By Gregory Saks on May 29, 2010
The main event of UFC 114 is the long-anticipated showdown between Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and “Sugar” Rashad Evans, a bout that has been brewing for over a year and is set to deliver a strong night of business for the UFC. The pair of light heavyweights, who coached and trash-talked opposite each other on the [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buy rates, ufc
By Gregory Saks on May 20, 2010
Scott Jorgensen rose to become the most buzzed about bantamweight fighter in the month of April, bumping former champion Miguel Torres from the top after three straight months of holding the position. Jorgensen defeated Antonio Banuelos in a WEC 48 rematch and may soon be in line for a title shot against current champion Dominick [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged bantamweights, buzz rankings
By Gregory Saks on May 19, 2010
“The California Kid” Urijah Faber remained the most popular featherweight fighter in MMA in April, making it the fifth straight month he has held the position despite the new sheriff in town, Jose Aldo, clearly having a strong hold over the division. Aldo, who defeated Faber in convincing fashion in the main event of the [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings, featherweights
By Gregory Saks on May 18, 2010
BJ Penn stayed atop the lightweight divisional buzz rankings in April for the fifth straight month, making him clearly the most popular 155 pound fighter despite his loss to new champion Frank Edgar. Edgar, who defeated Penn via decision at UFC 112, rose four spots to second in the rankings, ahead of Shinya Aoki who [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings, lightweights
By Gregory Saks on May 17, 2010
Georges St-Pierre remained the most buzzed about welterweight MMA fighter for the fifth consecutive month in April, a full month following his last title fight against Dan Hardy. Hardy dropped six spots to eighth place, a reasonably strong ability to hold onto his now-past title fight buzz. Coming in second and third were UFC 112 [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings, welterweights
By Gregory Saks on May 14, 2010
Anderson Silva remained the most buzzed about middleweight fighter for the fourth straight month in April, boosted by the pre-fight excitement and post-fight controversy surrounding his UFC 112 bout against Demian Maia. Jumping into the next three slots, however, were a trio of Strikeforce middleweights. Dan Henderson, Jake Shields, and Jason “Mayhem” Miller came in [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings, middleweights
By Gregory Saks on May 13, 2010
Tito Ortiz became the most buzzed about light heavyweight fighter in MMA in April following his return to television airwaves as a coach on the Ultimate Fighter reality show, as well as a much-publicized domestic issue involving his partner Jenna Jameson. Chuck Liddell, coaching opposite Ortiz on the show, rose to second place, while Randy [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings, light heavyweights
By Gregory Saks on May 12, 2010
Amid swirling reports of when and if he would return to the Strikeforce cage to fight again, Fedor Emelianenko rose to once again be the most buzzed about heavyweight division in the sport in April. While an agreement is apparently now in place for Fedor to indeed return and take on Fabricio Werdum for Strikeforce [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings, heavyweights
By Gregory Saks on May 10, 2010
Anderson Silva generated a wave of MMA fan buzz both preceding and subsequent to his UFC 112 main event title defense against Demian Maia, and became the most focused upon fighter of the month. The middleweight champion’s antic-laden and arguably disrespectful in-ring behavior against an over-matched opponent led to furious fans and UFC officials and [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buzz rankings
By Gregory Saks on May 8, 2010
The main event of UFC 113 is the long-anticipated rematch of the Lyoto Machida vs Mauricio “Shogun” Rua title fight from October of last year at UFC 104. That fight, which saw the champion Machida retain his light heavyweight belt in a close and somewhat controversial decision, drew an enormous amount of fan buzz and [...]
Posted in Industry Analysis | Tagged buy rates, ufc
