Five reasons you should drop some cash and purchase UFC 129
At least once a month, MMA fans are forced into a cost-benefit analysis situation. The UFC schedules a pay-per-view event, rolls out the card and turns on the hype machine, event trailers and previews playing on an infinite loop in an effort to drive up buys.
For many fans, it’s not a question of whether they want to see the event in question; my general assumption is that, like me, most MMA fans always want to watch the night’s festivities. Value, not desire, is the root of the challenging choice fans face at least one Saturday of every month.
Every year there are a few “death and taxes” events; buying them is inevitable because they’re that damn good. Conversely, there are usually one or two shows that fall on the other side of the spectrum as well, landing in the “I wouldn’t buy that with your money” territory where UFC 119 currently resides as mayor.
For the most part, however, your standard monthly event ends up being a toss-up, a roll of the dice on the rate of return your entertainment dollars will yield. Since I can’t tell the future and don’t have access to Doc Brown and his DeLorean to do a little advanced scouting, I’ve decided to roll out this new regular feature to help the decision making process.
Before each event, I’ll break down why the impending event is worth you opening your wallet. While I can’t promise the events will live up to expectations, know that I’ll be riding the couch with you, hoping my $50 investment produces a pleasant surprise (UFC 110) instead of a source of frustration (UFC 113).
With that in mind, here are the five reasons why UFC 129 is worth buying.
I don’t know if you know this, but Randy Couture is no spring chicken. While we’ll all marvelled at the accomplishments of the man who is old enough to be many of our fathers, Father Time hangs out with Death and Taxes, and eventually catches up with everyone.
Though Couture comes into this contest on a tidy three-fight winning streak, this is easily his toughest test in almost two years. He’s spoken about this being the final fight of his illustrious career, and while we’ve heard that before, he seems more committed to the idea this time around.
With the myriad other projects “The Natural” is involved in, walking away would be understandable. If he indeed does decide to hang’em up after tonight, I know I wouldn’t want to miss his final fight and farewell address.
That alone is worth fifty bucks to me.
4. Have You Not Seen the Trailer?
If watching the trailer for this event doesn’t give you goosebumps and make you wish it was Saturday night already, there is something wrong with you.
For starters, using Fort Minor’s “Remember the Name” is 100% on-point; not only is it a tremendous track, but its extremely fitting for an event headlined by the sport’s biggest star and that other guy.
Second, did you not pay attention to the information conveyed in the trailer? Jake Shields hasn’t lost in six years and once upon a time beat Carlos Condit and Yushin Okami in the same night. The wall of medals and clippings is also a nice touch, and reminiscent of a similar wall I had in my room as a child… except mine consisted solely of participant ribbons and “Certificates of Completion.”
The final frames where the two combatants walk passed each other in the backstage area is great as well. I don’t know about you, but I wanted both guys to turn around and walk away from each other backwards, never breaking eye contact.
Oh, and by the way, no, that isn’t “Showdown” Joe Ferraro walking with GSP’s entourage; Joe’s not that tall.
3. Hollywood Ending
Mark Hominick may be a heavy underdog heading into his featherweight title fight with Jose Aldo, but the story of the Thamesford, Ontario native is the stuff Hollywood drools over.
A ten-year pro, UFC 129 will be the first time “The Machine” has competed in his home province in his career. Not only is he making like Diddy (coming home… try to keep up), but he’s doing so in the biggest fight of his career, on the biggest stage in North American MMA history at that. On top of that, Hominick and his wife will welcome their first child a week later.
After a decade of grinding out a living everywhere but at home, Hominick gets the chance to put the finishing touches on a storybook moment in front of his friends and family. With the bad MMA movies that have been made over the last few years, this could be the framework for one of the first very good films, regardless of the outcome.
Of course, winning the belt would certainly be a great way to wrap up the third act.
2. St. Pierre vs. Shields
It amazes me how little chance people are giving Shields in this bout.
As much as GSP has been extremely dominant over his last six or seven fights, he’s facing a guy who with a suffocating ground game who dominated the current Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, and has beaten a laundry list of contenders from two weight divisions over the last, let’s see, carry the one, six years.
I know GSP has said it too many times to register any more, but this time, when he calls Shields, “The toughest opponent of my career,” he’s not just reading the line on the teleprompter. This is without question the most challenge fight the champion has faced in some time, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
No matter who wins, we’ll be looking at arguably the best welterweight in the history of the sport. St. Pierre can already stake a claim to that title and beating Shields will only further cement his legacy. An upset win for the former Strikeforce middleweight champ moves him to the top of the list and sets up all kinds of other potentially awesome fights down the road, including the inevitable rematch with GSP.
It probably won’t be the roller coaster ride that Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard treated us to at UFC 125, but this is going to be one helluva fight and the topper to a collection of quality bouts you should buy on pay-per-view.
1. Witness History Being Made
UFC 129 is an historic event, with 55,000 people set to flood the Rogers Centre, breaking the North American gate and attendance records for a mixed martial arts event.
While you won’t be in the building, seeing the spectacle is as must-see TV as there is for fight fans. As an added bonus, you’ll see things much clearer and without the constant buzzing sound of massive audience serving as background music for your evening.
This is one of those events people are going to be talking about years from now, regardless of how the fights turn out. Do you really want to be the guy who answers, “Where were you when UFC 129 took place?” by telling the inquirer that you didn’t bother watching the show? Outside of emergency surgery or a death in the family (knock on wood neither happens), if you’re a fight fans with $50 in your bank account or on your credit card, you should be buying this event.
Note: No, I will not be providing refunds to dissatisfied customers. Neither will Heavy.com.
Caveat emptor.