Pride has more depth, Dana throws away the depth to put together main cards. At least that is what they did in the past. I have to think that the reason this happened is the same reason they got rid of the LW division. They just couldn't afford to keep it at the time.
I am hoping that as the UFC grows they will be able to bring fighters along and the veteran fighters will get more than one or two fights then get thrown away. We have to remember that only 3 years ago the UFC was bankrupt. I think their business plan was to build it up by getting sanctioned then have big fights to help pay for it. Over the last two years their PPV's have increased tenfold. I don't think it is just profit oriented, well maybe a lot of it is, but I think it is also to develop a fan base so they can start getting some depth in the divisions. Look at Joe Riggs, two years ago if he lost two fights in a row no one would hear of him until he went to pride. Now He is getting more fights because he has talent and is young.
We can only hope this is a trend that continues so the UFC will be able to compete with Pride in the next two - three years otherwise the UFC will be bankrupt again adn pride will take over the US.
|