Gilbert Melendez Agrees to Deal With Bellator, But...

[EmpireWF]

UFC has right to match.

Thoughts?

 

[Primetime]

Match whatever it is. The guy is nothing but entertainment. Go throw him back in the octagon with Sanchez.

 

[Steel Mamba]

Cesar warning that his other fighters could leave too

http://www.mmafighting.com/2014/2/14/5413116/cesar-gracie-issues-warning-to-dana-white

 

[Ward]

Lol watch the scarp pack all go over there.

 

[Liquidrob]

Lol @ the UFC loses Gil to Bellator

The number 3 LW, "lost" a split to the champ and than had a FOTY

Oh yeah, we don't want to pay are top guys, but lets keep putting on over priced PPV's, nice

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

According to Helwani, WSOF made a third offer that was even better than either of the others.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

According to Helwani, WSOF made a third offer that was even better than either of the others.

 

[Liquidrob]

WSOF is just grabbing headlines I think

Gil signed Bellators offer I believe, so only the UFC has matching rights, VSN can offer Gil 2 million a thread and he couldn't accept it

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

WSOF is just grabbing headlines I think

Gil signed Bellators offer I believe, so only the UFC has matching rights, VSN can offer Gil 2 million a thread and he couldn't accept it

Yup, he signed it and now the ball is in UFC's court as per their matching rights.

Viable second or even third major league groups help create stars, which actually UFC desperately needs since they've failed miserably to create stars on their own. If not for Strikeforce pushing the women when Dana was in his "I will never book women in UFC, I dont want to see women punch each other" phase, they would really be fucked since Rousey is easily their biggest star, and maybe their only one.

 

[Steel Mamba]

We're about to find out how big of a star she really is, I don't think she can carry a card on her own. I don't think stars can be built in sports either. Peyton Manning isn't a star because the NFL built him, he's a star based off of his own merit and the popularity of the NFL.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

We're about to find out how big of a star she really is, I don't think she can carry a card on her own. I don't think stars can be built in sports either. Peyton Manning isn't a star because the NFL built him, he's a star based off of his own merit and the popularity of the NFL.

Absurd.

I guess you don't remember TUF.

Or Chael Sonnen.

Or HBO 24/7.

Combat sports aren't football, the entire premise is built on building stars and selling them to the public.

 

[Liquidrob]

I think Rousey is the most forced fed star they have, clearly that's who they're pushing the most

GSP would still be there biggest star even in semi retirement and Anderson is still a bigger ppv draw

Rhonda had one decent ppv she headlined and than was on Andersons card I believe, her TUF numbers were not that impressive but it was on FS1, so they were going to be low

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I think Rousey is the most forced fed star they have, clearly that's who they're pushing the most

GSP would still be there biggest star even in semi retirement and Anderson is still a bigger ppv draw

Rhonda had one decent ppv she headlined and than was on Andersons card I believe, her TUF numbers were not that impressive but it was on FS1, so they were going to be low

I'm operating under the premise GSP & Silva are done.

Aside from Ronda, they have nothing.

 

[Steel Mamba]

Absurd.

I guess you don't remember TUF.

Or Chael Sonnen.

Or HBO 24/7.

Combat sports aren't football, the entire premise is built on building stars and selling them to the public.

Chael Sonnen is a star because of his personality, he made himself a star which is exactly my point. What did the UFC do to make Chael big?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Chael Sonnen is a star because of his personality, he made himself a star which is exactly my point. What did the UFC do to make Chael big?

Put him in a position to run his mouth, and rewarded him for it with fights he didn't deserve based on merit. But let's set aside Chael for a second.

What kind of PPV numbers was Chuck doing pre-TUF? UFC is out of business if they don't take two dry personalities, stick them on TUF, and turn them into the first gen stars of the Zuffa era.

It's baffling to me that somebody who follows MMA & boxing could argue that you can't make stars. Making stars is the lifeblood of the fight business. And to a lesser extent, team sports as well. You think David Stern marketed the shit out of Magic, Larry, & Jordan for shits & giggles?

 

[Steel Mamba]

Put him in a position to run his mouth, and rewarded him for it with fights he didn't deserve based on merit. But let's set aside Chael for a second.

What kind of PPV numbers was Chuck doing pre-TUF? UFC is out of business if they don't take two dry personalities, stick them on TUF, and turn them into the first gen stars of the Zuffa era.

It's baffling to me that somebody who follows MMA & boxing could argue that you can't make stars. Making stars is the lifeblood of the fight business. And to a lesser extent, team sports as well. You think David Stern marketed the shit out of Magic, Larry, & Jordan for shits & giggles?

Stars are the lifeblood, I just don't think any organization has ever "built" a star. Depending on how you want to define that. Giving Chael big matches isn't what turned him into a star. He got those type of opportunities due to the buzz he created on his own. He put himself in a position where so many people wanted to hear him run his mouth. Because Chael made himself so profitable for the UFC, they put him in those positions.

Look at how long they kept Machida away from the title, because he had no fanfare behind him. The UFC can't build anyone into a star. Either the guy has the it factor from the start or they don't.

Which is why Jon Jones shouldn't be bitching about Rousey getting more attention. Shes marketed herself way better than Jon has in order to open all of the doors that she has in front of her. If Jon wants the same type of attention he needs to figure out what he can do instead of relying on someone else. UFC can't make more people like him. They can't give him an olympic background. Can't force him into an intense rivalry (Gus), etc.

 

[EmpireWF]

Whole chicken and the egg thing going on here.

 

[Ward]

So do you guys think the UFC will match or no?

 

[EmpireWF]

So do you guys think the UFC will match or no?

Leaning no, though I'm wondering what the offer is. Can't imagine Bellator is throwing $200k+ to show for Melendez.

 

[Steel Mamba]

Leaning no, though I'm wondering what the offer is. Can't imagine Bellator is throwing $200k+ to show for Melendez.

Probably a bigger PPV cut, or cut in general. Doubt if he was getting PPV points with the UFC and I'm sure Bellator is going to plan another PPV soon.

Whole chicken and the egg thing going on here.

True. In that case I'd be curious to know what these other orgs are doing to establish stars that the UFC is somehow missing out on.