Comments on: #1 in the MMAlulz Aggregate http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/ Go inside the sport of MMA with the Total MMA staff. Interviews, analysis, and the rich history of MMA. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:28:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Dave Walsh http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/#comment-25561 Dave Walsh Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:02:35 +0000 http://www.total-mma.com/?p=619#comment-25561 <blockquote>I also learned a great deal working for the UWC — namely that I never want to work for an MMA promotion ever again. I enjoy writing about MMA, don’t care for the behind the scenes antics.</blockquote> These the lessons of 2009 are important ones. Behind the scenes antics are BS, for what it is worth. I can agree with you there.

I also learned a great deal working for the UWC — namely that I never want to work for an MMA promotion ever again.

I enjoy writing about MMA, don’t care for the behind the scenes antics.

These the lessons of 2009 are important ones. Behind the scenes antics are BS, for what it is worth. I can agree with you there.

]]> By: Alan Conceicao http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/#comment-25543 Alan Conceicao Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:08:10 +0000 http://www.total-mma.com/?p=619#comment-25543 And so we I return to my two base points: -As much as you would like to claim that you are in it for the growth of the sport, there is a definite financial element to it as well. Trying to replace WAMMA with yourselves is integral in achieving that goal, because let's be honest here, you'd like to be as big as Sherdog, MMA Weekly, et al., right? -Clearly, there is some reason why ESPN decided to go the WAMMA route. An MMA show run by some characters of ill repute is being taped for an ESPN network tonight for airing tomorrow. What value could WAMMA hold for ESPN? And so we I return to my two base points:

-As much as you would like to claim that you are in it for the growth of the sport, there is a definite financial element to it as well. Trying to replace WAMMA with yourselves is integral in achieving that goal, because let’s be honest here, you’d like to be as big as Sherdog, MMA Weekly, et al., right?

-Clearly, there is some reason why ESPN decided to go the WAMMA route. An MMA show run by some characters of ill repute is being taped for an ESPN network tonight for airing tomorrow. What value could WAMMA hold for ESPN?

]]> By: Kid Nate http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/#comment-25522 Kid Nate Fri, 03 Apr 2009 03:16:40 +0000 http://www.total-mma.com/?p=619#comment-25522 Alan, you're conflating our having an interest in being successful with WAMMA's conflict of interest. They're promoting themselves as a source of unbiased rankings while seeking to profit by manipulating those rankings. The "demand" to be on ESPN was a post by a reader who means well. Personally I could give a fuck about that. I also learned a great deal working for the UWC -- namely that I never want to work for an MMA promotion ever again. I enjoy writing about MMA, don't care for the behind the scenes antics. The reason we've been writing about WAMMA is because they're on ESPN and we think its a travesty since people watch ESPN and take them seriously. Alan, you’re conflating our having an interest in being successful with WAMMA’s conflict of interest. They’re promoting themselves as a source of unbiased rankings while seeking to profit by manipulating those rankings.
The “demand” to be on ESPN was a post by a reader who means well. Personally I could give a fuck about that.
I also learned a great deal working for the UWC — namely that I never want to work for an MMA promotion ever again.
I enjoy writing about MMA, don’t care for the behind the scenes antics.
The reason we’ve been writing about WAMMA is because they’re on ESPN and we think its a travesty since people watch ESPN and take them seriously.

]]> By: Alan Conceicao http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/#comment-25494 Alan Conceicao Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:25:48 +0000 http://www.total-mma.com/?p=619#comment-25494 I should note that you don't have to be sanctioning world title fights to profit. And hey, that's fine! Who says you can't? But don't go telling me that you have no financial interest in this. Besides, what is to hold you back were you to grab any sort of dominance in the world of MMA rankings from handing out world titles, a la Ring Magazine? I should note that you don’t have to be sanctioning world title fights to profit. And hey, that’s fine! Who says you can’t? But don’t go telling me that you have no financial interest in this. Besides, what is to hold you back were you to grab any sort of dominance in the world of MMA rankings from handing out world titles, a la Ring Magazine?

]]> By: Alan Conceicao http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/#comment-25493 Alan Conceicao Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:22:02 +0000 http://www.total-mma.com/?p=619#comment-25493 Whether or not Brookhouse has written before doesn't change that your front page this week has been flooded with endless griping WAMMA rankings, not to mention your "demands" to be on ESPN. None of you have even entertained why the ESPN might be interested in WAMMA's rankings. Maybe there are long term plans to promote MMA that isn't Zuffa related? Maybe their plans don't include you? Maybe its a tough pill to swallow after working for the "Strikeforce of the East Coast" that you aren't valuable to the big dogs in Bristol. Don't know. Don't care. The only thing that I admit I find funnier is the whole "WHERE IS PRESS ROW" thing. From what I've heard about the press agents, those there were probably in the back hitting the catering spread while watching a bunch of nobodies fight on the flat screens set up for them. Sorry they aren't letting you in on the BBQ I'm sure they hauled in. Then again, its Nashville. Maybe they had Meat and Three? Whether or not Brookhouse has written before doesn’t change that your front page this week has been flooded with endless griping WAMMA rankings, not to mention your “demands” to be on ESPN. None of you have even entertained why the ESPN might be interested in WAMMA’s rankings. Maybe there are long term plans to promote MMA that isn’t Zuffa related? Maybe their plans don’t include you? Maybe its a tough pill to swallow after working for the “Strikeforce of the East Coast” that you aren’t valuable to the big dogs in Bristol. Don’t know. Don’t care.

The only thing that I admit I find funnier is the whole “WHERE IS PRESS ROW” thing. From what I’ve heard about the press agents, those there were probably in the back hitting the catering spread while watching a bunch of nobodies fight on the flat screens set up for them. Sorry they aren’t letting you in on the BBQ I’m sure they hauled in. Then again, its Nashville. Maybe they had Meat and Three?

]]> By: Dave Walsh http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/#comment-25492 Dave Walsh Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:43:21 +0000 http://www.total-mma.com/?p=619#comment-25492 You guys take things too seriously. Who the fuck cares about WAMMA? Why bother pointing out that WAMMA does nothing or even "going after them?" It is like getting into a hockey fight with a retard, it just makes you look like an idiot. Why would anybody take that "lawsuit" claim seriously? Especially on your site, you guys have Mike Rome who knows all that shit. You should know grandstanding like that means absolutely nothing. If you really dislike WAMMA, just ignore it. I can assure you if you ignore it completely and give it no press it'll just go away eventually. We all know it is worthless. You guys take things too seriously. Who the fuck cares about WAMMA? Why bother pointing out that WAMMA does nothing or even “going after them?” It is like getting into a hockey fight with a retard, it just makes you look like an idiot.

Why would anybody take that “lawsuit” claim seriously? Especially on your site, you guys have Mike Rome who knows all that shit. You should know grandstanding like that means absolutely nothing. If you really dislike WAMMA, just ignore it. I can assure you if you ignore it completely and give it no press it’ll just go away eventually. We all know it is worthless.

]]> By: Kid Nate http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/#comment-25477 Kid Nate Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:51:26 +0000 http://www.total-mma.com/?p=619#comment-25477 Brookhouse has been going after WAMMA for months -- first he gave them a lot of rope -- then they hung themselves. Here are the posts: <a href="http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2008/10/20/639244/wamma-hard-truths-and-fail" rel="nofollow">WAMMA: Hard Truths and Failed Promises</a> October 20th, 2008 <a href="http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2008/10/15/635827/exclusive-wamma-officials" rel="nofollow">WAMMA Officials Respond to Bloody Elbow Reader Questions</a> October 15th, 2008 <a href="http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2008/6/20/555552/bloodyelbow-exclusive-inte" rel="nofollow">Interview With WAMMA CEO Dave Szady and COO Michael Lynch</a> June 20, 2008 My beef with WAMMA started when they threatened to sue a kid who posted on our site: <a href="http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2008/12/18/697016/don-t-mess-with-the-wamma" rel="nofollow">Don't Mess With the WAMMA</a> And we have not one but two iron clad reasons why our rankings are 100% better than theirs: 1) We're not trying to muscle our way into the MMA business by sanctioning title fights for a piece of the action. 2) We're not dismissing the results of our ranking system so we can crown "champions" in the hopes of sanctioning title fights featuring same. Anything else? Brookhouse has been going after WAMMA for months — first he gave them a lot of rope — then they hung themselves.
Here are the posts:
WAMMA: Hard Truths and Failed Promises October 20th, 2008
WAMMA Officials Respond to Bloody Elbow Reader Questions October 15th, 2008
Interview With WAMMA CEO Dave Szady and COO Michael Lynch June 20, 2008

My beef with WAMMA started when they threatened to sue a kid who posted on our site:
Don’t Mess With the WAMMA

And we have not one but two iron clad reasons why our rankings are 100% better than theirs:

1) We’re not trying to muscle our way into the MMA business by sanctioning title fights for a piece of the action.
2) We’re not dismissing the results of our ranking system so we can crown “champions” in the hopes of sanctioning title fights featuring same.

Anything else?

]]> By: Alan Conceicao http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/#comment-25457 Alan Conceicao Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:02:11 +0000 http://www.total-mma.com/?p=619#comment-25457 <i>BE’s issue is that WAMMA is trying to force its way onto a sport without actually doing any of the work to build the sport </i> I'm sorry, what? BE's decision to ratchet up the complaining comes at the same time their ranking system has been co-opted by the folks at USA Today. The same one they suddenly wish to argue about on ESPN with a designate of WAMMA. The same one that uses *our* rankings as part of its aggregated score (in spite of us not mattering! Hah!). Their rankings are important to them because it legitimizes them and their opinions in the world of mainstream media, at least as far as they are concerned. With that legitimacy comes more traffic, more ad revenue, more promoters coming to them with fights to sell. Or, at least, that is the goal. And hey, that's fine. If I were looking for a job or to make money in the fight industry, boy howdy, I'd love to get my rankings in USA Today. But don't sit here feigning impartiality or that you're doing this for the good of the sport alone. And worst of all, don't start arguing that they aren't "our rankings" when pushed. What a horrible copout. If your rankings are based on the lists of a bunch of other people, then that's your method to creating them. If WAMMA's are based on a chosen voting bloc, that's their's. There's no argument that BE can use about their rankings that a WAMMA exec couldn't rationally use about their own. BE’s issue is that WAMMA is trying to force its way onto a sport without actually doing any of the work to build the sport

I’m sorry, what? BE’s decision to ratchet up the complaining comes at the same time their ranking system has been co-opted by the folks at USA Today. The same one they suddenly wish to argue about on ESPN with a designate of WAMMA. The same one that uses *our* rankings as part of its aggregated score (in spite of us not mattering! Hah!). Their rankings are important to them because it legitimizes them and their opinions in the world of mainstream media, at least as far as they are concerned. With that legitimacy comes more traffic, more ad revenue, more promoters coming to them with fights to sell. Or, at least, that is the goal.

And hey, that’s fine. If I were looking for a job or to make money in the fight industry, boy howdy, I’d love to get my rankings in USA Today. But don’t sit here feigning impartiality or that you’re doing this for the good of the sport alone. And worst of all, don’t start arguing that they aren’t “our rankings” when pushed. What a horrible copout. If your rankings are based on the lists of a bunch of other people, then that’s your method to creating them. If WAMMA’s are based on a chosen voting bloc, that’s their’s. There’s no argument that BE can use about their rankings that a WAMMA exec couldn’t rationally use about their own.

]]> By: Jonathan Snowden http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/#comment-25442 Jonathan Snowden Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:23:42 +0000 http://www.total-mma.com/?p=619#comment-25442 Shook Shook

]]> By: Dave Walsh http://www.total-mma.com/2009/03/30/1-in-the-mmalulz-aggregate/#comment-25440 Dave Walsh Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:38:45 +0000 http://www.total-mma.com/?p=619#comment-25440 Asa -- This isn't a matter of rankings, really. I'm sure some of the dudes on BE really do have their hearts into the project and care about it. Which you know what, that is cool. It isn't my bag, but somebody has to care. It is about self-importance. WAMMA has no right to do anything, nor does any blog. Asa –

This isn’t a matter of rankings, really. I’m sure some of the dudes on BE really do have their hearts into the project and care about it. Which you know what, that is cool. It isn’t my bag, but somebody has to care.

It is about self-importance. WAMMA has no right to do anything, nor does any blog.

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