Strikeforce Thoughts:

They can hold a huge roster now, put on 52 shows, fighters will be fine, unless they are guys who really aren't quality enough.

You're really selling these guys short who've built up the UFC into what it is today, out for themselves sure, but they want MMA to grow, can't see them fucking up, but we've had this convo, we see things very different no need to start it up again.

Agreed. You have more faith in Zuffa then I do.

Gotten us this far.......

I mean look at how Zuffa ruined the sport in America. They just took it from nothing and built it to a billion dollar sports empire in ten years. NEVER TRUST ZUFFA.

Credit Spike for that and the producers who cast the 1st season.

TUF is the only reason the UFC is successful?

only is a strong word. How was Zuffa doing with UFC before Spike picked up their idea?

I get that, and I have argued that during my less pro-Dana days, but TUF isn't the only reason they've become what they've become. It is just part of it.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/7/15/1570784/listen-up-scott-coker-you-pencil

Like this article talks about, the way they marketed to the WWE demographic is a key to their success. Now while TUF being piggybacked on Raw was obviously initially a big factor to that, but there is so much more to their business model. The ruthlessness of the UFC against competition, while a double edge sword has been overall good for the sport because it establishes the UFC as a premier brand ala the NFL to casual sports fans. Casual boxing fans and sports fans get lost in alphabet soup, but not casual MMA fans. Dana and Lorenzo have been shrewd and at times crude, to a fault, but they've for the last six years never put the UFC in a situation that wasn't good for the long term. While we could go back and fourth and blame Dana for the loss of potential network deals, or for this or for that, but now that they've merged with the Strikeforce brand and have the UFC on both VS and Spike in addition to PPV(and facebook) it takes some of the heat off that argument. Spike didn't sign Brock Lesnar. Spike doesn't control their marketing. Spike didn't invest all the god damn money the Fertita's did. Spike isn't Jim Rome's "Best interview in Sports". Dana White is.

It's hard to hate on results...