Dan Henderson's coach upset with Ronda Rousey 'unfairly' headlining UFC 157 over Hendo-Machida

http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/12/19/3780992/morning-report

The UFC traditionally follows a formula when it comes to selecting bout order at the top of its cards. Title fights take precedence above all else, and when there's multiple belts on the line, the heaviest weight class headlines. Exceptions to the rule are rarely made, and UFC 157 is no different.

That's exactly why UFC President White planted Ronda Rousey's inaugural defense of her bantamweight title atop a card that already featured a potential No. 1 contenders fight between former light heavyweight champs Dan Henderson and Lyoto Machida.

White's explanation was predictably simple. "She's the champ," he flatly said. "If you're the champion, you're the headliner.

That explanation, however, left Henderson's striking coach at Team Quest, Gustavo Pugliese, questioning White's dedication to protocol.

"Ronda is headlining UFC 157. Here is why I have a problem with that," Pugliese wrote on Facebook.

"She is not the UFC champion yet. She still has to win this fight to get that belt. On the other hand, we have Hendo, who has also been the Strikeforce champion (never lost the belt), Pride champion in two different weight classes; he has been ranked #1 contender for the UFC 205lbs, and #6 by many pound-for-pound best fighter [lists]. His resume is second to none, moreover, he is fighting a former champion, Lyoto Machida. Now why aren't they [the] main event? Is Ronda a better market value? I don't know, but her fight could be quick as usual and we could be missing another historic five [round] fight between two legends and possible hall of famers. I'm not saying she doesn't deserve to headline [a] UFC event, but certainly not this one."

Pugliese later clarified his position with GracieMag.

"Where I come from, there's a pecking order for anything in life," he explained. "I believe in paying dues. In this particular case, ‘Hendo' and Machida paid their dues a long time ago. For someone new to come in and have a free ride just seems unfair to them and the whole sport they helped build."

I don't blame him. That's some stupid shit.

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

Farmer1906 wrote:

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

I don't see any reason why Hendo would want a 5 round fight anyways. Doesn't take away from the importance of the fight.

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

I don't see any reason why Hendo would want a 5 round fight anyways. Doesn't take away from the importance of the fight.

More rounds takes away from the fight? Did you miss Hendo's last 5 round fight?

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

I don't see any reason why Hendo would want a 5 round fight anyways. Doesn't take away from the importance of the fight.

More rounds takes away from the fight? Did you miss Hendo's last 5 round fight?

Yeah, Hendo was gassed and sloppy and lucky to hold on. I saw it.

I'm saying the fight still means the same for both men, 3 rounds or 5 rounds doesn't change that.

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

I don't see any reason why Hendo would want a 5 round fight anyways. Doesn't take away from the importance of the fight.

More rounds takes away from the fight? Did you miss Hendo's last 5 round fight?

Yeah, Hendo was gassed and sloppy and lucky to hold on. I saw it.

It isn't FOTY if its 3 rounds.

I want to see the best fighter fight more when given the option. Simple as that.

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

I don't see any reason why Hendo would want a 5 round fight anyways. Doesn't take away from the importance of the fight.

More rounds takes away from the fight? Did you miss Hendo's last 5 round fight?

Yeah, Hendo was gassed and sloppy and lucky to hold on. I saw it.

It isn't FOTY if its 3 rounds.

I want to see the best fighter fight more when given the option. Simple as that.

Well for Hendo's sake, he would have won that fight 30-27 or even 30-26 depending on whose cards you look at. So for Hendo's sake it would have been better for him then and would still be better for him now to fight 3 rounds and not 5. He almost lost the fight because of rounds 4 and 5.
So again, why would Hendo want a 5 rounder over a 3 rounder? I'm not talking about what's good for the fans, I was just talking about what's good for Hendo.

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

I don't see any reason why Hendo would want a 5 round fight anyways. Doesn't take away from the importance of the fight.

More rounds takes away from the fight? Did you miss Hendo's last 5 round fight?

Yeah, Hendo was gassed and sloppy and lucky to hold on. I saw it.

It isn't FOTY if its 3 rounds.

I want to see the best fighter fight more when given the option. Simple as that.

Well for Hendo's sake, he would have won that fight 30-27 or even 30-26 depending on whose cards you look at. So for Hendo's sake it would have been better for him then and would still be better for him now to fight 3 rounds and not 5. He almost lost the fight because of rounds 4 and 5.
So again, why would Hendo want a 5 rounder over a 3 rounder? I'm not talking about what's good for the fans, I was just talking about what's good for Hendo.

Maybe he gets paid more. Maybe he just wants top billing on the event. Maybe he feels like he has a better chance to beat Machida in the later rounds.

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

I don't see any reason why Hendo would want a 5 round fight anyways. Doesn't take away from the importance of the fight.

More rounds takes away from the fight? Did you miss Hendo's last 5 round fight?

Yeah, Hendo was gassed and sloppy and lucky to hold on. I saw it.

It isn't FOTY if its 3 rounds.

I want to see the best fighter fight more when given the option. Simple as that.

Well for Hendo's sake, he would have won that fight 30-27 or even 30-26 depending on whose cards you look at. So for Hendo's sake it would have been better for him then and would still be better for him now to fight 3 rounds and not 5. He almost lost the fight because of rounds 4 and 5.
So again, why would Hendo want a 5 rounder over a 3 rounder? I'm not talking about what's good for the fans, I was just talking about what's good for Hendo.

Maybe he gets paid more. Maybe he just wants top billing on the event. Maybe he feels like he has a better chance to beat Machida in the later rounds.

Come on now. Me, you and Hendo all know that Hendo won't have the advantage in the later rounds.

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

I don't see any reason why Hendo would want a 5 round fight anyways. Doesn't take away from the importance of the fight.

More rounds takes away from the fight? Did you miss Hendo's last 5 round fight?

Yeah, Hendo was gassed and sloppy and lucky to hold on. I saw it.

It isn't FOTY if its 3 rounds.

I want to see the best fighter fight more when given the option. Simple as that.

Well for Hendo's sake, he would have won that fight 30-27 or even 30-26 depending on whose cards you look at. So for Hendo's sake it would have been better for him then and would still be better for him now to fight 3 rounds and not 5. He almost lost the fight because of rounds 4 and 5.
So again, why would Hendo want a 5 rounder over a 3 rounder? I'm not talking about what's good for the fans, I was just talking about what's good for Hendo.

Maybe he gets paid more. Maybe he just wants top billing on the event. Maybe he feels like he has a better chance to beat Machida in the later rounds.

Come on now. Me, you and Hendo all know that Hendo won't have the advantage in the later rounds.

Maybe, maybe not. He may need a few to get used to Machida's BS.

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

I don't see any reason why Hendo would want a 5 round fight anyways. Doesn't take away from the importance of the fight.

More rounds takes away from the fight? Did you miss Hendo's last 5 round fight?

Yeah, Hendo was gassed and sloppy and lucky to hold on. I saw it.

It isn't FOTY if its 3 rounds.

I want to see the best fighter fight more when given the option. Simple as that.

Well for Hendo's sake, he would have won that fight 30-27 or even 30-26 depending on whose cards you look at. So for Hendo's sake it would have been better for him then and would still be better for him now to fight 3 rounds and not 5. He almost lost the fight because of rounds 4 and 5.
So again, why would Hendo want a 5 rounder over a 3 rounder? I'm not talking about what's good for the fans, I was just talking about what's good for Hendo.

Maybe he gets paid more. Maybe he just wants top billing on the event. Maybe he feels like he has a better chance to beat Machida in the later rounds.

Come on now. Me, you and Hendo all know that Hendo won't have the advantage in the later rounds.

Maybe, maybe not. He may need a few to get used to Machida's BS.

You love going down with the ship. It's Marcellus Benett all over again. Facts don't support your argument.

Hendo's camp is right. Machida vs Hendo is the real main event. Rohnda vs whoever is just the casual twitter main event.

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

He's just saying what everyone is thinking. Why the hell is Rhonda headlining? Women's MMA over a Hendo fight? Good one.

I don't see any reason why Hendo would want a 5 round fight anyways. Doesn't take away from the importance of the fight.

More rounds takes away from the fight? Did you miss Hendo's last 5 round fight?

Yeah, Hendo was gassed and sloppy and lucky to hold on. I saw it.

It isn't FOTY if its 3 rounds.

I want to see the best fighter fight more when given the option. Simple as that.

Well for Hendo's sake, he would have won that fight 30-27 or even 30-26 depending on whose cards you look at. So for Hendo's sake it would have been better for him then and would still be better for him now to fight 3 rounds and not 5. He almost lost the fight because of rounds 4 and 5.
So again, why would Hendo want a 5 rounder over a 3 rounder? I'm not talking about what's good for the fans, I was just talking about what's good for Hendo.

Maybe he gets paid more. Maybe he just wants top billing on the event. Maybe he feels like he has a better chance to beat Machida in the later rounds.

Come on now. Me, you and Hendo all know that Hendo won't have the advantage in the later rounds.

Maybe, maybe not. He may need a few to get used to Machida's BS.

You love going down with the ship. It's Marcellus Benett all over again. Facts don't support your argument.

I don't know who Marcellus is.

GDPofDRC wrote:

Hendo's camp is right. Machida vs Hendo is the real main event. Rohnda vs whoever is just the casual twitter main event.

That may be true. But fact remains that Hendo's chances are better in a 3 round fight. I don't consider that to be debatable at this point.

OU wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

Hendo's camp is right. Machida vs Hendo is the real main event. Rohnda vs whoever is just the casual twitter main event.

That may be true. But fact remains that Hendo's chances are better in a 3 round fight. I don't consider that to be debatable at this point.

Maybe you should ask Hendo or his camp.

OU wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

Hendo's camp is right. Machida vs Hendo is the real main event. Rohnda vs whoever is just the casual twitter main event.

That may be true. But fact remains that Hendo's chances are better in a 3 round fight. I don't consider that to be debatable at this point.

Why would I care about that? Henderson vs Machida is the Main event.

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

Hendo's camp is right. Machida vs Hendo is the real main event. Rohnda vs whoever is just the casual twitter main event.

That may be true. But fact remains that Hendo's chances are better in a 3 round fight. I don't consider that to be debatable at this point.

Maybe you should ask Hendo or his camp.

If they were being genuine and honest they would agree. But most camps give the PC answer. It's not debatable, it really isn't.

GDPofDRC wrote:

OU wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

Hendo's camp is right. Machida vs Hendo is the real main event. Rohnda vs whoever is just the casual twitter main event.

That may be true. But fact remains that Hendo's chances are better in a 3 round fight. I don't consider that to be debatable at this point.

Why would I care about that? Henderson vs Machida is the Main event.

I didn't say you had to care about that. I'm just stating a fact. Hendo's chances are better if it's a 3 rounder. How is this statement untrue in any way? Where did I ever say this fight was less deserving of a main event? All I'm saying is Hendo's camp shouldn't complain because it actually helps his chances of winning. I started off my comments talking about what was best for Hendo not what was best for us as fans. Nothing wrong with anything I'm saying here.

OU wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

OU wrote:

GDPofDRC wrote:

Hendo's camp is right. Machida vs Hendo is the real main event. Rohnda vs whoever is just the casual twitter main event.

That may be true. But fact remains that Hendo's chances are better in a 3 round fight. I don't consider that to be debatable at this point.

Maybe you should ask Hendo or his camp.

If they were being genuine and honest they would agree. But most camps give the PC answer. It's not debatable, it really isn't.

You should call opinion fact a few more times.

So you think Rondha vs Somebody is the better main event then Hendo vs Machida?

GDPofDRC wrote:

So you think Rondha vs Somebody is the better main event then Hendo vs Machida?

I don't know where I'm losing you. I also don't know why Farmer is playing dumb. Like he or anyone honestly believes that Hendo chances are better in a 5 rounder then a 3 rounder. You are both either playing dumb or not reading. My comments were all directed at what is best for Hendo the fighter and his chances vs Machida. Nothing I said has anything to do with fight A vs fight B or what I personally want as a fan or what I think should be done. What is wrong with saying it's a blessing in disguise for Hendo because his chances to beat Machida are better in a 3 rounder then a 5 rounder? I'm pretty positive I'm not alone here and it was discussed on this board that Hendo's chances are better in a 3 round fight.

bobbitt15 wrote:

I really don't care about 5 rounds in this fight. Seeing a tired Hendo swinging at air for ten minutes after he's gassed doesn't really do anything for me (if the fight makes it that far)

Hendo vs Machida is the main event and should headline. Bottom line.