5 Christmas wishes fans have for the UFC
The UFC recently completed yet another year as the largest MMA promotion in the world. They hosted a total of 511 fights across 42 events, which included 19 title fights.
After being treated to a whole year of elite combat sports entertainment, fans, along with the promotion and its fighters, are taking a short break to engage in the Christmas festivities. While hardcore fans are likely to be bored for the next few Saturday nights, it will give them time to list out some UFC-related Christmas wishes.
At the end of its 29th year, here are five Christmas wishes that fans have for the company.
#1. Lower UFC pay-per-view rates
The promotion continued its yearly trend of hiking up pay-per-view rates by $5 in 2022 as well. Prices went from $69.99 to $74.99 starting from UFC 270 in January, which was also the last time we saw Francis Ngannou fight.
UFC PPV price increases since 2004...
February 2005: $29.95
April 2005: $34.95
2006: $39.95
February 2008: $44.95
2009: $54.99*
2015: $59.99
2018: $64.99
2021: $69.99
2022: $74.99
*UFC 168 in December 2013 was an exception of the time at $59.99 twitter.com/LaMonicaMark/s…
However, it will seemingly be even costlier to be a fan in 2023 as prices will reportedly be increased to $79.99 in 2023, starting with UFC 283, which is scheduled to go down in Brazil. This will mark the fourth PPV rate hike since the promotion struck a lucrative deal with ESPN in 2019.
The strain on their pockets certainly comes as one of the foremost concerns for fans, and they would certainly wish for Uncle Dana to do something about it, although it's not his direct call. Meanwhile, the company's guaranteed figure of over $300 million for 2022 from the ESPN deal is expected to be even bigger in 2023.
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#2. Better judging in the UFC
Like every other year, 2022 saw its fair share of controversial UFC decisions, maybe even a bit more. While some of them could be gulped down by fans, a few were downright outrageous, leading to a general consensus about some much-needed reforms.
Two of the most popular stars, the company's biggest potential cash-cows, Sean O'Malley and Paddy Pimblett, won the toughest fights of their careers via controversial decisions in 2022. O'Malley won a controversial split decision against former bantamweight champion Petr Yan in October. Regardless of the controversy, 'Sugar' certainly proved that he belongs to the upper echelons of the division.
Here's the official scorecard for Petr Yan vs. Sean O'Malley ✍️ #UFC280 https://t.co/B2njzVgdJt
Meanwhile, Pimblett won an even more controversial unanimous decision against Jared Gordon in the last pay-per-view event of the year. The former Cage Warriors champ has undoubtedly produced some serious doubts regarding his championship potential in the UFC.
Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon.
The judges scorecards vs. the Verdict Scorecard.
#UFC282 https://t.co/XxZtu69jM0
The fight also brought judge Douglas Crosby under the scanner, who had scored another highly controversial decision at Bellator 289 the previous night. Crosby became the first judge in MMA history to give all five rounds to the fighter that lost.
While it is the respective state athletic commissions that are responsible for appointing judges, fans will hope that Dana White comes into some kind of settlement with them.
#3. USADA to stop testing Jiri Prochazka
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka was tested a total of 64 times in 2022. This is the most number of times that any athlete has ever been tested in any sport.
Middleweight contender Paulo Costa and women's strawweight Ariane Carnelossi came in next on the list with 20 apiece. Meanwhile, Jon Jones, whilst inactive, was tested only four times this year, while Conor McGregor still remains untested since the third quarter of 2021.
According to former double champion Daniel Cormier, Jones should ideally be tested more due to his history of PED use. 'DC' also suggests that inactive athletes should be tested more as they are more inclined to cheat, being away from the spotlight.
However, Prochazka himself, after some failed attempts to lessen the testing, has seemingly come to terms with it. 'Denisa' said in an interview with CBS Sports:
"I spoke with them many times through my manager. All the time they [say that] they can do that, so let's do that. It doesn't matter. I don't know if that was something to make me feel pressure, to make pressure for me, but it doesn't matter. For me, it doesn't matter."
Watch Prochazka's comments below:
#4. Sort out the Francis Ngannou-Jon Jones situation
Francis Ngannou hasn't competed since his first title defense against Ciryl Gane back in January 2022. The heavyweight champion remains embroiled in a contract dispute with the UFC, demanding a clause that allows him to compete outside the promotion.
Meanwhile, Jon Jones has been teasing a return to the octagon for the better part of three years. While 'Bones' now truly appears to be eager for his heavyweight debut, it is yet to come to fruition.
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At 35 and 36 years of age, respectively, Jones and Ngannou are no spring chickens, even for the heavyweight division. It would certainly be an immense waste to watch the two legends while away the prime years of their fighting career over contract disputes. Watching the heavyweights clash next year inside the octagon will certainly top fans' wishlists.
@ItsPauliMMA It means nothing I've had my heart broken too many times with a fake Jon jones return I'll believe it when contracts are signed https://t.co/OZGqmnODV7
#5. Better fighter pay/healthcare for UFC fighters
Fans will continue to hope that the promotion provides better pay and healthcare for their fighters. While all other major leagues, like the NBA and NFL, pay 50% of their total revenue share to athletes, the UFC pays only 16-20%.
Fighters' contracts currently come under three categories: low, medium, and high, with the lowest earnings between $10,000 and $30,000 and the highest tier ranking between $500,000 and $3,000,000 per fight.
Meanwhile, the UFC’s revenues crossed $1 billion for the period of April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022, according to investor service company Moody’s.
Dana White also went back on his initial assurances of complete healthcare, claiming to have responded to the wrong query in a Q&A with fans. The 53-year-old finds full-time healthcare a ridiculous idea.
@ryanjfrederick @FinzZombie @arielhelwani According to Moody’s, the UFC’s revenues for the 1st Quarter of 2022 were over $1 billion in the Last Twelve Months (April 1st, 2021 through March 31, 2022). A graph in the report also shows that UFC’s revenue for 2021 as being a little over $1 billion.