Ask the Torch
ASK THE TORCH: Amadi answers reader questions on UFC 148 and UFC 149, Bruce Buffer, fighters as broadcasters, and more
Jun 15, 2012 - 1:10:35 PM ASK THE TORCH: Amadi answers reader questions on UFC 148 and UFC 149, Bruce Buffer, fighters as broadcasters, and more

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By: Jason Amadi, MMATorch Columnist

Brent writes: I was incredibly set on buying 148 for two of my favorite fighters (Anderson Silva and Urijah Faber), but now I'm torn. Which do you think will be the better overall card? I'm leaning toward 149 just because I've yet to see Renan Barao in action and I'm giddy to see Faber prove he can still get it done at the "big dance" since that Aldo whipping (understatement).

A: I feel like UFC 148 is the "must see" card of the year and has been ever since the Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen fight was added to it. When the fight card was first announced, I was convinced it was top to bottom the most stacked UFC event ever. In fact, the card was so strong that even though it was stripped down to bolster UFC 147 and UFC 149, there are still plenty of big names and exciting matchups left over.

Losing Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao really hurt, but the prelims are solid and there are still four big main card fights. Obviously Silva-Sonnen is the most anticipated fight of the year, but we're also getting Tito Ortiz's final fight, an exciting striking matchup with Cung Le vs. Patrick Cote and Demian Maia making his welterweight debut against Dong Hyun Kim.

The prelims are also full of name fighters and I feel like that's where UFC 148 really outclasses UFC 149.

Clearly Canadian events are going to feature plenty of Canadians on the undercard. I don't mean to disparage the country or the athletes competing, but the relevance of those matchups simply pales in comparison to what UFC 148 offers.

If you're low on cash and can only make one purchase, in my opinion UFC 148 is the smart buy. The main cards are fairly comparable, but regardless of how Silva-Sonnen II goes down, it's going to be historic.

Tanar writes: So Dana White missed his first UFC fight not too long ago. Has Bruce Buffer ever missed one? And who replaced him?

A: As far as I know, Bruce Buffer has never missed a show since he's started with the UFC. If ever there was a situation where he'd be forced to miss a show, it would be either the UFC on FX 4 event or the UFC 147 pay-per-view since they're in two different countries and there's less than 24 hours between them. Still, he's expected to be at both shows, as is UFC President Dana White.

David writes: Does promoting recently retired MMA fighters to positions as permanent UFC broadcast talent enhance the value of current UFC broadcasters? For example, does it diminish the contributions of Mike Goldberg?

A: I'm not exactly sure what you're asking, but I feel 100% confident in saying that adding ex-fighters to the broadcast team can only improve the UFC product.

Mike Goldberg has a lot of strengths as a broadcaster; he's got a booming voice that's familiar to the audience, he's absolutely fantastic at all the product placement stuff he does and he can tell a pretty decent story in the cage. However, Goldberg's weaknesses really come to light when he's forced to discuss technique and/or call the action. Joe Rogan definitely carries most of the load when it comes to analysis, but every once in a while Goldberg will have to jump in and it isn't great.

My favorite period of UFC commentary was when Randy Couture joined Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan in the booth. Couture and Rogan would discuss technique while Goldberg was free to set the mood and really play to his strengths. I think the three man booth is definitely something the UFC should revisit in the future if and when another articulate fighter decides to hang up the gloves.

Nathan writes: If you could take any two fighters in any era, weight class, and in their prime. Who would you choose to put in the cage and why?

A: This isn't really "out of the box" or anything, but I've always wanted to see Frank Mir fight Josh Barnett. They have so much in common that it's almost scary.

They both won the UFC Heavyweight Championship at a young age, neither of them actually lost the title, and neither of them has tasted gold since.

I think Mir and Barnett occupy a very similar place in the heavyweight division both today and all-time. For my money there isn't a better stylistic matchup in all of MMA, regardless of weight class.