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[jlruthven84]

Originally Posted by Masscore

Hmmmm like many other people have said it does no good for the UFC or Zuffa in general to join WAMMA, they already have almost all the top fighters already so their champions are the most legit as far as I am concerned.

HW - ranked number 2 in the world.
LHW - Number 1
MW - Number 1
WW - Number 1
LW - Number 1
FW - Number 1
BW - Number 1

So outside of one wieght class Zuffa already has all the number 1 fighters in each wieght class. Sounds legit enough to me.

Agreed. WAMMA has much less to lose in this than the UFC.

[mauladala]

Originally Posted by thumper

Close but not entirely. it depends on how it's managed.

each org can have it's own belt. Think about boxing, you'll see a guy with 3 belts. That means he's the undisputed champ. he owns the belt in every org. So it could be the same with WAMMA, and each org will obviously have their own belt. the difference is if you have the wamma belt you're undisputed. which is a HUGE difference.

Example. You could have fought and won the IBF and WBF belts ine the same weight class in boxing. But you are still not the undisputed champ. You are the IBF and the WBF champ. but since there is another champ in the WBO it's still disputed.

make sense?

It's similar to something like what Rogan did in kickboxing. He won his division right? so he is the champ of the weight class. BUT, he went on to beat (in the same tournament) ALL the winners of ALL the other weight classes. So he became the grand champion. It's a little different because those are different weight classes, but it kind of explains it a little

I get ya. As per you boxing example: that's exactly what I hate about boxing. The different orgs. and their rules and rankings that are all separate- yet they're unified in some weird way because MOST of the fighter's fight for all orgs./sanctioning bodies and are subject to each of the whims of the differing orgs. even if they conflict.

Still though, doesn't WAMMA effectively water down said orgs. belts? How can you have belts for each org. that represent the champion AND a belt that stands outside organizational ties that represents the "undisputed" champ without some sort of conflict arising either form a business aspect or a sporting aspect?

[Ubermensch]

I think WAMMA will work if they model the FIFA European Soccer structure. It takes away nothing from the Legitimacy of the Champions League and has its own merits. Hell it is the best running and most profitable structure in all sports period. So it can work if they do it right. Don't follow the Boxing formula that is for sure.

[mauladala]

Originally Posted by Ubermensch

I think WAMMA will work if they model the FIFA European Soccer structure. It takes away nothing from the Legitimacy of the Champions League and has its own merits. Hell it is the best running and most profitable structure in all sports period. So it can work if they do it right. Don't follow the Boxing formula that is for sure.

Hmmmm. That would be very interesting. So are you suggesting a prolonged tournament (one bout every 2 or 3 months with the top three or four ranked) for each weight class involving all "major" MMA orgs.? That could be sweet.

Huge soccer fan, btw. lol

[TNC]

WAMMA needs to get Affliction, EliteXC, Cage Rage, DREAM and all the smaller orgs under their banner before they can even step to the UFC.


UFC is in the position of power in the MMA world, it is LITERALLY going to take a "Captain Planet" effort (combining your powers) of ALL the smaller organizations getting together to even pose a significant threat to the UFC. And how could WAMMA maintain any credibility by going ONLY after the UFC and not the smaller orgs? They just want to piggyback off the UFC's success.

[Masscore]

Originally Posted by TNC

WAMMA needs to get Affliction, EliteXC, Cage Rage, DREAM and all the smaller orgs under their banner before they can even step to the UFC.


UFC is in the position of power in the MMA world, it is LITERALLY going to take a "Captain Planet" effort (combining your powers) of ALL the smaller organizations getting together to even pose a significant threat to the UFC. And how could WAMMA maintain any credibility by going ONLY after the UFC and not the smaller orgs? They just want to piggyback off the UFC's success.

The problem is even if all those smaller companies joined up the UFC still has the majority of the top fighters in every wieght class. Out of 7 wieght classes Zuffa has 6 of the best already under this org. And the guy who is not number 1 in his wieghtclass (Big Nog) is still a pretty legit champion. I do not really see anyone saying Big Nog is not legit because Fedor is still around. Even if they all did join under WAMMA, which they won't, Zuffa still owns the majority of top fighter in each wieght class making their champions still more legit then WAMMAs.

[Bullock]

WAMMA has some big time balls to come in out of nowhere and try to claim that they are the true rankings and the true championships.

[TNC]

Originally Posted by Masscore

The problem is even if all those smaller companies joined up the UFC still has the majority of the top fighters in every wieght class. Out of 7 wieght classes Zuffa has 6 of the best already under this org. And the guy who is not number 1 in his wieghtclass (Big Nog) is still a pretty legit champion. I do not really see anyone saying Big Nog is not legit because Fedor is still around. Even if they all did join under WAMMA, which they won't, Zuffa still owns the majority of top fighter in each wieght class making their champions still more legit then WAMMAs.

Its not so much about having the "top fighters" because the rankings change damn near every week. Its more about having consistant draws and big names for the company. Someone like Nick Diaz, regardless of who he has beaten, is a popular figure and always entertaining and for that reason he will always be able to draw fans to his fights.

On the flipside, a guy like Lyoto Machida, who is IMO the #1 contender for the LHW title deters fans with his performances. Him becoming champ will not grow the company at all.


WAMMA getting the other orgs into their fold would be a strong sign of their legitmacy and how serious they are about the MMA business. But they will not be taken seriously unless they get the orgs under their fold and the UFC is the NOT the first person you want to take on. Go against someone at your level first.

[King Fisher]

I guess, in essence, the UFC IS WAMMA.

It would be cool though if they would let there fighters fight across different organizations so there would be no disputing the champions. I guess somewhat to the effect of what they did with PRIDE minus the buying/taking over/dispersing of fighters.

[POINDEXTER]

WAMMA sucks.