Big John is a terroist or so they will have us believe

GeorgeXVX · 07-06-2008, 02:35 PM

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LAS VEGAS – When the Ultimate Fighting Championship started as a made-for-pay-per-view event in 1993, it was a learn-as-you-go proposition since nobody knew what to expect.

Over the past few years, in attempting to turn whatever it started out as being to a legitimate sport with unified rules and commission regulation, there have been a new set of growing pains. The more popular the sport gets, the more controversies there seems to be regarding judging criteria, referee stoppages and rule interpretations.

Last week, when the Association of Boxing Commissions came up with changes to the unified rules at its Montreal convention, among the many people who had no idea any of this was coming was UFC President Dana White.

"There's going to be a fight," said White when talking about new rules being implemented. "And you know I don't roll over easily."

White unequivocally said they have no intention of changing or adding to the company's current five current weight classes: Lightweight (155-pound maximum); welterweight (170); middleweight (185); light heavyweight (205) and heavyweight (265).

The new unified rules include an ill-thought-out 14 different weight classes, particularly the addition of 215 and 225 pound divisions, which makes little sense with the dearth of quality heavyweights from 205 to 265 pounds to begin with.

"No, we're not following that," he said.

The commissions said that the promotions have the option of doing whatever weight classes they want. But doing so would create an inconsistent sport.

It becomes an interesting game because from Day 1 after taking over the promotion in 2001, Zuffa has attempted to become regulated and fight under commission rules that would be universally recognized.

There were many officials in the previous UFC ownership that weren't thrilled with some of the rules, in particular banning of knee strikes on the ground, that the New Jersey State Athletic Control board implemented in 2000. Those rules have been used as the framework in most new states that have since regulated the sport. But commission regulation, both of which they agreed and didn't agree with, was a necessary evil in the big picture of the sport's survival.

With these new changes, including a ban on putting hands over the mouth or nose, but legalizing the straight up-and-down elbow strikes that had been banned, White believes he's got a new enemy. And it's a referee who at one time was the longest-lasting fixture in the company.

"It's John McCarthy," White said. "He doesn't want to be a referee anymore. Now he wants to change the rules. And he's announcing for Affliction." McCarthy, who retired as a ref last year to join The Fight Network, a Canadian cable station, spoke at the commission meetings, where many commissions, including New Jersey, will interpret blows to the back of the head as being a straight line down the center of the head and the illegal zone would be one inch on either side. However, in California, commission head Armando Garcia said their interpretation of the illegal zone is everything behind the ears.

McCarthy will also be doing commentary for the July 19 Affliction pay-per-view event, a promotion that White has declared war on, to the extent of running a free show on Spike TV head-to-head featuring middleweight champ Anderson Silva.

Whatever the rules are, there needs to be consistency because companies run shows in different states with the same fighters, and being penalized in the middle of a fight for what was perfectly legal in the last fight isn't fair to anyone.

Among other things White talked about in an impromptu post-press conference mini-conference is a late-October Chicago debut for a pay-per-view show and plans for a Boston debut in November. The former is closer to being finalized than the latter, as Massachusetts still has to finalize regulation of the sport.

He also has 2009 goals of running in places like the Philippines, where he said UFC is on the equivalent of a major network and doing phenomenal television ratings, as well as Germany, Brazil and Dubai. Some shows would be smaller in stature from the type of pay-per-view level shows people are used to.

"When I was spending four hours on Thursday at press conferences, Lorenzo (Fertitta) was in the office kicking ass," said White, who noted new UFC CEO Fertitta's key role is in expanding UFC internationally.

White also noted meeting this past week with lightweight champion B.J. Penn, who is intent on challenging welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, provided St. Pierre gets past Jon Fitch on Aug. 9 in Minneapolis.

The light heavyweight division was thrown into a state of flux with Forrest Griffin's win Saturday night. There was much talk about Quinton Jackson getting a rematch, which White didn't rule out. There are also people like Lyoto Machida, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva and Anderson Silva who are potentially in the mix.

UFC unlikely to adopt new weight classes; White says "Big John" is new enemy | MMAjunkie.com

T-Bone · 07-06-2008, 02:42 PM

I just saw that...nice title to the article

"UFC unlikely to adopt new weight classes; White says "Big John" is new enemy"

I'm surprised they're unlikely to add the new weight classes...what with TUF putting off title fights for a good part of each year. Dana's just cranky as usual.

AikaImmortal · 07-06-2008, 02:44 PM

Dana is a spoiled little rich *****, with no respect for anyone who isnt balls deep in his ass.

opsy · 07-06-2008, 03:12 PM

I have no problem with him not adopting these rules. What is going to be the point of all of these weight classes? So Anderson Silva can walk into the cage with 10 belts around his waist like Floyd Mayweather? It will just stall out each division's title fights. The majority of the people who make these rules are still caught up in the mindset of boxing, heck these changes were made by The American Boxing Commission, the same people who gave us a great 10 point must system!

T-Bone · 07-06-2008, 03:15 PM

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Originally Posted by opsy

I have no problem with him not adopting these rules. What is going to be the point of all of these weight classes? So Anderson Silva can walk into the cage with 10 belts around his waist like Floyd Mayweather? It will just stall out each division's title fights. The majority of the people who make these rules are still caught up in the mindset of boxing, heck these changes were made by The American Boxing Commission, the same people who gave us a great 10 point must system!

uggh

Like I said, I figured with all the TUF stalling, the extra divisions might make sense. P.S. I'm not a big fan of the additional divisions for MMA.

Chewman · 07-06-2008, 03:25 PM

Guess he just needs to put Hussien as his middle name like Obama has done?
Nice title.. lol

Ventre · 07-06-2008, 03:28 PM

I say let ufc do thier thing & don't try to make mma another boxxing sport.
To many people always trying to control each buisness out there just like the goverment trying to control every god damn thing in this country.

Ufc built itself w/o outside help & should not have to bow down to outsiders now.

Scarecrow · 07-06-2008, 04:09 PM

The way I look at it...the UFC created mainstream MMA. Their rules should be the rules adopted by the other organizations, with some minor modifications such as getting rid of the 10-point system (my opinion).

CapAmericaFTW · 07-06-2008, 04:22 PM

Why should the UFC be under the jurisdiction of ANYONE (aside from federal law) but itself when creating rules and officiating fights?

ESPECIALLY not a BOXING regulation organization!

If ANYTHING, why can't the UFC lead in the creation of a national organization for mixed martial arts AS ITS OWN SPORT...not just some redheaded stepchild of boxing/wrestling?

Mickey Finn · 07-07-2008, 01:08 AM

i dont like the look of the proposed new rules, particularly the weight classes

Crashsti · 07-07-2008, 04:50 AM

I don't think 14 new weight classes are needed in MMA at this moment. Right now the UFC has 5 and its difficult to find enough elite talent to fill those. Imagine being the promoter and trying to fill 14 classes and keep them competitive, absolutely impossible. As the sport grows an arguement could be made, especially in the smaller shows, that more divisions improves competition and fighter safety. At the moment there are alot of fighters that have to cut or gain weight to fit a weight class since none of the current divisions fit them.

OneBigThrow · 07-07-2008, 10:31 AM

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The new unified rules include an ill-thought-out 14 different weight classes, particularly the addition of 215 and 225 pound divisions

Holy Bias!!!!!

nah a lot of people have seemed to at least lend support to this cruiserweight division, myself included...but its not lke any org has to adopt the weight classes anyway...so its fine if the UFC doesnt except the new classes the only one that i would like to see is the cruiserweight anyway aside from the lower classes that the UFC doesnt support anyway

i do agree with inconsistency state to state though

Quote:

As the sport grows an arguement could be made, especially in the smaller shows, that more divisions improves competition and fighter safety. At the moment there are alot of fighters that have to cut or gain weight to fit a weight class since none of the current divisions fit them.

definitely, especially older gentlemen that just cant be cutting/packing on weight like younger fighters yet still want to be able to fight in balanced competition

the more weight classes the better for smaller orgs, there are plenty of capable fighters to fill them in, the way i see it if these smaller orgs start these weightclasses now, down the road we WILL have enough good talent to affix these divisions to the Big Show whatever org that may be in the future

fullonshred · 07-07-2008, 11:06 AM

"With these new changes, including a ban on putting hands over the mouth or nose"

This rule should have already been in place.

I see no needs for new weight classes. One of the things that makes MMA cool is that we can still see fights that have fighters with some size variation to them. This was one of the many original attractions of MMA. The "Can a more skilled smaller guy beat a less skilled larger man" question. This part has already been watered down. let's not take it any further please.

jyd94 · 07-07-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AikaImmortal

Dana is a spoiled little rich *****, with no respect for anyone who isnt balls deep in his ass.

Do you agree with all those weight classes?

Cuts O Meat · 07-07-2008, 12:56 PM

A rule I would like to see is: No rubbing your opponents cuts trying to tear it open further.

I saw Kos doing this to Lytle. Such a dirty tactic..

OneBigThrow · 07-07-2008, 12:59 PM

^i remember seeing that, but i think Kos was actually grinding his elbow on the opposite side of the cut

im assuming the cut was on the left side, cuz kos was definitely grinding the elbow on lytles right side of his face

Cuts O Meat · 07-07-2008, 01:03 PM

I saw Kos using both elbows to do this, but using his right elbow the most.

Actually he was more using forearms than his elbow. Either way, still dirty.

OneBigThrow · 07-07-2008, 01:07 PM

aiight im not sayin u were wrong i just didnt recall

i do agree that its a cheap tactic, just get the separation and deliver a real blow lol

i do think he was most likely trying to get lytle to let go, lytle has a damn good defensive guard

Zoosh Badlegs · 07-07-2008, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fullonshred

"With these new changes, including a ban on putting hands over the mouth or nose"

This rule should have already been in place.

What is the purpose of a rear naked choke?

asronn · 07-07-2008, 07:00 PM

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Originally Posted by Zoosh Badlegs

What is the purpose of a rear naked choke?

lets be real here. it takes some skill to catch a guy in a rear naked choke and absolutly no skil to put your hand over a guys mouth.

I for one see no problem with the new rules. I actually think the less automony the UFC has the better fights we will get to see