Opinion: Cash Versus Control Ahead of the Big Apple

Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed below are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sherdog.com, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company, Evolve Media.* * * The Ultimate Fighting Championship has spent nearly two decades over two ownership groups untangling red tape, bad ideas and politically vested interests towards one goal: the UFC inside Madison Square Garden. Seven years in a row, buttressed by the Fertitta brothers’ money and political clout, bills legalizing mixed martial arts in New York passed the state’s Senate, but never made it beyond the State Assembly until this past March 22, when it finally passed and Gov. Andrew Cuomo put pen to paper a few weeks later.And that was supposed to be that. While there were large preparations and logistical struggles forthcoming for the New York State Athletic Commission as the office began to regulate the sport, no one ever expected the UFC’s Nov. 12 date at MSG to get pushed back once it was on the books. However, the UFC’s milestone moment is now mired in a new kind of controversy and it’s not due to political forces external to MMA. No, this time, the call is coming from inside the house. Here is a synopsis our present situation: UFC 205 has five official fights and though Tyron Woodley has said outright that he is defending his welterweight title against Stephen Thompson on the card and while MMAJunkie reported last week that Chris Weidman-Yoel Romero was a go for the event, the UFC hasn’t confirmed either bout just yet. Regardless, Zuffa has to announce the headlining particulars quickly: the promotion has a press conference this coming Tuesday at the MSG Theater to the promote the event with the stars of the event and also, tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 30. So, imagine for a moment that these five confirmed and two very-likely fights form the nucleus of UFC 205. That’s a highly respectable pay-per-view, but is it what you expected for the company’s first dramatic staging inside Madison Square Garden? Probably not, and here’s where things get every sticky. Just as it became a talking point when many fans came away disappointed with UFC 200 this past July, MSG is another moment highlighting the UFC’s problem with over-promising. For years, UFC 205 was hyped as an inevitable cork-popping party, a moment that would symbolically represent how far Dana White, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III brought this cagefighting outfit and a fight card commensurate with that sort of achievement is what was always teased. People always imagined Jon Jones in a major headlining fight, Chris Weidman defending or challenging for the UFC middleweight title and a card full of talent from both the city and state, who would get to revel in being a part of this sport’s history. So far, UFC 205 is a far cry from that. I won’t blame the company for “Jonny Bones” not being around to headline, and yes, New York’s Gian Villante was scheduled to face Marcos …

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