A quick fix to a slow-growing problem?

Photo Credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

By Chris Huntemann, Columnist

Much has been made lately about UFC bringing back old faces and signing new ones, with former WWE wrestler CM Punk making the biggest splash. He announced live during UFC 181 earlier this month that he signed a contract with UFC.

The signing of Punk is on the heels of the UFC bringing back famed rebels-without-a-cause Nate and Nick Diaz, and was followed by the company bringing back Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who left under less-than-pleasant circumstances in 2013, to put it mildly.

Punk’s signing was met with derision by multiple fighters, while Nate Diaz’s return was marred with a missed open workout, missing weight, continued complaints about his pay and a three-round beating by Rafael Dos Anjos. His brother Nick seems to be faring slightly better, landing a main event fight with former middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 183 in late January and staying out of trouble since his most recent arrest.

Not much is known yet about Jackson’s return to the UFC, as it is being contested in court by Bellator MMA and its parent company, Viacom. But the signing of a former pro wrestler with zero MMA experience, brothers who are accomplished fighters but also certifiable pains-in-the-asses and another accomplished fighter who has displayed numerous instances of questionable behavior outside the cage, suggests the UFC may be scrambling for something – anything – to increase fan interest.

Oh yeah, and the UFC is also being sued by former fighters over claims the company has created a monopoly in MMA and doesn’t fairly compensate its fighters. Are all of these occurrences related? It’s possible.

Pay-per-view buy-rates for the UFC are down, no question about it. UFC 177 – which was supposed to feature a rematch between TJ Dillashaw and Renan Barao for the bantamweight title but changed at the last minute after Barao had to withdraw from the bout – received one the lowest buy-rates in recent memory.

What could the UFC do to bring in more fans besides signing pro wrestlers with no experience (though they don’t seem to be alone – Bellator is apparently courting former WWE wrestler Alberto Del Rio and has entered the Brock Lesnar sweepstakes) and bringing back controversial former stars who may have lost a step? The answer is simple, yet complicated.

The buy-rates for UFC PPVs are likely proportionate to the quality of the card being offered. Cards that seemed “stacked” with multiple fights featuring popular fighters (like UFC 181 earlier this month, that featured two title fights and fighters like Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez and Robbie Lawler) still fare pretty well.

But, due to what I believe is an increase in demand for programming from FOX and the presence of UFC Fight Pass, the company has to put on more and more live cards and stretch its roster thin in order to meet this demand. As a result, many live fight cards are headlined by fighters who would normally be on the undercard on PPVs and are supported by fights that wouldn’t even make it on to broadcast.

In layman’s terms, the UFC product as a whole feels very watered down, a sentiment shared by fans:

Haven't missed a UFC PPV since UFC 40 and UFC 149 was one of the worst ever! These weak watered down card HAVE to stop. #UFC 149
— Colin Hollett (@colinhollett) July 22, 2012

#ufc149 this Faber vs Barao fight blows the load UFC PPV's are getting watered down
— Manny (@MannyKicks) July 22, 2012

@danawhite Hey Danal, is the next @ufc ppv gonna be better than that last watered down POS event???
— Timebomb (@Timebomb_101) September 8, 2014

So while reducing the number of live cards is the simple answer, the trade-off for having your product on a platform like one of the big four networks is playing your role to help fill that network’s programming.

So maybe this is the new reality for UFC. Fight cards that feature only one “marquee” bout and several fights featuring unknown fighters. Bringing back fighters that may have lost a step but still bring name recognition. Signing professional wrestlers or other athletes that have no MMA experience, but can bring new viewers with them. While UFC has a future in 2015, it’s very much an unknown one.

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also contributes his thoughts to our site on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.

Are The Diaz Brothers a Train Wreck Waiting to Happen?

By: Rich Bergeron

The UFC's Diaz brothers continue to offer their bosses one figurative "Stockton Slap" after another. From their now infamous refusal to sit through interviews and press events to their obnoxious, narrowly-framed demands for more money and better opportunities, Nick and Nate Diaz present a serious problem for the UFC brass. They cannot be reigned in, and punishment is futile.

Although I am only a recent convert to MMA fandom, I've watched plenty of fights featuring these two talented brothers. I've caught a few of their interviews here and there as well. At times they gained and lost my respect, taking rebellion to a pointed extreme and exposing their crude nature in a way that only taints the image of the whole sport. Nick sets a bad example for his younger brother in this regard with his long list of offensive actions. He's no role model, but so many people still love this scrappy and mysterious madman. He drives drunk, he smokes weed, he skips press tours, he flips people off, he talks trash to his opponents in the cage, and he continues to refuse to get with the program.

At first, Nate Diaz was humble and willing to remain in the UFC's good graces after his successful stint on The Ultimate Fighter. As if watching his brother struggle with meeting media commitments and staying motivated to fight had a profound impact on Nate, his recent interactions with management have been much more abrasive.

He bit the hand that feeds him repeatedly over the course of the week leading up to his UFC on Fox appearance Saturday night, even coming into the weigh-in heavy. He slept in instead of participating in an open workout, walked out of a pre-fight interview before answering the first question, and criticized the UFC's new Reebok deal and their signing of CM Punk to a fight contract.

"I could to be fired tomorrow. I hope not. I want to work for the UFC forever," Nate said at a recent UFC media event. "But I also would like to be treated like, you know, we're not caged animals. I feel like we're professionals." He went on to explain that "kissing ass" isn't going to help any fighter out there who wants to benefit from new programs like the Reebok deal.

It all only adds more insult to the injury Diaz caused his employers when he raked them over the coals in the press over the past few months for not paying him and other fighters enough. Even Dana White admitted seeing Diaz win Saturday night would make matters more difficult. White told FOX Sports 1, "I don't know what to do with him if he wins. There's a laundry list of problems there."

Rafael Dos Anjos improved to 23-7 with a one-sided beating of the younger Diaz brother, but even the ass kicking didn't humble Diaz. He spent the last few seconds of the fight slapping and smack-talking Dos Anjos. Instead of just proclaiming himself the best in the division, Dos Anjos proved his mettle by dominating Diaz and respectfully called for a title shot. 

Nick Diaz is surprisingly much more reserved than his younger brother these days, but the two still have one thing in common: a problem with financial stability. Both have the skills to turn to the fight game for an income, but both seem equally reluctant to continue on the fight path. Consider Nate's comments in a recent ESPN piece:

"I don't think I'll ever get the work and damage I've done to myself back -- and if I keep going, it's just going to get worse. So, what the f--- am I doing it for?"  

Nate also admitted to fighting Saturday because he needed the money, which is also why his older brother Nick is coming out of retirement to be the first fight on Anderson Silva's comeback trail. Some of Nick's most memorable interviews include him wondering aloud why he even bothers to fight. They both seem inherently discontent with their respective choices to turn fighting into something they now have to rely on to get by.  Both also have obvious issues with anxiety and possibly some deeper behavior problems that may be genetic in nature. Certain people just don't have shut off switches.

Though both brothers have made statements and taken actions I could never agree with, they also bring up some very legitimate and crucial points when they get their jaws flapping in front of a microphone. At times like these, they show a different side to their personalities.

Remember when Nick Diaz retired Frank Shamrock? Rather than rub Frank's nose in the loss, Diaz barked at Frank to get up and finish his career on his feet, even giving him a hand and pulling him up from the ground. It was one of the classiest tributes I've ever seen one fighter make to another even though Diaz flipped Shamrock off at the weigh-ins rather than shake his hand that day. There are also countless times I can recall seeing Nate or Nick all banged up in a fight and somehow continuing to just walk through punches. This is why they both have such a huge fan base despite their outlandish behavior and lofty overconfidence.

So, while these brothers may in some ways be severely misunderstood, the reality is they both became the way they are as a result of their experiences under the UFC umbrella. As much as it might seem disrespectful and wrong for them to be so vocal, their popularity is in many ways bolstered by that bravado and willingness to step forward and stand up for the fighter perspective.

I wish they had cleaner language, a better relationship with the media, and more respect for their opponents. I think maybe then their message would be taken more seriously. Though sometimes I can't imagine why anyone would really look to the Diaz brothers as genuine role models, I am equally impressed with their ability to piss off Dana White while also forcing him to employ their services at the same time.

For their part, the Diaz brothers really can't be faulted for their gritty and grating attitudes if you consider how White became so famous in the first place. Like the kid in that old 80s anti-drug commercial caught by his dad with a stash of weed, the Diaz brothers can always claim, "I learned it from watching you, Dana!" 

As much as their careers are bound to end badly with very little fanfare, these brothers will always be cult classics. Like that line of cars that always stacks up when there's an accident on the side of the highway, the fans of the Diaz brothers continue to wait patiently for the next F-bomb to drop. As long as this dastardly duo continues to treat the fight game as an easy paycheck and expect to be treated like royalty everywhere they go, they will have a hard time creating a solid future for themselves when fighting is no longer an option.

UFC Returns To Indianapolis - Tickets On Sale This Week

Tickets On Sale This Week For Condit vs Kampmann 2 In Indianapolis Top welterweight contenders Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann will revisit their memorable 2009 bout in an August 28th rematch in Indianapolis. Plus, Donald Cerrone clashes with Rafael dos Anjos in a meeting of lightweight contenders and Sara McMann battles Sarah Kaufman. UFC Fight Club presale starts Wednesday, June 12th - join today for first access to tickets! More Than 50 Guest Fighters To Appear At UFC Fan Expo UFC Fan Expo is the world's premier UFC fan event. Thousands of fans will celebrate their passion for America's fastest growing sport through participation in exhibitions, fighter autograph and training sessions, fan-inspired special events and competitions. Meet elite fighters and interact with industry icons! Plus, UFC Fan Expo 2013 will feature more UFC fighters than any other UFC fan event ever. Be a part of this historic weekend! Tickets Available For Upcoming UFC Events At Ticketmaster.com Tickets for UFC 162 Silva vs Weidman on sale now! Indianapolis (Condit vs Kampmann 2 - August 28th) presale starts June 12th, Boston (Shogun vs Sonnen - August 17th) presale starts June 18th

TICKETS ON SALE THIS WEEK UFC: Condit vs Kampmann 2 Wednesday, August 28  Bankers Life Fieldhouse - Indianapolis, IN  UFC Fight Club Presale Starts Wednesday, June 12 - 10am ET Join today for first access to tickets! UFC Newsletter Presale Starts Thursday, June 13 - 10am ET Presale Password: OCTAGON Purchase Public On-Sale Starts Friday, June 14 - 10am ET Purchase

UFC 161: Evans vs Henderson - LIVE on Pay-Per-View - Sat. June 15 - Winnipeg, Canada UFC 162: Silva vs Weidman - LIVE on Pay-Per-View - Sat. July 6 - Las Vegas, NV