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SB Nation Thomas Myers' Thoughts
Is UFC 138 the best card the UFC has ever produced? Of course not, but as MMA Nation's Thomas Myers argues, it doesn't deserve the criticism fans and pundits have been giving it either.
Nov 4, 2011 - Boo-hoo.
Spoiled mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have not been shy about their collective disappointment with the upcoming offering from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) this Saturday night (November 5, 2011) at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England. Not only does the UFC 138: "Leben vs. Munoz" fight card lack a significant amount of star power, but it also in the airs in the United States on Spike TV via six-hour tape delay.
It's far from ideal, but it's better than nothing.
"Leben vs. Munoz" is sandwiched between what was expected to be one of the promotion's most successful pay-per-view (PPV) events, UFC 137, before Georges St. Pierre went down with a knee injury, and arguably the biggest event in the history of the sport, UFC on Fox 1, which is scheduled to air on network television next weekend.
And the week after Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos throwdown on primetime television, Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua will collide in an old school battle of Pride FC veterans in the UFC 139 main event.
With all the mouth-watering match ups on the horizon, it's super simple to lament a main card that features seemingly nameless fighters such as Papy Abedi, Renan Barao and Edward Faaloloto, among others. However, where the main card and programming may fall short, the promotion is banking that the main event will deliver in spades.
That's the reason it booked one of the most colorful character's on its roster, Chris Leben, to headline the show. "The Crippler" has built a reputation on balls-to-the-wall, come-from-behind heroic toughness. His leaded left hand has bailed him out of bad spots in the past, and the promotion is hoping it can do the same on fight night.
"We both throw bombs," Leben said at the final UFC 138 pre-fight press conference. "This is a main event you're not going to have to worry about. Sometimes, we put these main events together because of their names and it sucks. We're going to get in there and we're going to do it. I promise you a great show."
Leben went a step further, attempting to brand the 185-pound match up a number one title contender eliminator match. UFC President Dana White wasn't on hand to give his traditional, "the winner will be in the mix" vanilla support, so Leben laid out his case independently on the dais.
"I'm stoked for the match up," he said. "I'm stoked to be in the main event. In my opinion, this fight with Mark decides the number one contender. He's been on a roll. I won four out of my last five [fights]. I put Wanderlei Silva away in 27 seconds. This is the fight that decides who gets that title shot. I had to come over here for it."
Whoever wins this weekend between Leben and Munoz will more than likely have to get in line behind Chael Sonnen, as well as Michael Bisping if he can topple Jason Miller in their December showdown. Nonetheless, it's a significant fight that does have future implications for the 185-pound title contender picture.
It also happens to be the first five-round, non-title fight in the promotion's history, which has to count for something even if Leben has historically struggled to be a 15-minute fighter. Not to worry. UFC 138 will likely not go the distance because Leben is willing to let it all hang out inside the Octagon each time he steps inside it, win, lose or draw.
"I've been watching a lot of fights lately where the champions seem like they're fighting not to lose," he said. "For myself, I'd quit if that's what I started doing. I fight to win. I fight to finish my opponent. I don't fight to not lose. And that's what you're going to see."
Now that's something worth cheering about.
19 comments
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Nov 5
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Nov 5
Comments
“It’s better than nothing,” isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. I don’t think the show will suck, but none of these fights have any consequence. If Munoz or Leben win, then what? They fight Bisping for the chance to fight for the chance to fight for the title? It’s an entirely inconsequential event. I’ll watch any fights, and I’ll enjoy them. But this is the crappiest card the UFC has put on in a very long time.
The worst part is they can’t even blame it on injuries. They seriously booked Leben and Munoz in the most worthless five-round fight imaginable. This is basically a Strikeforce Challengers show with a decent main event.
by ninjapirategear on Nov 4, 2011 12:32 PM PDT reply actions
It's a Spike Fight Night Card at the very best
And the attendance ticket prices do not reflect this.
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by KJ Gould on Nov 4, 2011 12:40 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Yup.
I am free because I choose to be so-Me
by Kefka on Nov 4, 2011 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Ive been to every UK card to date, but this card takes the biscuit
Leben is in no way worthy of headlining a card, sure his balls to the wall is entertaining if you like sloppy fighters, but im gonna use my money for a night in Manchester, the money saved will get me drunk, plus im bound to see similar Leben style fights when all the drunks are tossed out @ 3am
"I don't worry much about losing. What's so bad about losing? I'll fight again, I'll still get paid and hot chicks will still have sex with me for no good reason."
by JaYB84 on Nov 4, 2011 12:40 PM PDT reply actions
You're Right
I have feeling this will be one of those cards that people will say “Oh shit you should have watched this one” there were a couple of these cards last year.
by Coeman on Nov 4, 2011 12:41 PM PDT reply actions
Fun fact
The last time Leben fought in the UK was also a main event, against Michael Bisping, where not only did he lose but he popped positive for steroids.
Thanks, UFC. We’re glad you care.
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by KJ Gould on Nov 4, 2011 1:02 PM PDT reply actions
Interesting.
I am free because I choose to be so-Me
by Kefka on Nov 4, 2011 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Why so negative?
by Coeman on Nov 4, 2011 7:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Perhaps Thales Leites should be brought back
to headline a card in Canada, or Patrick Cote can headline a card when they go back to Chicago. I’m sure there’s nothing negative about any of that.
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by KJ Gould on Nov 5, 2011 5:16 AM PDT up reply actions
You really
Compared Lates and Cote to Leben and Munoz? I think you’re way off here, this will be an exiting fight. I agree its significance is not that important, but not every card will be.
by Coeman on Nov 5, 2011 6:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Meh its free and its MMA.
I’ll be watching it because I love fights. These cards usually end up having a couple of good battles that are a treat to watch.
I guess people just need something to hate on.
Sheeeeeeeee-it
by Clay Davis on Nov 4, 2011 1:15 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
it's usually the ufc's that people don't think will be any good that turn out to have some of the best fights.
plus its free so stop complaining.
Public Enemy #1 and enjoying every minute of it. Tapology. Peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 4, 2011 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions
It's 'free'?
Tell that to the UK fans starving for a UFC event that were asked to pay $80-360 for tickets to see a card main evented by a fight that would at best be half way up any other main card in the US. Munoz vs Leben is barely on par with Roy Nelson vs Cro Cop or Matt Mitrione vs Cheick Kongo (the latter of which only became a co-main event by default when a certain French Canadian pulled out)
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by KJ Gould on Nov 4, 2011 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
It's free to watch here and nobody made the UK fans buy the tickets.
If the arena was half full you think they might get better fights.
Public Enemy #1 and enjoying every minute of it. Tapology. Peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 4, 2011 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions
for the next event which will be held in England.
If i was a UK fan and bought tickets i would be pissed that a good fight was cancelled and was not replaced with another one.
Public Enemy #1 and enjoying every minute of it. Tapology. Peace.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Nov 4, 2011 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions
These articles are the placebo of MMA media.
Everytime there’s a shit card there’s always some article like this saying ’it’s not really that bad! if you think about it! sort of!‘. This is a numbered event that would not stand up to a Belletor card in terms of relevance and doesn’t have the excitment of Pro Elite. We all know that seemingly poor cards can deliever and seemingly great cards can miss, but that’s not the point. This is a bad event.
Maybe it will be fun to watch, but let’s not dress it up.
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by rask4p on Nov 4, 2011 1:53 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
Came here to say just this
Numbered UFC events should be judged against other numbered UFC events. By that comparison, this card is poop. Even if every fight is a barn burner and it obliterates expectations, it won’t change the fact that the product they’re putting up is real weak. I think U.S. fans are happy enough to shrug and say “free MMA,” but for British fans, this card is kind of a slap in the face.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on Nov 4, 2011 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Nice try...
but the card still sucks and everyone and their mama knows it.
by Kid Kimura on Nov 4, 2011 2:26 PM PDT reply actions
I've paid for a ticket and I'm psyched.
I’m pretty happy for people to say they’re not interested the card, it’s a bit much for the writer to have a go at fans who don’t fancy watching. For my own part though, I am really excited about the card. It does have the feel of a UFC Live card or whatever they’re called but generally, as long as the fighters are of a certain level and the match-ups are well made I tend to love those cards too.
The only problem really is the main event because I don’t exactly see Leben troubling Munoz at all, I think it will be pretty one sided. My interest will probably peak at Brad Pickett’s fight against Barao, which is almost certain to be great.
http://jim-ma.blogspot.com/
by jim-ma on Nov 4, 2011 4:27 PM PDT reply actions
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