We are less than three weeks away from UFC 187. Despite injuries and an alleged hit and run, it remains one of the biggest events that the UFC will promote in 2015. The value of stacking cards such as this from the outset is there for all to see.
An injury to Sean Spencer saw him removed from a preliminary bout with Mike Pyle. Spencer has since been replaced by undefeated prospect Colby Covington.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s ongoing injury problems have also forced him from the card. A highly anticipated bout with Donald Cerrone, which was billed as a lightweight title eliminator, has been altered with John Makdessi replacing Nurmagomedov.
Of course, the biggest story is that which led to the removal of former light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Following an alleged hit and run, Jones was stripped of his title and suspended by the UFC indefinitely. The new main event sees former challenger Daniel Cormier take on Anthony Johnson for the now vacant title.
Still, taking all of the above into consideration you would be hard pressed to find a more heavily stacked event promoted by the UFC once 2015 is over. Two title fights in two of the company’s marquee divisions, main card fights with title implications in their respective weight classes, and a possible title eliminator that sits on the prelims.
Contrast that with the much maligned UFC 186 that took place just over a week ago. The card was decimated by a similar bout of injuries and suspensions. By the time the event aired from the Bell Centre in Montreal, fans saw a title fight in one of, if not the, least well supported divisions the UFC promote, and two main card bouts between unranked fighters.
The UFC’s schedule, combining pay-per-view, varying levels of televised shows, and events that are broadcast through their online platform UFC Fight Pass takes a heavy toll. The injuries are here to stay, and if history is anything to go by there will always be suspensions and more serious issues popping up.
Once 2015 is over they will have promoted 13 pay-per-views. Now more than ever it is important that these big shows are as heavily booked with recognized fighters and marquee title defenses from the start.
Lets face it, isn’t that what most of us want to see? Big title defenses where champions who have been seen regularly enough to become recognized pay-per-view commodities, take on any and all challengers for their belts?
Of the nine division’s promoted by the UFC throughout 2014 (excluding the strawweights who only crowned a champion in December) only the bantamweight title was fought for more than twice.
The lightweight, middleweight and light-heavyweight titles were fought for just once. The heavyweight title was not defended at all, with only an interim title fight taking place in November between Mark Hunt and Fabricio Werdum.
Is it any wonder that many of the UFC’s champions are struggling to become big money makers on pay-per-view when we are seeing them fight once or twice a year? The incentives to the fighter are there. More fights means more pay days, and more opportunities to build their personal fan base.
It is time for the champions to be thrust onto cards as often as they are available to fight. Determining and then waiting for a number one contender is commendable in theory, but in the modern era of MMA it’s barely workable in practice.
The recent move to cover an injury to Alexander Gustafsson which ruled him out of his Berlin main event against Glover Teixeira, with a strawweight title fight between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Penne is a positive one. Jedrzejczyk is a compelling character that we need to see more of and Penne serves as a suitable contender. She might not be the consensus number one pick, but I would take that title fight over a long wait for a defense against Glaudia Gadelha. The Brazilian will still be there for the winner. Two title fights instead of one.
Fights will continue to fall by the wayside and title fights are no exception to that rule. If the UFC can continue to book more of them and encourage their champions to fight more often, that is a definite step in the right direction.
Booking heavily stacked cards from the outset provides the best possible chance of retaing something fans are willing to pay money for once the injuries start to hit. UFC 187 serves as the proof.
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