Rogan-vs-Lou DiBella "MMA-vs-Boxing"

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

I disagree.

If ESPN wanted second rate MMA, they could have had it a million times. All of these groups that end up on FSN would sell their first borns to be on ESPN instead. They also could have moved Bellator up to ESPN or ESPN2 after it did pretty well on ESPN Deportes. They chose not to.

ESPN has been very careful to treat Dana well, because I believe they want UFC programming badly.

There will be a time when they realize that they won't get the UFC and they'll move on to something else...or, there will be a somewhat viable #2 (definitely not competition, but something a little better off than Strikeforce).

If the UFC goes to ESPN, ESPN is going to want exclusivity...I just don't see that happening.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Rogan is wrong about there not being a next generation of boxers though.
Chad Dawson, Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, Paul Williams, Andre Berto, Tim Bradley, Devon Alexander, Amir Khan (sick in my mouth), Juanma Lopez, Edwin Valero (lol), Nonito Donaire are all quality boxers with years left.

I don't think anybody thinks boxing lacks talent, but the point Rogan was trying to get across was that after the current group of stars retires (and Oscar already has), boxing has failed to create new stars to take their place. And he's right. None of those guys you listed can draw on PPV....shit, guys like Williams, Dawson, Berto can't even draw on cable.

I'm speaking from a North American point of view, btw. Klitchko is about to draw 50k in Europe, and sold 15,000 tickets before an opponent was even named.

[Warner2BruceTD]

There will be a time when they realize that they won't get the UFC and they'll move on to something else...or, there will be a somewhat viable #2 (definitely not competition, but something a little better off than Strikeforce).

If the UFC goes to ESPN, ESPN is going to want exclusivity...I just don't see that happening.

They gave Spike exclusivity (kinda), but I think if ESPN gave Dana a deal he liked, he would grant them exclusivity and jump off Spike. It's simply more eyeballs, and ESPN is the final step in acheiving "legit sports status".

Would ESPN play hardball with production the way HBO did? I don't know the answer to that, but that's an issue Dana won't budge on (and he shouldn't because UFC does a great job producing their own product - it's first rate all the way).

UFC hype machine + ESPN hype machine = unstoppable. The question, is could Dana handle ESPN covering other orgs, and if not, would ESPN risk journalistic intergrity (ok, ok, I know, but play along) for the sake of ratings?

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

They gave Spike exclusivity (kinda), but I think if ESPN gave Dana a deal he liked, he would grant them exclusivity and jump off Spike. It's simply more eyeballs, and ESPN is the final step in acheiving "legit sports status".

Would ESPN play hardball with production the way HBO did? I don't know the answer to that, but that's an issue Dana won't budge on (and he shouldn't because UFC does a great job producing their own product - it's first rate all the way).

UFC hype machine + ESPN hype machine = unstoppable. The question, is could Dana handle ESPN covering other orgs, and if not, would ESPN risk journalistic intergrity (ok, ok, I know, but play along) for the sake of ratings?

Ehhhhh, on Spike's exclusivity...its a "kinda"...

In regards to ESPN's journalistic integrity...they don't have any, anymore...I mean, look at what they do in regards to the SEC or how they completely pulled the plug on the NHL when they went to Versus and wouldn't take their ridiculous deal...only within the past two seasons has ESPN's coverage picked up again on the NHL.

[Epidemik]

I enjoy boxing more than I enjoy MMA. I preferred the earlier UFCs since they were a lot closer to representing a street fight. For me it is more aesthetically pleasing to watch 2 of the world's best boxers than watch any MMA title fight.

Rogan is wrong about there not being a next generation of boxers though.
Chad Dawson, Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, Paul Williams, Andre Berto, Tim Bradley, Devon Alexander, Amir Khan (sick in my mouth), Juanma Lopez, Edwin Valero (lol), Nonito Donaire are all quality boxers with years left.

I think what Rogan meant by not being a next generation of boxers, is after Floyd, Oscar, Pacquiao, and a few others, who is the NEXT GENERATION of "Holy Shit Guys"

MMA in general has more, especially younger guys, who are almost at or soon will be at that oh shit level.

[davie]

I don't think anybody thinks boxing lacks talent, but the point Rogan was trying to get across was that after the current group of stars retires (and Oscar already has), boxing has failed to create new stars to take their place. And he's right. None of those guys you listed can draw on PPV....shit, guys like Williams, Dawson, Berto can't even draw on cable.

I'm speaking from a North American point of view, btw. Klitchko is about to draw 50k in Europe, and sold 15,000 tickets before an opponent was even named.

Berto should be able to draw, he should just play the Haiti card like the Saints have Katrina fans. I understand what you mean, but don't UFC PPVs draw a fraction of current boxing PPVs?

Williams should be able to draw PPVs but when someone like Cintron dives out of the ring and 'wants to get back in but can't' and other boxers won't even fight him it's unfair for him - that is boxing's own fault though.

I think what Rogan meant by not being a next generation of boxers, is after Floyd, Oscar, Pacquiao, and a few others, who is the NEXT GENERATION of "Holy Shit Guys"

MMA in general has more, especially younger guys, who are almost at or soon will be at that oh shit level.

I don't watch as much MMA as I used to, but I prefer the older guys I'm familiar with and will only look out for their fights; guys like BJ Penn, Frank Mir, Anderson Silva [guys who've been around a few years].

I don't know any of these young 'holy shit guys' in MMA?

[Warner2BruceTD]

Berto should be able to draw, he should just play the Haiti card like the Saints have Katrina fans. I understand what you mean, but don't UFC PPVs draw a fraction of current boxing PPVs?

Boxing tops out higher, but really these days only Mayweather beats the UFC.

Generally speaking, UFC draws 200k low end, 1M+ high end. A mediocre UFC showing will do 400 or 500k. Boxing might top that once per year. UFC is the king of PPV right now, by a wide margain, but Mayweather is the exception and still the biggest PPV draw across all genres, and is the only person with the ability to draw 2M right now. But aside from Mayweather, boxing doesnt really sniff the numbers UFC is pulling on a monthly basis.