Jorge Masvidal and Nate Diaz didn\u2019t really solve who the \u201cbaddest motherf**ker\u201d on the planet was at UFC 244, but on a historic night built around a fictitious championship, they inexplicably, somehow solved the UFC\u2019s pay-per-view problem.<\/p>\n
Not all bad motherf**kers wear capes, but that doesn\u2019t make them any less of a hero.<\/p>\n
There isn\u2019t a word in existence that can truly encapsulate the euphoria from simply witnessing two of the most aesthetically pleasing fighters coming to blows in a pay-per-view headliner at Madison Square Garden. Granted, the early third-round stoppage was super annoying, but an athlete\u2019s safety takes precedence<\/a> in a sport where the price of entertainment is sometimes paid in blood.<\/p>\n For too long, the UFC has hammered home the pay-per-view module of forcibly shoehorning title fights into the main event slot. Sometimes they hit home runs with fan-pleasing bouts that come together organically, but other times, however, there are title attractions that don\u2019t feel worth the hefty price of admission.<\/p>\n The BMF bout proved a UFC title isn\u2019t necessary as a pay-per-view headliner as long as fans get the fights they want to see. Diaz literally talked the concept into existence and had the entire fight community eating out of the palm of his hand. Of course, he needed the perfect dance partner to complete the spectacle.<\/p>\n So he called out Masvidal.<\/p>\n There was no manufactured drama in the lead-up to the inevitable showdown at UFC 244. Both Diaz and Masvidal stayed true to themselves in every single on-air appearance, and the buzz surrounding the fight never waned in interest.<\/p>\n That isn\u2019t to suggest grudge matches don\u2019t have their place in prizefighting. Everyone loves a good personal feud when it makes sense, but fight fans also aren\u2019t stupid. The sleight of hand is selling a story in the lead-up to a real competition between real competitors.<\/p>\n For Diaz and Masvidal, the story centered around two often forgotten journeymen that never got the respect they deserved for their contributions to the sport. Couple that narrative with their electric fighting styles and fans were going to buy into the idea whether it was for an actual championship belt or not.<\/p>\n There are few instances where the UFC will ever capture that sort of lightning in a bottle, but there are also plenty of great fights out there fans would latch onto with the right marketing behind them. A pay-per-view main event shouldn\u2019t exist only as a slot to fill with some random title bout, particularly when fans are paying a pretty penny to see it.<\/p>\n They should exist as a service to the fans, along with being utilized as an opportunity to expand on great storytelling to help build new stars. Diaz was referred to as a non-needle mover<\/a> before his non-championship bout with Conor McGregor.<\/p>\n And then he became a star.<\/p>\n Although Masvidal\u2019s star status was burgeoning heading into UFC 244, that event alone signaled his arrival as a legitimate superstar in MMA. Great storytelling and matchmaking takes time, money and mind-power, but the results can be staggering.<\/p>\n Ahead of the fight card, UFC President Dana White claimed the bout was trending as the \u201cbiggest event\u201d the company has \u201cever done with ESPN.\u201d<\/a> It reportedly had the second-biggest gate<\/a> behind the UFC\u2019s promotional debut at Madison Square Garden back in 2016.<\/p>\n Even after the BMF title goes away\u2014and it must go away\u2014the UFC should at least cling to its concept for future pay-per-view main events. There are times when fans would much rather shell out their hard-earned cash for an intriguing five-round style match-up rather than a championship fight. Not all title fights are meant to be pay-per-view headliners, and quite frankly, UFC on ESPN could probably benefit from some free championship bouts.<\/p>\n Back in May, White did make a rebuttal to the suggestion of watered-down fight cards by telling fans to simply stop watching the fights they didn\u2019t want to see.<\/p>\n EXACTLY There are 42-44 fights a year plus The Contender series. If u don\u2019t like one of the cards don\u2019t watch it. Pretty simple<\/p>\n — danawhite (@danawhite) June 1, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n