T.J. Dillashaw failed a drug test in New York (not USADA), and is suspended for 1 year. He has been stripped of the bantamweight championship. He could be suspended longer by USADA depending on exactly what he took. [Reply]
We now know that ESPN dumped a tremendous amount of money on this, so they will be incentivized to promote the shit out of PPV's for the next 5 years. Numbers are hazy, but apparently its only a bad deal for the UFC if they averaged more than 500k per PPV, which lol is not happening. They paid the UFC a huge premium. [Reply]
The NCAA tournament is not stopping Bellator and UFC this weekend
Friday
8pm - (Paramount) - Bellator 218, Sanchez vs. Karakhanyan
This is about average for Bellator, but nothing really standing out.
8pm - (Fightpass) - Island Fights 54
For those who may still have fightpass and didn't just simply switch to ESPN+, this is about average for a local promotion.
Saturday
4pm - (ESPN+) - UFC Fight Night, Thompson vs. Pettis
Pettis has decided to step up to welterweight, and his first opponent up there is Wonderboy. This fight is very top-heavy, not much in the prelims. Only the last two fights are compelling, but the main card starts at 7pm [Reply]
Originally Posted by Superturtle:
I do like how Dana called his bluff. That was pretty good
Conor does have a right to be pissed off though. The top level UFC guys get PPV points and now UFC is cutting that pay drastically and keeping if for themselves with that ESPN+ deal. UFC is still going to use Conor and everyone else to sell the ESPN+ service but they don't get any of the benefits. [Reply]
Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat:
Conor does have a right to be pissed off though. The top level UFC guys get PPV points and now UFC is cutting that pay drastically and keeping if for themselves with that ESPN+ deal. UFC is still going to use Conor and everyone else to sell the ESPN+ service but they don't get any of the benefits.
Wouldn't be surprised if this is what drives the fighters to unionize. Top guys have never really had a reason to 0lay ball. Until now. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Superturtle:
Wouldn't be surprised if this is what drives the fighters to unionize. Top guys have never really had a reason to 0lay ball. Until now.
Top fighters have never had a real reason to leave either. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Superturtle:
Wouldn't be surprised if this is what drives the fighters to unionize. Top guys have never really had a reason to 0lay ball. Until now.
I would be shocked if they unionized, they've made it pretty clear that they are too scared of the UFC's owners. [Reply]