Is UFC/Mixed Martial Arts fixed?

sid waddell · 12-07-2015 06:33PM

It's a choreographed pantomime with each fight following a pre-written storyline. I thought everybody knew that at this stage?

osarusan · 12-07-2015 06:35PM

Nodin wrote: »

Last major one I remember involved Lennox Lewis. Don King had managed to get some old woman in as one of the judges. She'd never judged a boxing match in her life, and they asked after how she marked it. She said 'Mr King had one of his friends help me'. The referee (British, well known) made a few calls that even ITV were aghast at (albeit in the understated British way). He left the stadium immediately after the fight, went straight to the airport, and was unable to be found or contacted for some considerable time afterwards. Can't remember who Lewis was fighting at all, at all.

Lewis Holyfield 1?

Bad judging - now that is rampant!

Dep! · 12-07-2015 06:37PM

Doctor Jimbob wrote: »

The day after McGregor won.

Funny that.

Well yes, because from looking at my social media feeds Id say about 70% of Ireland are MMA "fans" today. So if we cant talk about it today then when should we?

titan18 · 12-07-2015 06:38PM

zerks wrote: »

It's amazing the begrudgery of the Irish.

There's just as much bandwagoners as begrudgers amongst the Irish tbf

Talib Fiasco · 12-07-2015 06:39PM

Corruption to some degree is prevalent in some regard in all sorts....but the UFC seems pretty clean cut to be fair. In a sense it is still an organisation to hit it's peak as it grows and grow in popularity, so who is to say in 5/10 years more questionable decisions don't occur.

Boxing has improved massively, but bad calls and "fixes" still occur. I was watching a fight yesterday afternoon which was a very very close fight, with the winner only winning 2/3 more rounds but he was in his back yard, and two of the card had him winning 10 and 11 of the 12 rounds. And this was a small fight attended by a very small crowd. Of course situations like this happen very infrequently but they do happen. There have been questionable stoppages etc. in the UFC/MMA too...it just happens with sport.

12-07-2015 06:40PM

The begrudgery allegation is laughable.

Sheamus is a 3 time world champion in WWE. And he gets real injuries, and inflicts them. But because he's Irish we can't question whether the WWE is a real challenge or the outcome is arranged? Seriously?

L'prof · 12-07-2015 06:47PM

McGregor took some serious elbows to the face. Would a man who was going to take a dive be trying that hard to knock his opponent out? No chance. I do feel the fight was called too close to the bell but I still have no doubt in my mind that had there been a 3rd round, the end result would have been the same. After last night, I think I'm finally starting to believe the hype

Just a pity it wasn't Aldo in the ring and he didn't have to settle for this interim title!

RedemptionZ · 12-07-2015 06:47PM

That kind of ending is pretty common in MMA, one guy can seem to be on top (Mendes) and then make one mistake and suddenly be rocked. Maybe it seems fixed to a viewer who hasn't seen that many fights, but it's normal enough. The referees primary function is to protect the fighters. Mendes would've been seriously hurt if the fight wasn't stopped.

12-07-2015 06:52PM

L'prof wrote: »

McGregor took some serious elbows to the face. Would a man who was going to take a dive be trying that hard to knock his opponent out? No chance.!

I presume the query is not whether someone would "take a dive", but is the sport more choreographed than representing a genuine open contest. Wrestlers take huge risks in the WWE, throwing each other off cages through tables and the like. But it's not really a valid contest, it's more entertainment with participants using their pain thresholds to make lots of money while "winning".

czechpeter · 12-07-2015 07:27PM

I cant quite put my finger on it but I get a shady vibe from Dana White whenever he opens his mouth. I wouldnt put match fixing past him.

Billy86 · 12-07-2015 07:32PM

Dep! wrote: »

You and others need to calm down. The title of the thread asks "Is UFC/Mixed Martial Arts fixed?" not "Was Conor McGregor's fight fixed?"

The first question has been raised for years, Im not the first one to point it out. McGregor's fight is merely being used as an example.

I do find it interesting that, per poll, at least 14 other people agree with me but have yet to post in this thread. Speak up lads.

My guess is the vast majority of them hate McGregor with a passion, but probably don't watch much/any MMA at all. It's a large demographic in the the sour old country that is Ireland.

Billy86 · 12-07-2015 07:38PM

titan18 wrote: »

There's just as much bandwagoners as begrudgers amongst the Irish tbf

Shameful stuff isn't it? Seeing people get behind one of their own countrymen going on a tear and becoming arguably the biggest name in their sport (in terms of name recognition/PPV draw), where no Irish person had done so before.

We should all feel ashamed. Ashamed and guilty.

12-07-2015 07:38PM

Billy86 wrote: »

My guess is the vast majority of them hate McGregor with a passion, but probably don't watch much/any MMA at all. It's a large demographic in the the sour old country that is Ireland.

Do people question the WWE because they begrudge Sheamus?

I think it's great to see an Irish fellow do well. But it still doesn't seem like a real sport to me, perhaps because it is promoted in a manner similar to the WWE with people calling each other out and trash talking non stop.

Billy86 · 12-07-2015 07:57PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Do people question the WWE because they begrudge Sheamus?

I think it's great to see an Irish fellow do well. But it still doesn't seem like a real sport to me, perhaps because it is promoted in a manner similar to the WWE with people calling each other out and trash talking non stop.

In your first sentence, I assume you mean do they question the legitimacy of the WWE as a 'real' sport (as in non pre-determined outcomes; a genuine test of wrestling abilities between competitors)? The answer would be no, and that is because it is openly scripted and choreographed. If you think the same is true of the UFC... let's just end this discussion here. :pac:

I do have to consider what you would consider a "real" sport, though?

Mr. CooL ICE · 12-07-2015 08:01PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Do people question the WWE because they begrudge Sheamus?

Erm, what?

Deleted User wrote: »

But it still doesn't seem like a real sport to me, perhaps because it is promoted in a manner similar to the WWE with people calling each other out and trash talking non stop.

It pretty much used the same marketing methods as WWE back when it couldn't make a profit. It created a reality show (TUF) and was placed immediately after the weekly WWE show. It simply wanted to poach some of the fans, and, well, it worked.

Doesn't mean it's fixed though. That's just stupid.

nxbyveromdwjpg · 12-07-2015 08:02PM

Yes they faked Chad's jaw.

This threads suggestion is ludicrous, just absolutely ridiculous.

Wabbit Ears · 12-07-2015 08:08PM

Sure now people will be saying all sorts of mad stuff like match fixing happens in football as well. Madness I tells you.

Galwayguy35 · 12-07-2015 08:10PM

The results of wrestling matches are decided before the actual event happens, that doesn't take away from the fact that wrestlers are people who work hard to get to the level of fitness needed to take part.

I don't believe the UFC fights are fixed though.

Billy86 · 12-07-2015 08:10PM

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

Sure now people will be saying all sorts of mad stuff like match fixing happens in football as well. Madness I tells you.

Forget match fixing, isn't all of football also just choreographed and staged from start to finish, and just 'pretends' that the outcome isn't predetermined? Just like golf.

12-07-2015 08:11PM

Nicolas Cage wrote: »

Erm, what?

It's that this thread has thrown up the crazy idea that any questioning of Dana White's sport is based on begrudgery.

Which is clearly nonsense, like saying anyone questioning the legitimacy of the WWE is motivated by some jealousy of Sheamus (Irish fellow, 3 time WWE Champion, worth about 10 million, but not as popular on Joe.ie as McGregor).

Billy86 · 12-07-2015 08:14PM

Deleted User wrote: »

It's that this thread has thrown up the crazy idea that any questioning of Dana White's sport is based on begrudgery.

Which is clearly nonsense, like saying anyone questioning the legitimacy of the WWE is motivated by some jealousy of Sheamus (Irish fellow, 3 time WWE Champion, worth about 10 million, but not as popular on Joe.ie as McGregor).

One of these is a sport without pre-determined outcomes, like almost any other sport in the world.

One of these is choreographed, with the outcomes determined beforehand, and makes very little effort to hide it.

Your argument makes no sense.

12-07-2015 08:19PM

Billy86 wrote: »

One of these is a sport without pre-determined outcomes, like almost any other sport in the world.

One of these is choreographed, with the outcomes determined beforehand, and makes very little effort to hide it.

Your argument makes no sense.

It's not my argument.

Many people question the validity of the UFC as a legitimate competition.

I guess one factor is the fact that it's effectively owned and run by one man, Dana White, who seems to do very well from the rise of McGregor. Like the McMahons and WWE. It's a question that has arisen in other sports that are effectively one persons business.

RedemptionZ · 12-07-2015 08:19PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Do people question the WWE because they begrudge Sheamus?

I think it's great to see an Irish fellow do well. But it still doesn't seem like a real sport to me, perhaps because it is promoted in a manner similar to the WWE with people calling each other out and trash talking non stop.

Your whole WWE angle is making you look fairly simple. All combat sport has this, Ali was a great boxer but it was his trash talking and self promotion skills that has made him as legendary as he is now. Is boxing not a real sport? I'm going to assume you don't watch MMA very regularly. This is a discussion site so you're welcome to share your opinion on the matter, but what you are saying is very disrespectful and makes you look very ignorant. I'd liken it to the cringe comments you'd read on a YouTube video.

12-07-2015 08:25PM

RedemptionZ wrote: »

Your whole WWE angle is making you look fairly simple. All combat sport has this, Ali was a great boxer but it was his trash talking and self promotion skills that has made him as legendary as he is now. Is boxing not a real sport? I'm going to assume you don't watch MMA very regularly. This is a discussion site so you're welcome to share your opinion on the matter, but what you are saying is very disrespectful and makes you look very ignorant. I'd liken it to the cringe comments you'd read on a YouTube video.

Relax!

I'm not the first to question it, I won't be the last.

I don't watch MMA regularly, no. I'm not blinded by some bias and hoping it's all fair and real. It's a question that other sports have faced, particularly one owned by one person, F1 faced questions of bias by Ecclestone's organisation to assist certain teams and drivers like Schumacher before.

RedemptionZ · 12-07-2015 08:26PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It's not my argument.

Many people question the validity of the UFC as a legitimate competition.

I guess one factor is the fact that it's effectively owned and run by one man, Dana White, who seems to do very well from the rise of McGregor. Like the McMahons and WWE. It's a question that has arisen in other sports that are effectively one persons business.

It is your argument... You posted it.

You said it's like questioning the legitimacy of the WWE. There is no question to be answered, it's scripted. There is a pre determined outcome. This isn't a secret.

Your argument made no sense.

12-07-2015 08:27PM

RedemptionZ wrote: »

It is your argument... You posted it.

You said it's like questioning the legitimacy of the WWE. There is no question to be answered, it's scripted. There is a pre determined outcome. This isn't a secret.

Your argument made no sense.

Do you think Dana White influences the outcome in any way?

RedemptionZ · 12-07-2015 08:30PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Relax!

I'm not the first to question it, I won't be the last.

I don't watch MMA regularly, no. I'm not blinded by some bias and hoping it's all fair and real. It's a question that other sports have faced, particularly one owned by one person, F1 faced questions of bias by Ecclestone's organisation to assist certain teams and drivers like Schumacher before.

"I question the legitimacy of football. I'm not the only one and I won't be the last. Do I have anything to go by? Nope but other people think it too."

Throw in a few references to Sheamus and his coveted WWE titles and that's your argument in a nutshell

RedemptionZ · 12-07-2015 08:34PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Do you think Dana White influences the outcome in any way?

No. He'll always prefer the fight that will make the most money. But he has no influence on how the match will end. Why do you think he does? What do you know that we don't?

12-07-2015 08:37PM

RedemptionZ wrote: »

"I question the legitimacy of football. I'm not the only one and I won't be the last. Do I have anything to go by? Nope but other people think it too."

Throw in a few references to Sheamus and his coveted WWE titles and that's your argument in a nutshell

No it's not.

Do you think the outcomes are in any way influenced by Dana White and what money can be generated from a particular result?

12-07-2015 08:38PM

RedemptionZ wrote: »

No. He'll always prefer the fight that will make the most money.

Ah, so the match ups are arranged on the basis of money rather than merit.

Thanks, we seem to be getting nearer each other at least.

Is UFC/Mixed Martial Arts fixed?

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