Biggest story of 2006?

[LuckyD]

It's defintely the rise of popularity and profit in the UFC as the biggest news of '06 in MMA. The acquisition of new world class fighters, the success of TUF (although this year's series left a bit to be desired), and also the rise of the earlier TUF'ers like Diego, Koschek, hell even Swick and Ken-Flo that made UFC's year the biggest story in 06. There were other positives this year for the UFC, but those the biggest IMO.

Behind this is the troubles that Pride are going through. It almost goes hand and hand with UFC's success, because obviously, the worse Pride are doing, the better UFC will be for it. For the most part because of the possibility of top, world class Pride fighers jumping ship. The lack of TV deal is huge news for the federation.

The next biggest stories would have to be CroCop's winning of the Grand Prix, as well as GSP demolishing Matt Hughes... Andy Silva beating Rich Franklin wasn't that huge, even though it is very much notable, no doubting that.

[MastaWu]

UFC Blowing up and Taking over the companies leading to guys like Rampage, Herring, and others to come into the UFC is the biggest thing of 2006, but how would you say Anderson Silva beating Franklin wasn't a big deal, that was HUGE, not because Anderson won, but because all the UFC people didn't even know this guy, comes out of no where (We MMA followers know he fought in Pride and Rage Cage) and demolishes(Dominates) their golden boy and middleweight Champion. So that has to come in 2nd, Yeah Hughes losing was awesome but no surprise the way GSP has been so good, The pride thing wasn't that big of a shock to me because they aren't completely dead yet, they still have some of the best fighters in the world still there. If Cro-Cop signs with the UFC then we can talk about that being close to number 1.

[Skinnyboy]

UFC's orgasmic explosion gets my vote. The 60 Mins bit really capped-off a good PR year for Dana and the boys.

[ilostmydog]

Giant Silva jumps to K-1.

Eldari Kurtanidze comes to fight Fujita on NYE, which fulfills the dreams of MMA fans everywhere, who wonder what would happen if an Olympic wrestler with zero MMA experience were to fight Kazuyuki Fujita (twice).

Rob Broughton becomes the greatest fatman HW out there, with victories over former great fatman sucky HW's James Thompson, Robert Berry, and Butterbean.

Stephan Bonnar, Vitor Belfort, Pawel Nastula, and Kevin Randleman are all retarded and got busted for steroids.

Despite having an 8-1 record and widely being regarded as one of the premier LHW's in the world, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is called upon to fight a total of one time for PRIDE in 2006. By contrast, Ikuhisa Minowa fought five times, KazNak (whom Nog holds two victories over) fought five times, and Yosuke Nishijima, who has yet to win a fight in PRIDE, fought four times. Nice.

People continue to call Matt Lindland boring, whether or not they see his fights. If laying down huge beatdowns on BJJ black belts is boring, well then, I don't want to know what excitement is....

Shinichi Kojima beats Mamoru Yamaguchi and makes him look normal in the process. Scary.

Rashad Evans passes guard, finishes fight. Scary.

Genki Sudo fought an actual LW for the first time in years.

KID Yamamoto, one of the most crazy talented individuals in the sport, leaves MMA to train for the Olympics, returns to fight an Olympic wrestling champ who weighs 30 lbs less than him and has zero MMA experience. Who will win?

[cameronb]

If we talk only about fighters, I would have to say Tim Sylvia had quite a big year considering no one including myself (except Skinny) thought he would win the belt much less hold on to it. Yes he may be boring and not the most marketable guy but I would have to say he had a very big year.

[goonplatoon33]

If we talk only about fighters, I would have to say Tim Sylvia had quite a big year considering no one including myself (except Skinny) thought he would win the belt much less hold on to it. Yes he may be boring and not the most marketable guy but I would have to say he had a very big year.

if youre going to talk about individuals having a big year, you have to mention gsp. even though it was questionable, he beat bj and then he manhandled hughes who was supposedly the greatest ufc champ of all time.

[cameronb]

if youre going to talk about individuals having a big year, you have to mention gsp. even though it was questionable, he beat bj and then he manhandled hughes who was supposedly the greatest ufc champ of all time.

Excellent point. As well as Mirko.

[keita]

Hi,

I picked PRIDE losing TV. PRIDE will air only on PPV on this year's NYE. K-1 will be on one of the biggest TV station. Sakuraba, Akiyama, Masato, Kid Yamamoto, Akebono, Tokoro (face Royler Gracie) , Sudo and Musashi will fight.

Unfortunately I was not able to feel UFC's explosion in the US. But I will be able to see all PRIDE, K-1 and UFC on NYE (we will have UFC 66 on NYE in Japan).


Keita

[cameronb]

Hi,

I picked PRIDE losing TV. PRIDE will air only on PPV on this year's NYE. K-1 will be on one of the biggest TV station. Sakuraba, Akiyama, Masato, Kid Yamamoto, Akebono, Tokoro (face Royler Gracie) , Sudo and Musashi will fight.

Unfortunately I was not able to feel UFC's explosion in the US. But I will be able to see all PRIDE, K-1 and UFC on NYE (we will have UFC 66 on NYE in Japan).


Keita

Very good point. Most of us live in NA so we felt the UFC most but what's going on with PRIDE scares me.