UFC 133: Evans-Ortiz 2 is set for August 6th in Philadelphia. That is a little more than a week away, and yet, there hasn’t been as much excitement for this upcoming card as there has been for other recent UFC events. The buildup to UFC 132, for instance, was much more magnificent than the lead into UFC 133. Even before the injury bug ran through this card, it felt like fans were not as excited for the Philadelphia show. However, looking at the card, a few interesting story lines still exist for the MMA fan to pay attention to.
The Power of UFC on PPV
While the mainstream UFC fan may not know this, the organization has been involved in a situation surrounding its presence on TV. Its contract with Spike TV is coming to a close, and the UFC is in need of some proof that they are worth keeping around. Strong Pay-Per-View buyrates are one way that the company can show how much drawing power it currently has. However, when a show lacks the “star” power that motivates fans to purchase the event, the UFC is left in a vulnerable position. Injuries to fighters on the UFC 133 card forced the removal of three promotional stars, plus a few other names that were involved in preliminary bouts. UFC matchmaking was then tasked to find replacements that will hopefully catch the viewer’s eye, and cause him or her to press the “Buy” button this Saturday night. The buyrates for UFC 133 will be worth paying attention to, as more than a few experts have predicted what they might be. The UFC needs strong numbers, but one has to wonder: How strong will they be?
Main Event vs. Rest of Card Theory
In mixed martial arts, fans tend to rate the worthiness of a show based upon how well the main event was perceived. For example, UFC 114 is often viewed as a bad show because of the subpar main event between Quinton Jackson and Rashad Evans, which came after a pretty large buildup. Even after an undercard that had a number of good matchups, the general vibe walking away from the event was that fans were not pleased. At UFC 133 (interestingly enough, another card where Evans held a main event slot) we could be faced with the same type of situation. Both Tito Ortiz and Evans use a style that is not conducive to highlight reel finishes. Evans is likely to revert to the grinding wrestling style that we saw against Thiago Silva at UFC 108, wearing down Ortiz from start to finish, and leaving fans upset over a “lack of action.” If this occurs, the “Main Event vs. Rest of Card Theory” suggests that fans will not be pleased with the rest of the event either, even if the show has multiple strong performances.
The Continued Growth of Contenders
One of the best things the UFC has done in recent years is shape the development of future contenders through their matchmaking. Jon Jones was one of the first to benefit from the experience, and now it seems that other fighters are going through the same treatment. Chad Mendes and Johny Hendricks are two individuals competing at UFC 133 who I believe have the potential to become contenders in 2012, and both have stout tests next weekend to prove that they are headed in the right direction with their growth as mixed martial artists.
Mendes was considered next in line for a title shot at featherweight champion Jose Aldo before being passed over in favor of Kenny Florian, but the undefeated Team Alpha Male representative is still very close to that opportunity. Rani Yahya will be an interesting test for Mendes, but still one that he should overcome due to his strong wrestling and stifling mat abilities.
Hendricks has been a force to reckon with in the welterweight division. At 5-1 inside the Octagon, Hendricks is considered one of the best wrestlers in the sport, and has shown that time and time again during competition. Both he and Mike Pierce are in that second tier of fighters that are two or three wins away from being considered major contenders. Between the two fighters, however, Hendricks should be able to better control the action in the fight, and work his way to a unanimous decision win.
While the UFC 133 card has changed multiple times since its first drafting, I believe that fans will be pleased with a solid amount of action, though few may be expecting it.
