Historical Precedent Causes the Perception of a "Weak" UFC 108 Cards

by Zak Woods on Jan 1, 2010 11:30 AM EST in Analysis Comment 2 comments

UFC Posters

UFC President Dana White is currently telling anyone who will listen that UFC 108 is a great fight card and any criticisms of the card --which has been haunted by injuries-- is nothing more than drivel from biased Internet writers.

So where does this narrative of a "weak" UFC 108 card come from? It is two fold with the constant injuries being a principle component. But another factor, which has been getting less play, is the fact that the UFC has established the precedent of a "mega" end of the year event, which UFC 108 does not measure up to.

For instance the previous three years had UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008, UFC 79: Nemesis and UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2 all of which consisted of historically "stacked" fights, with marquee match-ups that fans wanted to see that would also serve the purpose of advancing the respective divisional picture.

Compare the televised fight cards from the UFC's prior "mega" end of the year cards to UFC 108's upcoming televised card, which was suppose to fulfill the duty of annual end of the year "mega" event, and it is clear that UFC 108 doesn't measure up.

UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva
- Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva
- Paul Daley vs. Dustin Hazelett
- Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout
- Duane Ludwig vs. Jim Miller
- Junior Dos Santos vs. Gilbert Yvel

UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008
- Champion Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans for light heavyweight title
- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir for interim heavyweight title
- C.B. Dollaway vs. Mike Massenzio
- Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva
- Cheick Kongo vs. Mostapha Al-Turk

UFC 79: Nemesis
- Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Hughes for interim welterweight title
- Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva
- Rich Clementi vs. Melvin Guillard
- Eddie Sanchez vs. Soa Palelei
- Lyoto Machida vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz 2
- Champion Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz for light heavyweight title
- Forrest Griffin vs. Keith Jardine
- Jason MacDonald vs. Chris Leben
- Andrei Arlovski vs. Márcio Cruz
- Michael Bisping vs. Eric Schafer

From a historical perspective UFC 108 doesn't measure up to the UFC's other end of the year products. This fact is due to the unprecedented rate of injuries that the UFC has suffered. The weakness of UFC 108 is not a result of conscious failure by the UFC to deliver their traditional end of the year card. Rather it is a story of Zuffa's perseverance to put on event despite a rash of injuries.

Yet that doesn't change the fundamental fact that UFC 108 doesn't measure up to past products, thus leading observers to logically conclude that UFC 108 is "weak."

SBN coverage of UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva

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Comments

i dont think this card is going to do that great in the buy deptartment…..im looking forward to evans vs silva and junior dos santos vs Yvel, that one is going to be a barnburner, but the rest of the card is kinda weak….hazzlets good and so is semtex but i dont see that being a good fight (see shields vs dailey)……i just figured out how to watch ufc on my ps3 now so im definately gonna watch!

freedomwatchonfox.com lp.org

by baldspot23 on Jan 1, 2010 12:21 PM EST reply actions

my 2 cents

although a “weak” card in terms of star power form the past, i think in terms of intrigueing exciting matches, it is a very suitable card.

Evans v. Silva should be exciting. Dos Anjos v. Yvel a barn burner. and I’m most stoked for McLovin’s return against Daley (which obviously will have a spectacular finish- lets hope sub!). That’s three guaranteed (in my eyes) bad ass fights, even if none of the guys are big stars besides Evans.

Last year I’d say there was 3 fights of the same level of intrigue, even if bigger stars (Evans/Griffin, Nog/Mir, Silva/Rampage). The year before only two (Liddle/Silva, St Pierre/Hughes….although nobody knew him, I knew Machida and his fight was a gimme in my eyes) Then the year before kinda two fights, Griffin/Jardine and macdonald/leben As i think we all know Arlovski, Bisping, and Liddell were going to winn easily.

So to me, i think the perception of a “weak” card should only be in the eyes of casual fans, who need big NAMES to get them intrigued, and not good fights. If I actually bought PPV’s, I’d still buy this one! but since I watch them illegally… I’ll still watch em illegally!

Even a broken clock is right two times a day.

by DrunkinMidget187 on Jan 1, 2010 1:09 PM EST reply actions