Business or Sport? Frank Edgar, Gray Maynard, and MMA Politics

It would be a travesty if the Frank Edgar vs Gray Maynard fight is not shown on television during April 2 at UFC Fight Night 13. Right now it is listed on the undercard.

With many commercials plus main card fights that could go the distance, the odds of it being televised are not that great, and another undercard fight may be shown instead if time permits.

I believe that this is the most intriguing fight on the card. Why? It features two great wrestlers with decent striking, good cardio, plenty of aggression, and an improving submission game.

They are both officially undefeated, and are hungry to prove themselves amidst a slew of other contenders in the stacked lightweight division. It may very well be the fight of the night, and propel either combatant to wider acclaim amongst casual fans.

All these factors provide the recipe for a fast-paced, technical, and entertaining back-and-forth fight. A victory will catapult either one higher up the rankings and closer to an eventual title shot.

But the fans need to see these fighters in action so that the UFC can promote them for future high-profile matches. This does not work if two potential contenders are fighting on the undercard.

The UFC puts fights on the main card that they believe will be exciting and end with a finish. This is why fights such as Houston Alexander versus James Irvin and Matt Hamill vs Tim Boetsch get the nod over the Edgar/Maynard fight. The first four fighters probably won’t be in title contention for a long time, and may not be as technically skilled or well-rounded as the aforementioned combatants.

Understandably, the UFC is a business, and try to do what’s best for the company. They want to appeal to casual fans, and this means showing knockouts and fighters from reality shows.

The same issue here applies to fighters getting title shots. Sometimes, a fighter may get a title shot not because he deserves it, but due to name recognition and popularity. This leaves fighters who have earned their way up out of the loop.

Professional sports are a business first, and entertainment second. But a promotion-based sport such as MMA needs to maintain an air of legitimacy, especially since there is no official ranking system and no “regular season” like in team sports.

Fighters have to be rewarded for their efforts and abilities, and not just because they have a popular following. Lesser known yet very talented fighters can be just as entertaining as the big names, but they need a chance to shine on the world stage.

The good thing is that this Fight Night has been extended to three hours, and we may get a chance to see the Edgar/Maynard fight after all. Diehard fans will find a way to watch it, but casual fans make up the majority of the UFC’s fan base and they are the ones who buy most of the ppv’s.

If the casual fans don’t get a chance to watch such a fight, the UFC will have a harder time promoting the future match-ups of these two promising fighters. And promoting entertaining fights showing skilled fighters (while making a profit) is what MMA organizations are all about.