Keller's Take
KELLER POLL BLOG: Should Dana White put pressure on fighters to have "exciting fights" even if it increases risk of losing?
Aug 31, 2009 - 11:33:52 AM KELLER POLL BLOG: Should Dana White put pressure on fighters to have "exciting fights" even if it increases risk of losing?

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In response to two relatively bland Anderson Silva fights (but before his last win over Forrest Griffin), we asked: "Is it fair of UFC President Dana White to pressure fighters to be exciting even at the expense of preserving a likely win by being conservative?"

By a sizable majority (59 to 41 percent), you believe that it's unfair for White to put pressure on fighters to risk losing in order to be exciting. I agree with this. As I wrote several weeks back, it's a dangerous precedent to set if you start putting a priority on performance over winning. You open a Pandora's Box of possibilities at that point where fighter could even cooperate with each other to put on an exciting first two rounds before "really trying to win" in the third, or many other scenarios that would compromise the integrity of the sport. You also might have a champion risking losing by taking chances when a conservative approach would assure victory, and that's just not fair.

If rules could be changed to add excitement to the sport, which major league team sports often do (especially the NHL and NBA), then consider that (as they have done over the years with the "stand up" rule for instance). Otherwise, White is correct to accept that fans will sometimes be disappointed with fights or entire fight cards, but they also know that comes with the territory just as it does in any sport. There are enough really exciting fights and entire fight cards (such as UFC 102) that even a clunker now and then won't turn fans away.

[Dana White photo credit Wade Keller (c) MMATorch]