Now bare in mind, I am no MMA expert...
 

But if I were to draw similarities to pro wrestling, I would say that UFC is the like WWF...biggest most known company. Promotes the biggest events. Has the most cross media appeal. And then there's Strikeforce, which is kind of like the WCW...has the best heavyweight (Fedor:Hogan), has a lot of very talented guys, and seems to be the stomping ground of several former UFC guys who (with the exception of Hendo) generally couldn't cut it on the top level anymore. And of course Strikeforce has a specialty division (Women's:WCW's Cruiserweights) Both present themselves with a clean image, one that won't scare away endorsements.

But is there a reason that there couldn't be a third major promotion? And don't bother pointing out there's dozen of other promotions, I'm simplifying here. One that was a little more adult themed. Perhaps the ring girls didn't wear hooter-esque outfits, perhaps they wore something closer to stripper. Maybe allow the announcers to use any kind of language they wanted. Have the rules be set up to closer resemble the earlier UFC (while still maintaining enough regulation to pass state athletic codes)? I'm just thinking with how fucking over Kimbo was, the rough and crude style of fighting that closer resembles street fighting might work. It would be basically brawling, with maybe some semi-known names (Ron Waterman, Jeremy Horn, etc.) in the main events. Skip all the flash and pageantry. Present it with a bit more of an "underground" or "dirty" feel to it. Could this work? Has it been tried on a large scale before?

Or, like I said, I'm no MMA expert, I might just be talking out of my ass. But it seemed possible to capture the rising popularity of MMA with a more hardcore edge to it.

If MMA wants to establish itself as a major sport then that is the opposite of what should happen.

TOVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If they tried that once, whatever state that commissioned it wouldnt let it happen again... unless its in alabama.

Why not compare boxing to pro wrestling? Or NFL to NBA? Apples to Oranges.

Strikeforce probably have a slightly stronger MW division. The UFC have the number 1 guy and probably the number 2 but outside of that the cupboard is bare. So it isn't like they are all rubbish.

The thing is MMA is a sport and the unified rules they use are the rules they need to be sanctioned in the states. Even still not all states have sanctioned MMA. The last thing MMA needs is for some cowboy league getting bad press.

Just as an aside there are still maniacs in Mixed Martial Arts. Just like all sports. Look at War Machine. Its just the more professional ones (like say GSP) are obviously going to do better. Due to them being professional and hard working.

*bear

that only worked in wrestling because it isnt a betable sporting event and people were watching for the drama between characters rather than sport performance.

Plus MMA doesn't want comparisons with wrestling because wrestling is for gimps. Presumably it's looking to get fans from people who enjoy boxing and to do that MMA needs to avoid the mistakes made in boxing. I don't seee it as an alternative to boxing because I enjoy both in different ways but if MMA became gimmicky and about a load of fat cunts brawling, I'd have absolutely no interest. I want to see people out-fight each other with skill and technique.

This is off my personal Top 20 Middleweights...

UFC
1. Anderson "The Spider" Silva
2. Nathan Marquardt
6. Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort
7. Damian Maia
8. Chael Sonnen
11. Yushin "Thunder" Okami
13. Yoshihiro Akiyama
16. Alessio "Legionarius" Sakara
20. Michael Bisping

Strikeforce
3. Dan "Hollywood" Henderson
4. Jake Shields
5. Robbie "Ruthless" Lawler
14. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza
18. Matt "The Law" Lindland
19. Melvin Manhoef

Neither
9. Jorge Santiago
10. Kazuo "Grabaka Hitman" Misaki
12. Paulo "Ely" Filho
15. Mamed Khalidov
17. Thales Leites

UFC has the stronger Middleweight division and that isn't even to mention Wanderlei Silva who is poised to drop down, maybe the middleweight division can be a rebirth for the Axe Murderer, who knows.

It's closer than most other divisions but UFC still takes it.

They've done a shitload of those. Funny how they never get off the 3 AM slot of network TV, eh?

Yeah, really the only reason the UFC division looks like it is "weak" is because Anderson Silva is there and destroying everyone. If Anderson was in Strikeforce doing what he's doing, Strikeforce's division would look even worse.

There is Dream. It's practically a cowboy company, what with the Japanese not giving a shit about roids and having freakshow fights and open weight tourneys.

It's basically PRIDEFC Light

Yeah. Other than Ovareem and a handful of talented guys, Dream is basically crappy Pride.

Sadly yes, though the Lightweight and Featherweight divs aren't to shabby, and the sharing fighters thing with Strikeforce could be good as well.

Except that Ovareem will never actually defend that fucking belt in the US.

Maybe he just wants Strikeforce to sign Josh Barnett for him to face :shifty: