV sales, ticket sales. So if you bring in a guy like cro cop, who is on the upper scales of fighter pay outs (which, WAS well deserved when he came over), who drops 2 straight fights,(AND LOOKED LIKE SHIT IN BOTH. THE GONAZGA KO WAS ONE OF THE WORST I'VE EVER SEEN!!!), you don't believe that the UFC should have the right to alter his payout? I don't see how you don't have a claus like this in any contract. You'd be an idiot. Dana is a smart guy. On the contrary, i'm sure their are clauses in the fighters contracts that state if they are on the lower end of the pay scale and move up in the ranks, then they have the right to renegotiate for more money. So if UFC were to sign Fedor to a 4 fight, 500k per fight to show deal today and the following happens... Randy comes back, fights Fedor and wins. Fedor drops this much anticipated fight. Loss 1. Randy goes out on top and retires. Let's just say Frank Mir beats Silvia. Now Mir and Fedor are set to fight to take on Nog (who already defended once against Werdum) for a title shot. Mir goes out there, get's tossed around but oops, catches Fedor in an arm bar and taps him out. Loss number 2. He has just lost 2 in a row. Questions arise. The number 1 fighter in the world is called into question. This is cro cop all over again. So now you are going to pay this guy 500k to fight who? Kongo, Werdum, Gonzaga, or maybe Heath again? Hell no. The fact that he would still be a fan draw with lots of potential to turn around and get used to the cage if that's his problem, I offer him a 3 fight deal at 200k, which is still more than 90 percent of the fighters in the organization. At this point, for 200k, Fedor rolls around with Lesnar and submits him. TKO's Frank Mir (who lost his title shot to NOG), and now gets another battle with Nog. All this for what he was getting paid per fight to loose. Now he beats NOG for the title. 3 fight contract is up, renegotiation time and the ball is in the fighters court. ***Imagine if this really happened?*** [quote post=”4927″]I see, good points. So when Fedor and his management team recognize the one-sided structure of UFC’s contract where the idea is “employment at will” and rejects this notion, hes a tool that is afraid to face top competition. If he does sign, then he is dumb for signing a contract that is ENTIRELY one sided…to the point where the compensation can be reduced after the agreement is signed… [/quote]

Understand first, this is a business. UFC is an employer. When you get hired at your job, do you dictate what you are going to do, when you are gonna work and what you are going to get paid? Not likely.

In a business like this, it’s all about 2 things. Winning to stay on top. And Winning to keep fan interest, which leads to merchandise sales, PPV sales, ticket sales. So if you bring in a guy like cro cop, who is on the upper scales of fighter pay outs (which, WAS well deserved when he came over), who drops 2 straight fights,(AND LOOKED LIKE SHIT IN BOTH. THE GONAZGA KO WAS ONE OF THE WORST I’VE EVER SEEN!!!), you don’t believe that the UFC should have the right to alter his payout?

I don’t see how you don’t have a claus like this in any contract. You’d be an idiot. Dana is a smart guy.

On the contrary, i’m sure their are clauses in the fighters contracts that state if they are on the lower end of the pay scale and move up in the ranks, then they have the right to renegotiate for more money.

So if UFC were to sign Fedor to a 4 fight, 500k per fight to show deal today and the following happens…

Randy comes back, fights Fedor and wins. Fedor drops this much anticipated fight. Loss 1. Randy goes out on top and retires.

Let’s just say Frank Mir beats Silvia. Now Mir and Fedor are set to fight to take on Nog (who already defended once against Werdum) for a title shot. Mir goes out there, get’s tossed around but oops, catches Fedor in an arm bar and taps him out. Loss number 2. He has just lost 2 in a row. Questions arise. The number 1 fighter in the world is called into question. This is cro cop all over again.

So now you are going to pay this guy 500k to fight who? Kongo, Werdum, Gonzaga, or maybe Heath again? Hell no. The fact that he would still be a fan draw with lots of potential to turn around and get used to the cage if that’s his problem, I offer him a 3 fight deal at 200k, which is still more than 90 percent of the fighters in the organization.

At this point, for 200k, Fedor rolls around with Lesnar and submits him. TKO’s Frank Mir (who lost his title shot to NOG), and now gets another battle with Nog. All this for what he was getting paid per fight to loose.

Now he beats NOG for the title. 3 fight contract is up, renegotiation time and the ball is in the fighters court.

***Imagine if this really happened?***

]]> By: tallimeca http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-312173 tallimeca Fri, 15 Feb 2008 05:30:27 +0000 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-312173 There was a claus in Cro Cop's contract that if he were to loose 2 fights in a row, the UFC had the right to renegotiate the 350k payday per fight. That is what they did. They did not cut Mirko and Dana stated that he believed he may return some day. I also read that her had some serious breathing issues with the septum which held things up and he was supposed to fight on one of the London cards and bitched about traveling. He apparantly bitched about getting paid, bitched about traveling, bitched about who he was to fight. Hard to do when you come into an organization, beat a nobody, get your head kicked off by a nobody, then talk smack about being a better kick boxer only to get man handled (and kneed in the nuts)by him. It is my belief that Cro Cop will go to Japan to help promote Dream, get paid, get a few quick fights in, and be back in the UFC soon enough. However, imagine if they were to put a Fedor vs Cro Cop rematch together and Cro Cop prevailed? What would that do? There was a claus in Cro Cop’s contract that if he were to loose 2 fights in a row, the UFC had the right to renegotiate the 350k payday per fight. That is what they did. They did not cut Mirko and Dana stated that he believed he may return some day. I also read that her had some serious breathing issues with the septum which held things up and he was supposed to fight on one of the London cards and bitched about traveling. He apparantly bitched about getting paid, bitched about traveling, bitched about who he was to fight. Hard to do when you come into an organization, beat a nobody, get your head kicked off by a nobody, then talk smack about being a better kick boxer only to get man handled (and kneed in the nuts)by him.

It is my belief that Cro Cop will go to Japan to help promote Dream, get paid, get a few quick fights in, and be back in the UFC soon enough.

However, imagine if they were to put a Fedor vs Cro Cop rematch together and Cro Cop prevailed? What would that do?

]]> By: VK http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-312068 VK Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:29:15 +0000 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-312068 I'm not buying the story that Cro Cop just ran away. He was training in the octagon at home, hired extra people to help him with his training, asking for a fight and arguably in better shape than ever. Assuming that the contract had changed with UFC and a good offer came from Dreams, everyone would make the same decision. Bonus points are that he'll be in a familiar setting where he's confident, has tons of support, may get a shot at Fedor, etc. I don't blame him for his choice, nor do I doubt his skills (I know, I know, Gonzaga and Kongo) but I do hate that we'll have to wait longer now until he gets the UFC belt. I’m not buying the story that Cro Cop just ran away. He was training in the octagon at home, hired extra people to help him with his training, asking for a fight and arguably in better shape than ever.

Assuming that the contract had changed with UFC and a good offer came from Dreams, everyone would make the same decision. Bonus points are that he’ll be in a familiar setting where he’s confident, has tons of support, may get a shot at Fedor, etc.

I don’t blame him for his choice, nor do I doubt his skills (I know, I know, Gonzaga and Kongo) but I do hate that we’ll have to wait longer now until he gets the UFC belt.

]]> By: RobH86 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-311902 RobH86 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:41:13 +0000 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-311902 [quote comment="311839"][quote comment="311809"][quote comment="311748"]i think they should give arlovsky, cro-cops money. 350 grand per is alot of money. if a.a. wants more than this he is crazy.[/quote] I would give him $350,000 per fight if he would return to his old form. The old arlovski would be worth every penny of that right now to the anorexic UFC Heavyweight division. Its a shame he only has 1 fight to show it before becoming a free agent. Now that I hear that M-1 will work with DREAM and World Victory Road, and they have a nice talent pool of top Heavyweights, I dont care if Arlovski stays in the UFC or not. I will still be a fan of his and watch him in either promotion![/quote] me too. i wouldnt mind seeing a.a. vs fedor, as a matter of fact i would love it, although i would like to see him stick w/ the ufc.[/quote] Could AA be the man to dethrone Fedor?...I would love to see this fight. M-1 show in Moscow, would be very cool. [quote comment=”311839″][quote comment=”311809″][quote comment=”311748″]i think they should give arlovsky, cro-cops money. 350 grand per is alot of money. if a.a. wants more than this he is crazy.[/quote]

I would give him $350,000 per fight if he would return to his old form. The old arlovski would be worth every penny of that right now to the anorexic UFC Heavyweight division.

Its a shame he only has 1 fight to show it before becoming a free agent. Now that I hear that M-1 will work with DREAM and World Victory Road, and they have a nice talent pool of top Heavyweights, I dont care if Arlovski stays in the UFC or not. I will still be a fan of his and watch him in either promotion![/quote]
me too. i wouldnt mind seeing a.a. vs fedor, as a matter of fact i would love it, although i would like to see him stick w/ the ufc.[/quote]

Could AA be the man to dethrone Fedor?…I would love to see this fight. M-1 show in Moscow, would be very cool.

]]> By: b.w. http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-311839 b.w. Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:27:23 +0000 http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/opportunity-knocked-a-look-at-personnel-change-in-the-ufc/#comment-311839 [quote comment="311809"][quote comment="311748"]i think they should give arlovsky, cro-cops money. 350 grand per is alot of money. if a.a. wants more than this he is crazy.[/quote] I would give him $350,000 per fight if he would return to his old form. The old arlovski would be worth every penny of that right now to the anorexic UFC Heavyweight division. Its a shame he only has 1 fight to show it before becoming a free agent. Now that I hear that M-1 will work with DREAM and World Victory Road, and they have a nice talent pool of top Heavyweights, I dont care if Arlovski stays in the UFC or not. I will still be a fan of his and watch him in either promotion![/quote] me too. i wouldnt mind seeing a.a. vs fedor, as a matter of fact i would love it, although i would like to see him stick w/ the ufc. [quote comment=”311809″][quote comment=”311748″]i think they should give arlovsky, cro-cops money. 350 grand per is alot of money. if a.a. wants more than this he is crazy.[/quote]

I would give him $350,000 per fight if he would return to his old form. The old arlovski would be worth every penny of that right now to the anorexic UFC Heavyweight division.

Its a shame he only has 1 fight to show it before becoming a free agent. Now that I hear that M-1 will work with DREAM and World Victory Road, and they have a nice talent pool of top Heavyweights, I dont care if Arlovski stays in the UFC or not. I will still be a fan of his and watch him in either promotion![/quote]
me too. i wouldnt mind seeing a.a. vs fedor, as a matter of fact i would love it, although i would like to see him stick w/ the ufc.

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