If You're Out of UFC, Might You Try Some Free Strikeforce?

With every potentially successful MMA show outside of the UFC, you can expect the loyal UFC fan base to point out every example of its inferiority, or just blindly criticize it.

Somehow they have become fans of a brand more than the product. It is truly an enigma.

This weekend Strikeforce will put on its second installment of Saturday Night Fights on CBS. The card will feature three title fights, all with top-calibre champions and contenders. Nonetheless, there will be MMA "fans" who will discredit the show any chance they get.

Is this not the sport that you claim to be fans of?

Let's say you were a smoker, and the brand you preferred most were Marlboro. If you were out of Marlboros, would you not take a free pack of Camels? Would you really go without your nasty habit for a whole weekend?

Well, while there are different brands, MMA is not a nasty habit. As fans, we should be relishing in the abundance of free televised fights. Especially a show of this magnitude.

Of the three scheduled fights this Saturday, the main event features a match between the No. 2 middleweight and the No. 7 middleweight; one features a top-five light heavyweight against an undefeated contender; and the opening fight of the night is between the No. 2 lightweight and No. 8 lightweight (though I think he should be higher) in the world.

So five of the six fighters on the card are in the top 10 of their division, and the other is undefeated. Obviously there is no lack of skill in these fights.

Would you consider these fights worthwhile if they were in the UFC octagon? Do you need Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg screaming a mixture of nonsense and propaganda in your ears every time you watch MMA?

Somehow the UFC has convinced people to be a fan of its brand, rather than of the product in general. For some reason, there is a mass collection of people who would rather support the people making money off of the sport than support the sport itself.

I have seen a massive shift in opinion about all-time great Dan Henderson since he decided to leave the UFC and move to Strikeforce. Dana White refused to pay Dan what he asked, citing that Dan did not sell many pay-per-views.

However, Dana has made it clear that he plans to sign Dan's opponent, Jake Shields, whether he wins or not. Again, I've seen a shift to positive opinions about Shields since. Will Shields really sell more pay-per-views than Henderson?

Dana also stated that Shields is too small for Henderson and it is not a fair fight. Does Henderson look much bigger in the picture above?

It is Dana's way to discredit Dan's possible win, and to excuse Jake's possible loss.

It is more of the propaganda that so many will absorb without a second thought. So, instead of listening to your buddy who proclaims himself a fanatic of the sport and shoots down anything that isn't UFC, check the fights out for free this Saturday on CBS, and decide for yourself.