It looks like UFC: Alves vs. Kampmann in Sydney will not be the last Australia sees of the UFC this year. A recent report indicates that the world’s premiere Mixed Martial Arts organization will be heading to Brisbane later this year.
No dates or match-ups were mentioned in the report, but the idea of a second UFC event down under in a single year is an interesting one.
The aforementioned Alves vs. Kampmann card will take place at the Acer Arena on March 4 and it will be third year running that Sydney has received a UFC event.
This most recent outing has gained some negative comments from many fans as the calibre of fighters and the lack of any notable UFC ‘stars’ is definitely down from the previous two events.
In their first outing in Australia at UFC 110, the event was headlined by a heavyweight eliminator between PRIDE legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and surging contender (and future champ) Cain Velasquez.
The event also featured a marquee middleweight match-up between fan favourite, Wanderlei Silva and the fan’s favourite person to hate, Michael Bisping.
A year later, the UFC returned with former lightweight champion BJ Penn and perennial number two welterweight, Jon Fitch in a highly relevant and intriguing battle. The undercard was also highlighted by Bisping again as well as a possible lightweight title eliminator with Australia’s own, George Sotiropoulos.
UFC: Alves vs. Kampmann, as the name implies, features a bout between Thiago Alves and Martin Kampmann in the main event. While last years UFC 127 also featured a non-title welterweight main event, that bout was of high divisional relevancy. Kampmann has one win in his last three bouts while Alves has two in his last five.
The co-main events are very divisionally relevant as they are title eliminators for the first UFC flyweight championship with Joseph Benavidez meeting Yasuhiro Urushitani while Demetrious Johnson meets Ian McCall.
This of course means that the top four fighters in a UFC division are fighting in the one night, but the lack of exposure they have received (Johnson – a bit, Benavidez – a little, Urushitani and McCall – none) means the sight isn’t that appetizing for the majority of Australian fans.
To put it simply, there is a reason why this isn’t a “numbered” UFC event. It is however a very good fight night card. The disappointment for Australian fans is that while they know the card isn’t attractive as it’s pay-per-view worthy brothers and sisters, they will still be paying the same as they did the previous years.
Most likely because the UFC knows the appetite for events down here and they are aware that no matter the card, there aren’t going to be empty seats left at the Acer Arena come March 3rd.
That is why the idea of a second Australian UFC event in Brisbane is such an intriguing one. A new market may lend itself to a new first impression from the UFC that could lead to a card that is the calibre of the UFC’s first two Aussie offerings.
If the report is true there’s no doubt there will be a selection of Australasian talent on display – Queensland’s own, Kyle Noke has apparently put his name down for it – but let’s keep our fingers crossed that some of the UFC’s more highly touted and enticing international stars lace up the gloves as well.
Ray Johnson
Guest
Some of you guys would make excellent hype man for the UFC! Perhaps you could step in for Joe Rogan on the FX events. C'mon - the card is weak, no doubt. Poor effort = poor response
Annoyed
Guest
Dana, Very disappointed with your questionable card for Sydney. My friends and I didn't buy a ticket this year. Thanks for rewarding the Aussie fight fan that sold out you fights in such good time......
Buster hymen and the injectors
Guest
I am one who has purchased a ticket to the last two UFC cards without thought. Wow what fighters we got to see, Velasquez, Bisping, Wanderlei, Nogeuira...... This time Dana has treated the oz fight fan with contempt, no wonder it's not sold out with Alves and Kampmenn, sure good fighters but not worthy of the no 1 card for Aussie fans. I am travel from Adelaide for the fight and the announcement of the card in brisbane doesn't add to the whole UFC, we shouldn't need to guess which is going to be the strongest card. Please Dana, one card per year and make it the best you have available.
Buster hymen
Guest
Dana White has totally taken for granted the Aussie UFC fan, he as taken for granted that we sell out his card long before the fighters are announced. I was One who bought a ticket in good faith in retrospect of the last two cards. I feel he has taken advantage of all of us wit this card, Velazquez, Bisping, Cro cop, Nogeuira and Wanderlei... Talk about suck us in. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying I will no longer put this event in my calendar as a given if they continue to treat a very profitable market with such contempt
Trav
Guest
I'm sorry Michael but you don't know what you're talking about. The only thing i agree with you on is that the UFC on FX this weekend was entertaining even without big name stars. However, if you look at the pricing of tickets for UFC on FX 1 ranging from $25-175 (USD) compared to UFC on FX 2 held in Sydney $75-425 (AUD) you will notice a huge difference for pretty much identical events/fighter star power. This doesn't even take into consideration the strength of our Aussie dollar which will make that gap even wider when you do the conversions. Not giving Australia a PPV card but still charging the price of one is insulting, it also denies us the chance to see a 5 round war since FX main events are only 3 rounds. I'm not too sure how much you follow the UFC but the 'big money' isn't in Vegas for MMA. Dana White has said for years that Canada has been the 'mecca' of mixed martial arts and it will soon be superseded by Brazil when they hold Anderson Silva's next title fight in a 80,000 seat soccer stadium. At the rate the UFC is expanding it wouldn't be crazy to assume that Asia in particular China will be its biggest markets in the future bringing the UFC closer to Australia. Like i said in my previous post if George Sotiropoulos had strung together 2 more wins we would more then likely be having the lighweight title fight out here this year. They were already starting to talk about it while Sotiropoulos was on a 7 match winning streak. So i stand by what i said, and your notion of having to move to Nevada if you want to see ‘big fights’ is an immensely idiotic statement. Also, I was actually there live to watch the Fitch Vs Penn fight and i've watched it a couple of times since and i stand by what i said previously. If you look at the faces on the figters when the result was read out they both looked like they had lost as they were both disappointed with the result. Fighters aren't the only ones feeling unsatisfied with a draw but so are fans as we like to see a result and a fighter get their hand raised.
Ronnie
Guest
Michael Waldron, I could go down to the local RSL club and see great fights. The excitement of going to a UFC event is very much reliant on star power.
Michael Waldron
Guest
I stand by my point - look at UFC on FX 1 this weekend, the fights were not relevant in title pictures obviously but still provided great entertainment. It isn't idiotic by the way - the money is in Vegas, not Brisbane or Sydney. Kampmann is also top 10 on a few different ranking systems (Sherdog and Bloody Elbow are 2 for example) and Alves is just outside, he would be higher if it wasn't for Rick Story lucking out, it wasn't that long ago that he fought for the title against GSP. Additionally, if you call Fitch Penn an unsatisfying fight, I think you need to re-watch it. My overall point is that for a country stuck in the middle of nowhere in relation to the rest of the world (geographically), getting UFC cards isn't a right, we're lucky to get them at all.
Trav
Guest
Alves vs Kampmann is a nothing fight in terms of the welterweight division, arguably neither of them are in the 'Top 10' of their division and to see this as a main event is a joke. If you look at the previous star stacked card of UFC 144 in Japan, Alves vs Kampmann would struggle to even make it on the prelims for that event. After last year's UFC 127 debacle in Sydney with the main event ending in an unsatisfying draw and a co-main event being ruined with an illegal knee, you think Dana White and the UFC would have tried to give their loyal fans something special for there next trip down under however they have delivered a very underwhelming card. I know you shouldn't judge a card before it has actually happened but in terms of star power and big name fighters, this card doesn't deliver and is a bit of a slap in the face to Australian fans. @Michael Waldron - People who are happy with getting the worst UFC card on paper should really raise their standards or we will continue getting sub-standard fights. Australia is a country that is passionate about its sport and MMA is no different. Sure we are far away from the rest of the world but with the current strength of the Aussie dollar we are a very attractive market for the UFC to pursue. The notion of having to move to Nevada if you want to see 'big fights' is an idiotic statement. Having a title fight in Australia isn't completely unrealistic and if George Sots had put a few more wins together we would probably be having one out here this year.
turbodewd
Guest
I must admit that the leadup bouts to the main event often produce equally exciting bouts.
Fryzie86
Roar Rookie
How has Demetrious Johnson only received "little" exposure? he was the last guy to challenge for Dominick Cruz's bantamweight title, and he was fighting in an unnatural weightclass. The Flyweights are going to be an exciting division, if you don't agree please research the now defunct WEC promotion. Martin Kampmann has been unluckily denied victory in 2 controversial decisions going against him to land him 1-2 in his last three fights. Had those decisions gone his way, he would likely be another guy in the UFC Welterweight Title picture. I'm pumped for these fights just as much as I am for any others, because there is always the X-Factor of a live event - you could just witness a classic, and these fighters on this card are more than qualified to do it.
kravmonsta
Guest
whinge if they don't come, whinge if they do.. can't win so might as well do their own thing and cash in.
Michael Waldron
Roar Rookie
And that's a problem with sports fans - who doesn't like seeing the best? UFC 142 was ignored by a number of 'fans', a card that produced 5/5 finishes on the main card, and a few on the prelims as well. Same as UFC 138. For 'numberless' events, just look at UFC on Versus: Kongo vs. Barry, UFC Live: Hardy vs Lytle. Fans need to lose this idea that non-numbered events are automatically terrible.
turbodewd
Guest
There is an immutable law of sports fans - they love to see the best. If you serve them up so-so talent then expect a so-so crowd. UFC on FX2 (i think its called) rather than a number sounds like a below par affair. I may not even watch this on TV if it was on ONE HD. If the UFC puts one numbered bout on in Australia once per year then that seems about right IF there is a reasonable card. We can never expect and awesome card.
Michael Waldron
Roar Rookie
I'm real excited for Alves and Kampmann though - should be a cracker of a fight. I just think people should be grateful that the UFC comes down under at all, if you want big fights, move to Nevada!
Michael Waldron
Roar Rookie
I have to question the idea of the UFC not bringing any star power - by star power, I assume Champions? Why would the UFC take title fights overseas, especially to Australia? Makes sense to have them in either the hometown of the champ or Sin City. And it's almost like BJ Penn, Cain, Wandy are nobodies, apparently!
Stuart Fazakerley
Roar Rookie
I think the attitude UFC took in announcing UFC on FX 2 in Sydney has blown up in their face a bit. Low quality card with the same token Aussies in the mix, the only real differentiator being the flyweight prelims, which are really nothing more than a novelty at the moment. Given the previous two PPVs sold out in minutes, the fact that there are PLENTY of unsold seats for the Sydney card hopefully makes the UFC cotton on to the fact we want something better.