Perspective: Less Pay, More Brawl

I truly believe that the ethic Josh Koscheck is displaying is the true heart of a champion. I feel it's truly what shows who should be in the hall of fame regardless of a championship belt or not. It's the same as Kurt Schilling or anyone who doesn't have the solid credentials, but put in the work when it mattered most.

I feel American Fighters who reach the UFC don't fight enough. Could it be that Zuffa is entirely too busy for it's financial committments? Possibly. However, I think Zuffa needs to take more pride in the WEC and have more "fight nights" on Spike TV paying these fighters a fair fight cost. In all honesty, I'm sure you could pay these fighters what they get on any other promotion but with the exposure they get from standard cable TV.

We come to love and hate whoever is lovable and likeable. With that said, I feel Zuffa could and should take a chance on reinventing itself. What better way than to have an Ultimate Fight Night every other month. This is a guaranteed 6 fights a year for Ultimate Fighter Winners as well as opportunities for people who fall off the high pedestal to climb up.

For example, John Fitch. The UFC tends to have to pay him a certain amount since he is a top contender for the division. However, reaching his way to the top and putting him in a place to learn from his quickly learned mistakes (of losing to GSP) it's better to keep him fighting often and early. In all honesty, he should clean up against the lower ranks to get back to the top. He shouldn't suffer as much damage, and he will be showing truly how he is a top contender and should be at the top of the heap.

The same goes with Koscheck. He will take on fights, regardless if he wins or loses, he's getting paid and gaining experience. To me, that is the true essence of anyone who wants to progress. No matter if he wins or loses, I respect Koscheck because he keeps steady. He keeps on the grind. If you were to translate this to hiphop culture, he has the ethic which all great rappers preach about... hustle, and hustle hard.

Why does Koscheck get these opportunities and others don't? Is it truly on the fighers or is it on the match makers? I feel the UFC has a very high standard, but at the same time, fighters who can honestly say they affiliate themselves with the UFC hold HIGH pride that they can say that. With that said, I feel Mac Danzig has the credit and "honor" to hold above any fighters I see on HDNet or any MMA highlight shot (shots to mmalive and insidemma). So if he has that much more to hold his head up high about, but he came from a tv show, give him the chance to grow.

When I was getting into Pride FC and other shows displaying MMA... one thing I admired the most was people's records. We (Americans) have easily become attached to the fact that, the lesser the zeros, the more we see you. When there was people like Evan Tanner (R.I.P.) and even Matt Hughes, fighters who were in the top 10 and had over 30 fights total on their resumes. That's when you know they were great. That's when you know they were battle tested and it could truly "go-either-way". With most, it's 11-2-1 vs. 8-1-0. Where did they earn their stripes? 7 of those 8 can be in another organization,they just won one in the octagon.

I have a hard time connecting U.S. MMA and the true honor MMA used to have where, it didn't matter as much about your last fight, it mattered that you were a soldier to be relevant. MMA is purely about have you beat someone recently? When it should be, you're an honest threat to 80% of your division. That's what makes any man/woman dangerous, mysterious and intriguing to see back testing their abilities.

You wouldn't instantly judge Brett Farve amongst his stats of interceptions vs. touchdown throws, would you? You'd look at the overall greatness of that persons skills. This would determine why you would pick up Brett Farve if your contract/agreement allowed so. Jay Cutler can't ask for the same money Brett can, but Brett put WAY MORE on the line in risking interceptions for clutch games, and getting to where he wanted to be (with his team).
* If they had a clutch game. (this can be said for keith jardine/forrest griffin, people with a good chin)
* If they had a certain charisma about them. (this can be said for houston alexander. regardless of how many times he gets beat, you know the fans come to see him).
* If he's been knocked out or brought to decisions most often (this again can be said for Jardine compared to Wanderlei. he's knocked out or knocking someone out, compared to always being a force for the full 15-25 minutes)


To sum all of this up.... I feel the UFC can throw more fights with the amount of talent and favoritism it has earned with the American Public. If they're worried about the UFC being a high-class promotion, then they should be using the WEC within the same regards.... Bring back the classes you seriously just cut, and have Houston Alexander fighting Brian Stann. Elliot Marshall fighting Steve Cantwell on Spike TV for the WEC. The fighters still can get some kind of income, they have a goal to work for, and they're building the crucial numbers which later own cement them as great fighters who have TONS of experience.