Doggy Bag: Searching for Kimbo's Next Slice

I just read that thing you guys pass off as an article called the “Doggy Bag,” and the “professional” viewpoint expressed when it comes to boxing and their procedures. Many, if not all of the problems mentioned are also applicable to MMA and more specifically, the UFC (because it seems like you guys forgot every other org in existence). How many pay-per-views did we suffer through with a bunch of mediocre fights pitting no names against the UFC's steady roster, or the superfights of power puncher versus power puncher for that guaranteed KO? The UFC fares no better tying up their champions for months and months for their TV show than boxing does when it comes to sparse fights and challenges. And belts? It took forever to have a permanent lightweight division and the wealth of talent in these limited weight classes to ever give some guys the respect they deserve. How about a super heavyweight division to keep the Lesnars and Carwins fighting people their own size? Lesnar, by the way is a perfect example of a watered down belt.

As an enthusiast, seeing the good fights is pretty much all that matters. Yet, Jason Probst seems to believe that branding, marketing and revenue trumps quality fights. Where did you find this guy? The forum has these Dana White quoting guys on sale for a dime a dozen.
-- André Korol-Paradis

Jason Probst, contributor: The quality of UFC and MMA pay-per-views cannot be compared to boxing’s, namely because MMA shows provided five to eight fights, typically, with at least half of those reasonable betting props on either side. Whereas in boxing, the undercards seem to, more often than not, be large sportbook mismatches with the occasional competitive semi-main bout accompanying a headlining contest of wildly varying quality.

And yes, my guy-with-the-hyphenated-last-name, marketing, branding and brand building matter a lot in creating and maintaining a promotion. That's why when you hear “IFL” you think of a certain range of talent, etc.

You totally lose on the boxing vs. MMA comparison. Top boxers aren't as active as MMA guys, and the fact that you think otherwise is like a ten year-old kid pissing his shorts to prove his pants won't get wet. Look it up yourself.

And where did Sherdog find me? At a truckstop in Yelm, Wash. I was fine-tuning Google's search algorithm for “Jason Probst” and “awesomeness.” Jeff Sherwood was driving a big rig and I hitched a ride with him to Clueville. We ran over a bunch of dudes with hyphenated names en route...

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