Who are 2-5?

We all know the UFC is the number one promotion right now as far as what people watch, but who is 2-5?

2. Bellator
3. WEC
4. Strikeforce
5. DREAM

Strikeforce should be #2.

2) sf(easily).
3-4) (tied)dream-WEC
5)Bellator

That's a solid top 5.

Andrew the Raider King wrote:

We all know the UFC is the number one promotion right now as far as what people watch, but who is 2-5?

2. Bellator
3. WEC
4. Strikeforce
5. DREAM

dude, as if you've ever watched Bellator.

Strikeforce is 1
WEC is 2
Bellator is 3
and Dream is 6

2.SF
3.WEC
4.Bellator
5.Dream

How is WEC not #1 on this list .. they actually have 2 relevant belts.. you can maybe argue that Strikeforce has 1 (but there is questions marks and doubts all over that division now) .. and I am not counting Womens MMA.

2. WEC
3. SF
4. Bellator
5. Dream

WEC has to be the number 2 promotion. By far. They're the most relevant of the rest. They put on much better shows. And they have the best cable deal of the others.

SF or WEC could be a coin flip in my opion but I went SF.

I actually like the match-ups in Bellator better than SF. Same with WEC. SF is to up and down for me.

And granted I haven't been watching Bellator until the last month, that is true, but I have only had cable for a month. But I like their product!

The major WEC cards are more or less ran by Dana White and are increasingly more UFC like with every event. The WEC is no longer distinguishable from the UFC. They are the same promotion with a different color canvas and different initials. The WEC is the UFC. I am unsure why everyone is even considering the WEC as a separate promotion. It's not.

The number 2 promotion is easily Strikeforce considering their depth at HW is similar even to the UFC's, the fact they have top ten fighters in every weight class and have high profile TV deals with CBS and Showtime. Strikeforce is building themselves into the first non-Zuffa brand with legitimatepop-culture awareness. The vast majority of the heat they get is either undercover Zuffa viral marketing or bias people with an agenda like Kid Nate(I am sure many remember the bias a certain now ran-off poster had as well) While they're not immune to legit criticism or problems, much like the UFC, overall they're a very well ran and profitable promotion. They've refrained from picking up UFC castoffs and from making excessive gimmick or freakshow matches. Their matchmaking hasn't pleased everyone but if analyzed logically and fairly should get very high marks. My only knock on Strikeforce is they feel like a spiritual successor to EliteXC and I've never been the hugest fan of their aesthetic.

Bellator is the only other American promotion that matters. While they're lacking the star power and promotional teeth of Strikeforce, they have produced numerous solid and entertaining events, have well regarded champions and produce the cleanest, smoothest TV events in MMA outside of the UFC. They're a solid number 3, but it wouldn't be far-fetched to see them overtake Strikeforce in the next year or two. I am really impressed with how they have differentiated themselves from both Strikeforce and the UFC.

4 and 5 are Dream and Sengoku, but Japanese MMA would be much better served if these organization merged. Japan isn't fertle enough to sustain two major post-Pride promotions. They are both harmed by the existence of the other. From what I can tell based on American broadcasts, they both more or less offer a neo-Pride aesthetic.

GolbeZ wrote:

How is WEC not #1 on this list .. they actually have 2 relevant belts.. you can maybe argue that Strikeforce has 1 (but there is questions marks and doubts all over that division now) .. and I am not counting Womens MMA.

2. WEC
3. SF
4. Bellator
5. Dream

The real question is how is the WEC even on this list at all? The WEC is the UFC...


What a clever move by Zuffa to run a dummy promotion to monopolize these type of discussions ultimately back to the UFC.

Best non-UFC promotion you ask? I'd say...THE UFC!

Wolfgangsta wrote:

GolbeZ wrote:

How is WEC not #1 on this list .. they actually have 2 relevant belts.. you can maybe argue that Strikeforce has 1 (but there is questions marks and doubts all over that division now) .. and I am not counting Womens MMA.

2. WEC
3. SF
4. Bellator
5. Dream

The real question is how is the WEC even on this list at all? The WEC is the UFC...


What a clever move by Zuffa to run a dummy promotion to monopolize these type of discussions ultimately back to the UFC.

Best non-UFC promotion you ask? I'd say...THE UFC!

true.. but I was just answering the OPs question to the list provided .. and also questioning how the WEC/UFC isn't #2 on peoples lists.

Though I see your point, Wolf, as I have stated before and will state again, when it comes to SF and their best division HW. It is not as good as the UFC's HW division and that is the UFC's weakest division.

Yes WEC is owned by Zuffa, but the day-to-day op's are not handled by DW, but instead by the co-founders Scott Adams and Reed Harris. DW is only marginally involved with them, mostly in a promotional aspect. But if you want to pump the WEC up to share the number one spot with the UFC? Well, whatever.

It's the same company Andrew.

Quote :

"The bottom line is that it's the same company," White said. "The UFC and the WEC are the same company, same owner, same everything. For the pay-per-view, there's a pay-per-view team. I guess I'm part of the pay-per-view team you can call it. Rogan and Goldie will be calling the fight, Buffer will be the ring announcer. This will look just like normal pay-per-view.

You know that though.

Yeah didn't they call it "the UFC presents Aldo Vs Faber"?

Andrew is a UFC employee. I am convinced of this now.

sf gets top billing in this thread 4 a few reasons.

#1 being their talent. It's just flat out better then the other org's.

#2 being the TV deal. No, Vs is not better then showtime and CBS.

#3 being their on-air broadcast talent, guys will quibble dew to shamrock's braces induced lisp, and gus's greenness/over the top call's, but like it or not, gus is the most accomplished voice of any MMA play by play guy, he does play by play 4 the Knicks, boxing 4 showtime, NFL, and has some of the greatest calls in NCAA tourney history. shamrock is a straight MMA legend, and if u don't like his call's then they have another legend in Militech calling their challenger cards. And I think most like what he brings to the broadcast. quick name the 2 bellator announcers who butchered most of the show last night.

#4 WEC takes a hit cause a)they have only 3 weight classes. and nothing above 155 (I mean c'mon, u can't be #2 with that combo) b)the future of the org as an independant entity is very much in doubt.

#5 I like Bellator, they have good talent, and I like the way they avoid some of the gimick's that sf falls into with their broadcast. But their TV deal has them all over the place, they have lawsuits out the wazoo right now, with multiple fighters not being given fights by Bellator, and not being allowed to fight else where. And did anyone look at the crowd last night, place was empty. I don't know what they were thinking putting that show in an arena, but it was literrally less then 10% capacity.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Andrew is a UFC employee. I am convinced of this now.

I wonder if he can get me on?