A frenzy of fighting on TV is in store
Photo credit: AP Photo | Mike Brown, right, punches Urijah Faber in the fourth round of a World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight world title fight in Sacramento, Calif. Brown won by unanimous decision to retain his championship.
WEC 44 preview: Mike Brown vs. Jose AldoFight fans, this is your call to action. A seven-day heads-up to get yourself organized.
Please make sure to get caught up on as many shows as possible on your DVRs and TiVos this week. Find 43 minutes and watch that episode of "NCIS" from three weeks ago. Take another 28 minutes and laugh at Leon Black on "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
You're going to need the free space because Nov. 14 kicks off what can be interpreted as mixed martial arts fan appreciation week. Over the course of eight days, here's a short list of what you'll be treated to:
1) UFC 105 from Manchester, England, headlined by a light heavyweight bout between rising star Brandon Vera and MMA legend Randy Couture on Nov. 14.
2) World Extreme Cagefigthing featherweight champion Mike Brown, as much a lightning rod for MMA fan debate as Alex Rodriguez was on WFAN before this postseason, defends his belt against knockout specialist Jose Aldo at WEC 44 on Nov. 18.
3) Tito Ortiz's return from MMA exile to fight Forrest Griffin at UFC 106 in Las Vegas on Nov. 21.
Throw in last night's Fedor Emelianenko-Brett Rogers heavyweight bout at Strikeforce and you've got a November to Remember.
The best part of it all? It will only cost you $44.95.
Strikeforce aired in prime time last night on CBS. UFC 105 is free on Spike. WEC 44 is free on Versus. The only time you need to reach into your pocket and pull out a few bones is for UFC 106.
As a whole, it's enough punching and kicking and jiu-jitsuing to help us overcome the disappointment of Brock Lesnar pulling out of his heavyweight title defense against Shane Carwin at UFC 106 because of illness.
And here we arrive at the big question: Is it too much?
After 30 fights in eight days, will we be less inclined to get hyped for fight night? Will we just shrug a shoulder at Dec. 12's BJ Penn-Diego Sanchez lightweight championship and hope an illegal "freeplay" surfaces on YouTube the next morning before UFC submits its copyright claims?
Negatron.
Or so UFC president Dana White is banking on. When the nonsensical topic of overexposure comes up in MMA circles, he responds simply. "Is there too much baseball on?" he'll ask. "Is there too much football on?"
Fight fans want to see fighters fight. We're selfish that way. We want them in the Octagon as many times as possible to entertain us. It's very Roman Colosseum.
A week such as this can also boost the profile of WEC, a smaller promotion owned by UFC's parent company Zuffa.
"We absolutely think we have the ability to gain new fans and generate significant interest with this card," WEC general manager Reed Harris said. "There's a good buzz out there about WEC cards and it's a buzz that I think we've earned. Our cards continually deliver and fans know that."
