Strikeforce HW GP rd 2 in Japan

Vaughany · 02-04-11, 11:55 AM

Decent fights so far as well, Melendez vs Kawajiri is very interesting

Poppa Catfish · 02-04-11, 12:30 PM

Great card

Doubt UFC is pissed, Japan is one big money pit. You throw money in, and get nothing out of it

THE_LOCKSMITH · 02-04-11, 01:01 PM

Wow, StrikeForce doing big things. Imagine they do put Fedor vs some can on this card and he gets injured for the Grand Prix (if he beats BigFoot)

loudpacmanjones · 02-04-11, 01:14 PM

Taking alistair overeem +180 to win the entire tourney.

brooks85 · 02-04-11, 02:40 PM

Originally posted by Poppa Catfish

Great card

Doubt UFC is pissed, Japan is one big money pit. You throw money in, and get nothing out of it

I guarantee Zuffa is pissed. In the business world it is all about getting there first, no question about that and UFC was working on a trip for this year. If strikeforce takes overeem, barnett, kawajiri and mousasi to japan first it will be a huge landmark. If they get fedor on the card, UFC is going to be even further behind. Especially since they have no star names that even come close to the foundation overeem, barnett and fedor have built with japanese fans. The one advantage UFC would have in asia is TUF, if they did it.

Eccocide · 02-04-11, 05:01 PM

If UFC wanted to be in Japan already, they would be. There's no hurry to get there anymore. The Japanese have shown disinterest in MMA. Sengoku is in trouble, Dream is about to fold and cant get any decent ratings, etc. It really isnt that important of a market anymore. And this isnt a first to market situation. There isnt any need to get a toehold on the market as it has been oversaturated in Japan and is declining, not growing. China would be a whole different story.

And what a surprised - Overeem and Barnett are fighting in Japan where theres no testing

.

Vaughany · 02-04-11, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by Eccocide

And what a surprised - Overeem and Barnett are fighting in Japan where theres no testing

.

haha yeah I wonder if DW will have something to say about tht!

brooks85 · 02-04-11, 05:10 PM

Originally posted by Eccocide

If UFC wanted to be in Japan already, they would be. There's no hurry to get there anymore. The Japanese have shown disinterest in MMA. Sengoku is in trouble, Dream is about to fold and cant get any decent ratings, etc. It really isnt that important of a market anymore. And this isnt a first to market situation. There isnt any need to get a toehold on the market as it has been oversaturated in Japan and is declining, not growing. China would be a whole different story.

And what a surprised - Overeem and Barnett are fighting in Japan where theres no testing

.

thats not entirely true, UFC clearly wants in asia now because of sengoku and dream declining. They would love to run a TUF and constants event in asia but they were not going to rush into anything in previous years. UFC running a promotion in japan would be nothing like sengoku or dream, companies that were destined to fail. TUF would be the game changer for UFC in asia.

loudpacmanjones · 02-04-11, 05:11 PM

The REEM!!!!!!!!

Eccocide · 02-04-11, 05:14 PM

Originally posted by brooks85

thats not entirely true, UFC clearly wants in Japan now because of sengoku and dream declining. UFC running a promotion in japan would be nothing like sengoku or dream, who were companies destined to fail.

True in a sense. But that doesnt change the fact that the Japanese market just isnt all that interested in MMA anymore. There have been some stacked cards over the past couple of years and the attendance and ratings have been dreadful. Plus, the biggest draws in Japan are freak shows and the UFC doesn't put those on. The Japanese aren't into wrestling clinics and americans fighting americans lol. The UFC may do an event here and there in Japan but it will never be the market it once was.

brooks85 · 02-04-11, 05:19 PM

ya the production values of the other shows would be unmatched and I could never see UFC replicating though asians love it.

I think the one thing that would change the game for ufc would be a TUF show. It did wonders building fans in the young demographic here, I would think it would be the same over there.

Vaughany · 02-04-11, 05:22 PM

DW said in an interview with Gareth Davies that first international TUF will be in Phillipines apparently!

Poppa Catfish · 02-04-11, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by Eccocide

True in a sense. But that doesnt change the fact that the Japanese market just isnt all that interested in MMA anymore. There have been some stacked cards over the past couple of years and the attendance and ratings have been dreadful. Plus, the biggest draws in Japan are freak shows and the UFC doesn't put those on. The Japanese aren't into wrestling clinics and americans fighting americans lol. The UFC may do an event here and there in Japan but it will never be the market it once was.

This.

Bob Sapp of all people was the greatest draw, not Fedor and certainly not Barnett or Overeem. This is a very trendy culture, and the MMA fad is very much over.

ttrace35 · 02-04-11, 07:15 PM

More Dana cocksucking in this thread.

brooks85 · 02-04-11, 07:23 PM

haha its no secret where the state of asian mma is right now, its been reported on many times. But those companies were not run by the Zuffa, that is an enormous difference. And to drive it home, Ill tie that to bob sapp. Bob sapp didn't build his fan base just fighting like a slob in the ring, he was popular because he was large and did a shit load of promo and merchandising to the public, a TON, more so than any other. He built his fame the same way a company, like zuffa, would for its brand. Dream and Sengoku were oblivious to this. Being profitable isnt just about putting a great card together, it is about selling the event, the fighters. To think UFC could not accomplish that is crazy imo, i would need some serious +odds to think UFC would fail.

You also have to think about how many people actually live in asia and have not got the kind of access to MMA the UFC presents. Sure there are going to be people who want to see the large pride style intros and freak fights but there is also a large young group that will want UFC's brand of mma, at least that is what they are banking on. And with the population of asia well over 3 billion they only need a small % to be profitable.

ttrace35 · 02-04-11, 10:22 PM

Japanese people have always been fascinated and attracted to big muscular guys because there are so few of them, in their everyday culture. That's why Bob Sapp was always a huge draw. This tornament will do very well in the ratings in japan and will be a huge draw. Mma definetely have fizzled out in the japanese market. But this being a heavyweight tornament, makes it a big draw. I don't think DW gives a shit. He only cares if they are putting on better shows. If these fights turn out to be boring, roll on the floor, decision fights, then DW is happy. If they turn out to be great action fights, or stand-up wars with sick, highlight reel KO's at the end,then DW is pissed. Simple as that. We won't know til after.