Quinton Jackson, Forrest Griffin confirmed as TUF 7 coaches
As expected, UFC president Dana White announced on the 2007 Spike VGA show last night that Quinton Jackson will join Forrest Griffin as a coach of TUF 7. The two will then fight for Jackson's light heavyweight crown at the conclusion of the TUF 7 season.
As I stated yesterday, this is great news for TUF.
However, this announcement also continues a disturbing trend whereby title matches in the UFC are becoming less and less frequent. Jackson last defended the belt in September at UFC 75. Based on what we know, the title defense against Griffin probably won't occur until June 2008 or so. This means a nine-month lag between title defenses.
By my count, there were two scheduled heavyweight defenses this year; two scheduled light heavyweight defenses; three scheduled middleweight defenses (one of which ended up being a non-title fight because Travis Lutter couldn't make weight); two scheduled welterweight defenses (one of which won't happen because of Matt Serra's injury); and one scheduled lightweight defense (hampered by Sean Sherk's steroid controversy.)
In other words, each division had on average two defenses. This is not enough. Three defenses per weight class is ideal. But, it looks like UFC is moving more and more toward a boxing model in terms of the frequency of title fights. Subsequently, fewer and fewer cards will have title matches on them.
Combine that with more and more UFC cards on the schedule and the percentage of fights that are title fights is going down dramatically. Maybe the UFC has enough depth to sustain this trend. We'll have to see.
This announcement also marks the second straight season in which the show is being used to build up a title fight. I can understand that UFC is eager to use its popular basic cable show as a vehicle to build up marquee fighters and fights. However, it also artificially pushes out the title schedule as mentioned above.
What would be really nice to see would be a "24/7"-type one-month buildup for marquee UFC fights, similar to HBO's buildups for boxing matches.
Kevin Richardson has been a fan of mixed martial arts competition ever since UFC 3, when 600-pound sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarborough was beaten by Keith Hackney. Kevin will cover the world of MMA — in Baltimore, nationally and internationally. He plans to take readers into the locker rooms and MMA schools, where they'll hear from local fighters and trainers. If you have a news tip or suggestions for the blog, please 
Comments
Pramit-
Be a little more creative than that. The way to have more title fights is to have more divisions. As time goes on and there more and more quality fighters there will not be enough belts to go around for the amount of quality fighters. Also spike tv does a version of 24/7 for title fights, the only problem is that it is on spike tv not hbo.
Posted by: eric rosee | December 10, 2007 10:23 PM
Eric (or should I call you Reggie?),
Sounds like you want the same weight class confusion we've already got in boxing. You want a new weight class every five pounds so that fighters can jump around and avoid each other?
And, if you're referring to Spike TV's "Countdown" shows, I'm sorry -- those are not nearly as riveting as 24/7.
Let's agree to disagree.
Thanks for reading though,
Pramit
Posted by: Pramit | December 10, 2007 11:32 PM
As entertaining as the build up is through TUF the wait between titles is unacceptable. They had the right idea with BJ and Jen. A non-title match up rubber. If they want to spice it up they can offer the victor a title shot. Keep the champs free to train and make them defend more often!!! As much as I loved Serra's antic's, he should not have been allowed to sit on the belt as long as he has.
Posted by: Dan | December 11, 2007 1:02 AM
Something definitely needs to be done before the UFC starts to hemorrhage really good fighters who want one thing... a shot at a title. Other leagues, including the one Mark Cuban is cooking up, will start to offer what the UFC won't - more title shots for more fighters. MMA is growing, not just the fanbase but also the athletes. Infrequent title fights should hurt the UFC in the long run. What fighter wants to bust their ass only to be kenneled indefinitely?
Posted by: Greg | December 11, 2007 2:43 PM
I completely agree Pramit, I was very annoyed Serra fights in April and then not till December (and now he's not fighting at all. People want to see Rampage fighting way more often, three fights a year is pretty good and this nine-month layoff thing is ridiculous, however Dana knows that Rampage needs more exposure and along with Griffin this will probably be the best TUF ever, at least from the coaches perspectives. I just wish we didn't have to wait so long.
Posted by: Joel | December 11, 2007 3:44 PM
In agreement with what Greg is saying I should add that Fitch and Karo should not have to wait another year before title shots. How many wins does Fitch have to put together before he gets some respect?
Posted by: Joel | December 11, 2007 3:46 PM
nice match up that would be.. but i still want to see rampage slug with tito.. that would be cool i want titos ass kicked?
Posted by: hero | December 15, 2007 2:51 PM