What Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar did for this era of MMA, Cain Velasquez vs Junior Dos Santos will do for the next era..

When you look at the history of MMA, you could easily break down eras in different ways. But I doubt anyone would argue that you could divide in into Pre and Post TUF/Forrest vs Bonnar eras within the sport. Their epic fight really helped create a movement in MMA and MMA culture that was one of the seeds which helped MMA and the UFC grow to where it is today. And I'm sure some guys on here or just many fans in general were introduced to MMA through that fight and that show. At the time it was the first ever live UFC broadcast on non-pay-per-view television, and drew in tons of new fans who saw one of the most epic wars in MMA history (it's hard to deny..). Years later we're looking at a similar situation that should have a similar impact on the sport. Two of the best fighters in the sport we love, the two best heavyweight fighters in the World will be on display on one of the biggest networks in the World. The UFC wanted and needed to go big here, and they really delivered. I can only imagine how many casual fans will tune in to watch this fight and how many new fans could become hooked after it. Gentleman, welcome to the next era of MMA, glad to have been with you through it all.

This is a very good point u bring up LA. If the Cain vs JDS fight is even close to what most of us think it will be it could draw in tons of new fans. U could argue the point that the Griffin vs Bonnar fight was the breakout fight in MMA history. Cain and JDS could be just as huge.

This is the third generation of modern MMA imo.

1st was the Pancrase, UFC and even Rings days, a lot more specialist fighters. Sport is born.

Next is the Pride, UFC emergence days of the turn of the century up to the past few years. The stars are born.

And now, where fighters are pretty good. The next generation of fighters emerge.

I think Griffin Bonnar 1 was still more in that second age and at it's tail end more so than signifying this new stage as I see it.

The rise of fighters like Cain, Jones, and Aldo along with other emerging fighters from a base discipline into champion caliber mixed martial artist the past 3 or 4 years seems different to me than what was happening in UFC 50 - 80.

This HW fight will be like this era pleatuaing in a way, not in that it will get no bigger but as a culmination of what has been building the past several years. It will be interesting in a few years time to see how it impacts the landscape as a whole and to what degree.

This era will either be dated from now or from 2007, when the UFC took over, got on ESPN etc

Yeah, something like the time between SF getting the Showtime deal and Pride going out of business, when Elite was doing it's CBS Kimbo thingm, Affliction was putting on epic shows, and UFC seemingly permanently cemented their stability, was the transition between previous and current era.

Before that was the first year of Pride and Zuffa taking over UFC as the last transition in my mind. Just in how the landscape shifted from my perspective.

This fight is gonna be a risk.

Thing is with MMA a lot of people already know they don't like it without ever watching it. And a lot of those people will be watching this.

The reaction this fight gives will be magnified in a more skewed than even direction. In a lot of cases it really takes a perfect(exciting, back and forward, dramatic) fight to win over a non-believer. We as fans know that a fight can be a 25 minute exercise in patience or a 5 second 'I really missed it?' ordeal. Look at even the outlier reactions to UFC 134, even among mma fans.

The scrutiny has a big chance of overshadowing the acclaim.

We need a timeline guys.



This fight is free and awesome and thats all I care about. FOX is a done deal. MMA has kicked in people's doors even if they didn't support our beloved sport. I don't need to say this is gonna help even more. The unstoppable force I have been telling casual fans and haters about for years is in their face and they can't do anything about it now.

OH YEAH..... FUCK ESPN!

You're probably right...i just hope that does not mean one of them will go on to suck balls after the fight.

As stated you can breakdown MMA eras in multiple ways, knew there'd be at least one person to mention some even though that was posted, but there certainly is pre and post TUF era MMA, it definitely created a movement in the sport, undeniable. This will have the same kind of impact, and of course there's risk, there's risk when you get up every morning, but any inherent risks will be overshadowed by the overall potential impact.

Getting Fox deal is the climax of the results of the previous era IMO, with this fight ushering in the new one.

Let's wait for the fight to happen first before we jump to conclusions guys, I know on paper this fight should be incredible but we've seen that backfire at times. But non the less an amazing fight for FOX, totally cought menoff guard

It's not simply the fight, it's the fight and where it will be shown.

KingsOwn19 wrote:

You're probably right...i just hope that does not mean one of them will go on to suck balls after the fight.

Haha, didn't catch that at first.

I think this is the 4th era.

Era 1- 1993-1999
Era 2- 1999-TUF 1
Era 3- TUF 1 to Present
Era 4- Nov 12 onwards

LA wrote:

When you look at the history of MMA, you could easily break down eras in different ways. But I doubt anyone would argue that you could divide it into Pre and Post TUF/Forrest vs Bonnar eras within the sport.

But anyways the era breakdown is meaningless, I just said that for effect, but the impact both events had/have on the sport will not be. Griffin/Bonnar began a huge boom at the time, it was one of the things which brought in a ton of new fans and helped in the growth of the sport to where it is today. Cain vs JDS can have that same effect..

I don't see how this single fight on FOX will be that much bigger then a full CBS card that featured Fedor.

Casual's will not be running to the set to watch guys named velasquez and Dos Santos.

And while this should be a good fight, in terms of in the cage drama, attaining Griffin vs Bonnar levels is highly doubtful.

Tell if if you see a difference here?








But of course you don't see it, you're Capt.......


Casual fans won't be coming in to watch a UFC Title fight on Fox? You know what marketing is? And being a 1 hour special actually makes it more likely people would tune in then watching hours of MMA. Also Fedor? Dude popular among hardcore fans but not as much to the masses.


And the drama isn't all pure fight related, although it could be matched. But all the drama surrounding the fight far passes anything a TUF fight had going for it at the time.

UFC debut of Fox, HW Title fight on Fox, this will create a new movement in the sport just like Griffin/Bonnar. Watch.......

I already seen them promoting this on the Tigers game yesterday on Fox. This fight is gonna get alot of well deserved hype and will draw a crowd.

They got a special running on NFL Sunday. This is going to be huge. Velasquez is the HW champion and most casual Lesnarians know this. This is going to be massive. CBS barely promoted those cards.


UFC

I think you have a fair point, but if the fight sucks? The growth will still come, but at a slower rate. In two years though, this shit is going to be out of bounds.