Comments on: Postcard from the Couch: UFC 90 – Silva vs. Cote

By: Echolocating

Echolocating — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:32:20 +0000

I seem to recall Sam Caplan breaking down the production of MMA events on the ProElite’s site. In other words, I think Caplan has a soft spot for this sort of thing.

Anyway, I don’t think showing the current fight’s statistics is a good thing. I like that I can debate who won a round with friends on a purely gut instinct level. Statistics typically don’t tell you who the winner is. If you bring that shit into play, you’ll see a lot of fighters trying to simply out-point their opponents and that would be horrible for the sport.

I appreciate the crux of these article’s but the delivery is not digestible. I like what Caplan did previously in these types of exercises. (I’d link to one of his previous articles, but ProElite seems to have had the plug pulled on their website.) The content of this article reads like the notes one would take during an event to then write an actual article about the event. Take the time to summarize your thoughts into a concise and proper format and I’m sure readers will be eating this stuff up.

Also, the comments about how the rounds of a fight went has very little to do about the production of the event. Is this an article about the production or someone’s analysis of how the fights went? Is it really beneficial to have both? Just an honest question.

By: monsoon

monsoon — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:06:45 +0000

I don’t realy get the point of this column.
The “production improvemnets” you suggest here seem to me just what compustats idiots do to many other sports events and commentators therefore are mixing their dumb comments about the players’ families with sick and useless statistical stuff.
Well, what I would appreciate is (like in some of the japanese events, I guess its DREAM) to bring each fighter’s “bout history” to display” (a la “Key losses; key wins”). Also, the “tale of the tape” graphics could be a bit more in-depth (e.g. adding “walkaround weight”, a comparison of fight styles and camps the fighters train at) – this would be stuff even an occasional viewer could build on – and much more than most of the stats bling-bling. OK, why not compucount “landed” strikes by an Anderson Silva, but who would find such instructive on young and new or really veteran fighters who have been around for ages? Are the also counting distracting grounded punches thrown from the back? Did anybody count an wheigh the quality of submission atempts? Elusive moves? Bring it, but very restrainedly, please.
As far as your comments go on graphics explaining: “takedown: Sherk” in your last column: that would be just as helpful as displaying “figure contact: fisher” during a chess match. Is there anything more obvious to see than a Takedown?
To “educate” first-time viewers, all graphical glamour is useless in my eyes. Instead watch the unaired fight Miller vs. Horvich: Rogan commented Horwiches amaplata attempts an guard modes up to an annoying scale. If you intend to learn mma by whatching the ufc, listening to such coment might be the only way (apart from “explanatory extras” before/after/in between fights).
I guess to understand what’s going on, you have to at least whatch regularly for along time, if not practise some kind of Martial Art yourself. Stats won’t help, neither graphics.
Concerning the production, I would rather suggest to “mix it up a bit” and not be so “predictable” for the hole show. I learned with pleasure that Goldberg now (at least) occasionally forgets to comment on the referee: “Herb Dean – our referee” in always the same annoying intonation… Many of the phrases, as well Goldberg’s as Rogan’s while commentating I don’t want to hear anymore either. Replace’m! Bring in some external experts! Allow non-UFC guys to comment! Kick out Bruce Buffer, or bring in some other guys occasionally. Tell him to change one or two lines in his 10 years old Lyrics, please! I really appreciated to whatch UFC89 on swedish tv – with svedish comment (which I do not understand).

Well and finally back to my first line: what’s the point of your column? To let us know your in tv business? To bring more Stats to the PPVs? If it’s on the technical side of “educating the fans”, I’d say that this is not be achieved in a telecast. Bring on excellent free programs before/after; let some experts help commenting, replay one or two good moves per match, … and forget about too much of your stats…

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:28:57 +0000

This column again? You’ve got to be kidding me. Sam- I’m not saying you have to can this lee guy but there must be some other way in which he could contribute his thoughts and expertise to the site. These winded breakdowns are just not interesting and not well written either. I’m trying to keep my comment as nice as possible but seriously, this segment gives your otherwise great site a sour taste of amateur hour. In the words of GOB, come on!

By: ihateemo

ihateemo — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:52:43 +0000

Indeed. I enjoy this column. Reading the “layman’s” take is a nice flip-side to Sam’s more in-depth “wonk” columns.

Keep it up!

By: Caidel

Caidel — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:42:29 +0000

It is a interesting read from another POV than we are accustomed to. If someone has a serious problems (it is painful?) with reading this, then the solution is simple: do not read this, and do not spoil it to the other people, who are enjoying this.

By: Grappo

Grappo — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 08:25:22 +0000

took longer to read this than to watch the actual PPV.

By: Drew

Drew — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 05:25:28 +0000

Actually not a bad read. I guess some people enjoy the middle school punchlines ala Huckaby. To each his own, good grown man read.

By: mingo

mingo — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 03:24:02 +0000

yeah they deleted them because my first post said please stop this sucks

By: kirby

kirby — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 01:22:41 +0000

I enjoyed the read keep up the good work.

By: Mr.PIBB

Mr.PIBB — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:48:16 +0000

HexRei,
You guys we’re right about your boy Sherk.He’s FAR from a gatekeeper and I think he deserves an immediate rematch with Penn.I bow down to your wisdom.
The guy is no joke(Sherk that is).

By: Davey D

Davey D — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:19:55 +0000

To the author: with all due respect, I really do not like your take on the past two UFC event’s. They’ve been doing their thing for a long time and have added newer stuff to their broadcasting in many ways. I would suggest that if you know so much about video editing and production. Maybe you should send in a resume to Zuffa. I heard they are looking into hiring more video editor’s.

I hope your posting’s will get more interesting because you bring up some issues at hand but your storytelling needs improvement. It is pretty boring at times to be honest. Make it exciting, write as if you’re talking directly. I’d really like to hear your take on the prodution of an event like Segoku, Dream or Affliction. Again, with all due respect. Cheers!

By: JollyDV

JollyDV — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:10:33 +0000

And I thought the crowd from Illinois was tough….whew, you guys are brutal.

Speaking of Bruce Buffer, something did jump out at me last night, and it wasn’t his “Thriller” moves. His hair. He needed a hair cut. I couldn’t believe it. Go back and watch the replays. His hair is always poofed perfectly. He had some waves going on last night.

Odd, I am sure someone will tell me. But Bruce did not get his hair done last night before the fight.

By: James

James — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:09:26 +0000

can someone put an end to this column? its a painful read

By: HexRei

HexRei — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:33:42 +0000

video link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8puU1AIIWs

By: Jeff L

Jeff L — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:30:57 +0000

I wish I was nearly as concerned and obsessed about the graphics overlay and timing as you are and this would be a fascinating read. As it stands, not so much. Strike 2.

By: HexRei

HexRei — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:29:24 +0000

Yeah it kinda just demonstrates the author’s newness to the sport. That move is a classic buffer-ism and has been named and immortalized in his tribute video as well as many other places.

By: Justin B

Justin B — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:22:23 +0000

Michael Buffer does that karate move every single fight. “Introducing first to my left” then BAM damn near breaks his neck. This is nothing new. I cant help but chuckle every fight.

By: the sheik

the sheik — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:11:47 +0000

ur not funny

let someone else write this

By: HexRei

HexRei — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:56:56 +0000

is it just me, or did someone delete all the comments from this thread? are we not allowed to have a negative or conflicting opinion of one of these articles now? I mean I’m sorry, this is just bad.