Ben HendersonUFCClay Guida, he may have done even better than that.
As Henderson and Guida hurled themselves across every square inch of the Octagon in a thrilling three-round battle before the main event, it was hard not to feel like the UFC was going to regret not getting this fight on live network. But then, there were network obligations to meet. FOX wanted the UFC to do just one fight -- the heavyweight championship of the world -- and so all the eggs were placed delicately in that one basket.
64 seconds after the start of the main event, well, you already know the fate of that particular basket.
We could argue about whether having a title fight that was over quicker than viewers could microwave their popcorn was a good thing for the sport and for the UFC, and I'm sure we will. What seems less debatable, at least to those of us who saw the Henderson-Guida bout, is that it was the lightweights who stole the show on Saturday night, even if they did it in the relative shadows of a live web stream.
White, somewhat understandably, was in no mood for criticism of the way the FOX broadcast was structured to focus only on the title fight.
"For anybody to bitch about this fight and how they didn't get to see that fight -- shut up," he said in the post-fight press conference. "You should have bought tickets if you wanted to see all the fights and you don't like to watch it on Facebook. Seriously, shut up. I don't even want to hear it."
In a way, he has a point. It's not like the fight wasn't available at all. If you have internet access and a Facebook account, you had every opportunity to watch Henderson and Guida beat the follicles off of one another for the full 15 minutes. If you were technologically incapable or simply felt like you couldn't be bothered to sit down and watch a fight on a different glowing screen, you only have yourself to blame for missing a great fight.
But hindsight being what it is, one can imagine White waking up on Sunday morning and wondering, what if?
had been the swift and definitive grand finale?
It would have necessitated a very different broadcast, but it also would have resulted in a more successful one. Then again, it's easy to be genius on Sunday morning, once you know the ratings and the results.
At the post-fight press conference a disappointed Guida had trouble finding much consolation in the fact that his was the most exciting fight on the card, and even the $65,000 bonus for Fight of the Night didn't appear to cheer him up all the much after the decision loss.
However, he noted, "The reason I fight is to put smiles on people's faces and get people cheering. I feel my fans with every punch I throw, and every time I get punched in the face I feel my fans."
On Saturday night he gave his fans plenty to cheer about, even if they had to do it in front of a computer screen.
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Mike Pierce defeated Paul Bradley via split decision at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Paul Bradley tries to sway the judges at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mike Pierce punches Paul Bradley at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mike Pierce lands a right hand on Paul Bradley at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Aaron Rosa defeated Matt Lucas via majority decision at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Aaron Rosa kicks Matt Lucas at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres push kicks Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres knees the body of Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres front kicks Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres celebrates Bruce Lee-style after his win over Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres defeated Cole Escovedo via unanimous decision at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cole Escovedo throws a jumping knee on Alex Caceres at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Alex Caceres tries to armbar Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Robert Peralta and Mackens Semerzier collide heads at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Robert Peralta throws a leg kick against Mackens Semerzier at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mackens Semerzier lands a kick to the body of Robert Peralta at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mackens Semerzier jabs Robert Peralta at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mackens Semerzier looks to ground and pound Robert Peralta at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Robert Peralta kicks Mackens Semerzier at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto throws a high kick against Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama throws a kick at Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mackens Semerzier falls down and desperately goes for a takedown against Robert Peralta at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Mackens Semerzier goes for a takedown against Robert Peralta at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Robert Peralta def. Mackens Semerzier via third-round TKO at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama tries to submit Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at the closing seconds of the first round at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ricardo Lamas talks to Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ricardo Lamas falls to a knee after beating Cub Swanson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ricardo Lamas begins to get emotional after beating Cub Swanson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cub Swanson punches Ricardo Lamas at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ricardo Lamas tries to escape a tight guillotine choke by Cub Swanson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ricardo Lamas attacks Cub Swanson from top at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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DaMarques Johnson knocks out Clay Harvison at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama exits the cage after his win over Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto walks off in defeat at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama def. Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama def. Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama kicks Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto pushes forward against Darren Uyenoyama at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama attempts to choke out Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Darren Uyenoyama attempts to choke out Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Dustin Poirier defeated Pablo Garza via submission at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Dustin Poirier defeated Pablo Garza via submission at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Dustin Poirier submits Pablo Garza with an arm-triangle choke at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Dustin Poirier drops down punches on Pablo Garza at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Pablo Garza throws a kick at Dustin Poirier at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson slugs with Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida goes after Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida and Ben Henderson get ready for battle at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson punches Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson defeated Clay Guida via unanimous decision at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida tries to win over the judges at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Referee Herb Dean warns Ben Henderson for an illegal punch to the back of the head at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida tries to choke out Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson knees Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida wants more of Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson takes a breather between rounds against Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson knees Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida rushes Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson knees Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Clay Guida charges Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX 1 on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Ben Henderson defends a takedown attempt by Clay Guida at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cain Velasquez is ready to defend his UFC heavyweight belt at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos moments before facing Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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The scene of the main event of UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos lands a big right hand on Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cain Velasquez tries to take Junior dos Santos to the ground at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos drills Cain Velasquez in the head at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cain Velasquez falls to the ground after a hard left at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos attempts to finish Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos attempts to finish Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos attempts to finish Cain Velasquez at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos celebrates his win at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos celebrates his win at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos celebrates his win at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cain Velasquez fails to defend his UFC heavyweight title at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Junior dos Santos is awarded the UFC heavyweight championship at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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Cain Velasquez leaves the Octagon without his belt at UFC on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
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and the UFC. After getting kicked off TV the sport and the company survived largely thanks to a small but passionate fan base on the internet. Those message-board fans helped keep the sport alive until it could get back in the public eye, and the UFC has since embraced every conceivable platform for getting as many fights to as many fans as possible.
On Saturday night the big story might have been network TV and the heavyweight championship, but it was the little guys on an internet stream that delivered the real bang for the buck. The good news is, once the UFC's deal with FOX begins in earnest in 2012, it can give the mainstream a chance to find out that in MMA, unlike in boxing, it isn't just the main event that matters.
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