Mighty Mouse: Miguel Torres WEC 42 interview exclusive with MMAmania.com
by Derek Bolender on Aug 4, 2009 12:13 PM EDT
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If you walk past the unassuming 5’10," 135-pound Miguel Torres on the street you would never know he is one of the best mixed martial arts fighters in the world.
Just watch him fight in the cage and you’ll quickly learn that he is as dangerous as they come. He’s a technical master who overwhelms his opponents with a rare combination of power, speed, and skill.
Torres is currently sporting an impressive record (37–1) after coming off a five round unanimous decision victory over Takeya Mizugaki at WEC 40 back in April 2009.
He will once again put his WEC championship on the line when he takes on undefeated number one contender, Brian Bowles, on Aug 9. This match up will headline the WEC 42 event that is set to take place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Torres took some time out of his busy training schedule to discuss Mizugaki, his hometown near Chicago, Ill., a possible up in weight for higher profile fights, and his next opponent Bowles.
Check it out:
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): You’re coming off a victory over Takeya Mizugaki at WEC 40. You went the full five rounds for the first time ever. Was that the most difficult fight you’ve ever had in your career? Did Mizugaki earn your respect?
Miguel Torres: Up to that point in my career, yes. It was pretty rough. I was hitting him with some good shots and he was showing no effects of it. I tried cutting him with elbows. I tried knocking him out with punches and knees and kicks. He took everything I gave him and gave back. As far as respect goes, he had a lot of respect before the fight, but for sure he had a ton more after.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Talk a little bit about fighting in Chicago, Ill., near your hometown of East Chicago, Indians, for the first time ever as the WEC champion. What was that whole experience like for you?
Miguel Torres: It was crazy. All the attention was centered around me. I knew it was going to be kind of crazy. People wanting tickets and friends wanting to get hooked up with this and that. People wanting to get into the after parties. People coming to the gym to watch me train and doing promos in English and Spanish.
I was getting bombarded from all areas but it was a good experience. I would totally do it again. I live for pressure like that. To be able to do that in my hometown and come back a world champion and defend my title like that was pretty cool.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Moving forward, you’re set to put your title on the line once again against Brian Bowles at WEC 42. When did training camp start and where did it take place?
Miguel Torres: I started training months ago. I went to Vegas for two weeks prior to UFC 100 and then came back to train boxing in my hometown in Chicago.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Who did you train with in Vegas?
Miguel Torres: I trained with Mark Dellagrotte. He was out training Frank Mir for a couple weeks (prior to UFC 100). I’ll trained with Dellagrotte and Robert Drysdale.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): With regards to Bowles, what is his biggest weakness? How do you plan to attack him?
Miguel Torres: I don’t think he has too many weaknesses. His biggest weakness would be his inexperience. If we put the rounds that we’ve fought on paper I probably have four or five times more rounds than he does. I think the biggest difference in this fight will be experience.
I think my last fight showed I can as hard in the fifth round as the first round. I’m never going to get tired. He’s going to have to overcome a lot of things, which a lot of men haven’t been able to do. His grappling is solid. His striking is solid too, but I don’t think it’s at a level where it can compete with mine.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Would you like to make an official prediction on the fight?
Miguel Torres: First round submission or second round knockout.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): If you are fortunate to come away with a victory over Bowles who else at 135 would you like to challenge yourself against?
Miguel Torres: I’ll fight whoever the next person in line is. I tell the WEC and all my fans I’ll fight anybody that is out there.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): I interviewed Mike Brown prior to his last fight with Faber and he expressed interest in fighting you in the future. Are you interested in fighting the best at 145 pounds?
Miguel Torres: For sure man. I’ll fight with Brown. I’ll fight with Faber. That’s a superfight that the fans are going to want to see. It’s a fight that I would want to do. I just want to do a fight we could do on PPV or something like that. Something big.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Would you ever consider a move up to 155 and a trip over to the UFC? Is that too much weight for you to put on? Is that a realistic possibility or not?
Miguel Torres: I wouldn’t really put on weight for that fight. I would just focus on my training and my skills and coming in with a strong game plan. Going up in weight that will probably never happen.
The WEC has expressed much concern. They want to keep me at 135. I am the man at that weight class. They have big plans in the future. In the next year I think you’ll see guys coming down from 55 to 45 and 45 to 35 but they want to keep me there (at 135). They have expressed their concern and they’re taking care of me.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): So if you ever did face a 145 pounder like Brown or Faber or someone like that would it have to be at some sort of catch-weight then?
Miguel Torres: They haven’t talked about it yet. I mentioned it a couple of times. They haven’t brought it up yet. I’m thinking it would have to be a catch-weight though.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Do you feel like you’re the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world? If not, who is?
Miguel Torres: I don’t really believe in that term pound-for-pound. There are just so many criteria to take into consideration. I think there are a group of fighters that are the elite crowd, the elite upper echelon of fighters. To call someone the best fighter in the world it is so hard because it can change so much.
Machida’s last performance, that was really being pound-for-pound the best fighter in the world at that time. St. Pierre when he fights too. In the top five fighters I do believe I should be in there because I have dominated my weight class for so long and I’m doing a good job of it now. So much so that the world hasn’t seen everything I can do yet. In time I am going to be up there higher than what I am now.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): As a fan, who is a fighter out there who you admire from a distance, have a lot of respect for, and love to watch fight?
Miguel Torres: I love Fedor. I love his style. I love his mystique. St. Pierre is one of those guys. He’s a great athlete. He always comes in shape and is always ready to do something big. Anderson (Silva), even though his last couple fights have not been what they’ve been in the past. I still think he’s up there. B.J. Penn. There are so many fighters I look up to that I try to emulate.
In Japan, you have (Tatsuya) Kawajiri. You have (Shinya) Aoki. You have a couple different fighters that are always trying to finish their fights and they have different styles of doing so. There are a lot of fighters I look up to. Even though they don’t have big names or big names in the States or on the top of the pound-for-pound list I look up to them.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): That’s all I had for you Miguel. Is there anything you would like to pass along to your fans out there or any sponsors you would like to thank?
Miguel Torres: Thank all my sponsors -- Ecko, MMA Warehouse, Metropolix, Val-Tex Labs. Those guys help me out a lot. They keep me going throughout the year. I try to do the best I can. And to the fans, their support keeps me going.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Thanks again for the time. We’ll do it again soon. Best of luck to you in the future.
Miguel Torres: Cool, thank you.
Derek Bolender is a staff writer for InsideFights.com. He is also syndicated at FoxSports.com and CNNSI.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DerekMMAwriter and on Facebook. Look for future articles from him on MMAmania.com.
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time for Torres to move up to 145. he is big for 135. he needs to challenge himself by fighting at 145. Torres vs Brown will be big, bigger than Faber vs Brown.
by realmma on Aug 4, 2009 12:27 PM EDT reply actions
he’s tall but i wouldnt consider him big. i think he should just stay at 135. I think MTN, and faber would both beat him if he moved up.
by jared on Aug 4, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
i say let him move up so he can get whooped by brown and faber then shut up about moving up to 45 and 55
by JG on Aug 4, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he could win both those fights, probably have a harder time with Faber if he was 100% and he doesn’t break his hand in the 1st-2nd rd this time.
by M1Globalcansuckmyballs(Formerly ODHGC) on Aug 4, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree. He isnt a big 135er he is tall. I would love to see Faber-Torres at a catchweight of 140. Talk about some good ratings.
by belfort_fan on Aug 4, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
then when he beats faber it will be torres/brown that would be sick!!! or maybe faber could drop down to 135 he looked small compared to brown
by Nor Cal Mexican (formely Philicutioner) on Aug 4, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
he doesn’t look big cause he weighs 135 but he has the height and frame for 145. he is not allowing himself to prove how good he is by staying at 135 when he could easily move to 145 for some fights…fans want to see it. Torres staying at 135 is like Fedor staying with strikeforce…u need to go where you can be challenged.
by realmma on Aug 4, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Torres has said eventually he would like to go to the UFC at 155 and fight there. Now that would be a challenge. He will eventually move up, but the fight with bowles needs to take place first
by See What Had Happend Was !!!! on Aug 4, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
No more discussing Fedor in unrelated posts people… He is poison!
by FedorFightsCans(95%ofthetime) (formerly Sp00ner1234) on Aug 4, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
ya he said he wanted to maove up already but the WEC wants him to stay becouse 145 is more stacked and stablished and they want him to help grow 135 so when so that they only have to worry about 125
by Nor Cal Mexican (formely Philicutioner) on Aug 4, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d love to see either one of those fights. Torres is a bad @ss and I think he could win either of those. Brown might be tough, he looks big at 145, I wonder how those two would compare size wise.
On a side note, MANIA, JESSE, DEREK, SOMEBODY: John had a suggestion in an earlier Fedor thread, you guys should have a staff member write an opinion piece on the Fedor situation. We wanna know where you guys stand on this one!! come with it Mania!
by O damn he got caught on Aug 4, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I.E. do you think this hurts Fedor’s drawing power? Does this partnership with M-1 impact Strikeforce in a positive or negative way? Is co-promotion a legitimate excuse for refusing to sign with the UFC or is the UFC simply too unreasonable to make a deal with? Your thoughts??
by O damn he got caught on Aug 4, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
my thought is, why was the whole co promotion deal never brought up in the first round of negotiations a few years back. Or was it? seems like the huge issue then was the Sambo. now that UFC has given in to Sambo, M-1 wants to take a little more with the co promoting. And now that I have written this in a totally unrelated thread, I just read your above post and realized that the question was for mania staff, feel free to disregard ☺
by James S on Aug 4, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions
I like how you could have just deleted your typed words and moved on but no, you explained your mistake and stayed strong with your post!! Well played James S!!! lol
by Dragon on Aug 4, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought delete, but I had already typed that crap, so i figured i would let it ride, and explain myself so not to get flamed with “hey dip$hit, the question was directed to Mania.”
by James S on Aug 4, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I smell what your stepping in, I just thought it was hilarious…..
by Dragon on Aug 4, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
lol, sorry buddy, I just got those of Bisping from last fight, kinda disappointing on that matter. Here some old one from Larson…
by Alpha Male on Aug 4, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
well just though I let u guys know the New York time wrote a piece on Fedor not signing with the UFC here it is
Man Considered World’s Top Fighter Rejects His Sport’s Top Brand
By R.M. SCHNEIDERMAN New York Times
Published: August 3, 2009
Fedor Emelianenko, a champion mixed martial arts fighter from Russia, signed a three-fight deal Monday with Strikeforce, once again depriving the Ultimate Fighting Championship of the chance to lay claim to the man who is widely considered the best mixed martial arts fighter in the world.
The U.F.C. has nearly all of the world’s best professional mixed martial arts fighters, but Emelianenko, a heavyweight, remains elusive.
…
In March, Strikeforce signed a multiyear television deal with Showtime. Before the deal, Coker said, Strikeforce was largely a regional-based live event promotion. But the addition of Emelianenko gives it a chance to become the No. 2 mixed martial arts brand in the world, behind the U.F.C.
They also cover the negotiations:
The U.F.C. tried and failed to sign Emelianenko once before, two years ago. It would not disclose how much money it offered him, but in an e-mail message Monday, the U.F.C.’s president, Dana White, expressed frustration in dealing with Emelianenko and his management.
“He turns down a huge deal and the opportunity to face the best in the world to fight nobodies,” White said.
Strikeforce has some highly acclaimed heavyweights, but the U.F.C. has a deeper talent pool.
“As far as heavyweights in the world go, Fedor’s the man,” said Scott Coker, the chief executive of Strikeforce.
At 6 feet and 235 pounds, Emelianenko (30-1) is relatively undersized for a heavyweight, but has not lost a fight in nine years. Recently, however, some fans and mixed martial arts analysts have criticized the caliber of his opponents. Such criticism is likely to persist.
by Nor Cal Mexican (formely Philicutioner) on Aug 4, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Nice find. If Fedor does not continue to fight top level HW’s then the knowledgeable MMA writers will drop his rank.
And I am all for that. Fair is fair.
All of this venomous anti-Fedor sentiment is much ado about nothing.
by OJR on Aug 4, 2009 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Admittedly I’ve taken this way too far, but I’m keeping myself entertained so…
by O damn he got caught on Aug 4, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Tiger Style; Tiger Style; Wu Tang clan ain’t nothing to F*ck with! 36 chambers if I remember right.
by M1Globalcansuckmyballs(Formerly ODHGC) on Aug 4, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions
yes sir…sorry if i was rude in the post (i see it’s been deleted). Just tired of the *Breaking News: FEDOR….** in all the threads lately.
by tiger_style on Aug 4, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea Mania went on a huge editing/moderation spree there, must be cracking down now I guess. Apparently I’m part of the problem now as every post goes straight to moderation.
by M1Globalcansuckmyballs(Formerly ODHGC) on Aug 4, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions
37-1 and facing top competition in his weight class.
Let’s hear why Fedor is considered a better P4P than Torres. Honest question.
by Punch You in the Ovaries on Aug 4, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions
Exactly. I’ve been calling him miny Fedor for a while now. But he’s taken Fedors place, his record is better and he isnt scared to fight anyone.
by belfort_fan on Aug 4, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess it depends on how deep your knowledge of MMA really is, Punch.
I have seen and can gauge the HW fighters to make a semi-intelligent observation on behalf of Fedor.
Can you do the same with all of the 135lbers that Torres has faced?
More power to you if you can because I surely can’t…
Based on his ridiculous record of 37-1, its obvious that Torres is a certifiable bad@ss.
He is definitely in the top ten of the mythical p4p discussion (if not the top 5).
by OJR on Aug 4, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
We didn’t get to see much in the way of 135lb fights before the WEC. Just what I’ve seen of him in the WEC plus the fact that he’s 37-1 and they couldn’t all be cans leads me to believe that someone more knowledgeable than I could make the case.
by Punch You in the Ovaries on Aug 4, 2009 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t consider him better. OJR makes a good point… if you know nothing about MMA or at least nothing about the WEC you would consider Fedor up there. But I happen to enjoy the WEC alot and can say that when you have 38 fights and of those you lost one and including that one you lost only 7 have gone to decision… thats just ridiculous. The Mizugaki fight was insane. it was 4 years since he went the distance in a fight. In addition to that, Fedor is a HW, which means he has any number of 60 organizations to fight in. There is only a few organizations for 135’ers and I would say WEC is prolly the best (DREAM has a few good fighters too) and the WEC will bring anyone to fight Torres. I expect that after this fight with Bowles, providing he wins, he will be forced to look for more competition. Lets also remember that even though Miguel Torres is one of the greatest fighters to ever step into the ring, for beating Mizugaki he got a kings ransom (sarcasm) of $44,000. 1/10th of what Fedor made in his last fight.
by FedorFightsCans(95%ofthetime) (formerly Sp00ner1234) on Aug 4, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions
You don’t know what your talkin about OJR, Torres is a chump, just like you said, you have no idea the caliber of the 135 lbs fighters hes fought; get off the kool aid.
by JRE on Aug 4, 2009 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Aww. they removed JRE’s other comment about the mullet fetish…
by Synyster on Aug 4, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Derek or whoever is in charge of this thread,
IF you are going to delete responses to the troll that is JRE then you should delete JRE’s potshots at everybody else, too.
Thanks.
by OJR on Aug 4, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
What he said! :mad:
by M1Globalcansuckmyballs(Formerly ODHGC) on Aug 4, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
K so everything I type now goes straight to moderation; apparently I really got on someones nerves there..
by O damn he got caught on Aug 4, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions
O Damn, Why would you persisting to know what kind of stupidity, that comes out of JRE’s, idiotic mind?
by Alpha Male on Aug 4, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions
hmm, rephrase the question? lol, I’m not sure what you gettin at Alpha, JRE was raggin on Dragon and OJR, stealing their screen names, so I stole his and did a couple posts. Didn’t think Mania’s reaction would be as harsh as it was.
by M1Globalcansuckmyballs(Formerly ODHGC) on Aug 5, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions
Torres is a little cocky when bringing up Brian Bowls. But he has all the reason to be cocky, 37-1!!!! This kid is amazing.
by belfort_fan on Aug 4, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions
Totally agree with him on the pound for pound issue. There is just a group of fighters that are more elite than others.
by James S on Aug 4, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions
Torres is the man but I think Joseph Benavidez might give him some problems.
by kevjack115 on Aug 4, 2009 12:47 PM EDT reply actions
“I’ll went to Vegas”
“I’ll trained with Dellagrotte”
These edits make me think this interview was done before UFC 100.
by DirtyML on Aug 4, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions
No dude he says he trained with them before 100, the interveiw was done after.
“I trained with Mark Dellagrotte. He was out training Frank Mir for a couple weeks (prior to UFC 100). I’ll trained with Dellagrotte and Robert Drysdale.”
by Dragon on Aug 4, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Minowaman’s mullet would give him a run for his money.
by DirtyML on Aug 4, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions
I think the Asian guy with a goatee and a mullet wins that one. Minowa all the way!
by O damn he got caught on Aug 4, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
LOL, this is just like watching Sibil!
by O damn he got caught on Aug 4, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Alright, that does it. Random Cote-posting guy, you’re off the hook. For now. Screen name stealing bastard, it’s on. You better hope and pray I never meet you, because if I do you’re toast. You hear me? Toast. There will be no introductions. There will be no ‘my name is Inigo Montoya’ speech. Just a straight up ass whipping. After I kick your ass I’m going to stuff you in the trunk of my car and drive you over to the gay part of town and let those boys pass you around like a joint at a Snoop Dogg concert.
by PW on Aug 4, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
The list of elite fighters? Well, it goes without saying that you are one of the elite!
by James S on Aug 4, 2009 12:54 PM EDT reply actions
“If you walk past the unassuming 5’10," 135-pound Miguel Torres on the street you would never know he is one of the best mixed martial arts fighters in the world.”
Of course you would, his ears are all messed up. And Miguel is lying to you if he said 5’10"…
by Youtaped on Aug 4, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions
I’m a Miguel Torres fan. I’d love to see him in the UFC at 155. I’m sure WEC treats him really nice and everything, but seriously, they’ll never be able to offer him as much as the UFC with the potential for PPV fights and more well known opponents. His fame (and consequently his fortune) would skyrocket as soon as he whooped up on some well-known LW guys.
by Chalkbot on Aug 4, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions
20lbs heavier @ 155 I don’t think so.
I like Miguel, but there is no way he is ever going to succed when it’s time to take on Gray Maynard, Clay Guida, Tyson Griffin, Sean Sherk. These guys, even at 155 are just too big and too powerful.
He could challenge and find success at 155 against
Spencer Fisher, George Roop, Jess Liaudin, Terry Etim
Corey Hill yes, Diego Sanchez no.
What are you guys thinking… especially you OJR.
by Big Zino on Aug 4, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Chalkbot’s post is iron clad.
I will give you Diego Sanchez but I disagree w/ you as to the rest of your list. I give him good odds against the rest of those guys.
Especially Guida…
What are YOU thinking?
by OJR on Aug 4, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m thinkin Sherk could out muscle him if he ever remembers how to wrestle again. He used to fight at 170 lbs, and still win short of Hughes and GSP. At 155 he’s a beast, he just needs to forget about this striking only approach and start mixing it up again.
by O damn he got caught on Aug 4, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Granted Guida isn’t the biggest guy on my list I still think you should rewatch Sanchez vs Guida and still you think Torres has him??? Miguel has no chance of winning with striking, he could out strike him and still not do enough damage to Clay.
I’m trying to use logic and I just don’t see how Torres would ever make a dent at 155 in the UFC, could he win in the division hell yeah but could he dominate guys in the UFC’s 155 top ten, I doubt it.
There is a reason he is the 135 champ. Maybe even send him up to fight cub swanson or Manny Gamburyan @145.
Simply put, if he had odds against the guys I listed he would be competing on the bigger show already.
Thats what I’m thinking.
by Big Zino on Aug 4, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Scratch all of that…
Leanord Garcia vs Miguel Torres.
How does that get signed?
by Big Zino on Aug 4, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he would’ve tried already or would try to move up if it was up to him. Right now he’s the 135 lbs poster boy and he’s getting more people to pay more attention to that division. I would say he can compete at 145, maybe even be the champ, 155 is a pretty big jump. I don’t think we’ll see it happen for a while though if at all, I think the WEC having only the lighter divisions to work with now need him to stay at 135 to keep the fans interested in the division.
by O damn he got caught on Aug 4, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Torres v. Garcia…Torres is too technical for Garcia
Torres v. Edgar…Torres long reach will nullify Edgar’s wrestling, I also hear that Torres has some good jits.
Torres v. Griffin…Same deal.
Torres v. Maynard…Strength will be a problem but muscles don’t help you against good jits.
Torres v. Guida…Torres will finish Nate’s aborted game plan. Strike from the outside and work your jits when Huggie gets romantic.
Torres v. Sherk…Big problems there if Sherk remembers how to wrestle, agreed w/ O Damn there.
All very competitive fights and none of them are a gimme for Torres’ opponents.
by OJR on Aug 4, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed. There are business reasons for building Miguel via WEC.
I can sign on 145 no problem, but I think his options are few at 155.
by Big Zino on Aug 4, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
O Damn-
Only the true hardcore fans are interested in the 145lb and lower (at least in the US).
IF Torres wants fame and fortune on a larger scale then he needs to head north (which was Chalkbot’s original thought).
Period.
by OJR on Aug 4, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Well sh!t OJR, my fame and fortune would skyrocket if I beat the top half of the 155 division just the same.
Nobody was arguing that. I questioned his ability to do so.
Exclamation mark.
by Big Zino on Aug 4, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I think it’s coming around, the WEC is a testament to that being that they only deal with 145 lbs and below now. I think Faber’s popularity speaks volumes for how far the lighter weight divisions have come from an entertainment stand point. WEC is based in the U.S. anyway, and I think they’re doing very well. Of course the UFC stage is the biggest stage in the business for MMA, but it doesn’t mean Torres wan’t/can’t catch the attention of the U.S. fans as time goes on.
by M1Globalcansuckmyballs(Formerly ODHGC) on Aug 4, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I completely disagree.
Only the hardcore fans know who Faber is and what he is about.
Torres will NOT catch on with the casual/mainstream fan if he stays @ 135 or 145 (unless the UFC starts to promote 135 and 145).
by OJR on Aug 4, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver for the WEC featherweight title recorded a 1.4 household rating and averaged 1,535,705 viewers.
and just to compare
An episode of the previous season of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike before that fight drew a 1.16 rating (1.6 million viewers).
Granted thats probably one of their better if not their best shows, but if some more cable systems pick up the Versus channel and they can put together some compelling fights they can definatley break into the mainstream.
by M1Globalcansuckmyballs(Formerly ODHGC) on Aug 4, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the other thing that helped that one was the count down show they did before the fight to get the hype going; they haven’t done it since and haven’t experienced the same success.
by M1Globalcansuckmyballs(Formerly ODHGC) on Aug 4, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Yup.
Also, maybe they should consider a reality show for the lower weight classes and see what happens.
TUF for WEC? That will draw in the mainstream fans.
by OJR on Aug 4, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Believe me, I’m in marketing and you can’t ignore the fact that a simple base formula exists.
You spend X you receive Y. This can be applied to so many things and stats suggest it’s mostly accurate.
Presidential votes – consumer products – mma fights
you spend big bucks to expose your product to a potential new audience a month before your probably going to notice a boost in ratings. You don’t and by passing by the new audience thing then you take your chances of not only failing to attract new fans, but you also lose the share of number of fans who weren’t impressed last time around. If your not growing your dying. We have all seen that by now. Yes, WEC is the love child of the UFC but that aside it wouldn’t go on forever.
The fighter development is going very well right now and by the looks of things to come they’re doing a great job. I wonder about the “push” the lighter athletes will receive in a few years. IMO these guys put on the most entertaining bouts when at a high skill level. Guys like a Miguel Torres or Mike Brown. If your a newbie and want to get hooked quick, take a peek at Jose Aldo vs Cub Swanson. You’ll come back for more.
And to top it off these events are aired for free (sort of). If your a casual fan or boxing loyalist then compare these guys to the entertainment value of a Pac Man tilt. My only question is are there as many Miguel Torres as there are Brock Lesnars out there.
Kind of got away from the original thought there… It is ridiculous that the WEC doesn’t do more “crossover” market exposure stuff. Especially with Mamma UFC holding all the distribution channels.
by Big Zino on Aug 4, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions
SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS:
IF PENN DOESNT WIN 5 IN A ROW THE NAME CHANGE IS FOREVER PERMANENT WHEN I POST ON HERE. IF PENN DOES, YOU APPRECIATE HIM AS ONE OF THE GREATEST FIGHTERS TO EVER PUT ON GLOVES . . . DEAL?
by ( (Adam G) ) on Aug 4, 2009 2:43 PM EDT reply actions
What’s the name change to G?
by M1Globalcansuckmyballs(Formerly ODHGC) on Aug 4, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions
lmao, everyone on here is now “f*ckfedor formerly know as” . . . classic!
by ( (Adam G) ) on Aug 4, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I would like to say I started that for the record
by FedorFightsCans(95%ofthetime) (formerly Sp00ner1234) on Aug 4, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I met him at the fan expo during UFC 100 weekend. He is a really nice guy and goes out his way for the fans. Not only that, i still think pound for pound he’s the best in the world.
I would love to see him kick Floyd Mayweather’s butt. I like what he had to say about Floyd’s racist and degrading domments about mma.
by DrewJitsu on Aug 4, 2009 11:38 PM EDT reply actions
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