Monday Mail Call
Jake Rossen Jul 20, 2009
Each and every e-mail received is read, filed and, in some cases,
forwarded to the proper authorities. A sampling of your thoughts,
new every Monday:
Fedor vs. Lawyers
[Re: Fedor
Emelianenko and the UFC], a "shotgun clause" is certainly an
interesting idea, but I doubt the UFC would view it favorably. The
UFC will argue that such a clause gives Fedor too much leverage and
that it effectively gives Fedor the ability to hold himself hostage
("pay me or I bail"). hey also won't like it because it means that
their monetary commitment to Fedor isn't set in stone. It's one
thing to pass along variable costs tied to PPV sales and to pay for
performance; it's another thing entirely (at least psychologically)
to have to give someone a pile of money to keep him from
leaving.
A better solution might be to give the UFC a "right of first refusal,” which is similar to a "shotgun clause" except that a third party needs to make a bid on Fedor; Fedor simply can't do it himself. Simply put, such a right would give the UFC the ability to match whatever competing bids are made for his services.
I suspect the UFC already has matching-bid rights in their contract language. The issue appears to be that if Emelianenko were champion, he would not have the option of leaving the promotion until he loses the title.
I would play the odds: if Emelianenko signed a 6- or 8-fight deal, the chances he would emerge with a title -- or even a recurring urge to compete -- are slim. We’re talking a four- or five-year stretch where he couldn’t commit a single error. Highly, highly unlikely. Everyone loses.
Brock O’clock
I admit Brock Lesnar does have the ability to draw PPV sales with his WWE style of putting his face in the camera while drooling and overall just playing the heel. However, I don't know if Shane Carwin really will benefit from Lesnar's antics. As is, Lesnar was a huge draw for the Lesnar/Frank Mir 2 fight. But he was paid $400,000 just to show: Mir was paid $45,000. I don't know if Mir got any percentage of PPV sales but these are the figures we know and to me, Lesnar's antics didn't line Mir's pockets.
I question how much money he truly is making the fighters. He might be helping the Fertittas and White, but how much is Jorge Gurgel benefiting?
Doug S.
The public payroll disseminated by the state commission can say whatever it likes: there is no chance in hell Mir made only $45,000 for headlining what is likely to be the biggest UFC pay per view event in history. White privatizes salaries so there’s less chance of a dispute with athletes who want what “the other guy” gets.
Lesnar’s mouth helped sell tickets and television purchases; that boosts revenue, which in turn makes fighter incentives more affordable. If Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping had topped UFC 100, do you think business would still have warranted four undercard athletes receiving $100,000 bonuses?
Muscle
In your article you had said Bobby Lashley is, "Like Lesnar, he’s a granite slab of genetic good fortune.” You've got to be kidding me. Did you see what Lashley looked like when he got off the juice? He looked like a regular 200 pound guy. When the WWE was in trouble with the Benoit tragedy a lot of their guys temporarily got off the juice. Lesnar is even bigger than Lashley. I highly doubt he's natural.
Scott
Unless someone releases a urine sample that’s conclusive, I have no support to make claims either Lesnar or Lashley use performance enhancing substances. But if they did, it wouldn’t change the fact that both are still genetically blessed. Most people could follow an hourly drug regimen of horse steroids and never, ever resemble those physiques.
St. Pierre vs. Anderson
I think it would be unfair to ask GSP to move up to face Anderson Silva without allowing him to get "his toes wet" against other middleweight contenders. What do you think about him facing Wanderlei Silva? It is good box office for the UFC and would establish if either fighter is worthy of facing Anderson Silva. If Wanderlei cannot beat a smaller fighter in GSP at 185, what hope does he have beating Anderson? It gives us insight if GSP can take on bigger fighters who will be significantly heavier than him.
Naushad
GSP/Silva is a one-off proposal. You don’t dismiss the angle of two top pound-for-pound guys by having St-Pierre risk himself against another middleweight first. Roy Jones did not take a “tune-up” in the heavyweight division before fighting John Ruiz. If you’re going to take that chance, it might as well be for all the marbles.
Fedor vs. Rickson
With all the Fedor Emelianenko/Brock Lesnar talk of late, and the comments of the mortal legend Rickson Gracie, I suggest you contact Affliction for a proposed match with special rules. Have a submission-only match between Rickson and Fedor. No time limit. No striking. This would make a lot of fans happy and both names are highly marketable.
Don P.
I remain very fond of Rickson Gracie’s unique charisma, and it’s a true shame MMA’s evolution happened a little too late for him to capitalize on. (Though he was, from anecdotal reports, one of the most well-paid athletes during the sport’s leaner years.)
I suspect the only way we’d ever see Rickson vs. Fedor in a submission bout is if some highly indulgent Arab Sheikh decides that would be amusing to him. Rickson will command the same high seven-figure salary to compete regardless of punching being allowed.
Plus, he’s 50. No one’s mythology can stand up to physical decomposition.
Fedor vs. Lawyers
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A better solution might be to give the UFC a "right of first refusal,” which is similar to a "shotgun clause" except that a third party needs to make a bid on Fedor; Fedor simply can't do it himself. Simply put, such a right would give the UFC the ability to match whatever competing bids are made for his services.
Joel A.
I suspect the UFC already has matching-bid rights in their contract language. The issue appears to be that if Emelianenko were champion, he would not have the option of leaving the promotion until he loses the title.
I would play the odds: if Emelianenko signed a 6- or 8-fight deal, the chances he would emerge with a title -- or even a recurring urge to compete -- are slim. We’re talking a four- or five-year stretch where he couldn’t commit a single error. Highly, highly unlikely. Everyone loses.
Brock O’clock
I admit Brock Lesnar does have the ability to draw PPV sales with his WWE style of putting his face in the camera while drooling and overall just playing the heel. However, I don't know if Shane Carwin really will benefit from Lesnar's antics. As is, Lesnar was a huge draw for the Lesnar/Frank Mir 2 fight. But he was paid $400,000 just to show: Mir was paid $45,000. I don't know if Mir got any percentage of PPV sales but these are the figures we know and to me, Lesnar's antics didn't line Mir's pockets.
I question how much money he truly is making the fighters. He might be helping the Fertittas and White, but how much is Jorge Gurgel benefiting?
Doug S.
The public payroll disseminated by the state commission can say whatever it likes: there is no chance in hell Mir made only $45,000 for headlining what is likely to be the biggest UFC pay per view event in history. White privatizes salaries so there’s less chance of a dispute with athletes who want what “the other guy” gets.
Lesnar’s mouth helped sell tickets and television purchases; that boosts revenue, which in turn makes fighter incentives more affordable. If Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping had topped UFC 100, do you think business would still have warranted four undercard athletes receiving $100,000 bonuses?
Muscle
In your article you had said Bobby Lashley is, "Like Lesnar, he’s a granite slab of genetic good fortune.” You've got to be kidding me. Did you see what Lashley looked like when he got off the juice? He looked like a regular 200 pound guy. When the WWE was in trouble with the Benoit tragedy a lot of their guys temporarily got off the juice. Lesnar is even bigger than Lashley. I highly doubt he's natural.
Scott
Unless someone releases a urine sample that’s conclusive, I have no support to make claims either Lesnar or Lashley use performance enhancing substances. But if they did, it wouldn’t change the fact that both are still genetically blessed. Most people could follow an hourly drug regimen of horse steroids and never, ever resemble those physiques.
St. Pierre vs. Anderson
I think it would be unfair to ask GSP to move up to face Anderson Silva without allowing him to get "his toes wet" against other middleweight contenders. What do you think about him facing Wanderlei Silva? It is good box office for the UFC and would establish if either fighter is worthy of facing Anderson Silva. If Wanderlei cannot beat a smaller fighter in GSP at 185, what hope does he have beating Anderson? It gives us insight if GSP can take on bigger fighters who will be significantly heavier than him.
Naushad
GSP/Silva is a one-off proposal. You don’t dismiss the angle of two top pound-for-pound guys by having St-Pierre risk himself against another middleweight first. Roy Jones did not take a “tune-up” in the heavyweight division before fighting John Ruiz. If you’re going to take that chance, it might as well be for all the marbles.
Fedor vs. Rickson
With all the Fedor Emelianenko/Brock Lesnar talk of late, and the comments of the mortal legend Rickson Gracie, I suggest you contact Affliction for a proposed match with special rules. Have a submission-only match between Rickson and Fedor. No time limit. No striking. This would make a lot of fans happy and both names are highly marketable.
Don P.
I remain very fond of Rickson Gracie’s unique charisma, and it’s a true shame MMA’s evolution happened a little too late for him to capitalize on. (Though he was, from anecdotal reports, one of the most well-paid athletes during the sport’s leaner years.)
I suspect the only way we’d ever see Rickson vs. Fedor in a submission bout is if some highly indulgent Arab Sheikh decides that would be amusing to him. Rickson will command the same high seven-figure salary to compete regardless of punching being allowed.
Plus, he’s 50. No one’s mythology can stand up to physical decomposition.
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