A few years back no-one would dare make this comparison, but these days it seems to be something that maybe needs to be discussed a little more. The UFC scene has long looked down its nose at the professional wrestling world, at least in the sense of the much hyped athleticism. Wrestlers are workers, for sure, but in terms of how dangerous they would be in the octagon - forget it. No matter how many tables Cactus Jack has been thrown through, he's still gonna tap on a well executed armbar, or get pounded defenseless against the right striker. Forget how much he loves the pain, his brain loves oxygen and a well set rear naked choke is going to take his ability to operate a sock puppet away - quickly.
To the WWE's credit, they have a brand name that endured for eons and continues to make money not only off the in-ring exploits, but also off the various ventures the WWE has gotten into with its talents. Merchandise, movies, even music flow from the halls of WWE. And lately, more than a couple significant MMA fighters, which leads us back to UFC.
UFC made its name as the place where the real shit happens. The pomp and circumstances of WWE, and similar promotions, were even more cartoonish in the face of UFC's blend of science and brutality. But lately, that seems to have changed significantly. Since the arrival of Brock Lesnar, the MMA scene has been shaken up by the dispelling of the myth that pro-wrestlers were merely well muscled actors. Frustrating some fight purists is that fact that Lesnar seems to still act out like he is the heel on a big WWE card rather than a solid sportsman in a serious arena. Then there are the questions of whether Lesnar has been truly tested. The most cynical viewpoint says that White is most definitely looking to exploit some of Lesnar's WWE persona and stage presence, elements that some MMA'rs regard with either disdain or ridicule.
When UFC announced it was moving it's March Pay-Per-View - featuring the hotly anticipated Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy headliner - to close proximity of WWE's flagship event Wrestlemania, the wrestling world immediately took it as White's attempt to make a direct assault on the WWE. The UFC ppv machine has become a well oiled machine, turning out more events and a consistently growing buy-rate. There are other aspects to White's business operation that suggest he might be making a move against WWE.
White was famous for calling out YouTube fight-celeb Kimbo Slice as something less of a phenomenal fighter, and more of a grass roots marketing fluke. Slice, White said, would never make it in the business. For all of White's stark frankness, the promoter was quick to bring Kimbo Slice to his Ultimate Fighter reality show. Slice would NOT, as it were, be treated like any other contestant. In fact, White introduced Slice to the other contestants en masse as a surprise wild card. White, it seems, has learned the art of the barker - insinuating the man he once belittled as insignificant to the fighting craft as if he were suddenly a contender. Kimbo was quickly eliminated, but continues to appear on UFC cards none-the-less.
UFC cards have always contained at least a small amount of hyperbole, but could White's willingness to cast his promotion against type in pursuit of ratings and buys indicate a gradual transition to a more hyperbole driven UFC in the future? Maybe the answer will come when the UFC Vs WWE buy-rates are tallied in March.
