UFC 64- Anderson Silva vs. Rich Franklin

**CaliKyle** · Posted On: 8/30/2006 1:23pm

Yeah, Franklin is too smart to pull a Leben with Silva. Plus, Franklin is a much better striker than Leben is. Faster and more mobile. His head won't sit there like a piñata waiting for Silva to crack it.

**PoleFighter** · Posted On: 8/30/2006 5:11pm

Originally Posted by CaliKyle

I'm going to assume you're a knowledgeable MMA fan and not be a dick about this. But Dana and the UFC has tried to play ball with PRIDE for awhile now. Occasionally it's actually happened, although it was awhile ago. Remember what Rampage did to Chuck?

Yes, it's true that the UFC sent someone over to Japan. According to the PRIDE bosses, they've tried to send someone over to the UFC. Why that hasn't materialized, they couldn't say. The most likely explanation is that the UFC isn't willing to pay what PRIDE fighters make. And why would they? They're not going to keep them around long enough to build them, and because they are virtual unknowns in the US, they're not going to sell PPVs.

Also, don't you guys get the feeling that the UFC is trying to get people to think MMA = UFC? I mean, PRIDE is always just "Japan." Of course, I can't prove it; it's just the feeling I get. It also seems to make sense in the context of what I percieve to be Zuffa's business strategy, where the focus is more to build the organization brand than the actual fighter brand. I don't know very much about boxing, but it seems that the organizations matter a lot more in MMA than in boxing. I've never heard my boxing acquantances debate this boxing promotion vs that boxing promotion.

**PoleFighter** · Posted On: 8/30/2006 5:14pm

Personally I think Silva is going to take out Franklin. I don't know much about Silva's ground game, but he survived (an admittedly smaller) Carlos Newton on the ground. It's going to be a war though, but my money would be on Silva.

**Phrost** · Posted On: 8/30/2006 5:21pm

Originally Posted by PoleFighter

Also, don't you guys get the feeling that the UFC is trying to get people to think MMA = UFC? I mean, PRIDE is always just "Japan." Of course, I can't prove it; it's just the feeling I get. It also seems to make sense in the context of what I percieve to be Zuffa's business strategy, where the focus is more to build the organization brand than the actual fighter brand. I don't know very much about boxing, but it seems that the organizations matter a lot more in MMA than in boxing. I've never heard my boxing acquantances debate this boxing promotion vs that boxing promotion.

From a business perspective, that's just smart branding. But they're walking a line with that so they don't lose the "Ultimate Fighting" trademark, from what I can tell.

**neooftheosiris** · Posted On: 9/01/2006 1:32pm

Rich is gonna tear Silva up.

**War Wizard** · Posted On: 9/01/2006 4:24pm

Originally Posted by PoleFighter

Also, don't you guys get the feeling that the UFC is trying to get people to think MMA = UFC? I mean, PRIDE is always just "Japan." Of course, I can't prove it; it's just the feeling I get. It also seems to make sense in the context of what I percieve to be Zuffa's business strategy, where the focus is more to build the organization brand than the actual fighter brand. I don't know very much about boxing, but it seems that the organizations matter a lot more in MMA than in boxing. I've never heard my boxing acquantances debate this boxing promotion vs that boxing promotion.

It's the exact same thing IBM did back when the personal computer market was getting off the ground. Like IBM, I seriously doubt the UFC will be able to sustain that kind of branding ad infinitum.

**yodaman** · Posted On: 9/01/2006 4:39pm

On a similar note, Xerox had a similar ad campaign in the 80's so they wouldn't use the trademark to public domain. "It's not a Xeroxer, it's a copier from Xerox."

**new2bjj** · Posted On: 9/01/2006 5:40pm

Originally Posted by yodaman

On a similar note, Xerox had a similar ad campaign in the 80's so they wouldn't use the trademark to public domain. "It's not a Xeroxer, it's a copier from Xerox."

Too bad xerox let Gates steel all that **** from them- they'd still be on top, or close to it. I can't put Leben anywhere close to the same class as Franklin- he's tough, but I think Franklin has more skills, and won't fall for the same stuff. I say, Franklin by GNP.

**blackbrujo** · Posted On: 9/06/2006 9:21am

Rich is way too tricky. He's the kind of guy that will make Silva feel over confident then lure him into a trap. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that he just has that way about him.