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By: Tom Strong, MMATorch UK Contributor
For the second time in two months, the UFC returns to our screens with another double header this Saturday morning/evening.
Now, first and foremost, I'm a fight fan. I love nothing better than spending a few hours watching MMA, tweeting about the action, and interacting with like minded people. But it's coming to a point now where I'm having to plan the day around events, earning enough brownie points throughout the week to keep the wife happy so I'm able to watch all that's available.
As you may realise, I live in England, so most of the UFC events involves the hardcore fans staying up until 5 or 6AM Sunday morning when the event has finished. So by the time you get some sleep, you're woken up by the kids (normally 7AM), jumped upon with requests for breakfast, drinks, and the never ending episodes of Peppa Pig. I'm like a walking Zombie Sunday. If I'm lucky I may get a couple hours sleep in the day, though this normally comes at a financial cost, be it new clothes, handbags, or a health spa, which of course I agree too as I'm in no state to disagree while struggling to keep my eyes open.
So do we (the UK) benefit better for having two events on in one day? Quite simply, no. Looking at this weekend's events, it starts with Fight Night 43, which is taking place in New Zealand. The first prelim fights will start at 7AM Saturday morning GMT, with the main card starting at 10AM. So more than likely it will be midday Saturday before the event draws to a close.
This isn't a problem by itself. The problem is not putting on a card that people will get up to watch! Is FN 43 a card for which I'd get up at 7AM in the morning to watch? Sadly not. A main event headlined by James Te-Huna - who's lost his last two fights - against Nate Marquardt, who is coming into the bout on the back of three consecutive defeats, his last two coming via first round knockouts.
Looking past the main event bout, it really isn't an event to whet the appetite. Only Jared Rosholt vs. Soa Palelei & Hatsu Hioki vs. Charles Oliveira have some appeal to me personally. With that in mind, this card will be recorded and watched when I have some spare time. Probably later in the day, or in the week.
The second installment of the double header is Fight Night 44, headlined by Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens. This event will start 12AM Sunday morning in England, with the main event airing at 3AM, so another 5 to 6AM finish. But here's the difference: It's the quality of the card.
Unlike FN 43 where the main event is headlined by fighters nearing the UFC exit door, we have two legitimate fighters battling it out to put themselves in number one contention in the featherweight division. Swanson is ranked #4 in the division, and is a fan favourite who's riding a five fight winning streak, with four of five coming via TKO/KO.
He's facing Stephens who had resurrected his career since making his featherweight debut just over a year ago. He's got three straight victories over Estevan Payan, Rony Jason, and more recently a decision win over Darren Elkins. With 26 knockout victories between them, what's not to love about this fight?
Also on the card is the Ultimate Fighter 17 winner, and highly rated, Kevin Gastelum, taking on Nico Musoke, who is undefeated in his last eight fights. Ricardo Lamas returns to the Octagon in his first fight since being defeated by Jose Aldo for the Featherweight Title. His opponent is Hacran Dias, who is also coming into the fight on the back of a defeat to Nik Lentz, but prior to that loss was undefeated in his last nine outings.
Whether it be UFC, Bellator, Cage Warriors, or BAMMA, the timing of the event really isn't the biggest issue; I handle the late evenings, early mornings starts, but it does comes down to one thing: the 'quality' of the card. The difference between me watching FN 43 and FN 44. With more and more events being put on each year, fans will choose more carefully which events they're going to watch if the quality isn't on the show, and that's clearly in play on Saturday.
I for one hope double header events do not become a regular theme, as I may find myself looking for a new house and wife!
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