Why doesn't UFC support college wrestling?

[Fletcher]

College wrestlers are the most successful MMA and UFC fighters. College wrestling is also dying, particularly in light of the recent NCAA settlement/roster limits. Why doesn't the UFC support it?

Direct financial support would be great - akin to how the NBA supports its G-League. But they could also do so without any cost - by encouraging fans to support their local college programs, encouraging kids to join their high school teams.

Why isn't this happening? Seems like a no-brainer given the pipeline of wrestlers who feed the UFC ranks.

[Hammerlock3]

...you think the UFC should be sending money to the NCAA.....

[MPhillips]

2 hours ago, Fletcher said:

Why doesn't the UFC support it?

Basch just called their fans, "mouth breathers" on the Basch / Matscouts pod.

That can't be helpful...

[wrestle87]

The UFC broadcasts college wrestling matches on fight pass.

[1032004]

Don’t they barely support many of their own fighters?

[Le duke]

Basch just called their fans, "mouth breathers" on the Basch / Matscouts pod.
That can't be helpful...

His lack of self awareness is stunning at times.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[flyingcement]

1 hour ago, wrestle87 said:

The UFC broadcasts college wrestling matches on fight pass.

At 2.99 per month, ill consider it subsidized.  They provide excellent value

[Fletcher]

11 hours ago, Hammerlock3 said:

...you think the UFC should be sending money to the NCAA.....

Doesn't have to be that. Can be something as simple as having their broadcasters ask fans to support their local high school or college team. Mention that Campbell wresting (or whatever program is next) is on the verge of getting cut and needs support.

Lots of ways to support that wouldn't cost them a dime.

[Truzzcat]

9 hours ago, Le duke said:

His lack of self awareness is stunning at times.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

they were being critical of "his guy"!

[Truzzcat]

I do believe there are matches on fight pass now. They don't seem to get into business with anything thats not going to see immediate returns for them. If wrestling can get even as mainstream as BJJ I think they may show more interest, but BJJ has Joe rogan talking about it all the time which helps immensely.

[MPhillips]

10 hours ago, wrestle87 said:

The UFC broadcasts college wrestling matches on fight pass.

 

24 minutes ago, Truzzcat said:

I do believe there are matches on fight pass now.

2.99 a month cancel anytime...

[Caveira]

How do they not support it?   They don’t bash it or denigrate it.   Dana and Rogan and the mouth pieces of the ufc constantly discuss how valuable it is.   
 

Do they have a financial obligation to support?   They from a “recruiting” perspective get all the best folks and likely turn people away….. it’s not like they’re competing for talent like the big banks or hedge funds or software companies etc….

[Dogbone]

The NBA doesn't support the G League. It OWNS the G League.   They created it to help with development.

The NFL does not support NCAA football financially either.  

As mentioned, UFC fight pass has a college wrestling edition for $2.99/month and had some decent matches this last weekend.   If we assume they paid something/anything for the rights to broadcast then the UFC has put more money into college wrestling than the NFL or NBA has into an entity it does not own.

[ionel]

Why don't Bob & Du support NCAA wrestling?   They've gotta be making a killing off us fans with all these pop ups.  

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

14 hours ago, Fletcher said:

College wrestlers are the most successful MMA and UFC fighters. College wrestling is also dying, particularly in light of the recent NCAA settlement/roster limits. Why doesn't the UFC support it?

Direct financial support would be great - akin to how the NBA supports its G-League. But they could also do so without any cost - by encouraging fans to support their local college programs, encouraging kids to join their high school teams.

Why isn't this happening? Seems like a no-brainer given the pipeline of wrestlers who feed the UFC ranks.

Other than Jon Jones, which current champs have a wrestling base?  (And Jones may be the most well-rounded champ ever).  Dana doesn't like a lot of wrestling in fights, he loves knockouts.

In fact, their most high profile college wrestler (Bo) didn't attempt one takedown.  All-American Michael Chandler is more of a brawler who was repeatedly taken down by a BJJ guy.  All-American Gaethje never wrestles.  I just don't see a lot of wrestling at that level anymore despite Bo saying he's always going to approach fights as a wrestler first.

[Fletcher]

1 hour ago, Caveira said:

How do they not support it?   They don’t bash it or denigrate it.   Dana and Rogan and the mouth pieces of the ufc constantly discuss how valuable it is.   
 

Do they have a financial obligation to support?   They from a “recruiting” perspective get all the best folks and likely turn people away….. it’s not like they’re competing for talent like the big banks or hedge funds or software companies etc….

How do they not support it? By not supporting it. Rogan mentions wrestling once a year and White has open distain for UFC wrestlers because they're effective but boring.

Once college wrestling is finally killed off for good to channel more funds into NCAA football, the quality of fighters will drop significantly.

[Fletcher]

20 minutes ago, Dogbone said:

The NBA doesn't support the G League. It OWNS the G League.   They created it to help with development.

The NFL does not support NCAA football financially either.  

Owning the G League is the ultimate form of support.

NCAA football is not a dying sport; it doesn't need the NFL.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

1 minute ago, Fletcher said:

How do they not support it? By not supporting it. Rogan mentions wrestling once a year and White has open distain for UFC wrestlers because they're effective but boring.

Once college wrestling is finally killed off for good to channel more funds into NCAA football, the quality of fighters will drop significantly.

The quality of fighters is the best it has ever been, and there are fewer and fewer college wrestlers.  Like you said: Dana would love to see more knockouts and submissions.

Dana doesn't seem to have disdain for Nickal.  Yet.

[Fletcher]

6 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Other than Jon Jones, which current champs have a wrestling base?  (And Jones may be the most well-rounded champ ever).  Dana doesn't like a lot of wrestling in fights, he loves knockouts.

In fact, their most high profile college wrestler (Bo) didn't attempt one takedown.  All-American Michael Chandler is more of a brawler who was repeatedly taken down by a BJJ guy.  All-American Gaethje never wrestles.  I just don't see a lot of wrestling at that level anymore despite Bo saying he's always going to approach fights as a wrestler first.

There have been many UFC champ wrestlers long before Jon Jones ever came along. Wrestlers both current and past have had more success in fighting than any other base.

A wrestling background changes the fight, even if wrestling's not used. Knowing your opponent can take you down at will makes you change your entire fight strategy.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

6 minutes ago, Fletcher said:

There have been many UFC champ wrestlers long before Jon Jones ever came along. Wrestlers both current and past have had more success in fighting than any other base.

A wrestling background changes the fight, even if wrestling's not used. Knowing your opponent can take you down at will makes you change your entire fight strategy.

Yeah... that really worked in Bo's fight.  Craig was begging to be taken down!!! Bo's wrestling did absolutely nothing!  How did Chandler's wrestling help him?

I've watched UFC since single digits.  I know there used to be a lot of champs with NCAA wrestling.  When was the last one?  Striking is dominant most recently.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

https://www.ufc.com/rankings

How many NCAA wrestlers?

[Caveira]

50 minutes ago, Fletcher said:

How do they not support it? By not supporting it. Rogan mentions wrestling once a year and White has open distain for UFC wrestlers because they're effective but boring.

Once college wrestling is finally killed off for good to channel more funds into NCAA football, the quality of fighters will drop significantly.

Are they all boring.  Most of them?   When i was getting every ppv (i stopped) the wrestlers were super entertaining.   Watching clips of bo standing around and then bragging how dominant he was……  Is that normal?   Jon jones doesn’t get accused of being boring.    Matt Hughes wasn’t boring.  Couture wasn’t boring.     Lesnar.   Ortiz (I did not like him though) not boring.    There are many others who weren’t boring.  

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

5 minutes ago, Caveira said:

Are they all boring.  Most of them?   When i was getting every ppv (i stopped) the wrestlers were super entertaining.   Watching clips of bo standing around and then bragging how dominant he was……  Is that normal?   Jon jones doesn’t get accused of being boring.    Matt Hughes wasn’t boring.  Couture wasn’t boring.     Lesnar.   Ortiz (I did not like him though) not boring.    There are many others who weren’t boring.  

Chandler and Gaetje... not boring.  They don't wrestle.  They are standup fighters.  And Chandler's wrestling is about zero threat these days.  He was just massively outwrestled by a BJJ guy.

The days of wrestlers/American wrestling dominating appear to over.  Just look at the top 15 lists I posted.  

Is this because guys are staying in wrestling longer?  

Edited November 19 by Interviewed_at_Weehawken

[meZYNbrink]

13 hours ago, MPhillips said:

Basch just called their fans, "mouth breathers" on the Basch / Matscouts pod.

That can't be helpful...

You should hear how Dana speaks about them.

For the record, I love fighting and wrestling. But there are so many more casual fight fans than casual wrestling fans.

Wrestling should do all it can to be self sufficient. As much as I love wrestling and love rooting for wrestlers in the fight business, I would like it more if wrestlers could make good money and stay in the sport.

[meZYNbrink]

2 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

Chandler and Gaetje... not boring.  They don't wrestle.  They are standup fighters.  And Chandler's wrestling is about zero threat these days.  He was just massively outwrestled by a BJJ guy.

Not that they weren't great wrestlers, but they were not at the level of a Bo or Cormier from a pedigree standpoint. Would love to seem them wrestle in the cage but they are there to get paid.