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The UFC appears on Australian shores for the third time this Saturday with UFC on FX: Alves versus Kampann. The event, which will be held at the All Phones Arena in Sydney, NSW, will also be the 200th UFC event on record.
The card has come under criticism for being a lacklustre in comparison to its sold-out Australian predecessors.
The lack of quality/big-name fights on the card fails on three levels. Firstly, the UFC’s landmark deal with the FOX network has only just reached the six-month mark. As such, the organisation should still be trying to win the approval of new fans with big fights on their cable television shows.
Secondly, the idea behind hosting overseas shows is to spread the fan-base globally. In my previous article, UFC middleweight Mark Muñoz noted that mixed martial arts in Australia is on the rise.
Lacklustre cards don’t justify the overseas expense from a company standpoint, nor does it appease Australian fans, most of whom know the sport well enough to retaliate with disappointing ticket sales.
Lastly, the flyweight division deserves more exposure on pay-per-view cards. The semi-finals of this flyweight tournament shouldn’t be relegated to a cable TV card on U.S. television. The new weight division should be given much more time in the spotlight.
Simply put, the UFC would have been better served saving a major pay-per-view (complete with title fight and the flyweight tournament finals) for its latest Australia venture.
Main event prediction
The card’s main event pits welterweights Thiago Alves against Martin Kampann in a fight with possible top contender ramifications. Both fighters were once on the quick rise up the tumultuous welterweight ladder until a series of losses set them back. Alves previously fought current champ Georges St. Pierre for the title at UFC 100.
Both fighters hold Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belts and possess decent wrestling skills. Both also fight out of stellar camps (American Top Team and Xtreme Couture, respectively).
From a technical standpoint, their striking is solid. Alves is the more powerful hitter, possessing fight-ending power in his punches, kicks and knees. Look for Alves to attempt an early finish.
Alves’ past weight problems stem from his massive weight loss (he was formerly 190lbs+). As a result, he has a had a tendency to tire as the fight progresses. All signs point to this one being stand-up battle, with Kampmann being forced to take risks against Alves’ power as the fight wears on.
Prediction: Alves by split decision
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