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  • WSOF 25: a bad idea on paper & even worse in execution

    You may have missed it (and judging from the ratings, a lot of people did) but last Friday, World Series of Fighting ran a one-night tournament for a shot at Justin Gaethje’s lightweight belt. This piece isn’t about the quality of the fights that, for the most part, were very good. This is about the absurdity of running a one night tournament in 2015 and the absolutely terrible job the promotion did in putting it on. Everything from the presentation to the commentary to the decisions made in regards to the tournament were lacking and made the promotion come off as anything but major league.

    For starters, the show was built around eight guys in a tournament who were all fighting their opening round fights at WSOF.com where almost no one watches. For the viewers watching only on television, they had no idea who was fighting: a recipe for ratings disaster. They also ran into an issue where the bigger names in the tournament wouldn’t make it onto the televised show which happened with former UFC TUF prospect Mike Ricci, the most familiar name to casual fans, who won his first round fight but was unable to continue in the tourney.

    Bellator MMA just tried a version of a tourney in September with similar results. The show did very poorly in the ratings and they were forced to scramble after King Mo was injured in his opening round win and was unable to continue. In that case, as with this tournament, they had a reserve bout. Francis Carmont, the winner of the reserve bout, took Mo’s place in the tourney. In the WSOF case, Ramil Mustapayev, a Russian prospect on a four-fight win streak, won his fight and looked very impressive. Despite two people being injured in their opening round fights (Islam Mamedov was the other), Mustapayev didn’t advance. This despite the fact that commentator Chael Sonnen spent the whole fight talking about how everyone in the back was worried about having to face this guy later on.

    As an aside, in the reserve fight, Sonnen was going over the rules of the fight and said that it would be two rounds and that there were no elbows allowed. He didn’t say anything about foot stomps. When the second round ended, I assumed they would go to the judges but there was a third round, and the refs were warning people all night about foot stomps. Sonnen openly criticized them about that at one point. No explanation was given as to what would happen if the two rounds ended up tied though it never came into play.

    So, Mamedov and Ricci didn’t advance despite winning because they were too injured to continue. The rules of the tournament stated that if the winner couldn’t advance, the loser would take his place. Mamedov had beaten Jorge Patino, so Patino was allowed back in the tourney. Ricci’s opponent, Joe Condon, couldn’t continue either as he was knocked out. No explanation was given as to why reserve bout winner Mustapayev wasn’t put into the tourney instead of Foster, who also lost his first round fight. He was submitted by Joao Zeferino and then went on to face him again in the finals of the tourney. Foster submitted Zeferino to win the tourney and earn the future title shot.

    For viewers who spent three hours watching the prelims online, their most loyal and hardcore fans, as late as 10 minutes before the start of the broadcast on NBC Sports Network, there were graphics on the screen advertising semifinal matches of Ricci vs. Patino and Zeferino vs Luis Palomino. Seemingly the fighters themselves had been preparing for these fights as well. They even had a reporter talking to Ricci after his fight in the back, and he said he was medically cleared and good to go for the next round. Yet, at some point, this all changed and when the broadcast version of the show started, Patino was in there against Zeferino, rather than Ricci. Later in the broadcast, Ray Sefo, the face of the company, was beaming about this development, saying anything can happen in a tournament.

    This brings me to something that may have bothered me more than anything on this show and speaks volumes about the overall professionalism of everyone in this company. After the opening round of the tournament was completed, they ran a couple of non-tournament matches to fill out the time before the main card started and these were also broadcast on NBCSN. The final fight was a bantamweight bout between Joe Barajas (11-1 going into this fight) and Erik Villalobos (4-4). The booking of a fight with two guys with such differing records is questionable and was even more apparent when the fight started and Barajas completely dominated his overmatched opponent.

    Except that’s not what the commentators were telling us.

    Bear in mind that the walkouts were aired, complete with graphics for each guy. The ring announcer introduced both fighters and identified them correctly. There was a graphic on the screen identifying each fighter by glove color. Both fighters had previously fought in the World Series of Fighting so there seemingly was tape on both of them for the commentators to study prior to the broadcast.

    There were four commentators for this fight for some reason; Todd Harris, Mike Corey, Sonnen and WSOF Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion David Branch. All four fighters commentated at various points of the first round and all identified Villalobos as dominating the fight. They talked about how surprising it was that he was dominating a guy with only one loss. Even between rounds, as the cornermen were talking to the fighters, they were saying that Barajas was going to have to regroup despite his corner (correctly) telling him he was doing great and to keep it up.

    About a minute into the second round, Sonnen interrupted either Harris or Corey mid-sentence and said something to the effect of “Guys, I have to stop you here. We’ve got these guys mixed up and Barajas is actually the one who’s winning”. He went on to admit that he’d never seen either guy and didn’t know alot about them, despite earlier in the fight going on and on about both of them (clearly reading notes that someone else had written).

    But that’s not all. At the start of the third, after Barajas was dominating to the point that it was obvious the ref could stop the fight at any time, Harris said, “So do you think that Barajas should continue this pace or try to save energy for later on in the tournament”.

    There was a long pause. Sonnen then said, “What the hell are you talking about?” and started laughing. He then explained to the viewers (who I’m sure were quite aware) that Branch was mistaken and this was not a tournament match. They were not even in the same weight class as the fighters in the tournament. He went on to call a waitress and ask if he could some of whatever Branch was drinking.

    I’m usually not this harsh on MMA broadcasts. As a fan of the sport, I especially like to watch these minor promotions to try and keep an eye out for future stars. As such, I’ve watched several minor promotions with nowhere near the exposure that an organization like WSOF has and certainly not the broadcast platform. Everyone involved with the production of this show should be embarrassed. Everyone, I should say, but the fighters themselves who gave it their all and put on for the most part a very entertaining show, especially the main card. I only wish the executives and commentators put as much effort into their jobs as the fighters did.

  • MMA Weekend Ratings: UFC down, Bellator steady, WSOF way down

    This past weekend saw televised shows from the big three MMA organizations in North America with differering results.

    UFC — 

    UFC Fight Night 78 from Mexico featuring Kelvin Gastelum vs. Neil Magny in the main event did a below average 750,000 viewers for Fox Sports One for the main card, but a well above average 732,000 viewers for the four fight prelims show that was also on FS1.

    The show wouldn’t have been expected to do a great rating with the main event, especially with Magny replacing the popular Matt Brown who was injured in the lead-in to the event. Additionally, the TUF Latin American 2 final matches were on the main card featuring 4 completely unknown fighters to the US audience since that series only aired on UFC Fight Pass in the US.

    The year to date average for UFC Fight Nights on FS 1 now stands at just under 908,000 viewers, so Saturday’s show was 17% below that average. However, that number is still 9.5% higher than the 2014 average of just under 829,000 viewers.

    Better news for UFC was the continued trend of the FS 1 prelims doing well above average. The 732,000 viewers for that show were 23% higher than the year-to-date average of 595,000 viewers. That number is also up 9.3% from the 2014 average of 544,000. The prelims bouts had an unofficial “Mexico vs the World” theme with the biggest name on that portion of the show being longtime UFC/WEC fighter Scott Jorgensen, a loser to Alejandro Perez.

    This week’s numbers was down significantly from the 903,000 viewers for UFC Fight Night 57 one year ago this weekend. That show had a much bigger main event with Frankie Edgar vs Cub Swanson. The prelims for that show were also slightly higher at 777,000 viewers with veteran Yves Edwards being the biggest name.

    Bellator —

    Bellator 146 on Spike TV was right at its year to date average for regular Friday night shows with 650,000 viewers. Headlined by Melvin Manhoef vs Hisako Kato, the show was virtually identical to the year to date average of 656,000 viewers. It was also up 19% from the most recent non-“tentpole” show in October which did 555,000 viewers. The year to date average is down 3.5% from last year’s 676,000 viewers. There is no similar show from last year to compare to as Bellator took an extended break after the Bellator 131 show with Tito Ortiz vs. Stephan Bonnar.

    WSOF —

    WSOF on NBC Sports Network did a disappointing 148,000 viewers for an event featuring a one night lightweight tournament for a title shot in 2016. The 25th show in company history had its lowest viewership total since 96,000 viewers watched WSOF Canada on Feb 21, 2014. It was their third lowest total in their run on NBC Sports Network.

    Although the show was advertised around the lightweight tourney, there was only one fight actually announced ahead of time featuring former Strikeforce fighter Jason High vs Estevan Payan. The 148,000 viewers for the show is 23% lower than the year-to-date average of 192,000. The 2015 average is down 11% from the 2014 average of 216,000 viewers.

    Despite the steady numbers for Bellator and the gradually rising UFC numbers, there has been a steady decline for World Series of Fighting that traces back to their high water point when almost a million viewers tuned in to their one and only live card on the main NBC network in July of 2014.

  • True Ten Scoring System – Part 8

    PeachMachine (@hendosfoodblog)

    WSOF 24:  Fitch vs. Okami

    The MLB actual World Series is slated to contain either the Royals or the Blue Jays, and that’s going to suck, but THIS “World Series” with a main of event of Jon Fitch vs. Yushin Okami?  This should be called the Little League World Series of Fighting.  Actually, that’s an insult to 11 year olds that play each summer in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.  They at least hit. 

    Changes to today’s event…

    No real changes other than the name on the top of the column.  This is the first time I’ll be using my True Ten system to examine a WSOF show.  This show did not come on until 9pm Eastern in my area so I only saw the reading of the results of the flyweight title match, which all three judges scored 50-45 for Bibulatov. 

    Next up was a match that must have been made via Royal Rumble style tumbler random drawing with Vinny Magalhaes submitting Matt Hamill with a knee bar in round one.  Who could have possibly thought that was a good idea? 

    On with the show…

    Lightweight:  Tom Marcellino vs. Nick Newell

    Well that was a weird fight.  Nick Newell is the one armed fighter, and in this fight, he was the guy working all the submission attempts and controlling the grappling.

    At the end of the second round, Miragliotta thought they rang the bell but it was just the 10 second “sound” and it did indeed sound like a bell clang, but it was right as Marcellino had dropped Newel with a punch.  He didn’t argue but Marecellino could have finished.  His corner should have been irate.  Round two only lasted 4:50.  After the break it was explained that the official timekeeper hit the bell instead of the blocks with ten seconds remaining.  Maybe they had the same timekeeper as the guy in the Brock Lesnar vs. Undertaker match at Summer Slam. 

    Official Results:  Unanimous decision for Nick Newell (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

    My Classic Ten:  Rd1) 10-9 Newell, Rd2) 10-9 Newell, Rd 3) 10-9 Marcellino

    29-28 Newell

    True Ten:  Rd1) 10-9 Newell, Rd2) 10-10, Rd3) 10-9 Marcellino

    Result:  29-29 Draw

    Analysis:  Seriously, Marcellino could have finished at the end of the second.  I think this fight was a draw.  Newell controlled more but did almost zero damage and in my world where draws are allowed, this is definitely a draw.  The one benefit of it not being is draw is that we don’t have to see a rematch, because had this not been a fight with a one armed man, it would have been incredibly boring.   The SEC battle of the field goals between Georgia and Mizzou is more exciting. 

    Heavyweights:  Blagoi Ivanov vs. Derrick Mehmen

    I’m not going to even prep for this next fight on this card.  No way it’s lasting all five rounds…  Good news.  The Eunuch from Game of Thrones, Varys, is refereeing this one.  The quality of the Alien Ware logo in the center of the ring is similar to something my snowboarding buddies and I would paint on my basement wall in high school… Ivanov by KO in round 2.

    Jon Fitch vs. Yushin Okami

    A wise man (@findevan) once told me, “Don’t bet on a boring fight.”  This, my friends, has all the makings of such.   A lot is being made of Okami cutting to 170.  He looks fine.  On the other hand, Jon Fitch looks drawn and totally dehydrated.  Sunken eyes and no charisma.  I mean, even less charisma…  Can Chael go a whole round without putting himself over?  The winner of this match faces Jake Shields.  My god.  Are we being punished?  I feel like a sportscaster assigned to cover the WNBA.

    Official Result:  Unanimous Decision for Jon Fitch (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

    My Classic Ten:  Rd1) 10-9 Okami, Rd2) 10-9 Fitch, Rd3) 10-9 Fitch

    Result:  29-28 Fitch

    True Ten:  Rd1) 10-10, Rd2) 10-10, Rd3) 10-10

    Result:  Draw

    Analysis:  I don’t know why this was not scheduled for five, but I’m very glad it only went three.   I can forgive Chael for the heavy comedy in this match, because nothing was happening.  At least they are doing a one-night tourney on Nov 25 to create a contender to the Lightweight title because the Welterweight title is dead. 

    Overall Analysis:  One, has anyone actually bought a body systems punching bag by Bas Rutten?  If so, just mail me the rest of your money.  Two, has anyone cut a less convincing promo than Jon Fitch? “Uh, nothing means more to me, than uh, winning that uh, World Series of uh, Fighting, uh belt.  Ya.”  Three, watching the “highlight package” that consists of still photos set to music because the WSOF doesn’t own the rights to any footage, sucks, and makes WSOF look super Indy.  How is this promotion still alive?  It’s the TNA of MMA.  So Shields, the super-boring guy who LOST to Palhares, will face Who ever books for WSOF should be fired. 

  • WSOF 24 10/17 Results and recap : Jon Fitch vs Yushin Okami

    WSOF 24 took place Saturday night on NBC Sports Network. The 11 fight card was headlined by a welterweight title eliminator bout between Jon Fitch and Yushin Okami and featured two WSOF title fights on the undercard. The first 6 bouts aired on wsof.com.

    Chael Sonnen provided commentary for the whole show and while entertaining at times was reminiscent of Matt Stryker in his commentating style. So you’re either going to like it or really hate it and it ventured toward the latter for me.

    In the main event, Jon Fitch (26-7-1) won a boring decision over Yushin Okami. He clearly won the last two rounds and the first was close. I had it for Okami, as did one of the judges. But Fitch clearly won the fight and will face Jake Shields for the vacant Welterweight title early next year.

    In a Heavyweight title fight, Champion Blagoi Ivanov (13-1) KO’d Derrick Mehmen in the 2nd round in what was probably the best fight of the night. These two looked like an indy wrestling version of Rusev and Jack Swagger. Ivanov dominated the fight, finishing him with a brutal punch to an already cut eye that may have broken an orbital bone as Mehmen went down like he’d been shot.

    Nick Newell (13-1) won a unanimous decision over Tommy Marcellino on 29-28 scores across the board. There wasn’t really any other score possible, although Marcellino was acting like he’d won after the fight and berated Newell, saying “you know you f’n lost”. Newell responded by telling him to be a better sport. In a post-fight interview that couldn’t be heard due  to technical difficulties on the part of NBC Sports Network, Newell retired from fighting. Interestingly enough, the last fighter that Marcellino fought in WSOF, Frankie Perez, retired in-ring earlier this year on a UFC show.

    Two fighters making their WSOF debut had a sloppy fight in the second match on the show, with Vinny Magalhaes (13-7) submitted Matt Hamill in the latter’s first fight in several years. At 39 years old, that was probably it for him with the first round loss. Magalhaes was informed after the fight that he’ll fight Thiago Silva in a #1 contender’s fight for a shot at Dave Branch’s tile. Branch did commentary for most of the undercard and the top 2 main card fights but wasn’t here for this announcement.

    The show kicked off with a Flyweight title fight, the first in the promotion’s existence. In fact it may have been the first 125 lb fight on a main card for the promotion. Debuting Magomed Bibulatov (10-0) won a unanimous decision on scores of 50-45 across the board, the same score I had, over Donavon Frelow. Bibulatov took him down at will through the whole fight but his striking games needs a lot of work. In terms of quality, this was a low-level UFC flyweight fight, the kind that you’d see on Fight Pass.

    The prelims were full of mostly boring decisions, although the top 2  fights were had entertaining finishes. Rick Glenn (16-3) had a 2nd round KO win over Adam Ward. He knocked him out with two hammer fists on the ground and stopped punching before the ref even had a chance to stop it because he knew Ward was out. Alexandre de Almeida (17-5) got a first round sub with a rear naked choke of Saul Almeida. It was announced that he’d be the next challenge for Rick Palmer’s 145 lb title.

    In the other bouts:

    Colton Smith (6-4) won by unanimous decision on scores of 30-26 across the board. There was a penalty point deducted in the 2nd round and despite that, both Chael Sonnen and Renzo Gracie scored the fight 30-27 for Smith. I had it 30-25 with a 10-8 2nd before the penalty point.

    Pat Walsh (7-2) had a unanimous decision win over Tyler King on 30-27 scores across the board. Really boring fight, typical for Pat Walsh.

    Rex Harris (8-2) had a split decision win over Justin Torrey on scores of 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28. I scored it 29-28 for Torrey as did the fan poll and all the MMA media members on MMADecisions.com. Torrey is a training partner of friend of the site and sometime radio guest Antonio “the Promise” Thomas.

    Bruce Boyington (11-8) won a split decision over Rodrigo Almeida in the opener. This fight wasn’t terrible but entirely forgettable. Scores were 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28. I scored it for Almeida but the 2nd round was very close and could’ve gone either way. Chael Sonnen actually scored it 30-27 for Almeida, Gracie had the same score as I did and the fan voting was 29-28 Boyington.

    The show is not at all worth going out of your way to see but for a weekend with no UFC or Bellator, it was the best we had.