''Who Does UFC Management Want to Win?'' UFC 66 Discussion.

[Dibiase]

I agree with the picks that others have made. But I think the most important fight of the card is Michael Bisbing. The UFC expects and needs him to win his first official UFC bout and start his climb in the rankings.

[CreepingDeth]

Originally Posted by Subj. & Noise Chopped

Liddell is pretty one-dimensional in the mainstream audiences' mind.

But Tito is pretty one dimensional, takedowns and ground and pound. The thing is that most would say Chucks one dimension is more exciting.

[AJL416AZ]

1. Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz
2. Forrest Griffin vs. Keith Jardine
3. Andrei Arlovski vs. Marcio Cruz
4. Chris Leben vs. Jason MacDonald


tito can make more money for them with the rematch. as well as putting asses in seats for every single title defense, because everyone loves or hates him

if Forrest wins, they can bring a legit title contender up. they can talk about the narrow split to Tito. they can bring up Bonnar 2x. forrest has a huge following, and they'll love it if he fights for the strap.

they need AA to win. why else put him against a guy that couldnt beat Monson in the standup? they need to stir the pot in a shitty HW division by reminding everyone that while the champ might be boring, they still have a monster that knocks kids out before the 2 minute mark

and Leben could get even more hype before a big fight with someone like Swick or Terrell if he beats Mac. Mac is riding on a lot of hype from beating a mid-level ground fighter that everyone just happened to know. if Leben derails him, he can reasonably move to a big fight, maybe even a fight for contendership

[Beatts35]

had started a thread way back called "dana praying for tito to beat chuck" something like that. check it out it has some good stuff

I can totally see dana wanting tito to win. gives him a tito chuck III. the big difference from when i started that thread in nov to now is now the UFC has Rampage. rampage ads depth to 205 and gives us a fresh fight for chuck (yes it will be a rematch, but they haven't fought in the ufc). So i think that this fight is really a coin toss for zuffa now. i'm think wow ever wins they have a few compelling matches for the top 4 guys at 205 (chuck, tito, babalu, jackson) and the next year will look good at 205.

then i can see dana wanting jardine to beat griffin. griffin is a poster boy no doubt. jardine winning builts his stock. and helps the ufc out with matching up the middle 4 in 205 (evans, jardine, griffin, bisping)

and they want AA to win. we should have to see a aa sylvia fight as long as zuffa is trying to buy talent from japan. or they can at least use herring while we wait for that. but AA is very marketable for them and a matchup with him and vera should provide some good action.

leben needs to win this fight. i think macdonald will. he really seems to be a much better athlete and fighter. dana has alot of money to make off a guy like macdonald. leben has helped out with fighting on all but 1 ufn. but his star is fading and reports from his camp show him to becoming very lazy. if leben looses i don't see the ufc keeping him around for anything other than a rematch with swick.

[valiun]

Originally Posted by Frasedog

I'm going with Chuck. He is the UFC's most recognizable fighter and really the face of the UFC. I dont think they would be thrilled if he lost .

I agree to an extent. Chuck is the face of the UFC. Hughes doesnt have his title anymore, nor does Franklin. Because of that, i would say he is the current face of the UFC.

However, the UFC is in quite a position with this fight. It comes at the very end of the year, and we could see a passing of the torch, so to speak, in 2006. You then enter 2007 with all new champions, and have those lovely rubber matches that will get huge buyrates, and new matchups!

[Metalhead]

I truly, honestly, believe that management doesn't give a shit who wins as long as all fights are entertaining.

[mrpink4147]

is terrell even around still? hes been hurt for the last year and a half ive heard him back out of like 3 fights now