UFC Letdown? Aren't We Becoming Spoiled?

There seems to be a growing sentiment in MMA circles that the UFC is in for a lackluster couple of months ahead. While I agree that topping the build up and excitement that was generated heading into UFC 94 (St. Pierre vs. Penn II) is not an easy task, I believe that it is the MMA fan who may be getting a bit lackluster and spoiled in our expectations.

In my opinion it is the GSP vs Penn Superfight, that has raised the bar on the MMA fans expectations of a headline fight. Match-ups like that one do not come around very often, and the hype and excitement surrounding it is unique and what makes it special.

It was the Super Bowl of fights, yet it came at the beginning of the "season" so to speak. Let's keep that in mind while judging upcoming events.

If you remove that superfight from the start of the year, can we really suggest that the upcoming cards are any less exciting and quality? I say no. What does UFC 93 (Hendo vs. Franklin and Shogun vs. Coleman) have on the March 7 UFC 96 (Jackson vs. Jardine and Gonzaga vs. Carwin?) Maybe a slight edge in legend status, but that's about it in my opinion.

Let's take a closer look at UFN 17 and the upcoming UFC 95. I think it is proper to compare these two cards, as they are both being televised to the MMA fan on Spike TV for free, and therefore hard to compare to a PPV card that carries a $40 price tag attached to it.

UFN 17 was headlined by Joe Lauzon vs. Hermes Franca (who turned into last-minute replacement Jeremy Stephens) and offered a very interesting card for the MMA fan. The card was deep, but the headliner was not the strongest in my mind.

Comparing UFC 95 coming up this Saturday on Spike and you will see a headline fight with two fighters that are both ranked higher than Lauzon and Stephens. Where is the let down there?  

Sanchez vs. Stevenson has the makings of a great fight. Gonzaga vs. Carwin holds some interest as I am really interested to see how the undefeated Carwin does against the well-rounded game of Gonzaga.

I think we really have to realize that this lackluster talk is brought about by a combination of factors, all having more to do with the MMA fan's attitude and expectation and less to do with the actual quality of the cards.

Factor one as mentioned is the Superfight we were treated to last month, and in hindsight, the hype far exceeded the actual lopsided fight as I was extremely disappointed in the performance of BJ Penn.

Factor two is the fact that we are getting fights upon fights offered to us weekly/monthly by the UFC and I fear we are getting swayed by the casual MMA blogger who has a WWE "top this" type of mentality.

True fight fans like myself get hyped about all kinds of different match ups, for all kinds of different reasons. Gone are the days of waiting months and salivating over the next PPV event a la Affliction.

As it is in all things that hit a boom and become mainstream, expectations rise and human complacency takes over. We are becoming lackluster as fans ourselves as supported by the increased booing at live events when two guys are simply getting started and feeling each other out.

Action, action, action, one card better than the next, is the trap we are in. We have become spoiled.

It is us, not the UFC, as I can't wait for Sanchez vs. Stevenson, Marquardt vs. Goveia, Maia vs. Sonnen, Rampage vs. Jardine, and Gonzaga vs. Carwin, to name a few of the fights the UFC has upcoming in the next two months.

GSP vs. Penn they are not, but they are not lackluster offerings. We have become spoiled.